South Africa held on for a 24-13 win in Dublin, securing their first victory at the Aviva Stadium since 2012, after a match marked by heavy sanctioning and a late Irish fightback while down to 12 men.
The visitors struck early when Damian Willemse finished a quick move to score on the left. The game then became dominated by disciplinary decisions from referee Matt Carley. Ireland lost lock James Ryan to a 20-minute red-card upgrade after a review for a clearout that struck Malcolm Marx’s face. In the first half Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley and Andrew Porter were all temporarily sent to the sin-bin for offside, a cynical act and repeated scrum offences respectively. Replacement loosehead Paddy McCarthy was later sin-binned in the second half for further scrum infringements. Late on Grant Williams was shown yellow for repeated penalties conceded by South Africa.
Cobus Reinach crossed for South Africa’s second try after a period in which multiple scrum penalties put severe pressure on the home pack. With Ireland reduced in numbers, the Boks then earned a penalty try from a dominant five-metre scrum drive at the end of the half, and the Aviva crowd responded with loud boos as the visitors led 19-7 at the break.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Ireland kept competing. Dan Sheehan powered over from a rolling maul while his side were still reduced, and Prendergast kicked a long-range penalty early in the second half to close the gap. South Africa replied when Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu finished a spell of pressure to make it 24-7; the conversion attempt was missed, but the Boks retained control.
Prendergast kicked a second penalty to bring Ireland within 11, and a late burst of possession gave them a chance in the final minutes on penalty advantage. A pass intended for Jack Crowley went to Tom Farrell instead, and Ireland could not convert the opportunity into the two tries they would have needed.
The match featured several contentious officiating calls. Ryan’s yellow was upgraded to a 20-minute red after TMO review; Crowley was sin-binned following a review that judged he had caused a fumble while off his feet; and Porter’s sin-bin left Ireland down to 12 before the penalty try was awarded. Carley’s handling of those incidents drew strong criticism from the home crowd and bench.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell praised his players’ resolve after the defeat, saying their response when reduced in numbers had been “absolutely amazing” and that he was “unbelievably proud.” When asked whether Feinberg-Mngomezulu should have received a yellow for a shoulder charge on Tommy O’Brien, Farrell noted the question but declined to pass judgement, leaving it to others to decide.
What’s next: Ireland finish their Autumn Nations Series with this result, having lost to New Zealand in Chicago and beaten Japan and Australia in Dublin earlier in the window. They begin the 2026 Six Nations away to France at the Stade de France on Thursday, February 5. South Africa complete their autumn Tests against Wales at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, November 29 (3.10pm kick-off).