Any Ireland hopes of a first victory over South Africa in 35 years were dashed as they were beaten 28-18 in an entertaining encounter at Lansdowne Road.
It was an enthralling match. Sometimes the enthralment was just to see how the Springboks would disentangle themselves from their quick little passes in desperate straits. They passed near their line, they passed going backwards -- it was a case of carry on passing.
It was magnificent but was it rugby? At times it seemed that the pass was an achievement of its own, instead of a means to improvement, to going somewhere. At times there was a desperate need for something direct. There were wonderfully direct moments, Thinus Delport running with acceleration and deception out of defence, Pieter Rossouw racing downfield at all sorts of angles from his own corner-flag, Braam van Straaten hoofing ahead and with great determination winning the ball that became Corné Krige's try.
In the midst of so many passes there shall not want error and that happened and yet the forwards somehow managed to get possession back. Which was just as well as the Irish were telling on the run. Both their tries were moments of splendour on the turf. Their running was more organised than that of the Springboks with Brian O'Driscoll to add the spark. An repeatedly they attacked the Springboks' right flank where Chester Williams found it hard to keep up.
The Springboks struggled with bits of organisation, especially at line-out and kick-off time. The Irish line-outs were immaculate, those of the Springboks a matter of hit-and-miss.
As penalties proliferated at the start, the Springboks, wind at their backs, exerted pressure and Percy Montgomery's left boot put them ahead 6-0. The Springboks did well at picking and driving and when held up on the Irish line, Joost van der Westhuizen squirreled over for a try which Montgomery converted. It seemed that the Springboks were on course for a sound victory as, surely, the Irish defence could not last forever.
Last it did. The Springboks bungled a kick-off and the Irish got back into the game. Ronan O'Gara kicked a penalty of dubious validity as it seemed to veer outside the right upright, but Ed Morrison said it was over. Later he got entangled in the Irish goal area when the ball struck him and Pieter Rossouw may have scored. But by then the Irish were back.
They sped down the left wing, chipped and chased and Dennis Hickey easily won the sprint for the try. They nearly had another in similar fashion, but the ball went too far at the kick ahead. Thinus Delport's action after the kick landed him in the sinbin, where Peter Clohessy and Robbie Kempson had been before him. Till the fullback's return the Springboks operated with only six backs.
After the interval Braam van Straaten came on for Robbie Fleck who later came back for Grant Esterhuizen.
Van Straaten and Esterhuizen combined to produce the next Springbok try as Van Straaten hoofed a dropped ball through, pounded after it, dived to won it. Eventually Esterhuizen did a scrumhalf dive to Rossouw who turned inside before giving to Krige on his outside for the trough, hard-working flank to squeeze over in the corner. South Africa led 18-13.
Then the Irish broke again when Dennis Hickie came round form the right wing and Tyrone Howe went down the left touchline to score -- a simple move straight from a line-out, no frills, just direct, well-organised rugby.
And so it came to pass, sure, that the score was 18-18 and the crowd was excited. At that score the Springboks were awarded a penalty in front of the Irish posts, close in. Symbolic of the modern Springbok approach, Albert van den Berg tapped and legged it to the Irish line, where it became a scrum. But there had been something naughty and back they went to a penalty some 6m from touch. And, yet again, Braam van Straaten kicked it over.
Back came the Springboks with a sudden burst of enthusiasm to batter at the Irish line till a pass went wide to Venter who lunged over at the posts.
The match ended soon afterwards and the rainbow came down behind the Irish posts.
It was a match, not a war, where the Springboks' main battle was to master the skills to play the thrilling game they want to play.
Afterwards Keith Woods, great but comparatively subdued as the Springboks kept tabs on him, said: "I'm not happy. We could have won it."
Man of the match: Hard to call -- Joost van der Westhuizen was on the way back to being his effective best. André Venter was so determined and with a new-found ability to distribute. Thinus Delport had magic though he blotted his copybook with a yellow card. Robbie Kempson who scrummed with dedication also spoilt his performance with a yellow card. Brian O'Driscoll with the dancing feetis a centre of rare ability in world rugby, as he showed, but then it was his mistake thagt led to Corné Krige's try. And that is our man of the match -- firm in the tackle, strong in the drive running well and being in exactly the right place to score a most telling try -- Corné Krige.
Villain of the match: Not the three holders of yellow cards, for it was a match without malice. Perhaps there were ageing folk who were on the field who were not up to standard, but then they did not put themselves there. Perhaps there were no villains.
Defining moment: The try which Braam started and Corné ended.
The Teams:
South Africa: 1 Robbie Kempson, 2 John Smit, 3 Willie Meyer, 4 Mark Andrews, 5 Albert Van Den Bergh, 6 Corne Krige, 7 Andre Venter, 8 Andre Vos (c), 9 Joost Van Der Westhuizen, 10 Percy Montgomery, 11 Pieter Rossouw, 12 Grant Esterhuizen, 13 Robbie Fleck, 14 Chester Williams, 15 Thinus Delport
Reserves: Ollie Le Roux, Braam Van Straaten
Unused: A.J. Venter, Deon Kayser, Hottie Louw, Charl Marais, Dan Van Zyl
Ireland: 1 Peter Clohessy, 2 Keith Wood (c), 3 John Hayes, 4 Gary Longwell, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 6 Kieron Dawson, 7 Eric Miller, 8 Anthony Foley, 9 Peter Stringer, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 11 Denis Hickie, 12 Rob Henderson, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 14 Tyrone Howe, 15 Girvan Dempsey
Reserves: Shane Horgan, David Humphreys, Justin Fitzpatrick, Andy Ward
Unused: Paddy Johns, Brian O'Meara, Frankie Sheahan
Referee: Lander s.
Points Scorers:
South Africa
Tries: Krige C.J.P. 1, Van Der Westhuizen J. 1, Venter A.G. 1
Conv: Montgomery P.C. 1, Van Straaten A.J.J. 1
Pen K.: Montgomery P.C. 2, Van Straaten A.J.J. 1
Ireland
Tries: Hickie D.A. 1, Howe T.G. 1
Conv: O'Gara R. 1
Pen K.: O'Gara R. 2
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