South Africa v Ireland LIVE rugby: Score and updates from first Test ...
The Six Nations winners take on the world champions at Loftus Versfeld the first Test of a mouth-watering series
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South Africa return to action on home soil for the first time since securing back-to-back World Cup triumphs as they take on Ireland in the first Test of a potentially thrilling series.
The Springboks are back under the direction of Rassie Erasmus after Jacques Nienaber’s departure and warmed up for an encounter with the Six Nations winners with a strong win over Wales at Twickenham.
Ireland are missing a couple of key figures in Hugo Keenan and Jamison Gibson-Park for the two-Test tour but will travel with confidence having won their last three meetings with their hosts, including during the pool stages of last year’s World Cup.
But Andy Farrell’s side will expect a hostile reception with the two sides trading barbs in the build-up to the renewal of a rivalry that has grown in spite and spice in recent years.
Follow all the latest updates and reaction from South Africa vs Ireland below:
Knocked on! Ireland go route one and then try to vary the angle, Caelan Doris peeling back on the diagonal but met well by two hulking South Africans. Peter O’Mahony’s flick off the floor is then fumbled by a carrying Joe McCarthy - and there are our first handbags, players from both sides pushing and jawing at one another.
Harry Latham-Coyle6 July 2024 16:12
Advantage coming, and a second penalty, too, both for offside. Can Ireland find the right play? No, Jesse Kriel tumbles in to Craig Casey and knocks the scrum half off his feet as he looks to pass. Nothing untoward.
Ireland will tap quickly!
Harry Latham-Coyle6 July 2024 16:11
A peculiar error from the normally rock solid Kwagga Smith, losing track of Jack Crowley’s restart and knocking on inside his own. An excellent shot at an immediate reply for Ireland.
Harry Latham-Coyle6 July 2024 16:10
Irresistable stepping!
Magnificent from Kurt-Lee Arendse! He’s just so tricky to get to grips with, all flashing feet and fancy flicks. Siya Kolisi puts him away up the left and Jamie Osborne is left sliding clutching at thin air as Arendse does him with his hips, strutting beneath the posts to go in untouched. Handre Pollard adds the two.
Harry Latham-Coyle6 July 2024 16:08
A frighteningly physical opening. Pieter-Steph du Toit punches over the gain line; Franco Mostert is thwacked back. Jamie Osborne makes a better job of his next assignment, weaving through traffic and taking cleanly.
Harry Latham-Coyle6 July 2024 16:06
A bit of an early worry for Jamie Osborne as a box kick doesn’t reach him, forcing a retreating forward to tap it back to the full-back. South Africa soon wrench breakdown ball away.
Harry Latham-Coyle6 July 2024 16:05
The first Test is underway at Loftus Versfeld!
Harry Latham-Coyle6 July 2024 16:04
Right, off we go. South Africa, as is tradition in rugby, are in their change strip; Ireland familiar green.
Harry Latham-Coyle6 July 2024 16:03
A smattering of Irishmen and women have made the trip down to Pretoria. They warble along to “Ireland’s Call”.
A powerful, emotional South African national anthem, plenty of players looking to the heavens or shutting their eyes. Eben Etzebeth breaks into a smile as he soaks it all in.
Harry Latham-Coyle6 July 2024 16:01
Jack Rathborn6 July 2024 15:59
