The Hurt Locker: Ireland v South Africa. Saturday 23rd September. Stade DeFrance

I was surprised not to see the TMO involved. I can’t actually remember a single instance of it, aside from I assume checking the pass for their try (which looked ok to me).

No idea how SA got away with closing the gap at the lineout for the first half, but I think we adjusted well in the end. The hit on Hansen off the ball was a stonewall penalty and I have no idea how it wasn’t called. Not a great performance from O’Keefe, but I don’t think he impacted the result all things considered. Both teams left points behind.

Im just glad it’s over as it was an exhausting watch!

It ended up forward, obviously. I had a harder to time deciding whether it left his hands forward. Maybe the refs among us can provide some insight?

Absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was electric, seemed like we outnumbered the SA fans 5-1. My first away match, never seen anything like it.

Will need to rewatch the match but I thought we were by far the superior team, it just didn't click at times. We did enough, and hopefully injury free, that's the main thing.

great performance ,thought we got a little lucky but FXXX it our bravery had us in the game where other teams wud be beat.Sexton absolute hero,all backs were great,pack immense,think this will stand to us.no other team will put us under such sustained pressure,France dont seem so fearsome compared to that.

Watched it again on +1

We were never losing that game.

Genuine question based on performance not reputation. Who is capable of beating us?

2nd prize set of steak knives...

You get the picture...you laughing now?

I'd think SA aren't lacked in physicality, they could use his ability to do something other than run into a wall. He was the only forward to make any sort of play happen.

Agreed. I don’t get the comments calling South Africa one dimensional, I thought they had decent variation to their attack and cut us open at times. They managed to impose themselves physically and smashed us for long portions of the game, yet we still found a way to win. It’s hugely encouraging to see us get it done on the biggest occasion against one of the genuine top teams.

That’s a very sharp observation there

Neymar wouldn't like those SA forwards?🤕🤕🤕

What did Paul O'Connell say- we figure the game out???

I agree, but whether the coach and DOR agrees is a different story. I do think if you start RG it changes the dynamic of the team a little, but that isn't a negative. What you lose in physicality you make up for his running ability and offloads.

The interesting question for SA is what about Pollard? If he comes in for Libbok you lose out on attack as Libbok is better as an attacker than Pollard. If you select him at 15 you lose Willemse's attacking ability, if you select him at 12 in place of De Allende you miss out on that directness of the 12. If you select DDA or Esterhuizen at 13 to accommodate Pollard at 12 you have to teach them to rush from the outside when they have been used to defending as a 12. Maybe you move them on defense to 12 and Pollard to 13, or Willemse to 13 and Pollard to 15, but that is moving a lot of parts to accommodate one player who will be undercooked in a pivotal game.

Then again if their forwards can play like they did against NZ in London it doesn't matter who is in the backline. But we are back to the problems they have in the forwards, not so much 1, 3, 4, 5, 5, 7 or 8, but 2. If Mbonambi is injured or replaced you have a pie thrower on 2 and that will not end well. But they have 4 scrumhalves so that will solve everything.