Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

What we learned from Ireland's defeat to South Africa

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman on this week's RTÉ Rugby podcast to recap Saturday's first Test defeat against South Africa, and look ahead at this weekend's final game of the season in Durban.

Rugby • 09 Jul 24

South Africa say they were frustrated with their scrum performance early on against Ireland last week

Irish scrum 'tricks' frustrate Boks hooker Mbonambi

South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi has highlighted how Ireland's scrum 'tricks' left the Springboks frustrated at times in last week's first Test.

Rugby • 10 Jul 24

Erasmus doubles down as Springboks look to win series

If there was any hope that the Springboks might take their foot off the pedal after beating Ireland last weekend, those notions were quickly dismissed this afternoon.

Rugby • 09 Jul 24

Rónan Kelleher (c), with his injured team-mate Dan Sheehan behind him after Saturday's 27-20 defeat to South Africa

Kelleher: 'You never want to see a team-mate injured'

Dan Sheehan's potentially serious knee injury in Saturday's first Test against South Africa is a reminder of just how cruel sport can be.

Rugby • 10 Jul 24

Brown: South Africa had done their homework on Ireland

Given Ireland's history with Tony Brown, the first half of the 27-20 defeat to South Africa last Saturday shouldn't have come as much of a shock.

Rugby • 08 Jul 24

'I'm not sure if Ireland expected this type of attacking structure from South Africa, either way they were forced into making poor decisions in defence, as Peter O' Mahony alluded to in his post-match comments'

Attack tweaks could make Springboks unstoppable force

The Springboks are in the early days of their offensive transformation under Tony Brown, but if he gets it right Jonny Holland believes they could be an unstoppable force.

Rugby • 09 Jul 24

Murray scored the second of Ireland's three tries against South Africa in the first Test

Murray 'ready to rock' with Ireland out for revenge

Conor Murray says he is ready to step up to the starting role for Ireland's second Test against South Africa at Hollywoodbets King's Park in Durban on Saturday, after an impressive cameo off the bench against the Springboks.

Rugby • 09 Jul 24

Osborne scored Ireland's opening try late in the first half

'It's the thing you dream of' - Osborne on his debut

While a debut on this tour for the Leinster 22-year-old wasn't a far-fetched idea, nobody outside of the Irish camp could have called it coming at full-back.

Rugby • 08 Jul 24

South Africa drove Ireland back for a late penalty try

South Africa keep Ireland at bay in bruising first Test

Ireland fell short in a ferocious Test in Pretoria, as world champions South Africa ended their losing streak against Andy Farrell's side.

Rugby • 07 Jul 24

Bundee Aki of Ireland makes a break during the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match

South Africa v Ireland: All you need to know

Ireland face the Springboks in their first test at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. Here's all you need to know ahead of kick-off.

Rugby • 05 Jul 24

Van der Flier: 'One of the hotel staff started speaking Afrikaans to me. It takes a while to explain I'm actually Irish.'

'It takes a while to explain I'm Irish' - Van der Flier

Perhaps it's the Dutch surname, or perhaps it's partly down to the way rugby's residency rules have been manipulated over the years, but Josh van der Flier is not, in fact, South African.

Rugby • 06 Jul 24

Peter O'Mahony (l) speaks to Jack Crowley (r) at Friday's training session at St Peter's College in Johannesburg

'It's a religion for these people' - O'Mahony

Ireland captain Peter O'Mahony believes it will take Ireland's best performance in recent memory to defeat South Africa in this afternoon's first Test in Pretoria.

Rugby • 06 Jul 24

Osborne previously played for Ireland 'A' back in November 2022

Farrell: Osborne skillset makes him a perfect fit at 15

Nobody but Andy Farrell saw Jamie Osborne's Ireland debut coming as a full-back.

Rugby • 04 Jul 24

Osborne starts at full-back against South Africa

Osborne in for debut as Ireland name team to face Boks

Andy Farrell has made a bold call in his side for Saturday's first Test against South Africa in Pretoria, handing Leinster's Jamie Osborne his debut at full-back for the meeting with the world champions.

Rugby • 04 Jul 24

Tadhg Beirne will win his 51st cap for Ireland on Saturday

Beirne feels Ireland have fuel in the tank to beat Boks

Tadhg Beirne insists tiredness won't be an issue for Ireland in tomorrow's first Test against South Africa in Pretoria, despite the season now running into a 13th month.

Rugby • 05 Jul 24

Calvin Nash is set to earn his seventh cap on Saturday

Nash ready for 'massive' Loftus Versfeld challenge

Calvin Nash is hoping to count on his success with Munster in South Africa, ahead of Saturday's first Test with the Springboks in Pretoria.

Rugby • 04 Jul 24

Craig Casey will hope to start against South Africa

Casey needs to start against Springboks - Jackman

Bernard Jackman believes that Rassie Erasmus is probably correct in his assumption that Craig Casey will start against South Africa in Saturday's first Test in Pretoria.

Rugby • 03 Jul 24

Jaco Peyper retired from refereeing in January

South Africa looking for extra edge with Peyper role

While Jerry Flannery and Tony Brown are the high-profile additions to the South Africa coaching ticket in 2024, another important appointment has come in under the radar.

Rugby • 04 Jul 24

Ireland keeping quiet as Rassie leads the hype train

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Jonny Murphy to look ahead at Ireland's first Test against South Africa on Saturday.

Rugby • 03 Jul 24

O'Connell: Ireland won't be distracted by mind games

The irony was lost on nobody yesterday as the Paul O'Connell sat down for a Test week media session in a large exam hall.

Rugby • 03 Jul 24

Erasmus stokes the flames ahead of first Irish Test

As the Irish players and coaches do their utmost to duck and dodge any questions about some verbal hand grenades coming out of the South African camp, Rassie Erasmus has continued to operate in the only way he knows how.

Rugby • 02 Jul 24

South Africa disrupted the Ireland lineout when the sides last met

O'Connell expecting big lineout challenge from the Boks

Paul O'Connell expects Ireland's lineout will hold the key for Saturday's first Test against world champions South Africa against Pretoria.

Rugby • 02 Jul 24

Handre Pollard gets the nod over Manie Libbok at out-half

South Africa locked and loaded for first Test v Ireland

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has laid his cards on the table ahead of Saturday's game against Ireland, naming a strong and settled starting team for the first Test in Pretoria.

Rugby • 02 Jul 24

'At openside, Van Der Flier is the probable selection, but I'd go with Nick Timoney'

Brave selection calls can deliver exciting Irish side

Ireland are loath to enact wholesale changes but the South African tour is a great opportunity for the younger crop of players, writes Jonny Holland

Rugby • 02 Jul 24

Former Ireland international Jerry Flannery is the new South Africa defence coach

Brown: Flannery's Irish insight invaluable for the Boks

New South Africa attack coach Tony Brown believes Jerry Flannery's insights on Ireland could have a major impact on the upcoming Test series between the sides.

Rugby • 01 Jul 24