Paddy Jackson boots 14-man Ireland to historic victory in South Africa
By Keith Moore
Last Updated: 12/06/16 11:27am
Ireland pulled off one of the greatest wins in their history by beating South Africa 26-20 despite playing 57 minutes with 14 men.
Paddy Jackson slotted two late penalties hand the Irish a stunning victory in Cape Town - their first ever in South Africa - surviving CJ Stander's red card after just 22 minutes
Stander was sent off following a mid-air collision with Pat Lambie in the 22nd minute, in what appeared to be a harsh call despite the obvious concern for the Springbok. It was later confirmed that Lambie was up and walking in the dressing room.
Despite the one-man disadvantage, Ireland went into the break level with their hosts. The visitors built a lead in the second half before the Boks hit back, with a Pieter-Stef du Toit try in the 70th minute bringing them within three points. However, Jackson steered his side home to hand Ireland a historic victory.
The game belonged to Ireland from the outset, as South Africa infringed several times in the opening 10 minutes. Ireland opted for driving lineouts rather than points, and from one such drive Lood de Jager collapsed the maul cynically. Ireland nonetheless kept the ball alive and Luke Marshall put in a deft kick which Jared Payne latched onto for a 7-0 lead early on. De Jager was sent to the bin for the foul play.
Lambie and Jackson then traded penalties before the South African No 10 left the field as Stander was shown red for his part in the collision.
Replacement Bok fly-half Elton Jantjies immediately stamped his mark on the game, adding a penalty before putting Lwazi Mvovo through a gap for a try that nosed the Boks 13-10 ahead.
However Jackson had the final say of the half, slotting a drop goal to bring his side level at the break.
Murray put the visitors ahead early in the second period, breaking through the tackle of Eben Etzebeth to score after Payne and Trimble combined down the right.
Jackson converted and had a chance to put his side further ahead with a penalty from far out, but his effort hit the post as South Africa cleared the danger. Jackson made no such mistake in the 68th minute after Frans Malherbe played the ball on the ground, giving Ireland a 23-13 lead.
However the Boks hit back directly from the restart. Ireland claimed the kick-off as Jackson passed to to the midfield. Replacement second rower Pieter-Stef du Toit read the pass perfectly to intercept it and run in a try under the poles. The conversion made it a three-point game, and it looked as though South Africa would be able claw their way back into the game.
It was not to be though, as Ireland, who were joined by new defence coach Andy Farrell after the Six Nations, kept their hosts at bay in the tense closing stages.
Malherbe then committed another penalty at the breakdown, this time going into the side of the ruck, and Jackson called for the kicking tee to put Ireland six points ahead with three minutes remaining.
The Boks ran hard at the Irish for all three of those minutes, but the visitors held out tremendously for an historic first win in South Africa and take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
It completed a stunning day for Irish rugby - hours earlier their U20s team shocked New Zealand at the world championships in England.
