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The Springboks ended their long Dublin drought with a hard-fought 24–13 win over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on 22 November 2025. It was their first victory in the city since 2012. The result also strengthened their position as the number one team in world rugby.
What Happened?
The Boks arrived in Dublin with clear intent and played with power and discipline throughout the match. Their scrum put Ireland under pressure from the start. South Africa struck when Damian Willemse scored in the fifth minute after a sharp break and a well-timed pass from Damian de Allende.
Cobus Reinach scored the second try in his 49th Test. Ireland were down to 13 players after repeated scrum penalties. Dan Sheehan replied with a try for the home side. However, the Boks answered quickly with a penalty try after another dominant scrum late in the first half.
The South Africans stayed in control after the break. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu broke the line after another massive scrum platform and powered over for the fourth try. Ireland added two penalties through Sam Prendergast, but they never looked close to turning the match around.
Official Response
Coach Rassie Erasmus praised the Bok pack for their relentless intensity, noting that the scrum set the tone for the entire match. Senior players also stressed the win as a mental breakthrough, given South Africa’s long struggle to secure results in Dublin.
Match officials issued multiple yellow cards to Ireland and one 20-minute red card for dangerous play. Referee Matthew Carley described the scrum pressure as “unavoidable” in his decisions.
Community Impact
Fans celebrated the win across South Africa, calling it one of the most important victories of the tour. Supporters said the result showed that the Boks have depth, balance, and belief heading towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup cycle.
Rugby analysts agreed that Ireland struggled with discipline and structure under pressure. Many praised the South African forwards, Wilco Louw, Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Johan Grobbelaar, Boan Venter, and Gerhard Steenekamp, for controlling the match.
