Springboks Break Irish Hoodoo in Chaotic Dublin Test Marred by Cards
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DUBLIN – South Africa’s Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus, finally savored victory at the Aviva Stadium as his Springboks secured a hard-fought 24-13 win over Ireland in a match that will be remembered more for its unprecedented disciplinary chaos than its rugby.
The victory, South Africa’s first in Dublin since 2012, was a significant psychological hurdle cleared for a squad that had seen Ireland as a primary nemesis, including a defeat in the pool stages of their triumphant 2023 World Cup campaign.
A Test of Patience and Penalties
The match’s narrative was dictated not by tries but by the whistle of English referee Matthew Carley. Ireland’s discipline unraveled spectacularly, with the hosts receiving one red card and four yellow cards, at one point being reduced to just 12 men on the field.
“It was a great win against a team like Ireland, who have dominated against us since we’ve been together as a group,” said Rassie Erasmus, who had never won at the ground as a coach. “If you look back at the last five games we’ve played, they are still three-two up against us, so we won’t get carried away with the result, but the beer tastes a little better.”
His comment underscored a relief felt by the entire Springbok setup, which had publicly voiced frustrations over officiating in previous tour matches against France and Italy.
Farrell’s “Mad Game” and a Gutsy Irish Defence
Irish coach Andy Farrell rejected the term “shambolic” for his team’s first-half performance, instead labeling it “chaotic.”
“I have never seen anything like that before and I’ve seen many things,” Farrell told Irish broadcaster RTE, noting the match ran for over two hours. “To say it was stop-start is an understatement with all the carry on with the cards, the stoppages for the scrums etc.”
Despite the numerical disadvantages, Ireland’s defence drew praise from their captain and coach. “We were down to 12 men at the start of the second half… to come out with a scoreline of 6-5 in the second half, it is still a loss but I am unbelievably proud of that,” Farrell said.
Irish captain Caelan Doris echoed the sentiment, stating, “It was chaotic for sure. However, we definitely showed the character we asked for.”
Context and Controversy
The match was not without controversy for the victors. Many observers felt Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was fortunate to avoid a card for a first-half shoulder contact to the head of Ireland’s Tommy O’Brien.
When asked if the Springboks’ pre-match complaints about refereeing had influenced the officiating, Farrell remained diplomatic. “Well, we brought it up with the referees before the game and they said that would never be a factor… I’ll let you be the judge of that,” he said.
A Double Celebration for the Boks
The victory was sweetened for the South African camp with the news that hooker Malcolm Marx was crowned World Rugby Player of the Year immediately after the final whistle.
The 31-year-old, who endured a grueling day in the scrums, acknowledged the challenge. “Having that many scrums wasn’t pleasing on the neck, but they are a quality side with a quality pack,” Marx said. “So obviously, we had to grind it out and apply as much pressure as we could.”
The win provides a significant momentum boost for the Springboks as they build towards future campaigns, finally exorcising the ghost of their recent struggles against an Irish side that, for one chaotic day in Dublin, simply could not stay on the pitch.
This report is based on information from the primary source: The South African.