Right — let’s go!
Welcome, everyone, to live updates from Ireland v South Africa in Pool B of the Rugby World Cup.
It’s the Grand Slam champions against the reigning world champions, a game almost three years in the making.
Paris is green — mainly an Irish shade, but with plenty of South Africans, too!
We’re half an hour out!
Gavan Casey with you here, by the way. My colleagues Murray Kinsella and Ciarán Kennedy will have reports and reaction and colour from the Stade de France later on, but if you’re unfortunate enough not to be near a TV this evening, I’m allegedly your guy.
How are you feeling?
Poll Results:
Murray has already caused unbelievable consternation by using the words ‘Sexton is out’ when the Ireland captain emerged from the tunnel to warm up.
Thankfully, both sets of 23s line out as named earlier in the week.
Ireland
- 15. Hugo Keenan
- 14. Mack Hansen
- 13. Garry Ringrose
- 12. Bundee Aki
- 11. James Lowe
- 10. Johnny Sexton (captain)
- 9. Jamison Gibson-Park
- 1. Andrew Porter
- 2. Rónan Kelleher
- 3. Tadhg Furlong
- 4. Tadhg Beirne
- 5. James Ryan
- 6. Peter O’Mahony
- 7. Josh van der Flier
- 8. Caelan Doris
- 16. Dan Sheehan
- 17. Dave Kilcoyne
- 18. Finlay Bealham
- 19. Iain Henderson
- 20. Ryan Baird
- 21. Conor Murray
- 22. Jack Crowley
- 23. Robbie Henshaw
South Africa
- 15. Damian Willemse
- 14. Kurt-Lee Arendese
- 13. Jesse Kriel
- 12. Damian de Allende
- 11. Cheslin Kolbe
- 10. Manie Libbok
- 9. Faf de Klerk
- 1. Steven Kitshoff
- 2. Bongi Mbonambi
- 3. Frans Malherbe
- 4. Eben Etzebeth
- 5. Franco Mostert
- 6. Siya Kolisi (captain)
- 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
- 8. Jasper Wiese
- 16. Deon Fourie
- 17. Ox Nche
- 18. Trevor Nyakane
- 19. Jean Kleyn
- 20. RG Snyman
- 21. Marco van Staden
- 22. Kwagga Smith
- 23. Cobus Reinach
A few famous Irish faces turning up at the Stade de France…
Golfers Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy:
And singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy:
Less than 15 minutes ’til kick-off.
Breathe. Breathe!
A huge chorus of ‘Olé Olé’ rings around the Stade.
Time for Ireland’s Call, followed by The National Anthem of South Africa, which is its actual title I believe.
1′ – IRL 0-0 SA: It’s showtime!
Ireland, in green, get the game underway through captain Johnny Sexton.
South Africa, in their white, third shirt, receive with Damian Willemse.
1′ – IRL 0-0 SA: Huge hit by Rónan Kelleher on Willemse.
South Africa go to width immediately from inside their own 22′ — but Cheslin Kolbe spills a Faf de Klerk pass into touch. It’ll be an Ireland lineout on the South African 22′.
And South Africa steal it! And Ireland rip it back! What a start!
2′ – IRL 0-0 SA: Ireland win a penalty as Steven Kitshoff is pinged off his feet.
It’s kickable — but Sexton points to the corner!
Huge moment.
And South Africa steal another lineout!
Big, big stand by the South Africans.
4′ – IRL 0-0 SA: South Africa bomb up the other end! This is electrifying stuff.
Kurt-Lee Arendse is hauled down by Garry Ringrose deep in Irish territory.
South Africa win a penalty — and Siya Kolisi points to the posts. A more pragmatic choice by the South African skipper.
5′ – IRL 0-3 SA: Mannie Libbok slots it from close range, a nice start for him.
And a nice start for the world champions, who have really laid down a marker in the lineout and in broken field during those opening five minutes.
7′ – IRL 0-3 SA: De Klerk is penalised for a deliberate knock-on as he tried to intercept a Sexton pass near halfway.
Sexton takes Ireland up towards the South African 22′ — and wow, they’ve lost a third lineout on their own ball.
This is a serious problem.
8′ – IRL 0-3 SA: South Africa win a free-kick on the first scrum. They opt to scrum it again.
Another big moment here. Ireland hold their own under serious pressure.
11′ – IRL 0-3 SA: South Africa pinged on the ground again and Sexton kicks a monster towards their 5′.
Ireland 0/3 from their own ball so far aaand… make that 0/4.
