Classy Ireland tame Springboks

Ireland justified their favourites tag as they beat South Africa 32-15 at Lansdowne Road.

International Test match, Ireland v South Africa, Lansdowne Road, Saturday November 11

Ireland justified their 'favourites' tag as they produced an assured display at Lansdowne Road to beat South Africa 32-15.

Eddie O'Sullivan's men, who were simply outstanding in the first half, ran in a total of four tries as they emerged worthy winners.

Andrew Trimble, David Wallace, Marcus Horan and Shane Horgan all crossed, while Ronan O'Gara capped a fine individual display by kicking 12 points.

The Springboks made a good start and an enterprising early break from their backs and subsequent forward drive set up an early penalty that Andre Pretorius confidently despatched.

But the pendulum rapidly turned in Ireland's favour and they trailed for only a couple of minutes before Trimble crossed for the first try of the game.

It was set up by a fine drive from Dennis Leamy; the ball was then fed back to Ronan O'Gara who provided the inspiration as he flicked a cute inside pass into the path of Trimble who powered on to the ball at pace to crash through a couple of would-be tacklers and over for his fifth international try - O'Gara added the extras.

The stand-off was clearly enjoying himself as he directed proceedings for the hosts with his kicking from both hand and ground exemplary despite the difficult windy conditions.

Indeed, he extended the lead on 20 minutes, neatly slotting a penalty from the 22 as Ireland began to exert themselves.

They demonstrated their increasing superiority just a couple of minutes later with a splendid second try.

Some composed and precise build-up play saw the ball recycled through three or four phases before it was spun through the hands of the backs from left to right with Horgan eventually releasing David Wallace who scampered in at the corner before rounding to touch down next to the posts.

O'Gara blotted his copybook as he failed with the conversion, missing with a rushed drop after the wind had blown the ball over in his run-up.

Horgan almost added another quick-fire try, but the rampaging winger was denied by an excellent covering tackle from Pierre Spies.

Ireland produced some decent defending of their own as they held firm on their goal-line to keep the visitors out despite a series of penalties and then hit their opponents with a sucker punch moments before the half-time whistle.

Trimble nearly claimed his second of the evening but was denied by another wonderful last-ditch tackle from Spies, but the reprieve proved temporary as the momentum was maintained before Horan (pictured) bulldozed his way from close range.

O'Gara fired over the conversion to ensure the hosts went in with a merited 22-3 advantage at the interval.

Playing into the wind in the after the break, Ireland struggled to rediscover the fluency of the opening 40 minutes with both kickers spurning penalty opportunities in a scrappy opening to the second half.

The malaise was broken on 65 minutes as South Africa claimed the try their sustained efforts deserved, with the lively Francois Steyn scoring on his debut.

It was set up by Danie Rossouw who had originally made a good break and, although Ireland did manage to partially clear, the Springboks reclaimed possession and it was Rossouw who released Steyn with a fine pick-up and pass, allowing the winger to dive over in the corner.

O'Gara settled any home nerves by choosing to kick a penalty after South Africa had been penalised for hands in the ruck, and it proved a sensible decision as the visitors went over for their second try soon afterwards.

A poor kick forward from O'Gara landed in the arms of Steyn who launched a rapid counter with an innovative run in-field, the ball was subsequently spun out to Bryana Habana and the winger, playing in the centre, demonstrated his clinical finishing by speeding past a couple of defenders before touching down under the posts.

That seemed to sting the hosts into action and they fittingly claimed the game's final score just seconds later.

O'Gara's miss-pass found Brian O'Driscoll and the home skipper produced a typically audacious pass to Horgan - looking one way and slipping the ball back behind him the other - to allow the winger to rumble over in the corner - O'Gara's conversion adding a gloss to the scoreline.