FULL-TIME, SOUTH AFRICA 8-13 IRELAND. A terrific, bruising contest. The Boks will not sleep well having given away points aplenty and lost momentum at key moments. Ireland played superbly, and the Boks had some exceptional moments, but the winning of this match boiled down to mistakes made by the Boks… but that's part of the charm of this great game. Ireland will be ecstatic as they remain No 1 in the world. What a match… what a tournament… thanks for enjoying the action with us.
Boks win the lineout and drive forward to the line… three metres out… two metres out… Ireland bring it to ground… ref judges that Ireland have the ball (a big call!) and it's a scrum for Ireland… but because time has run out, the ref raises the whistle to his lips… and Ireland have won 16 in a row!
Boks keep running the ball… and they win a penalty on the halfway line… Libbok to kick for touch… superbly placed deep into the 22… last chance for the Boks…
Boks run the line, maul, run the line down to the left touchline… but Ireland with the turnover… Lowe clears upfield, Kolbe runs it back up and into the Irish defence.
PENALTY, IRELAND, CROWLEY! 8-13; No problem from three metres to the left of the poles and about 8 metres from the Bok line. Rassie needs to do some serious light flashing now…
… Ireland given the penalty for the Boks scrumming too early. And they're going for poles.
… Ireland given the penalty for the Boks scrumming too early. And they're going for poles.
Crowley goes for the drop-goal, but De Allende is there on the block, the ball flicking off his fingers and bouncing over the dead ball line. Scrum on the 5m line… Ireland to feed…
Boks with the ball, drive hard, run right, break the Irish line, maul, run left… maul… it's hoofed upfield by Ireland… Boks anxious to run it back upfield… but it falls to Ireland who drive ay the Bok line from inside their 22… danger, danger, danger!
Call that buried… the throw is skew so Ireland will have the scrum. Poor play from the Boks in such a dangerous position. Ireland have had some lucky breaks… Boks are penalised in the scrum and Ireland have a free kick to clear upfield… Lowe driving his kick up to the Boks 10m line - a huge effort.
Boks win the lineout… the forwards holdling rhe ball and driving forward… penalty advantage to the Boks for a player coming around the side… Faf kicks it into touch about 6m short of the Irish line… and we have 10 minutes left for legends to be born… or buried!
Boks driving well, first Willemse then Snyman… then driving to the line inside the Irish 22 and they win the lineout. Dangerous position… the Boks need to make this count now.
Bok scrum… they run left… maul… run right… and right again… but Ireland turn the ball over and Lowe kicks to touch, blocked by Faf so Ireland will have the put-in.
Ireland penalised in the scrum on the halfway line… Faf lines up a kick at poles… he strikes it well… but he's pulled it just to the right of the poles. Did no-one pick up Billy's Boots on the way to the stadium? That's 11 points the Boks have lost, although three of them were far from easy.
NOOOOOOO! Big moment… Libbok again draws his kick ever so slightly to the left of the poles. Big, big moment. Rassie might need to flash his lights in Faf's direction again for the next penalty…
PENALTY! Ireland penalised after the scrums folds like a pack of cheap cards. Libbok points to the poles… it's on the 10m line and about 15m in from touch.
Medics first look after players from both sides…
Scrum for Ireland… the ref asks for it to be reset…
Ireland loft a high ball and Willemse again rises to take it under pressure, a superb take… the Boks run right then left… and now they are penalised.
PENALTY, IRELAND, SEXTON! 8-10; Through the middle, no problem – gran would be proud.
Scrum collapses and the Boks are penalised… and Ireland are going to kick for poles from just to the right of poles well just outside the Bok 22. Gran used to slot these over in her sleep…
Lovely running from Ireland, with some beautiful interplay and passes back and forth, all ends with a crunching tackle from the No 2 in the world and a scrum.
Snyman charges the kick down from the scrum, but he's ruled offside… ooh, very close call that. Ireland hit the touchline and win the lineout… they run the ball right…
Great backline move by the Boks, Willemse joining the line, beating his man and sending a brilliant low kick up the line and into touch.
Ooooooh! Libbok drags his conversion attempt just to the left of the posts. That would have been a nice four-point lead.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, KOLBE! 8-7; Brilliant move by the Boks, spreading the ball wide and then a long pass out to Kolbe on the wing, hugging the touchline… no-one near him, and he darts over for his first try against the Irish! Smashing try by the Boks.
Ref calls for the scrum to be reset…
Ireland break from the back but are dragged to ground and the ref blows for a penalty on the 5m… and the Boks are taking the scrum! And they've just brought on three new forwards. I can hear the chickens squawking in the IRB henhouse!
