International
Springboks hit back in style with bonus point win
The Springboks have won their first Test in Australia since 2013 when they beat the Wallabies by 24-8 at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney, outscoring the hosts by four tries to one for a bonus point and to keep alive their hopes in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
The victory, after leading 12-3 at halftime, was the perfect way to bounce back after last week’s defeat in Adelaide. The bonus point victory was not only the Boks’ first in Australia in nine years, but in fact their first win in Sydney since 1993.
The Springboks dominated territory and possession and scored two tries and a conversion in the first half, while the Wallabies could only reply with a sole penalty goal. The visitors then added 12 more points in the second stanza through two more five pointers and one conversion, while interestingly, they never attempted one penalty kick at goal for a gutsy and convincing win.
In wet and slippery conditions, the Springboks made a positive start with several promising forays into the Wallabies 22m area.
The Boks got onto the scoreboard in the 11th minute following a huge amount of pressure on the Wallaby try-line, which resulted in three penalties in a row. Lock Eben Etzebeth did well to pass the ball to midfielder Damian de Allende, who went over under the posts, with an easy conversion by No 10 Damian Willemse to give them a 7-0 lead.
Canan Moodie scores on debut.
A couple of unforced errors gave the Wallabies some much breathing space, especially with lock Matt Philip in the sin bin, and the home side did well to keep the scoreboard quiet during the period when they were down to seven forwards.
The Boks showed more accuracy and composure at the breakdown, but they had very little reward from their early kicking game, with Wallaby fullback Reece Hodge handling the arial bombs particularly well in the tricky conditions.
The Wallabies finally made their way into the Bok half and earned a penalty for a high tackle, which flyhalf Noah Lolesio easy steered through the posts for their only score of the opening half.
Canan Moodie, who became the second youngest Springbok debutant in the professional era at 19 years old, had a good game and scored the Springboks’ second try on the stroke on halftime when he gathered another high ball in front of Marika Koroibete to run in for his try out wide, which took the halftime score to 12-3.
Franco Mostert went over for a crucial try early in the second half.
The Boks opened the second half with a brilliantly crafted try by flanker Franco Mostert, who went over inside the corner flag following some splendid handling between backs and forwards, with Bok skipper Siya Kolisi featuring prominently.
Although Willemse missed the conversion, the Boks managed to increase their advantage 17-3 with almost a full half of play to come.
However, the Wallabies came back during a determined period and the men in green and gold were this time relieved to escape from a passage of huge Aussie pressure when prop Allan Alaalatoa was penalised for foul play.
The rest of the second half was a huge arm wrestle between the two teams and the Springboks did well to ride out several Wallaby attacks, while they themselves fell short at regular intervals.
Another brilliant finish by Makazole Mapimpi.
Deon Fourie – SA’s oldest debutant at 35 years old a few months ago – replaced Kolisi with 10 minutes to go, with the skipper having put in a good shift with ball in hand as well as some crunch tackles at crucial times.
Makazole Mapimpi, denied a certain try by a desperate Koroibete tackle last week in Adelaide, got his try this time when he raced away after Willie le Roux put the speedster in space to score a crucial fourth Bok try in the corner.
However, the wing was yellow carded for his action after the try, which led to some pushing and shoving involving both teams. Utility replacement back Frans Steyn added the extras from the touchline to put the Boks in a commanding position at 24-3 with less than 10 minutes to go.
Replacement flanker Pete Samu scored a try on the hooter in a passage of play that saw Le Roux sin-binned for foul play while the Aussies were on the attack, which meant the Boks finished the game with 13 players.
Scorers:
Springboks 24 (12) – Tries: Damian De Allende, Canan Moodie, Franco Mostert, Makazole Mapimpi. Conversions: Damian Willemse, Frans Steyn.
Australia 8 (3) – Try: Pete Samu. Penalty goal: Noah Lolesio.
Content & Images from – South Africa Rugby
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.
The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.
Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:
“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.
“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.
“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.
“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”
The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.
IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:
Saturday, 16th November:
Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)
Friday, 22nd November:
Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)
Friday, 29th November:
Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)
Friday, 20th December:
Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)
Saturday, 21st December:
Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)
Weekend of 28/29 December:
Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 9/10 May:
Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 16/17 May:
Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.
Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.
Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart
In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.
Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.
Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.
The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.
Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)
15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)
Replacements:
16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.
The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.
The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+
Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+
Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
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