STADE AN Green giants come up trumps in acid test D DELIVER in Paris to take down holders
IRELAND won a war of adversity at the Stade de France that went right down to the wire – and stamped their credentials as World Cup contenders.
A thrilling, no-holds battle was in the balance right up to the 80th minute when world champions South Africa’s rumbling lineout maul was held up inches from Ireland’s line. Thirty thousand Irish voices roared in unison in the enthralled 78,542 attendance as the best game of France 2023 ended and Andy Farrell’s side celebrated their 16th win on the spin. In that time they have won a series in New Zealand and won a classic in Dublin against France, but this Pool B showdown was marked as the acid test of Ireland’s credentials.
They stood up to the challenge in a game that saw chickens come home to roost for the Boks.
Their ‘nuke squad’ of seven forwards off the bench initially made gains – but it was Ireland winning crucial scrum penalties at the death.
And the Boks’ place-kicking troubles saw them squander a possible 11 points as both Mannie Libbock and Faf de Klerk missed second half kicks.
Ireland made the high-octane start they wanted but three times in the first 11 minutes coughed up line-out ball in hugely promising positions, a vital part of their game Farrell thought was fixed.
The Boks were denied the opening try when Garry Ringrose stopped Damian de Allende, but Ireland conceded a penalty at the ruck and Libbock made it 3-0.
A Johnny Sexton tip-pass was deliberately knocked on by de Klerk, the Ireland skipper kicked close to South Africa’s 22 but Ireland’s lineout woes continued.
However, a scintillating move followed when they finally got the lineout right.
Ringrose’s delayed pass allowed him to glide through the cover before Hugo Keenan galloped for the line, only for Caelan Doris to force an off-load to Ronan Kelleher and the chance was gone.
The Boks turned back on the pressureand Ireland had to deal with a lineout inches from their own try-line from Damian Williamse’s precise grubber.
They did, and then survived Etzebeth getting a hand on Jamison Gibson-park’s clearance.
Ringrose was called ashore for a HIA as Kelleher was pinged for not throwing straight into the lineout and, in trying to stop de Allende in front of the posts, Sexton suffered an arm injury.
Aki made a crucial tackle and then Jesse Kriel’s off-load hit Siya Kolisi’s head – bouncing into the grateful arms of Doris.
Ireland were visibly lifted – and Aki’s superb midfield break lit the touch paper. Sexton’s pass out wide to Aki revitalised the move, Lowe took it on and Ireland earned a penalty.
This time the lineout didn’t malfunction so close to the try line. Sexton’s loop move with Ringrose’s temporary replacement Robbie Henshaw saw the skipper almost get over, but Lowe found Mack Hansen out wide for the game’s first try.
Sexton needed time to recover and then split the posts from the angle for a 7-3 half-time lead.
It was Ireland who turned the screw after the restart, kicking for territory – only for Eben Etzebeth to steal another lineout.
South Africa took their turn next as Ryan was pinged for not releasing and de Klerk tried his luck from inside his own half, only to hit the woodwork.
But Ireland were under severe pressure at scrum time and, just as four of their nuke squad were brought on, the Boks took full advantage – and Cheslin Kolbe was given the freedom of Paris.
He tried to lessen the angle fo Libbok but the Boks’ inconsistent kicker still missed the conversion.
South Africa were ahead but their advantage was erased by Sexton’s 58th minute penalty as Porter beat Frans Malherbe at scrum time.
Libbock was handed the chance to make amends as the Boks’ scrum blew away the Irish pack but was off-target again, then de Klerk had another go from long-range off a van der Flier mistake – and also missed.
RG Snyman’s midfield break had Ireland scrambling but a crooked throw by Boks’ reserve hooker Dean Fourie – more a flanker than a hooker – handed Farrell’s men a let off.
Sexton’s replacement Crowley attempted a drop-goal that was blocked down and Ireland had the put in from the scrum, won the penalty and the 23-year-old completed the scoring.