Faf takes the penalty for poles… it's curling nicely… BUT IT'S HIT THE UPRIGHT! It bounces back infield and the Boks follow up, grab the ball and drive towards the line… but Ireland hold firm and win the scrum.
Irish running the ball at the Boks line, now they go right… but the ref blows and the Boks have a penalty just inside their half. This is a battle royale!
… and Faf clears it deep upfield and finds his touch almost on the halfway line.
… Ireland run close to touch and kick upfield, Boks claiming the lineout but Ireland turn it over… and now it's their lineout… but the Boks steal it this time…
Ireland win their line, run the ball then kick low for touch… it bounces awkwardly and Faf just shepherds it out to touch… did it get a tough to him? Ref says no, so who cares… Boks win the lineout and hoist the ball upfield…
Boks drive hard to follow up the kick-off, turn the ball over… but Etzebeth is blown for an infringement in the ruck. Ireland clear upfield from in front of their poles.
KICK-OFF! We're underway with the second half at Stade de France… it's South Africa against Ireland… and everything is at stake over the next 40 minutes…
HALF-TIME, SOUTH AFRICA 3-7 IRELAND. What a crunching battle it's been, with South Africa controlling the first half hour, but Ireland fought back well to dominate the last 10 minutes and take the lead. Make no mistake about it - this is one almighty battle, and it's far from over! Second half to follow…
Ireland with the throw on the Bok 22… they drive forward, feed the line… now change to the right, but the Boks soak up the tackles… Sexton tries to break through but its knocked-on by the Irish… and that's the end of the half!
… play breaks down and the Boks have the scrum… feed it left, all the way down to Kolbe on the wing…… ball is fed right down the line, Boks into the maul… but Ireland are given the penalty now 5m short of the halfway line.
Ireland win the lineout, run the ball right into the Bok backline… now they kick over the top from the back, Willemse fumbles but Arendse collects… it's out the maul and Libbok launches upfield…
Boks put the pressure back on Ireland, earning a lineout about 7m from the Irish line… but they give away a penalty for Ireland to clear upfield.
CONVERSION, IRELAND, SEXTON! 3-7; Excellent kick from 10m in from the right touchline.
TRY, IRELAND, HANSEN! 3-5; The try stands… but that was close to the line.
Ireland win the lineout, drive at the Bok line, ,drive again… now they feed left… into the maul… feed it right and right again, Sexton right through but is held up… it's passed wide to Hansen open on the wing, he bursts over the line and dots down… but has he gone out of play as he dotted down?
… Ireland keep driving now into the Bok 22… running it right and right again… there's a cross kick but too deep and the Boks catch it and drag it out of play, but the ref calls play back to an Irish penalty… which they kick to touch. Brave move… is it the right one, though, in such a tight Test?
Aki gets the ball in the backline and bursts through the Bok line, he'll take some catching, but he can't break through three Boks and is brought down… but Ireland run it right, then left, then right… right again… they're on the Bok 22…
… ball is launched high and Arendse catches superbly under massive pressure. But Ireland will have the scrum.
Ireland with the scrum near their 22, run the ball and drive up the right touchline, the ball going out for a Bok throw… Faf feeds it out fast and Libbok launches a kick, Boks driving up now to the Irish 22… but Ireland win it in the maul…
Faf feeds the scrums 5m out, in front of poles… runs right, Boks break through, the pass pops up for Kolisi but he fumbles from too close (impossible to catch) and Ireland survive a massive attack.
Injury break as two Irishmen are looked after taking heavy knocks from the huge South African forwards… all seem hopefully fine.
Boks scrum 10m inside the Irish 22… Faf feeds the line right… Boks break through once, held up of the line, it's forward again but just short of the line and the ball bursts out and Ireland dot down.
Boks scrum 10m inside the Irish 22… Faf feeds the line right… Boks break through once, held up of the line, it's forward again but just short of the line and the ball bursts out and Ireland dot down.
Ireland win the lineout and drive into the Bok line, Ireland win another lineout but this one isn't put in straight and the Boks will have the scrum in a really dangerous position… if you're the No 1 side in the world.
Boks win the lineout and run left, then right…… running left again… Willemse with a grubber RIGHT into the corner flag… perfect kick and the Boks are on Ireland's 5m line.
Ireland win their five-man lineout, drive into the Bok defence but are blown and the Boks have a penalty inside their 22. Libbok kicks with the left foot down to the Bok 10m line.
