Johnny Sexton and Co- Make a Huge Statement in France as they Beat the Reigning World Cup Champions
- 7 months ago
South Africa 8-13 Ireland: Johnny Sexton and Co make a huge statement in France as they beat the reigning World Cup champions in a Test for the ages. The Irish line held firm, refusing to yield in the face of a physical threat the size of freight train, to emerge with a win for the ages.
The Irish line held firm, refusing to yield in the face of a physical threat the size of a freight train, to emerge with a win for the ages. It told the world that they really can dethrone South Africa in this tournament.
The Springboks will reflect today that they left points out there, in the shape of three missed penalties and a fluffed conversion. But buoyed by an unforgettable level of support from 35,000 of their fans, Ireland was faster in the breakdown and more accurate in possession in a game of titanic physicality. In all South Africa lost 12 contacts on breakdown.
When the dust settles on a game of breathtaking intensity and unremitting pace, transcending any notion of a World Cup pool game, there will be time to reflect on the monumental performance of Bundee Aki.
His major defensive effort – including a try-saving challenge on Jesse Kriel which will live long in the memory - kept the Boks at bay. He made vital yards before Ireland’s try.
But there’s something more elemental to this team than that. The squad has found that sweet spot, rare in sport, in which collectivism allows an extraordinary belief to take hold. It’s 28 wins in 30 Tests now.
The bond formed these past few years with the Irish nation helps. Johnny Sexton, the captain, said last night that he had never seen a crowd like this one.
There were two shades of green in this city ahead of the game but the emerald hue was the dominant one. It was an Irish sea issuing from the Porte de Paris Metro station under a bright blue late afternoon sky, singing the Fields of Athenry, the unofficial national anthem, which tells the tale of love lost in the great famine.
There seemed to be something appropriate about calling to mind those days of 1848 – Ireland’s time of gravest struggle – because the planned aggression of the world champions was another form of punishment to contend with. ‘The earth will shake this Saturday evening in Saint-Denis for this clash of titans,’ L’Equipe had warned.
The 120kg Pieter-Steph Du Toit and 141kg Frans Malherbe looked a colossal prospect as the teams lined up. And, of course, there was a self-styled ‘bomb machine’ of seven forwards on the Boks bench.
The starting XV looked like the detonators in an opening 20 minutes which took them printing towards the Irish first receivers like men possessed, sending the Irish barrelling back and, in the case of Garry Ringrose, walking from the pitch for a head injury assessment.
Sexton, the 38-year-old talisman, who carried a visible and almost emotional desire to win onto this field last night, beckoned to the attendant 30,000 Irish to cheer the side on, but it just wasn’t as simple as that.
The Irish line held firm, refusing to yield in the face of a physical threat the size of a freight train, to emerge with a win for the ages. It told the world that they really can dethrone South Africa in this tournament.
The Springboks will reflect today that they left points out there, in the shape of three missed penalties and a fluffed conversion. But buoyed by an unforgettable level of support from 35,000 of their fans, Ireland was faster in the breakdown and more accurate in possession in a game of titanic physicality. In all South Africa lost 12 contacts on breakdown.
When the dust settles on a game of breathtaking intensity and unremitting pace, transcending any notion of a World Cup pool game, there will be time to reflect on the monumental performance of Bundee Aki.
His major defensive effort – including a try-saving challenge on Jesse Kriel which will live long in the memory - kept the Boks at bay. He made vital yards before Ireland’s try.
But there’s something more elemental to this team than that. The squad has found that sweet spot, rare in sport, in which collectivism allows an extraordinary belief to take hold. It’s 28 wins in 30 Tests now.
The bond formed these past few years with the Irish nation helps. Johnny Sexton, the captain, said last night that he had never seen a crowd like this one.
There were two shades of green in this city ahead of the game but the emerald hue was the dominant one. It was an Irish sea issuing from the Porte de Paris Metro station under a bright blue late afternoon sky, singing the Fields of Athenry, the unofficial national anthem, which tells the tale of love lost in the great famine.
There seemed to be something appropriate about calling to mind those days of 1848 – Ireland’s time of gravest struggle – because the planned aggression of the world champions was another form of punishment to contend with. ‘The earth will shake this Saturday evening in Saint-Denis for this clash of titans,’ L’Equipe had warned.
The 120kg Pieter-Steph Du Toit and 141kg Frans Malherbe looked a colossal prospect as the teams lined up. And, of course, there was a self-styled ‘bomb machine’ of seven forwards on the Boks bench.
The starting XV looked like the detonators in an opening 20 minutes which took them printing towards the Irish first receivers like men possessed, sending the Irish barrelling back and, in the case of Garry Ringrose, walking from the pitch for a head injury assessment.
Sexton, the 38-year-old talisman, who carried a visible and almost emotional desire to win onto this field last night, beckoned to the attendant 30,000 Irish to cheer the side on, but it just wasn’t as simple as that.