The Springboks are still counting the cost of their 25-24 defeat against Ireland, who not only managed to successfully rattle the hosts, but also physically dominate them.
The Springboks suffered an agonising one-point loss courtesy of a dramatic last-gasp drop goal by Ciaran Frawley to ensure Ireland come away with a drawn series from this two-Test tour.
It was a brutal clash built on the physical exchanges between the two sets of players and, uncharacteristically, the Springboks came off second best.
Yes, that right. Ireland were the physically dominant side despite the fact Rassie Erasmus fielded the most experienced team in Springbok history.
With all that in mind, let’s take a look at how Ireland’s calculated physical body blows achieved its intended objective: rattling the Springboks.
SPRINGBOKS LEFT BLOODIED BY IRISH BLOWS
— It was not even a full three minutes into the game and Willie le Roux sustained a blow to the head, forcing him off the field to undergo an HIA (head injury assessment). The Springboks’ primary playmaker failed the HIA and was thus ruled out for the remainder of the game.
— Starting locks Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert were both bleeding non-stop from cuts sustained in contact with the Irish. Etzebeth was withdrawn for off-field treatment, with RG Snyman taking his place; but the moment he returned Mostert was taken off with Snyman remaining on the field.
— After he was initially patched up, Etzebeth had to have his bandage replaced twice as the game went on, with the Irish climbing into him in the collisions.
— Ireland captain Caelan Doris was also deservedly sent off for his cheap hit on Malcolm Marx at a ruck. Marx, who only recently returned from a horror knee-injury injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, had just came onto the field when Doris charged into the ruck and targeted his previously injured knee with a crocodile roll. And not to be undone by his skipper, lock James Ryan joined the action by doing the same thing on the same player at the same time. After several replays of the horrific incident, the match officials decided to punish Doris, with James inexplicably escaping sanction.
— The Springboks’ replacement fullback Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu also endured a baptism of fire by Irish, taking several bodily hits, including one to the head in a dangerous tackle, and being taken out in the air when leaping highest to field a kick.
— Doris, who was lucky to even still be on the field after his callous act on foul on Marx, pulled off one of the most subtle body-checks in history to deny Cheslin Kolbe a charge-down attempt of that crucial game-winning drop goal. The Springboks seemed to suggest Kolbe had been obstructed as he sought to charge down the drop. At first glance, it looked as if Kolbe simply slipped as he sought to get around Irish players. Yet, there is some slow-mo footage from another angle that certainly does seem to show a subtle piece of foul play from Doris. The Irish player does seem to slightly change his position and minor contact is made with Kolbe just before he tumbles to the ground.
— After the game, both Marx and Pieter-Steph du Toit were seen sporting bloodied jerseys as they lined up to shake hands with the winning Irish team.
BELOW: VISUALS OF SOME OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED INCIDENTS
SPRINGBOKS VS IRELAND SCORERS AND TEAMS
Springboks 24 (6) – Penalty goals: Handre Pollard (8).
Ireland 25 (16) – Try: Conor Murray. Conversion: Jack Crowley. Penalty goals: Crowley (4). Drop goals: Ciaran Frawley (2).
Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 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 – 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Subs: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ryan Baird, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Stuart McCloskey.
