Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said the joy of a first test triumph in South Africa was diluted by the “harsh” red-carding of CJ Stander.
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The Allister Coetzee era started on a foul note as Ireland secured their first ever victory in South Africa with a courageous effort despite playing with 14 men for almost an hour.
The case comes under the auspices of the southern hemisphere governing body SANZAR rather than World Rugby and furthermore, like everyone else, the Irish management were still awaiting Willis’ written report (which presumably will be quite lengthy) at lunchtime today, without which they can not make an appeal.
While Trimble is braced for a major Springboks backlash, he feels Ireland have more in the locker themselves, and talked up the positive impact Farrell has made on the group.
A disappointing drop-attempt from the Ulster man dribbled off the mark for Jackson, but he once again took the reins in keeping Ireland out of South Africa’s reach with a long-range penalty and just three minutes remaining. They will resume at 10am on Monday: “We’d love to have him available, we’re going to find out in the next couple of days what, if any, consequences there are from his attempted charge-down”, Schmidt said after Saturday’s game. It’s been very slow.
Things turned in the South Africans’ direction on 22 minutes, however, as Ireland’s early good work was undone by a red card for Stander.
Pat Lambie is out after suffering a concussion, but the out-half could yet feature in the third match after x-rays on his neck came up all clear following his collision with CJ Stander who was shown a red card by referee Mathieu Raynal.
Ireland will clinch the series if they win in Johannesburg on Saturday ahead of the final Test in Port Elizabeth on 25 June.
After seven straight test losses in South Africa, Schmidt admitted it was hard to describe his feelings at breaking the duck before a stunned 46,000 crowd.
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“He’s been a fantastic guy in Irish rugby since he’s come over in the three years that he’s been there, four years now I think it is”. “I don’t know if the tide is turning”, he said. I thought he controlled the first 20 minutes, I thought he controlled really well. “The Irish are a very proud nation and they will lift their game for sure, so we have to be prepared for that”, explained Strauss.
