Ireland remain in pole position to top Pool B after they beat holders, South Africa, in a low-scoring but riveting World Cup slugfest in Paris.
With Ireland struggling, Manie Libbok’s penalty edged South Africa ahead in the first half before Mack Hansen’s try.
Cheslin Kolbe hit back for the Boks but after Libbok failed to convert, Johnny Sexton’s penalty put Ireland ahead.
In a nail-biting finish, Ireland’s defence absorbed pressure before Jack Crowley’s penalty sealed an epic win.
At the end of a brutal and relentless Test battle, South Africa pushed for a match-winning try, but after being repelled by a heroic defensive effort from the world’s number one side, the Irish contingent in the 78,452 Stade de France crowd greeted a famous win with thunderous acclaim.
It is Ireland’s 16th straight Test win, and a major boost to their World Cup hopes having fronted up to a ferocious South African side to put themselves on the cusp of another quarter-final place.
Having beaten Scotland and Romania, South Africa remain on course to reach the last eight but this was their first defeat in nine World Cup matches and they must now regroup after being bested by one of their biggest rivals in a titanic heavyweight dust-up.
But the Springboks will rue their missed chances on a night when their unreliable goal-kicking prevented them from turning momentum in their favour. –BBC