Springboks humiliate Ireland in Dublin: Chaos and historic victory

Springboks Break the Curse in Dublin with an Epic Victory

In a match that will be etched in the memory of fans, South Africa’s Springboks defeated Ireland with a score of 23-14 in Dublin, marking their first victory in the city since 2012 and solidifying their position as the best team in the world. The match was a real rollercoaster of emotions, with a frenetic pace and moments of pure madness. Ireland suffered four cards in the first half, even playing with 12 men at one point. Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks coach, strategy of substituting both props in a scrum near the Irish five-meter line resulted in a yellow card and a penalty try for the South Africans. In addition, two tries were disallowed in the first half.

David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty ImagesThe atmosphere in the Aviva Stadium was electrifying, with smoke in the air and a moving performance of The Cranberries’ anthem “Zombie” before the start. The song, which resonated in Paris after Ireland’s victory in the World Cup group stage against the Springboks, sought to evoke memories and motivate the Irish. From the start, the match promised strong emotions. Damian Willemse scored a spectacular try at four minutes. Despite some moments of tension, the Springboks demonstrated their physical and tactical superiority. A try by Tadhg Beirne for Ireland was disallowed, and then Cobus Reinach scored another for South Africa. Dan Sheehan responded for Ireland, who were already playing with 13 men, and the situation worsened with the yellow card to Jack Crowley. The Springboks, with constant pressure, achieved a 19-7 lead at halftime, after a first half that lasted an hour.

Damian Willemse scored South Africa’s first try in Dublin. Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

In the second half, Ireland narrowed the gap with penalties, but Feinberg-Mngomezulu extended the lead for the Springboks. Despite Ireland’s attempts to close the score, discipline was their Achilles’ heel, accumulating 18 penalties in total. The Springboks demonstrated remarkable physical superiority, leaving a mark on the Irish team. The victory broke a 13-year streak without winning in Dublin for South Africa, relieving the pressure on the team and their coach.

Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

The match was a physically challenging one of great intensity, with the Springboks showing a dominant performance. The lack of discipline and exposure in the forward play cost Ireland dearly, leaving Andy Farrell with a lot of work to do.