The XV du Trèfle emerged victorious from this very close duel on Saturday and has a good chance of finishing at the top of group B and thus avoiding the Blues in the quarterfinals.
The peak of intensity and fight between the world’s leading nation and the reigning champions did not disappoint. Thanks to extremely rough and aggressive defense, Ireland brought down South Africa (13-8) on Saturday September 23 in Saint-Denis. At the end of a clash that was much more open than the score reflects, the XV du Trèfle contained the Springboks to take a big chance on first place in Group B.
Eben Etzebeth risks having nightmares from this 47th minute. Usually a terror to opposing defenses, the 117 kilo colossus was lifted then held in the air by the joint tackles of James Lowe and Josh van der Flier. Greatly committed to the cause of the Irish, the Stade de France acclaimed the feat as if it were a try. The action actually only involved a melee, but resonates as the ultimate symbol of this aggression to resist enemy attacks. Throughout the second half, Clover continued to pick up the balls in the rucks, leaving the Springboks stunned because for once they were beaten in intensity.
Bundee Aki man of the match
This solidarity was measured until the final moments of this electric fight, when the Irish forwards buried a South African ball carried close to their line (80th). They had previously just defeated the South Africans in the scrum, widening the biggest gap of an indecisive evening with a penalty from Jack Crowley (77th, 13-8). The stainless Johnny Sexton (38 years old), regular scorer and author of a faultless record, then left his partners to the ovation of the green tide.
An hour earlier, his incessant feints and doubles put his teammates in the right, allowing Mack Hansen to flatten at the end of the line (33rd, 7-3). Despite the roughness of the South African contacts, the Irish dominated this first act, in the wake of the amazing center Bundee Aki (66 meters gained, four defenders beaten), named player of the match. But the hardest part was to come, when the South African staff would release the seven forwards on the bench (an extremely rare occurrence) to continue the undermining work started by their predecessors.
The Springboks betrayed by their scorers
The result was immediately convincing: a reverse Irish scrum allowed the South Africans to recover the lead and send the Cheslin Kolbe arrow into the goal (52nd, 7-8). The machine seemed to be in motion, and we were then logically counting on a decline in Irish power. On the contrary, they were sublimated to hold on and were, to some extent, varnished by the failure of the South African scorers. If the two failures of Faf de Klerk from more than 50 meters are excusable, the two misses of the opener Manie Libbok weigh heavily. Especially since his teammates, paradoxically, finished better and seemed able to reverse the blow.
The title holders should in all likelihood settle for second place in this group, which should make them cross paths with the Blues (currently first in group A) in the quarter-finals. The news is not necessarily good for France, but given the level of the evening, as high as it was balanced, there is no opponent to favor. The quarter-final will be tough whatever happens. Regardless of their identity, the opponent seems to date less affected than the Blues, suspended for the duration of Antoine Dupont’s convalescence. The evening fight left no player behind.