Another Hard Luck Tale

The promise of a series victory in South Africa a couple of weeks ago finally petered out in Port Elizabeth. There were mitigating factors. Ireland were not at full strength and perhaps they suffered from fatigue, so it would be wrong to be harsh on the failure to win the series. In fact, new players were blooded, and this much-changed team ran their illustrious hosts mighty close. The tourists fittingly finished their tour battering away at the South African line, but the home team just about clung on. This short tour should be a morale booster, with Iain Henderson stating that the men in green will be targeting a first-ever win against the All Blacks in the autumn when we will be granted two bites at the cherry. 

South Africa 19 IRELAND 13; in Port Elizabeth; Saturday the 25th of June 2016.

15 O'Halloran

14 Trimble

13 Marshall [TRY]

12 Olding

11 Earls

10 Jackson [two penalties, one conversion]

9 Murray

8 Heaslip

7 Murphy

6 Stander

5 Toner

4 Henderson

3 Ross

2 Best (captain)

1 McGrath

Used replacements: Cronin; Reddan; Ruddock