Ireland 15 South Africa 10:If Ireland's victory at Croke Park could be defined by a single moment then Brian O'Driscoll's thunderous tackle on South African fullback Zane Kirchner in the final throes of a pulsating duel encapsulated a team's attitude.
The Irish captain had no regard for his own physical well being when he launched himself into a collision that would prove crucial to the final outcome. Ireland were stretched paper thin, inside their own 22 with the game clock showing 80 minutes. Some 74,900 spectators held their collective breath as the Springboks propelled themselves towards the potential salvation of a try.
Those expectations foundered when O’Driscoll emptied Kirchner in the tackle, forcing the concession of a penalty as the stunned Springbok clung onto the ball on the ground, a reflex action. Ireland, the Grand Slam winners had beaten South Africa, the world and Tri-Nations kingpins in the self proclaimed battle of the hemispheres.
The roar that greeted referee Nigel Owens’ whistle was a deserving fanfare for an Ireland team that showed wonderful commitment and desire to mark an unbeaten run through 2009 – it represents the longest unbeaten sequence in the history of Irish rugby, 10 victories and a draw against Australia that dates back to the 2008 November international victory over Argentina.
This Irish team provided a beacon of inspiration in the freezing Dublin fog that enshrouded Croke Park. The rugby wasn’t pretty at times but it was pretty effective. Today’s victory was built on character, a homily to perspiration, desire and a willingness to match their opponents in the collisions. It was bone-on-bone, sinew-on-sinew as two teams wore pride as much as emblems on their jerseys.
It wasn’t a game of perfect from either team but as a contest it didn’t detract too much. The Springboks were at the end of a phenomenal season that had seen them win the Tri- Nations and defeat the British and Irish Lions. They were missing a couple of players like Pierre Spies and on the day of the match itself had to plan without secondrow enforcer Bakkies Botha, both of whom a massive loss.
But in fairness to Pieter de Villiers’ team they didn’t play like a side that bemoaned a long season. They’ll reflect on Morne Steyn’s fallibility with the placed ball, one or two moments where poor choices cost them opportunities and a lineout that was pick-pocketed far too regularly. Discipline cost them too but much of that came from Irish pressure.
Ireland’s outhalf Jonathan Sexton, in only his second cap, played with an assurance that belied that lack of experience. His place-kicking in freezing conditions was absolutely stunning, only a couple of the five he posted from seven attempts could be regarded as reasonable chances: that’s with a small ‘r.’
It’s not as if the home side had everything go for them on the day. Their scrum was eviscerated, there was a surfeit of handling errors, players got isolated in possession, allowing turnovers and some of the aerial bombardment was poorly directed but this Irish team refused to blink. They simply applied themselves even more in what was a brilliant team effort.
Singling out individuals invariably courts a sin of omission but there were a handful of stellar performances, not least fullback and man-of-the-match Rob Kearney. His fielding of the high ball was breathtaking at times, he counter-attacked shrewdly on occasion and was also involved in a number of try saving tackles not least part of a cabal that helping to shepherd Tenday Mtawarira into touch inches from the Irish line.
O’Driscoll was imperious, making one superb break in the first half, poaching in the tackle and then bringing Kirchner to ground with a thump. Bowe and Earls both ran strongly on a meagre diet but it was replacement centre Gordon D’Arcy – back to his effervescent best – that made a huge contribution; slaloming through tackles, straightening the line and gift wrapping Springboks in time for Christmas.
Sexton ran the game intelligently, kicked all 15 of Ireland’s points and was helped by Tomas O’Leary, whose box-kicking aside was his customary hard working self. If the pack struggled in the scrum, then they ruled the air with Paul O’Connell leading an assault on the Springbok throw. Every single member of the pack contributed, Jerry Flannery, David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip in carrying effectively, Donncha O’Callaghan in shutting down the opposition along with the rest of the front five.
The introduction of Sean O’Brien for the luckless Stephen Ferris allowed Ireland to be a little more competitive at the breakdown in the second half and this was crucial to the final outcome. In winning a Grand Slam during the Six Nations Ireland did not always hit the heights or more appositely the levels of performance that they themselves set but they found a way to win.
That mentality allowed them to salvage a 20-20 draw against Australia and today at Croke Park it was that unbending spirit and belief in one another that saw them beat the world champions. It was a fitting end to what has been a remarkable year for the national side.
Ireland:R Kearney; T Bowe, B O'Driscoll, P Wallace, K Earls; J Sexton, T O'Leary; C Healy, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; S Ferris, D Wallace, J Heaslip. Replacements: S Cronin, T Buckley, L Cullen, D Leamy, P Stringer, R O'Gara, G D'Arcy.
South Africa:Z Kirchner; JP Pietersen, J Fourie, W Olivier, B Habana; M Steyn, F du Preez; T Mtawarira, J Smit (capt), BJ Botha; A Bekker , V Matfield; H Brussow, S Burger, D Rossouw. Replacements: B du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, F Hougaard, J Deysel, D Potgieter, R Pienaar, J de Villiers.
