In what feels like a previous lifetime Sean Cronin announced himself at club level in Ireland with a performance of stunning pace for a hooker. The South African fans here probably had no idea who he was, coming to this series decider in Port Elizabeth. They do now.
The Ireland hooker’s incredible gas, which opened a great big hole in the Springbok defence, late in the day, almost turned what was a gradual ascendancy by the home team into a dramatic defeat. In the end all it gave Ireland was the position to work off, deep in the South Africa 22, but as the game went into overtime and phase had been stacked on phase, they still had not worked their way over the line.
“The guys showed a lot of character, especially in the last few minutes,” the Springbok captain Adriaan Strauss said. “It was a win or lose situation and the guys defended for their lives. I’m very proud of them.”
It finished with Faf de Klerk, small even by scrum-half standards, saving South Africa for the second time. Earlier he had somehow managed to legally intercept a pass flying over his head, from Paddy Jackson, that would have given Ireland a try. This time he flew in from a wide position to take Keith Earls in a man and ball tackle that saved the series.
“Sometimes you feel you don’t quite get what you deserve for the amount of effort you put into it,” the Ireland head coach, Joe Schmidt, said. “The disappointing thing was that we contributed to our own downfall. We’re massively disappointed. It’s 12 years since we’ve been in this country and to be pick-pocketed last week by the South Africans for their victory, and then to put in such an effort after a 52-week season and lose, was tough to take.”
In keeping with the tone of this series there was some controversy. Indeed, it would have been neat symmetry had Willie Le Roux been shown red instead of yellow after 11 minutes when he collided in the air with his opposite number Tiernan O’Halloran. The collision was as bad as you’ll see – the perfect storm when challenger and receiver meet in mid-air with no self-defence mechanisms engaged. Had Le Roux not been focusing so clearly on the ball he would have got a red – or rather had the victim landed on his head instead of his shoulder the decision would have been different.
O’Halloran went off temporarily, and then permanently at half-time, by which stage his side were trailing 13-10. The Springboks took huge momentum from scoring with the last play of the half, the try of the series perhaps when Elton Jantjies floated the perfect punt in behind Andrew Trimble for JP Pietersen to catch and score.
That was a sickener for the tourists who cancelled out an earlier Jantjies penalty with a fine try by Luke Marshall on 16 minutes. It came when Le Roux was in the bin, and was the product of good execution and great patience.
The same traits were lacking in the second half, which was a source of frustration for Schmidt. “We got a couple of nice invites tonight that we didn’t turn up for,” he said. “But I’m incredibly proud of the work ethic.”
That effort, at the scrum at least, was an exercise in hanging on. Ireland conceded six decisions here, between full penalties and free-kicks, which pleased Strauss no end.
“Yes they (Ireland) pride themselves on their scrummaging and we knew we had to step up there,” he said. “We put them under pressure there and I was very proud of the effort. The props deserve credit for their work there.”
It cost Ireland territory as well as points. Ruan Combrinck for example landed a penalty from inside his own half from a scrum decision, to go 16-10 up, and then Jantjies popped over another for a nine-point lead with 11 minutes to play.
Paddy Jackson pulled three back within a minute though, by which stage Schmidt had started calling for reinforcements. It was hard to understand why he didn’t get that process under way earlier given the toll on his players. Certainly Rhys Ruddock and Ultan Dillane could have done with more time on the field.
It was Cronin, however, who almost stole the show. The locals will be glad to not see him again anytime soon.
SOUTH AFRICA Le Roux; Combrinck, Mapoe, De Allende, Pietersen; Jantjies, De Klerk; Mtarawira (Kitshoff 57), Strauss (capt; Mbonami 79), Malherbe (Redelinghuys 57); Etzebeth (Mostert 74), Du Toit; Louw, Kolisi (Kriel 60), Whiteley Sin-bin Le Roux
Try Pietersen Con Jantjies Pens Jantjies 3, Combrinck
IRELAND O’Halloran; Trimble, Marshall (Earls 76), Olding, Earls (Madigan 73); Jackson, Murray (Reddan 69); McGrath, Best (capt, Cronin 73), Ross (Furlong 51); Henderson (Dillane 69), Toner; Stander (Ruddock 69), Murphy, Heaslip
Try Marshall Con Jackson Pens Jackson 2
Referee Glen Jackson (NZ)
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