South Africa overpowered a card-plagued Ireland 13–24 in a chaotic and bruising Test match in Dublin, securing their first victory on Irish soil in 13 years.
Ireland’s hopes of ending 2025 on a high evaporated amid a disastrous night of ill-discipline featuring five cards—a 20-minute red for James Ryan and yellows for Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley, Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy.
The Springboks dominated physically from the outset, with early tries from Damian Willemse and Cobus Reinach, plus a penalty try, giving them a commanding 19–7 halftime lead after Ireland briefly rallied through a Dan Sheehan score.
Despite Prendergast adding two penalties after the break, Ireland never recovered from their undermanned first half, and a brilliant solo try from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu sealed the Springboks’ statement win. South Africa’s scrum dominance and relentless defence repeatedly halted Ireland’s late surges, even after the visitors lost Grant Williams to a late yellow card. The world champions now chase a clean sweep of Europe against Wales next week, while Ireland must regroup ahead of a daunting Six Nations opener against France in February.
How do the South Africans get so many games with the cheating English referees Marthew Carly and Karl Dickson in charge?
Ireland got a taste of the All Blacks treatment with a slew of penalties, yellow cards, and a red! Somehow the saintly South Africans did no wrong until the last 2 minutes when the game was already in the bag.
Carly and Dickson make every game they referee a lopsided penalty count in favour of 2 teams. SOUTH Africa and any team playing the All Blacks
The Irish crowd had every justification for the booing at the end of the game.