Ireland have edged South 13-8 in a thrilling game in Paris this evening.

The holders took on the world number one ranked side and Andy Farrell’s men battled to secure a significant win, leaving no one doubting their World Cup winning credentials.

A converted try from Mack Hansen and two penalties was enough in the close contest, with the Springboks inaccuracy from the boot costing them after a try from Cheslin Kolbe put the game on a knife edge in the closing stages.

Not a perfect game from Ireland, but the Irish defence was solid and held out a late Springbok surge which is huge from a psychological perspective as Ireland progress in this tournament.

The game got off to a frantic start with some huge collisions and physicality from both teams.
Ireland struggled with lineouts and looked jittery in the opening exchanges.

Mannie Libbok put his side ahead with an early penalty but there was nothing between the two sides as they traded blow for blow.

The back-and-forth nature continued in the first half with both teams engaged in an arm wrestle to gain ascendency.

On the half hour mark Sexton was brought down on the line but Ireland worked it quick and wide, and the Mack Hansen manages to cross as he stumbled over the line and Sexton added the extras.

The brutal encounter showed no signs of slowing down and Ireland were marginally the happier of the two teams as they went in at the break. The biggest talking point at half-time was Ireland’s lineout issues but both teams looked impressive in the first half.

South Africa’s bomb squad came on at 50 mins and demonstrated pure power as they won their scrum, and the ball went wide to Kolbe who darted over unchallenged to score but Libbok failed to add the extras.

A penalty from Jonny Sexton on the hour mark gave his side the lead once more but the game looked like it could go either way as the game entered the final quarter.

Ireland kept their noses in front as South Africa went wide with two penalties and Ireland started to play in the right areas of the pitch, using the boot to good effect and probed the space in the South African back-field.

Replacement fly-half Jack Crowley dissected the post with a nerve-wracking penalty just to the left of the posts to give Ireland a slight cushion as the game entered the closing stages.

The atmosphere in the stadium was electric as Ireland put in a monumental defensive effort to hold out the Springboks who threatened to stage a late come-back.

A late South African maul was rolling towards the line, but Ireland somehow held firm and were awarded a penalty as the clock went red and the referee blew the whistle signalling to the crowd that the celebrations could begin for the 35,000 Irish fans in the stadium.