Ireland’s Best falls just short
IRELAND captain Rory Best admitted South Africa’s stronger cutting edge proved decisive after his side went down fighting to a 2-1 series defeat.
Springboks fly-half Elton Jantjies led his team to victory, kicking 11 points to add to JP Pietersen’s try and a penalty from Ruan Combrinck.
Luke Marshall’s try and eight points from the boot of Paddy Jackson kept Ireland in contention – but they fell just short in Port Elizabeth.
Best said: “It’s been a great series but a really, really tough series.
“It’s exactly what we thought it would be.
“Nothing was ever given easily, we knew we had to defend really well.
“They’re a top side, we came here to win a series, we’ve fallen short twice.
“Our boys have fought valiantly and we’ve really put everything in.
“Unfortunately in the last two Tests, the Springboks have just been a little bit more clinical.”
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt expressed some regret at losing the series but was happy to help Ireland record a first-ever victory over South Africa on opposition soil.
He said: “If you’d offered me one win and a couple of other close results before the tour, I would probably have taken it because there’s a bit of history.” GREIG LAIDLAW came off the bench to kick four late penalties in the second Test in Tokyo.
Japan showed they have something to offer at this level, scoring the only try of the game – a glorious 90-metre move finished off by Kaito Shigeno.
But Laidlaw kept his cool late on to help the tourists to a narrow victory and 2-0 series win.