History of rugby union matches between Ireland and South Africa

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The Ireland and South Africa rugby union teams have a rivalry dating back to 1906. The Springboks of South Africa dominated their early meetings, with the Irish winning just once against South Africa prior to 2004, but results have since turned in Ireland's favour. Ireland have won nine of the last fourteen test matches since they met during the 2004 Autumn internationals. Following Ireland's tour win over New Zealand in 2022, South Africa are the only major Southern Hemisphere team over which Ireland has not achieved a series victory, although in 2024 the two sides shared a series in South Africa 1-1.

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2023 marked the two sides first ever Rugby World Cup meeting and first meeting on neutral soil. This was also the first occasion in which the world number one (Ireland) and world number two (South Africa) teams as per World Rugby Rankings, had ever met at the pool stages of a Rugby World Cup. Ireland, prevailed 13–8 over South Africa.

Along with New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland have dominated the top rankings spot in the World Rugby international men's rankings since the mid-2010s, and meetings between any two of these three teams have been considered significant events in global rugby. In recent matches between South Africa and Ireland, in particular, the games have been noted for their closeness, and particular physical ferocity. [1] [2] While South Africa dominated the rivalry before the 1990s, since the return of South Africa to international rugby post-Apartheid, the record over 20 matches stands 11–9 to South Africa.

2004 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa

Ireland travelled to South Africa in June 2004, having won their first Triple Crown since 1985, and beaten the champions of the 2003 Rugby World Cup, England in their first home game since the final. [3] As a result, the Irish manager, Eddie O'Sullivan, was confident that Ireland would achieve their first win over South Africa in 39 years, their only previous victory having come in Dublin in 1965. [4]

By contrast, South Africa had just changed their coach to Jake White and he had radically changed the team for his first test since taking charge of the Springboks. The first of the two game test series was played at altitude in Bloemfontein and South Africa eventually won the match 31–17, despite the scores being level at 11-all at half time. [5]

The second match was played in the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town, and was a closer affair. However, South Africa maintained their unbeaten record against Ireland on home soil by winning 26–17. [6]

2004 Autumn Internationals

The two teams were to meet again in November 2004 when South Africa toured the UK and Ireland, playing each of the home nations. In the lead-up to the match, South African coach Jake White provided additional motivation to the Irish team by publicly repeating his statement from earlier in the year that "only three Irish players would be good enough to get onto the South African team". [7]

The game's only try was scored in controversial circumstances by Irish fly-half Ronan O'Gara. In the 21st minute, New Zealand referee Paul Honiss awarded Ireland a penalty inside the South African 22 and told John Smit to go and talk to his players regarding their repeated infringements at the break-down. While Smit's back was turned and the Springbok players were being called into a huddle, O'Gara took a quick tap and ran in for five points. John Smit protested but the try stood. O'Gara missed the conversion, but was to make up for it with a drop goal from 35 meters 12 minutes later. Percy Montgomery put the first points on the board for South Africa on 26 minutes, but missed a second effort shortly afterwards. Ireland led 8–3 at the break.[ citation needed ]

O'Gara continued his success with the boot three minutes after the start of the second half with a penalty to stretch the Irish lead to 11–3. Montgomery quickly responded in kind, but shortly afterwards Schalk Burger was sin-binned for the second week in a row, which allowed Ronan O'Gara to increase the Irish lead to 14–6. A late tackle on Irish skipper Brian O'Driscoll allowed O'Gara to increase the margin between the teams to 17–6. Percy Montgomery landed two more penalties, but Ireland hung on to win only their second victory over the Springboks, 17–12. [8] [9]

John Smit claims that Paul Honiss approached him after the match to apologise for the mistake regarding Ronan O'Gara's try. A few months after the incident Paul Honiss apologised publicly on South African radio for his mistake. [10]

2006 Autumn Internationals

On Saturday, 11 November 2006, the Springboks came to Lansdowne Road with an experimental side, including three debutants in the back three. The team was selected by head coach Jake White as a way of blooding players for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and South Africa's urgent need to develop new players in the lead up to that tournament. By contrast, Ireland's coach, Eddie O'Sullivan chose Ireland's strongest available team, hoping to take a prized southern hemisphere scalp and boost his team's morale.

The day of the match was a clear, wintry day, but as the late kick off time of 5pm approached, the infamous 'swirling winds of Lansdowne Road' began to blow. South Africa won the toss and chose to play into the wind in the first half, starting the game with a fine display of running rugby. On their first visit to the Irish half, they returned with points as their out half André Pretorius kicked a penalty into the wind. The Irish responded with a barging run by Denis Leamy who made the hard yards before passing to Ronan O'Gara, who then passed back inside to Andrew Trimble who found his way over for Ireland's first points.

From there, Ireland scored two more tries and ended the first half 22–3 ahead. South Africa played better in the second half and debutant winger François Steyn showed good pace to score in the corner, but Pretorius failed to convert the try. Bryan Habana who usually plays at winger, but who played this match in the position of outside center, showed his speed and guile by scoring a remarkable solo try. Any thoughts of a South African revival were stamped out when Girvan Dempsey set up Shane Horgan for a try in the 76th minute. Ronan O'Gara scored the last points of the match with the conversion for a final score of 32–15. [11] [12]

For the 2006 November Test against Ireland the Springboks wore an exact replica of the jersey that was worn by the touring side captained by Paul Roos in 1906. It was on this tour that the name 'Springboks' was coined. The kit consisted of a green jersey with a white collar, blue shorts and blue socks. Sponsors Sasol did not appear on the jersey. The strip was a part of South African rugby's centenary celebrations.

