2024 South Africa vs Ireland

SA Vs. Ireland Final Score And Recap

SA Vs. Ireland Final Score And Recap

The Springboks hosted the Ireland rugby team at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. Here's the recap, including live updates and scores.

Jul 6, 2024 by R. R. Ellis
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The two best rugby teams in the world met in Pretoria, South Africa, in the first part of the biggest series of the 2024 international rugby season. 

No. 1 South Africa, the reigning 2023 Rugby World Cup champion, and No. 2 Ireland, the most dominant rugby team of the past two years, faced off in the first of two summer test matches in South Africa being hosted by the Springboks.

Saturday evening, South Africa defeated Ireland for the first time in four matches, and for the first time since 2016. The final score was 27-20, as the Irish made too many mistakes against a veteran Springboks side. 

Handre Pollard missed three penalties that would've put South Africa well past the Irish side, but in the end, he was able to score a difficult conversation after the final try to put the Springboks up for good.

Read the updates and scores as they happened below:

Next Week Ireland Vs. South Africa Part 2

This was just the first match of two tests. 

South Africa will host Ireland next week, July 13, at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban, South Africa. 

The full match replay of the first test will be available here.

Sign up here to watch next week's test match, plus a ton of other rugby summer internationals.

That's It! Full-Time. South Africa 27, Ireland 20

Massive battle from each squad, but the South Africa Springboks come away victorious. 

It is the first time South Africa has beaten Ireland since 2016.

Ireland Immediately Replies With Try; 27-20

Ryan Baird gives Ireland a chance with only a couple of minutes remaining. Conversion is missed.

SA Overpowers Ireland From Scrum For Penalty-Try

The Springboks scrum proved to be too much for Ireland, as SA gets the score and conversion.

Ireland With Brilliant Try; 20-15

Shortly after a close call, where TMO reviewed a possible try on the field, Ireland slips through for a huge score and conversion. 

Conor Murray scored the try for Ireland.

Irish Rushing Toward Springboks

With only nine minutes to play, the Irish have possession in the South African end, trying their best to score. 

Ireland Mistakes; Tempers Flaring

Despite multiple missed offloads, Ireland still has a chance to get a result. 

Tempers on the field are flaring, with some scuffles between the Irish and Springbok players. 

Pollard Completes Difficult Conversion; 20-8

Despite missing three penalties this match, Handre Pollard finishes the conversion, nearly from the touchline.

Cheslin Kolbe Scores Try

After a short review, Kolbe's try is confirmed. TMO took a closer look to see if James Lowe was in the touch, making the play dead, but the call of try on the field was confirmed after closer inspection. 

South Africa is up 18-8. 

South Africa Winning 13-8; 63rd Minute

The Springboks are winning in a close battle. It's anyone's game from here on out. 

Craig Casey Hurt; Break In Play

Casey hit his head on the pitch after the follow-through of a big hit by RG Snyman. 

He's being tended to on the pitch.

Porter Comes Back On

Husky Ireland prop Andrew Porter comes back to the pitch after being bandaged.

Pollard Misses Third Consecutive Penalty

Handre Pollard seems to be off. He misses another penalty, and it was not particularly close. 

TMO Decides No Try

The James Lowe try has been erased. South Africa given penalty.  

Massive Try From Ireland; James Lowe Scores

James Lowe runs down the edge of the touchline, only getting touched once before making the try.

Ireland Makes Substitutions

On:

  • Cian Healy
  • Ciaran Frawley
  • Ryan Baird
  • James Ryan

Off:

  • Andrew Porter
  • Jamie Osborne
  • Peter O'Mahony
  • Joe McCarthy

South Africa Brings On Fresh Legs

The crowd roars as the Springboks bring on

On:

  • RG Snyman
  • Marco van Staden
  • Salmaan Moerat
  • Vincent Koch
  • Malcolm Marx
  • Gerhard Steenekamp

Off: 

  • Franco Mostert
  • Siya Kolisi
  • Eben Etzebeth
  • Frans Malherbe
  • Bongi Mbonambi
  • Ox Nche

Pollard Misses Another Penalty

Handre Pollard had a chance to put the Springboks up again and missed it as it curled left.

Closer Look At Osborne's Try

Here's a closer look at Jamie Osborne, who scored in his first cap for Ireland. 

No Sheehan After Halftime

Dan Sheehan has remained in the locker room after halftime. Ronan Kelleher has replaced him.

Halftime In Pretoria; South Africa 13, Ireland 8

Not the high-flying affair that many had in mind, but an incredibly fierce first half. 

Springboks head into the locker room ahead, but this game could be anyone's when the second half gets underway.