Boks run the line right, maul… run the lline left… maul… but the ref blows for an Irish penalty a few metres inside their half. The penalty kick hits touch short of the Bok 22.
Boks with a four-man lineout on their 10m… run the line, but Ireland with the turnover, but they knock-on. Another Bok scrum.
Ireland burst through the Bok line, a terrific run, held up just short of the line, the ball comes out to the forwards who also burst but the ball is knocked on… but that was very, very close. Scrum for the Boks on their 5m…
Ireland again fail to secure their lineout, the Boks pull it into the maul, before Faf clears upfield. Certainly not No 1 in the world for lineouts…
Boks win the scrum, run from the back, the forwards maul, Faf lofts a high ball… Ireland push forward and are tackled, but Etzebeth is penalised for holding on the ground.
Ireland penalised for failing to scrum correctly… referee cautions them that another infringement will be a penalty.
South Africa force a mistake in the lineout, the referee penalising the No 1 side for a knock-on… and the Boks have the scrum just ahead of their 22.
Faf penalised for a failed interception and Ireland kick for touch from inside their half.
PENALTY, SOUTH AFRICA, LIBBOK! 3-0; Libbok nails the penalty kick from 15m to the left of the poles. And the Boks are underway…
… Boks keep pounding away until they knockon… but the ref calls them back to the penalty. And Rassie is flashing his lights… Ireland are under all sorts of pressure. You might be No 1 in the rankings, but you're not No 1 on this field tonight, is what the Boks are saying tonight.
Boks pull the lineout ball back, it's cleared… Boks race upfield, draw the man… tackled… Faf throws it through his legs and now the Boks are pounding the Irish up the left side of the field…
Penalty blown for Ireland after a Bok infringement… what will Ireland do… they're kicking for the touchline and the lineout!
Short break for an injury, the Boks win the lineout but Ireland turn it over and run at the Boks, now inside the Boks 22…
KICK-OFF! The battle of the rugby titans is underway!
And here come the teams…Ireland in light green and South Africa in their change strip of white… but first the national anthems.
And here come the teams…Ireland in light green and South Africa in their change strip of white… but first the national anthems.
Our referee tonight is Ben O’Keeffe of New Zealand, and he will be assisted by Mathieu Raynal from France and James Doleman of New Zealand. Doing TMO duties is Brendon Pickerill, also from New Zealand.
South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Kwagga Smith, 23 Cobus Reinach.
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter. Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Robbie Henshaw.
It's almost crunch time, so sit back and relax as we get ready to share all the live action with you or Ireland against South Africa. It's going to be unforgettable!
South Africa started with that 18-3 win over Scotland before beating Romania 76-0.
Ireland won their opening match of this World Cup 82-8 against Romania, followed by a 59-16 win over Tonga.
Ireland currently top Pool B 10 with 10 points to South Africa's 9 points. Ireland have a positive points difference if 117 points against the 91 of South Africa… although Ireland have yet to play against Scotland, who South Africa beat 18-3 in their opening match.
Ireland are also enjoying an incredible run of form, having won their last 15 Test matches.
South Africa won the three-Test series in 2-1 at home in 2016, while Ireland have won the last two one-off Test, both played in Ireland. The Irish won 38-3 in 2017, and 19-16 in 2022.
While that all looks very promising for the Springboks, recent form favours Ireland, who have won six of the last 10 Tests between the two sides.
The two sides have met 27 times over the years, with South Africa winning 18 of these Tests and Ireland winning just 8. They drew the other Test match.
South Africa have played 43 matches in their seven Word Cups, winning a staggering 36 matches and losing on just seven occasions. Their combined points tally is positive 1512-553.
South Africa have played in seven World Cups, winning the trophy on three occasions, and losing in the semi-final twice. They were knocked out in the quarter-finals in their other two matches.
Ireland have played 40 matches in those nine World Cups, winning 24 matches and losing 16. They have a positive World Cup points tally of 1108-735.
Ireland have taken part in all nine World Cups, but have yet to progress past the quarter-final stages. They have made the quarter-final in all but one of their nine World Cup appearances - in 2007 they went out at the pool stage.
South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Kwagga Smith, 23 Cobus Reinach.
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter. Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Robbie Henshaw.
Good evening, and welcome to what can only be described as the clash of rugby's titans… it's South Africa against Ireland, the two top-ranked teams in the world, up against one another up against one another for the first time ever in the Rugby World Cup. It's history in the making, it's sure to be a fantastic spectacle of rugby played at the highest level… and we'll have the action for you live in just a few hours from Stade de France in Paris!