TRY! IRELAND 7-12 South Africa (Dan Sheehan, 38 minutes)

You bet there is! Some riposte from Ireland, a simply superb take at the tail from Ryan Baird setting up a meaty maul and then Josh van der Flier lumbering the ball on like a runaway locomotive.

Jamison Gibson-Park picks the right runner, as he so often does, and Dan Sheehan gets Ireland on the board. How they needed that!

Harry Latham-Coyle22 November 2025 18:35

Ireland 0-12 South Africa, 37 minutes

Josh van der Flier wins a crucial turnover on halfway and Ireland kick down into the Springboks 22. Is there a response?

Harry Latham-Coyle22 November 2025 18:34

Ireland 0-12 South Africa, 35 minutes

Jack Crowley, now steering an Ireland side down to 13 players for the next five minutes or so, restarts proceedings.

(Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

Harry Latham-Coyle22 November 2025 18:33

TRY! Ireland 0-12 SOUTH AFRICA (Cobus Reinach, 35 minutes)

The hinges are broken and Cobus Reinach gleefully gambols in! Too much pressure for Ireland to handle and the Springboks scrum half darts through a gap adjacent to the ruck.

Bad to worse for Ireland – and there’s more difficult news. Sam Prendergast is sent to the sin bin having been offside in that passage, paying for the accumulation of penalties.

Harry Latham-Coyle22 November 2025 18:32

Ireland 0-5 South Africa, 34 minutes

The arm is out – but South Africa’s way. And again, Ireland’s discipline letting them down as the Springboks bash on the door…

Harry Latham-Coyle22 November 2025 18:31

Ireland 0-5 South Africa, 32 minutes

Tadhg Furlong is furious – he thinks he had an edge on Boan Venter at the latest scrummaging skirmish but the officials call for a reset. Massive moments, these – a penalty for Ireland here would be huge.

Harry Latham-Coyle22 November 2025 18:30

Penalty only! Ireland 0-5 South Africa, 31 minutes

The fact that O’Brien so significantly lost that collision has helped him out – it’s a penalty only, despite head contact, with some of the force through the chest and O’Brien passive in the tackle.

Still eight minutes to run on the 20-minute red card for James Ryan, and Ireland’s props have also now been warned for their scrum conduct. Unsurprisingly, Siya Kolisi calls for another set piece as O’Brien is taken off for an HIA – Jack Crowley is hastily stripped off and sent on. That presumably means Mack Hansen will go to the wing.

Harry Latham-Coyle22 November 2025 18:28

Ireland 0-5 South Africa, 31 minutes

Ouch! A penalty against Ireland at the scrum and then a really worrying one for Tommy O’Brien, high in a tackle on a rampaging Canan Moodie and coming off far worse. O’Brien stays down for some treatment; the officials gather to discuss if his tackle attempt merits sanction…

Harry Latham-Coyle22 November 2025 18:25

Ireland 0-5 South Africa, 29 minutes

The Springboks munch Ireland at scrum time. Penalty, kick to the corner – can Ireland quell them? Only illegally. Another penalty.

Harry Latham-Coyle22 November 2025 18:22

RED CARD! James Ryan is sent off! Ireland 0-5 South Africa, 27 minutes

News from the bunker – James Ryan’s yellow card has been UPGRADED and the lock will play no further part.

A 20-minute red card for the lock, which always looked likely after he speared himself into the chin of Malcolm Marx.

(AP)

Harry Latham-Coyle22 November 2025 18:20