Pollard Misses Penalty

The normally precise Pollard misses a chance to put the Springboks up more. 

Closer Look At Arendse Try

Incredible Score By Uncapped Jamie Osborne

No. 15 Jamie Osborne, who was uncapped before today, gets Ireland's first try of the day. 

Some fantastic movement between the Irish team to make the score happen.

Pollard Kicks Another Penalty

The Springboks third-all-time leading scorer puts another three on the board for SA.

Handre Pollard Makes It 10-3; Springboks In Control

Elder statesman Pollard kicks the penalty. The South African crowd certainly is enjoying the game so far.

Jack Crowley Completes Penalty

Crowley puts three on the board for the Irish. It has been a fierce affair so far, with both teams battling with possession. 

Springboks Strike First

Kurt-Lee Arendse makes a move from the edge of the touchline inside and finishes for the first try of the game.

Game Begins 🏉

Kickoff! The action has started between Ireland and the South Africa Springboks at Loftus Versfield in Pretoria, South Africa.

According to Stats Perform, Ireland has emerged victorious in its past three men's test matches against South Africa and now has the chance to achieve a fourth consecutive win against the Springboks, a feat the Irish have never accomplished before.

Springboks Are In The House And Ready To Rumble

South Africa Played Wales Last Week

While this is Ireland's first summer test in 2024, South Africa got started last weekend against Wales with a 41-13 thumping of the Dragons at Twickenham. The Springboks had five tries and four conversions. 

Ireland Brings Youthful 35-Man Squad

When Ireland named its 35-man squad for summer internationals, the roster included quite a bit of youth. In fact, they named 11 total players with 10 or less caps to the team. 

However, only three have made it to the match-day squad: Jamie Osborne (starter), Calvin Nash (starter), Joe McCarthy (starter), Ciaran Frawley (replacement). The full list is below.

  • Oli Jager, 1 cap
  • Caolin Blade, 2 caps
  • Cian Prendergast, 3 caps
  • Ciaran Frawley, 4 caps
  • Calvin Nash, 6 caps
  • Jimmy O’Brien, 8 caps
  • Jamie Osborne, 0 caps
  • Sam Prendergast, 0 caps
  • Joe McCarthy, 10 caps
  • Nick Timoney, 3 caps
  • Cormac Izuchukwu, 0 caps

Watch The Ireland Rugby Hype Video 

Pretoria Weather Report: Great Day For Springboks vs. Ireland Rugby

Ireland World Rugby Ranking

Ireland is ranked No. 2 in the world with 90.69 points.

South Africa World Rugby Ranking

South Africa is ranked No. 1 in the world with 94.54 points.

Ireland Rugby Lineup

  1. Andrew Porter
  2. Dan Sheehan
  3. Tadhg Furlong
  4. Joe McCarthy
  5. Tadhg Beirne
  6. Peter O'Mahony
  7. Josh van der Flier
  8. Caelan Doris
  9. Craig Casey
  10. Jack Crowley
  11. James Lowe
  12. Bundee Aki
  13. Robbie Henshaw
  14. Calvin Nash
  15. Jamie Osborne

Substitutes: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Cian Healy, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. James Ryan, 20. Ryan Baird, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Ciaran Frawley, 23. Garry Ringrose

South Africa Springboks Rugby Lineup

  1. Ox Nche
  2. Bongi Mbonambi
  3. Frans Malherbe
  4. Eben Etzebeth
  5. Franco Mostert
  6. Siya Kolisi
  7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
  8. Kwagga Smith
  9. Faf de Klerk
  10. Handre Pollard
  11. Kurt-Lee Arendse
  12. Damian de Allende
  13. Jesse Kriel
  14. Cheslin Kolbe
  15. Willie Le Roux

Substitutes: 16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Salmaan Moerat, 20. RG Snyman, 21. Marco van Staden, 22. Grant Williams, 23. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Ireland Vs. South Africa Rugby Kickoff Times

The matches kick off at 10:55 a.m. EDT on both July 6 and July 13.

Where To Watch Ireland Vs. South Africa Rugby?

Summer internationals will be streaming in the United States on FloRugby and the FloSports app.

That includes games from Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

Match replays, highlights and more will be on both platforms. 

How To Watch Summer Rugby Internationals 2024?

In the USA, FloRugby will broadcast some of the best international rugby fixtures of 2024.

South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and England will play matches on FloRugby and the FloSports app.

How To Watch International Rugby In USA?

FloRugby broadcasts dozens of international rugby matches throughout the year, including the summer rugby internationals from July to September. 

How To Watch Rugby Matches In the United States On FloRugby

FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to: 

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

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