'They'll say that was the difference': Springboks left to rue goal kicking
South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber conceded the better team won and was left to rue a couple of wayward kicks at goal.
South Africa suffered their heaviest defeat to Ireland when the sides last met – a humiliating 38-3 Aviva Stadium thrashing in 2017.
The Springboks returned as holders of the Webb Ellis Cup and seeking to avenge that embarrassment against hosts who shot to the top of the global rankings on the back of a stunning summer series win in New Zealand.
Following a stop-start opening period which ended 6-6, the game sparked to life with Hansen capping a spellbinding move to put Ireland in control of the scoreboard just three minutes after Van der Flier powered over.
Fly-half Damian Willemse missed a straightforward first-half penalty, while Cheslin Kolbe struck the posts with the conversion following Mostert’s try.
“I thought Ireland deserved this one,” said Nienaber. “They showed why they are number one in the world.
“They got a couple of opportunities and they capitalised on that. They nailed it and we got a couple of opportunities and we didn’t nail it.
“We saw things that were good and some things that were not so good. We need to get some aspects of our game in order.”
Speaking of the goal-kicking, he said: “Probably if people look at it they’ll say that was the difference between the two teams.
“Johnny missed also a kick or two but he nailed the big ones and we missed a couple and it’s something we’ll keep working on.”
“The difference tonight was that Ireland used all the chances they created, and we didn’t. There were some good things and other areas that were not so good, and we’ll work on that as we prepare for the Test against France.”
On the winning side, Andy Farrell hailed Ireland’s “guts” after his side shrugged off a host of injury setbacks to cement their status as rugby’s top-ranked nation with a thrilling win over world champions South Africa.
The in-form Irish laid down a marker ahead of next year’s World Cup pool-stage meeting with the Springboks by holding off a late fightback to claim a deserved 19-16 Dublin success.
Mack Hansen’s scintillating try added to a bulldozing effort from Josh van der Flier early in the second half before scores from Franco Mostert and Kurt-Lee Arendse brought the tourists to within touching distance.
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton kicked three penalties, including what proved to be a match-winning one six minutes from time, to ensure the hosts’ autumn campaign began with a bang.
However, a stunning victory came at a cost, with Farrell awaiting full details on the first-half injuries suffered by centre Stuart McCloskey, centurion Conor Murray and prop Tadhg Furlong.
Asked what he learned about his squad, the head coach replied: “A lot; that we’ve got resilience, we’ve got guts, character.
“We wanted the different type of Test match that was a proper old-fashioned slinging match to see where we’re at in that regard. And, wow, I thought the character of the side was immense, for all sorts of reasons.
“You start with them coming into camp and a lot of them being undone in terms of where minutes is concerned.
“Never mind it being our first game of the season, it’s some of the lads’ first game of the season and some of them have not played for three or four weeks.
“I thought we showed fantastic spirit. Having said that South Africa are a hell of a side and it was a hell of a Test match and it could have gone either way.”
Farrell is hopeful the injuries to McCloskey (twisted arm) and Furlong (jarred ankle) are not serious, while he had less of an update on scrum-half Murray, who limped off on the occasion of his 100th cap due to a groin issue.
“I’m unbelievably proud of them of how they’ve applied themselves,” continued the Englishman.
“Our set-piece was unbelievable and on the back of that our defence was immense.
“It was a proper Test match. If the result had been different for us I’d still have felt the same way.”
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No just because the personal is much better than last year. I've shown no antagonism of Crusader players, you must be confusing me with someone else.
I have critized Razor for picking players he knows occasionally?
I said I'm not surprised because of his style, he's more a grinder player like Cane, not going to show up on peoples radar until you see how bad the other choices are. This year players like Clarke have been on fire and just show a bit more.
Are you one of those posters continually taking it easy on Razor because he doesn't have his Crusaders stars available? Do you think the rugby world is going to up to him suddenly once Mo'unga returns? lol
Go to commentsJohn you have been beating this drum for a couple of years, if you get proven right get back to us.
The last recent and decent Aussie coach was Ewen McKenzie, he was undermined and forced out by a couple of slimy Aussie players who were given a free pass when they should have been disciplined.
So our history since McQueen is very checkered and it seems to make little difference whether we have an Aussie coach or a Kiwi coach. The players have been entitled for a long time and we had to hit bottom to get them back into reality and to stop thinking it is all about them.
Cheika was an OK coach but his 'go our and destroy the opposition' tactic worked for a while and then didn't.
Please give me a list of great Aussie coaches that I have missed.
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