Ireland outlast World Champions South Africa to put one foot in the knockouts | Highlights

Ireland now have a fortnight break before they play Scotland where another win will secure top spot in the group ahead of the quarter finals.

Ireland brought their winning streak to 16 with a titanic victory over South Africa in the third game of their pool at the Rugby World Cup.

Mack Hansen chipped in with the all important try in the first half as Ireland staved off the reigning World Champions for a 13-8 result in Paris.

Johnny Sexton kicked the conversion to add to a penalty with Munster starlet Jack Crowley also adding three points late on.

Ireland now have a fortnight break before they play Scotland where another win will secure top spot in the group ahead of the quarter finals.

In Paris, the game thundered into life as the champions and pretenders brought the best to each other. Ireland’s early line out malfunctioned but terrific defence kept South Africa at bay.

However, it was the 2019 champions that got off the mark, Manie Libbok with a penalty. That came in the fifth minute but the big score of the half arrived just after the half hour mark, James Lowe freeing Mack Hansen out wide to touch down for a 7-3 lead at the interval.

Ten minutes into the second half, South Africa restored their lead, Cheslin Kolbe dotting down in the corner. Libbok was wayward with the conversion and then missed back to back penalties. Faf de Klerk followed suit but Sexton made no mistake for Ireland with twenty to play.

Crowley was then introduced with ten to play and took his opportunity with a 76th minute penalty to push Ireland five clear.

South Africa launched a number of late attacks but couldn’t breach the Irish defence to suffer a first loss at the World Cup since the opening round four years ago.

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