2010 Autumn International

The teams' meeting on 6 November 2010 was the first Ireland test at their new home of Aviva Stadium, where Ireland lost 23–21. [13]

2016 Ireland tour of South Africa

In 2016, Ireland achieved their first test victory against the Springboks in South Africa with a 26–20 victory in Cape Town. [14]

2023 Rugby World Cup meeting

The two teams' first meeting at the Rugby World Cup (RWC) took place in the pool stage of the 2023 edition on 23 September at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The fixture, largely considered to be a decider as to who would win the pool and the number one spot in the world ranking, [15] was won by Ireland, 8–13. [16] Ireland then relinquished the number 1 spot when they were knocked out by New Zealand in the Quarter Finals. Meanwhile, South Africa went on to win the World Cup.

2024 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa

During the 2024 mid year rugby union tests, Ireland claimed their second ever test win on South African soil and split the test series 1–1 with the Springboks following a deep, match-winning drop goal from Ciarán Frawley as time expired in the second test. [17]

Summary

Overall

DetailsPlayedWon by
Ireland		Won by
South Africa		DrawnIreland pointsSouth Africa points
In Ireland17791254265
In South Africa122100190308
Neutral venue1100138
Overall3010191457581

Results

No.DateVenueScoreWinnerCompetitionAttendanceRef.
124 November 1906 Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast 12–15Flag of the Cape Colony 1876-1910.svg  South Africa 1906–07 South Africa tour of Europe 15,000 [18]
230 November 1912 Lansdowne Road, Dublin 0–38Red Ensign of South Africa (1912-1951).svg  South Africa 1912–13 South Africa tour of Europe 20,000 [19]
319 December 1931Lansdowne Road, Dublin3–8Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa 1931–32 South Africa tour of Great Britain and Ireland 35,000 [20]
48 December 1951Lansdowne Road, Dublin5–17Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa 1951–52 South Africa tour of Europe 47,000 [21]
517 December 1960Lansdowne Road, Dublin3–8Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa 1960–61 South Africa tour of Europe 40,000 [22]
613 May 1961 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 24–8Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa 1961 Ireland tour of South Africa 35,000 [23]
710 April 1965Lansdowne Road, Dublin9–6IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 1965 South Africa tour of Scotland and Ireland 30,000 [24]
810 January 1970Lansdowne Road, Dublin8–8 draw 1969–70 South Africa tour of Great Britain and Ireland 28,000 [25]
930 May 1981Newlands Stadium, Cape Town23–15Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa 1981 Ireland tour of South Africa 37,000 [26]
106 June 1981 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 12–10Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa 38,600 [27]
1113 June 1998 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 37–13Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1998 Ireland tour of South Africa 26,000 [28]
1220 June 1998 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 33–0Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 34,850 [29]
1328 November 1998Lansdowne Road, Dublin13–27Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1998 South Africa tour of Great Britain and Ireland 48,000 [30]
1419 November 2000Lansdowne Road, Dublin18–28Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 2000 Autumn International 50,000 [31]
1512 June 2004Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein31–17Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 2004 Ireland tour of South Africa 37,243 [32]
1619 June 2004Newlands Stadium, Cape Town26–17Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 45,000 [33]
1713 November 2004Lansdowne Road, Dublin17–12IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 2004 Autumn International 48,500 [34]
1811 November 2006Lansdowne Road, Dublin32–15IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 2006 Autumn International 43,000 [35]
1928 November 2009 Croke Park, Dublin15–10IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 2009 Autumn International 74,950 [36]
206 November 2010 Aviva Stadium, Dublin21–23Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 2010 Autumn International 35,517 [37]
2110 November 2012Aviva Stadium, Dublin12–16Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 2012 Autumn International 49,781 [38]
228 November 2014Aviva Stadium, Dublin29–15IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 2014 Autumn International 51,100 [39]
2311 June 2016Newlands Stadium, Cape Town20–26IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 2016 Ireland tour of South Africa 42,640 [40]
2418 June 2016 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 32–26Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 58,400 [41]
2525 June 2016 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth 19–13Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 42,324 [42]
2611 November 2017Aviva Stadium, Dublin38–3IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 2017 Autumn International 51,700 [43]
275 November 2022Aviva Stadium, Dublin19–16IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 2022 Autumn International 51,700 [44]
2823 September 2023 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France 8–13IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 2023 Rugby World Cup 78,750 [45]
296 July 2024Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria27–20Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 2024 Ireland tour of South Africa 50,066 [46]
3013 July 2024Kings Park Stadium, Durban24–25IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 52,000 [47]

List of series

South Africa and Ireland teams posing together at their 1912 test at Lansdowne Road. South africa ireland teams 1912.jpg
South Africa and Ireland teams posing together at their 1912 test at Lansdowne Road.
PlayedWon by
Ireland		Won by
South Africa		Drawn
5041
YearIrelandSouth AfricaSeries winner
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg 1981 02Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa
Flag of South Africa.svg 1998 02Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Flag of South Africa.svg 2004 02Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Flag of South Africa.svg 2016 12Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Flag of South Africa.svg 2024 11draw

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References

  1. ↑ "South Africa 27-20 Ireland: We were 'punished' by hosts - O'Mahony". BBC Sport. 6 July 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
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