In a meeting which kept all its promises, the Irish overcame the South African world champions thanks to their incredible collective mastery (13-8), this Saturday September 23 at the Stade de France. They consolidate their first place in Group B, while the Boks remain second and are heading a priori towards a shock against the Blues in the quarter-finals.
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It was a shock at the top in the Parisian night. At the top of the ranking first, since the winner of this titanic duel between the Irish and the South Africans has certainly sealed the fate of Group B before the quarter-finals. And at the top of world rugby above all, because whether it was South Africa, reigning world champion, or Ireland, world number one nation, this clash promised whatever happened to turn the pitch of the Stade de France on its head. , for the first meeting in the history of these two teams in the World Cup.
From the first seconds, the intentions were clear. Jonathan Sexton, the guide of this Irish team, did not hesitate to choose the penalty (2nd) in the hope of hitting hard with a try from the start. Countered, this Irish touch then launched the Boks into the opposing 22 meters where they demonstrated all the the extent of their physical domination by quickly obtaining a penalty transformed by Manie Libbok (5th, 3-0). In difficulty with their throws, regularly countered by the South Africans, the Irish came close to a try after a good sequence of play on the wing (13th), before losing the ball on a forward move on the ground a few centimeters away of the opposing line.
The South African steamroller then unleashed its formidable power by approaching the goal line. After a scrum from 5 meters away, Jesse Kriel narrowly missed the hands of his captain Siya Kolisi. Faced with the good defense of the Irish, the Boks ended up committing a forward attack just in front of the opposing line (28th). Resilient and persevering, the Irish set off again to attack the South African lock, which initially aborted all their attempts before finally giving in to a try from Mack Hansen, well served on the right wing, transformed by Sexton in the process (34th, 3-7).
Initially dominated in conquest by the power of the Boks, the Irish were able to get back in front thanks to their collective skill by scoring the only try in the first act of a high-flying match.
An inaccuracy on the foot which costs the Boks dearly
The dynamics of this titanic clash knew no downtime since, upon returning to the pitch, the two teams continued to go blow for blow relentlessly. An unsuccessful South African incursion at the kick-off (41st) was immediately followed by a lightning Irish offensive in the opposing camp (43rd).
On a penalty awarded to South Africa, Faf De Klerk then hit the corner of the Irish left post (47th). Under pressure, the Clover defense stood out by first repelling the Boks’ advance. But transcended a few meters from the Irish goal line, the South Africans found the fault thanks to Cheslin Kolbe’s try on the wing (50th, 8-7).
The Irish quickly got back in front with a short header following a penalty converted without difficulty against the posts by Sexton (59th, 8-10). While the smallest detail was going to count to win and the two selections were neck and neck, the Boks let precious points slip away by missing two penalties in a row, first by Libbok from 40 meters (64th) then by De Klerk at 53 meters (66th).
Ten minutes from the end of the match, the South Africans threw all their forces into the battle, increasing their attacks in an attempt to tear apart the Irish defensive curtain. But it was Clover who proved the most dangerous by obtaining a scrum 5 meters from the South African line. The mischief of Jack Crowley then awarded a penalty to his team, which widened the gap in the final minutes (77th, 8-13). On a very last opportunity, the South Africans tried everything to snatch the victory try (79th) but the referee quickly returned the ball to their opponents following a foul and sealed the victory of the Irish (8-13).
Still leader of group B with 14 points, the XV du Trèfle knew how to negotiate this meeting perfectly by finding the keys to controlling the insane pressure exerted by the Boks. For their part, the South Africans may regret their clumsy feet and seem to be heading towards a shock against the French team in the quarter-finals of this World Cup.