England survived a nerve-shredding finale and an angry post-match confrontation to secure a hard-fought 27-23 victory over Argentina at Allianz Stadium, extending Steve Borthwick’s winning run to 11 consecutive matches and completing their first four-match autumn clean sweep since 2016. Max Ojomoh enjoyed a dream full debut with a try and two assists, but the triumph was overshadowed by a tunnel bust-up that saw Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi label Tom Curry a “bully” and accuse the England flanker of “reckless” play that left full-back Juan Cruz Mallia with a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Key moments:

9′ – DROP GOAL ENGLAND: George Ford strikes from 25 metres (England 3-0 Argentina)
10′ – TRY ENGLAND: Max Ojomoh scores after picking off loose pass, George Ford converts (England 10-0 Argentina)
26′ – TRY ENGLAND: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso collects Max Ojomoh’s cross-field kick to score, George Ford converts (England 17-0 Argentina)
35′ – PENALTY ARGENTINA: Thomas Albornoz slots kick from 45 metres (England 17-3 Argentina)
Half-time: England 17-3 Argentina
46′ – TRY ARGENTINA: Justo Piccardo powers over from close range, Tomas Albornoz converts (England 17-10 Argentina)
51′ – PENALTY ARGENTINA: Tomas Albornoz successful from in front (England 17-13 Argentina)
60′ – PENALTY ARGENTINA: Santiago Carreras narrows deficit to one point (England 17-16 Argentina)
66′ – TRY ENGLAND: Henry Slade scores after Max Ojomoh’s offload, George Ford converts (England 24-16 Argentina)
72′ – PENALTY ENGLAND: George Ford extends lead from 30 metres (England 27-16 Argentina)
80′ – TRY ARGENTINA: Rodrigo Isgro scores in corner with seconds remaining, Santiago Carreras converts (England 27-23 Argentina)
80′ – YELLOW CARD ENGLAND: Alex Coles sent to sin bin for repeated infringements
Full-time: England 27-23 Argentina

A crowd of 80,807 – though the atmosphere was notably subdued due to the Sunday late afternoon kick-off – witnessed England’s fourth successive autumn victory, following earlier wins over Australia, Fiji and New Zealand. After dominating the opening 40 minutes to establish a commanding 17-3 halftime lead, Borthwick’s side appeared comfortable. However, Argentina – who had recovered from 21-0 down to beat Scotland the previous weekend – stormed back in the second period, scoring 16 unanswered points to reduce the deficit to a single point before England finally reasserted themselves. The contest remained in the balance until the final whistle, with Rodrigo Isgro’s converted try in the 80th minute setting up a frantic finale that saw tempers flare both on the pitch and in the tunnel afterwards.

A pulsating victory over Argentina 🙌#ENGvARG pic.twitter.com/JmLXVI1hsu

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 23, 2025

The victory maintained England’s near-perfect record in 2025, with just one defeat – to Ireland in the Six Nations opener in February – from 12 matches. It also extended their dominance over Argentina to 14 victories from their last 15 meetings, including two Test wins in Buenos Aires in July. However, the manner of the win and the ugly scenes that followed raised questions about England’s ability to control tight contests and their discipline under pressure.

England signalled their intentions from the opening exchanges, employing their familiar aerial assault – what coaches have termed the pursuit of “crumbs,” loose balls that fall from aerial contests – to pin Argentina deep in their own territory. Ben Spencer’s box-kicking was particularly effective in the early stages, repeatedly forcing the Pumas back and creating pressure that would soon yield dividends. The home pack established early dominance at the scrum, with Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Asher Opoku-Fordjour giving Argentina’s front row considerable difficulties throughout the first half.

The hosts struck first in the ninth minute through Ford’s trusted right boot. After Sam Underhill had combined brilliantly with Cowan-Dickie at a lineout to make a barnstorming run into Argentina’s half, England worked through multiple phases before the ball reached Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. The Exeter wing produced a powerful hand-off to flatten Bautista Delguy before England recycled possession. Ford dropped back into the pocket, received Spencer’s pass and struck a perfect drop goal from 25 metres out, bisecting the uprights to give England a 3-0 lead. It was becoming something of a Ford speciality, following similar strikes in the 2023 World Cup and throughout this autumn campaign.

