Ireland have not beaten South Africa since 1965 when they won 9-6 at Lansdowne Road with a team that included Mike Gibson, Willy John McBride and Tom Kiernan.
South Africa 23, Ireland 15 - May 30th, 1981
It was the tour that caused enormous divisions in Irish rugby. The Irish government campaigned the tour should not go ahead.
Two Test matches were arranged. The match was level at the interval. But two tries in the second half secured the South African victory.
IRELAND: J Murphy; T Kennedy, D Irwin, O Campbell, A McLennan; P Dean, R McGrath; P Orr, J Cantrell, G McLoughlin, J Holland, B Foley, F Slattery, W Duggan, J O'Driscoll. Replacements: K O'Brien for Murphy, J Hewitt for Campbell.
South Africa 12, Ireland 10 - June 6th, 1981
For the second Test, the Irish were forced to send for reinforcements with John Robbie, Campbell and Murphy all ruled out.
Palmerston scrumhalf Barry O'Connor arrived, as did Mick Quinn. Ireland led 10-6 in the second half thanks to an O'Brien try and two penalties by Quinn. But the inspirational Naas Botha struck with two drop-goals.
IRELAND: K O'Brien; T Kennedy, D Irwin, P Dean, A McLennan; M Quinn, R McGrath; P Orr, J Cantrell, G McLoughlin, J Holland, B Foley, F Slattery, W Duggan, J O'Driscoll. Replacements: J Hewitt for Dean.
South Africa 37, Ireland 13 - June 13th, 1998
The latter stages of the game, particularly, is when the Irish team collapsed, with Springbok wing Stefan Terblanche running in four tries.
Justin Bishop landed the only Irish try of the match with outhalf Eric Elwood kicking two penalties and a conversion for Ireland's scores.
IRELAND: C O'Shea; J Bishop, K Maggs, M McCall, D Hickie; E Elwood, C McGuinness; J Fitzpatrick, K Wood, P Wallace, P Johns, M O'Kelly, D O'Cuinneagain, V Costello, A Ward. Replacements: R Henderson for Hickie. G Fulcher for Johns. T Brennan for Costello
South Africa 33, Ireland 0 - June 20th 1998
The scoreline doesn't always tell it all. This time it did in Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria. The match will be remembered more for its ill-tempered complexion.
The Boks went into the break 19-0 up. Another outbreak of fighting broke out soon after the break, but Ireland were under too much pressure.
IRELAND: C O'Shea; J Bishop, K Maggs, M McCall, D Hickie; J Fitzpatrick, K Wood, P Wallace, P Johns, M O'Kelly, D O'Cuinneagain, V Costello, A Ward. Replacements: R Henderson for Hickie. D Humphreys for Elwood. T Brennan for Costello.
Ireland 13, South Africa 27 - November 28th, 1998
IRELAND might have extended the Springboks further, but ultimately class told. One chance in the first half and they went seven points up.
After the resumption, they struck 17 points to just two accurate kicks from Eric Elwood.
IRELAND: C O'Shea; J Bishop, J Bell, K Maggs, G Dempsey; E Elwood, C McGuinness; J Fitzpatrick, K Wood, P Clohessy, P Johns, M O'Kelly, D O'Cuinneagain, V Costello, A Ward. Replacements: R Corrigan for Fitzpatrick. R Nesdale for Wood. J Davidson for O'Kelly.
