Jack Crowley of Ireland is shown a yellow card by referee Matthew Carley during the Quilter Nations Series 2025 match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium. Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
It was billed as the most anticipated match of the northern autumn, but no one could have anticipated the flurry of cards dished out in the Springboks' 24-13 win over Ireland.
The home side was reduced to 12 men at one stage, as referee Matthew Carley was kept extremely busy during a wild first half. In all, five Irish players were carded, including a red to lock James Ryan for a dangerous cleanout on Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx after 19 minutes.
Earlier, Damian Willimse had put the Springboks ahead with a sweetly taken try in the third minute. It was relatively even until the cards started getting dished out, ironically Sacha Feinburg-Mngomezulu was lucky not to be binned for a no-arms tackle while Ireland were hot on attack.
Cobus Reinach continued his fine season with a try after Ryan's red, then Ireland found themselves down to 12 after Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley went to the bin for professional fouls.
The Springboks seemed intent to punish Ireland in a highly charged atmosphere, subjecting them to a series of scrums designed more to demoralise rather than inflate the scoreboard. Prop Andrew Porter eventually cracked and was yellow carded for collapsing after halftime, however Ireland fought back and Prendergast kicked a penalty despite the numerical disadvantage.
Feinburg-Mngomezulu then showed his class with his second try in two tests, which seemingly made the game safe, especially after Paddy McCarthy decided to get in on the act and become the fifth Irishman to be binned - a test record.
By the time the game entered its final stage, it had been going for well over two hours. However, there was one last act of drama as Ireland ended the game hot on attack. There was time for one last card, however much to the big crowd's delight it was to Springbok replacement Grant Williams.
Ireland couldn't turn the pressure into points and the bizarre test ended as yet another Springbok victory, their 11th of the season.
Read how the game unfolded here:
Team lists
Ireland: M Hansen, T O'Brien, G Ringrose, B Aki, J Lowe, S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park, A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong, J Ryan, T Beirne, R Baird, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt).
Bench: R Kelleher, P McCarthy, F Bealham, C Prendergast, J Conan, C Casey, J Crowley, T Farrell.
South Africa: D Willemse, C Moodie, J Kriel, D De Allende, C Kolbe, S Feinberg-Mngomezulu, C Reinach, B Venter, M Marx, T du Toit, E Etzebeth, R Nortje, S Kolisi (capt), PS du Toit, J Wiese.
Bench: J Grobbelaar, G Steenekamp, W Louw, RG Snyman, K Smith, A Esterhuizen, G Williams, M Libbok.
Damian Willemse of South Africa scores his team's first try during the Quilter Nations Series 2025 match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium. Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