This is a real mess, now, as Kelleher overthrows and South Africa escape.
Ireland’s pack need to have a quick chat here.
13′ – IRL 0-3 SA: Kelleher nails his fifth throw — a short lineout this time.
Ireland go wide and here’s a chance! Ringrose floats a wonderful skip pass to Keenan. He’s stopped just short of the line!
Doris has a go and ooffft, he knocks it on from a couple of yards out!
Brilliant move by Ireland… But South Africa win a penalty at the scrum.
16′ – IRL 0-3 SA: HUGE TURNOVER on the ground by James Lowe! Penalty on halfway, and Sexton points to touch again.
He doesn’t get as much out of the kick as he would have liked, but it’ll be an Ireland lineout just outside the 22′. They’re at 20% so far — let’s see if Kelleher and his jumpers can settle.
They can! Ryan takes it well. Big carry by Aki! But Ireland are pinged for going off their feet…
Frustrating… Frustrating…
20′ – IRL 0-3 SA: A wonderful kick through by Willemse — I think — dribbles into touch inside the Irish 5′.
Nervous moment but Ireland win their own ball in a four-man.
Big carry by Doris. Gibson-Park’s clearance is half-charged down by Etzebeth.
Irish lineout on their own 22′… And the throw is crooked.
This is not good, ladies and gents.
And it gets worse: Garry Ringrose is off for a HIA. On comes Robbie Henshaw.
23′ – IRL 0-3 SA: Huge carry by De Allende, who goes through Sexton and is stopped just short of the line.
Ireland somehow scramble the ball back over their own line! But it’ll be a South African put-in on the 5′.
Ominous!
24′ – IRL 0-3 SA: Ireland halt Kriel and force a knock-on by Kolisi! Doris comes away with the ball! That’s a massive, massive stop!
30′ – IRL 0-3 SA: An unbelievable break by Bundee Aki, who takes Ireland from their own 22′ deep into South African territory!
Serious, serious defence by SA, who scramble and halt Ireland’s momentum.
Ireland win a penalty, though, and they’ll go to the corner again!
What a game!
34′ – IRL 7-3 SA: TRRRRYYYYYYYY!!! IT’S MACK HANSEN!
Ireland win the lineout and batter and batter and batter at the South African line! They run a wonderful loop play with Sexton, who’s stopped within inches. They recycle wide, and Lowe floats a skip pass wide right to the unmarked Hansen.
Over he goes! Ireland lead!
Sexton converts!
GAME ON!
39′ – IRL 7-3 SA: Ireland win another jackal penalty near halfway through Van der Flier — and the roof nearly comes off the Stade!
They win the lineout on the 22′ but after shipping a couple of huge South African hits, James Ryan spills it forward. And that’ll actually take us to the break!
Jayze, the nerves would be at ya even while liveblogging.
What a game. Absolutely titanic stuff from both sides.
Ireland have shortened their lineout and, consequently, have really grown into this game.
They’ve probably edged it overall, only for those early troubles to hold them back.
Still, the Boks are so, so threatening and coughed up a golden opportunity on the Irish 5′.
Get a cup of tea for yourselves, or maybe something stronger. Catch you in 15!
41′ – IRL 7-3 SA: I’m not sure I can do this again, in all honesty — but here we go!
Mannie Libbok gets the action back underway for the second half.
44′ – IRL 7-3 SA: A huge intervention by Peter O’Mahony at lineout time and Etzebeth can only pat the ball into touch. Irish ball inside the South African 22′.
But they go to the back of the lineout and South Africa return the favour! De Klerk clears to halfway with a monster box kick.
46′ – IRL 7-3 SA: A passive carry by Ryan on halfway is punished as he’s pinged for hanging on.
South Africa about to bring on four of the Bomb Squad, including Jean Kleyn and RG Snyman.
De Klerk is going to have a pop at goal from just behind halfway — and it’s off the post! And South Africa win the loose ball!!
They knock on the door but Ireland strangle them in a maul! Ireland ball! That was James Lowe wrapping up Etzebeth, I think. Huge!
48′ – IRL 7-3 SA: A huge shove by South Africa and Ireland just about escape with Doris. But Aki is punished for sealing off! Penalty South Africa on Ireland’s 5′… And they go for the scrum again.
51′ – IRL 7-8 SA: TRY FOR SOUTH AFRICA!
They win a penalty advantage on the Irish scrum and Faf goes left. South Africa sweep it wide left to Kolbe, who walks it in for their first try.
