Ireland shown five cards as Boks win chaotic Test

Tuesday, 25 November 2025 01:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

South Africa ended a 13-year wait for a win on Irish soil after defeats in 2014, 2017, and 2022

Ill-disciplined Ireland were shown five cards as South Africa produced a typically power-packed performance to win a chaotic, bruising autumn Test – their first victory in Dublin since 2012.

South Africa scored 24 points versus 13 by Ireland.

Having bounced back from an opening November loss to the All Blacks by beating Japan and Australia, Ireland had hoped to claim a statement win over the world champions to end 2025 on a high.

Coach Andy Farrell was forced to rip up his gameplan on a hectic and deeply frustrating evening which yielded a red card for James Ryan and yellows for Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley, Andrew Porter, and Paddy McCarthy.

Damian Willemse gave the tourists a dream start with a fourth-minute try, before Ryan’s yellow for a high hit on Malcolm Marx in the build-up to Tadhg Beirne’s disallowed try. After the card was upgraded to a 20-minute red, Cobus Reinach extended the Springboks’ lead with Prendergast also sin-binned, before Dan Sheehan crossed for Ireland.

In a devastating end to the half for the Irish, though, they went down to 12 men as Crowley and Porter were also shown yellows, while Rassie Erasmus’ men were awarded a penalty try to take an imposing 19-7 lead at the break.

Ireland could only muster six points in the second period through two Prendergast penalties, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s superb individual try ensuring a first win on Irish soil for the Springboks in four attempts.