He gives Libbok an easier conversion, too, but the out-half still pulls it left.
One-point game, but South Africa have laid down the gauntlet here.
55′ – IRL 7-8 SA: Dan Sheehan is on for Kelleher, Henderson on for Ryan.
Sheehan’s first lineout is a good one and Ireland win a penalty in their own half as South Africa are caught offside.
57′ – IRL 7-8 SA: Some nice hands by Ireland into the South African 22′ but the world champions blow them off their own ball and Gibson-Park spills the ball at the base of the ruck.
Scrum South Africa.
Penalty Ireland! Big shove by Andrew Porter and the Irish pack go nuts. Sexton points towards the posts.
59′ – IRL 10-8 SA: Ireland back in front.
I don’t know about you, but I feel sick. And there are still 20 minutes to go.
63′ – IRL 10-8 SA: South Africa monster Ireland at the scrum again, this time on the Irish 10′.
They point to the sticks… And Libbok pulls another one fractionally left!
A let-off for Ireland.
65′ – IRL 10-8 SA: Finlay Bealham on for Furlong. Ryan Baird on for O’Mahony. And Robbie Henshaw replaces Ringrose.
Did somebody say Bomb Squad?
65′ – IRL 10-8 SA: Sheehan is pinged for offside just past halfway and, this time, Faf de Klerk has a go. But he pulls it right!
Another let-off.
Conor Murray on for Jamison Gibson-Park.
67′ – IRL 10-8 SA: A rare error by James Lowe who drops a bomb from Willemse. South Africa scrum — yikes! — just past the Irish 10′.
You know this game is too much for me when I’m saying things like ‘yikes’, for God’s sake.
68′ – IRL 10-8 SA: Ireland lock out the scrum, great work.
South Africa build a couple of phases AND CONOR MURRAY WINS THE JACKAL TURNOVER!
Lowe looks to clear but it’s blocked into touch. Irish lineout. And they win it.
70′ – IRL 10-8 SA: A HUGE break by RG Snyman! South Africa cranking it up here. Into the Irish 22′.
They go wide right — and it’s Murray again with a huge hit on Du Toit, knocking the ball into touch for the South African lineout in the process.
This game is hanging by a thread.
So too is Sexton, who’s had cramp already. What a shift by the skipper.
70′ – IRL 10-8 SA: Ireland concede a penalty inside their own 22′ and South Africa, this time, go to the corner.
The pressure on Ireland is intense. But Deon Fourie, on at hooker, throws in crookedly! Scrum Ireland on their own 5′.
Crowley about to come in for Sexton.
It’s all happening!
72′ – IRL 10-8 SA: South Africa concede a free-kick for an early engagement and James Lowe bombs it into touch on the South African 10′. Monstrous kick. And breathe, briefly, once more.
75′ – IRL 10-8 SA: Ireland turn South Africa over in the own half and Beirne hoofs it! Mack Hansen gives chase!
They eventually take down Kriel inside his own 22′… And Ireland with a HUGE counter-ruck! They turn South Africa over again!
Ireland build phases and set Crowley up for a drop-goal… It’s tipped, it dribbles out over the dead-ball.
But that’ll be an Ireland scrum, won’t it? It will! South Africa didn’t seem to realise it had been tipped! Ireland scrum on the South African 5′!
76′ – IRL 10-8 SA: PENALTY IRELAND! South Africa penalised in a messy scrum.
Ireland point towards the posts, and three points here from Crowley will take Ireland’s lead out to five…
78′ – IRL 13-8 SA: Crowley chips over from close range. South Africa need a try.
Ireland have got to get this restart right. And they do, with Baird.
Crowley clears and it’s a huge kick, over the head of Willemse. South African possession inside their own half.
79′ – IRL 13-8 SA: South Africa win a penalty on halfway. Libbok gets unbelievable purchase on it, deep into the Irish 22′.
South Africa with a last-minute chance to take it, here.
81′ – IRL 13-8 SA: South Africa win it at the back, they go to the maul.
Big, big South African shove! Ireland slow the momentum slightly, three yards from the line..
The maul starts to collapse! Down it goes! Where’s the ball? IT’S IRELAND’S BALL! THEY’VE DONE IT!
THE GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONS EDGE THE WORLD CHAMPIONS IN PARIS!
Wow, wow, wow. What a seismic battle that was. Incredible.
Ireland were pushed to the very edge, but they passed a huge test.
Keep an eye on The 42 for reaction and analysis. And thanks for joining ud!