The advantage was extended just 60 seconds later following a moment of individual opportunism from Ojomoh that perfectly illustrated England’s “crumbs” strategy. Spencer launched another contestable kick that Feyi-Waboso pressured in the air, causing chaos in Argentina’s backfield. Bautista Delguy and Mallia collided as they attempted to deal with the bouncing ball. Mallia tried to palm it backwards towards Santiago Carreras but the alert Ojomoh, who had read the situation superbly, intercepted the pass and showed impressive pace to race clear from approximately 40 metres out. The Bath centre rounded the covering defence and dived over beside the posts for a try on his first start at Twickenham, scoring one more try than his father Steve managed in 12 caps as a No 8 in the 1990s. Ford’s routine conversion made it 10-0 after just 10 minutes, and England appeared to be cruising.

Argentina’s early struggles were compounded by their malfunctioning lineout. Hooker Julian Montoya endured a torrid opening quarter, throwing not straight twice before Maro Itoje plucked another of his darts from the air to gift England possession. The Pumas simply could not establish any meaningful possession or territory, with their kicking game proving ineffective and their ball-carrying repeatedly shut down by England’s aggressive rush defence, marshalled superbly by Ben Earl who was heard over the referee’s microphone being encouraged by teammates to support Elliot Daly’s chase.

There was a brief moment of panic when Ford had a clearance kick charged down deep inside his own 22, forcing Cowan-Dickie to dig himself under Thomas Gallo’s attempted touchdown to prevent an Argentina try. But England weathered that storm and extended their lead in the 26th minute with a moment of genuine quality from Ojomoh that showcased his playmaking abilities. From a central scrum near halfway, Ford shaped to go left but found himself running into a blind alley with limited options. He pivoted and reversed the play, passing back inside to Ojomoh. The Bath centre, who had started the season playing at fly-half for his club, spotted Feyi-Waboso in acres of space on the right touchline and unfurled a perfectly weighted cross-field kick. The ball sailed over the covering defenders and landed precisely in Feyi-Waboso’s arms as he ran at full pace, allowing the wing to gather without breaking stride and race clear to score in the corner. Ford added the touchline conversion with aplomb, and at 17-0 after 26 minutes, the contest appeared to be heading for a comfortable England victory.

Argentina’s frustrations deepened when they finally earned a kickable penalty in the 22nd minute, only for Carreras – on as a temporary replacement while Albornoz underwent a head injury assessment – to strike the left upright from a very gettable position. The Pumas eventually got on the scoreboard in the 35th minute when Albornoz, having returned to the field, struck a penalty from 45 metres following an England infringement at the breakdown. However, at 17-3 down and having barely threatened England’s tryline, Argentina faced a mountain to climb in the second period.

The first half was notable for its slow, attritional nature. The two sides combined to kick the ball 78 times across the 80 minutes, with England responsible for 40 of them. Statistics revealed that 40 percent of England’s rucks were lasting six seconds or more, with Spencer’s service noticeably slower than the lightning-quick Alex Mitchell’s usually was. The game lacked fluidity and entertainment value, though England were content to set themselves at the breakdown and launch Spencer’s box-kicks, a strategy that was reaping territorial rewards even if it wasn’t thrilling the Sunday afternoon crowd.

England came agonisingly close to extending their advantage in the final play of the first half when Cowan-Dickie appeared to burrow over from a powerful rolling maul. However, the TMO spotted that the hooker had lost control of the ball as he stretched to ground it, and the try was chalked off. Had that score stood, making it 22-3 or even 24-3, the second half might have played out very differently. Instead, Argentina went to the break trailing by 14 points but with genuine hope of another dramatic comeback.

The halftime statistics painted a picture of English dominance. Borthwick’s side had made 273 metres to Argentina’s 93, with Feyi-Waboso alone accounting for 109 first-half metres. England had enjoyed superior territory and possession, their kicking game had functioned superbly, and their defence had been impenetrable. Argentina had managed just three points from limited opportunities, their lineout remained dysfunctional, and they appeared devoid of ideas in attack. Yet the Pumas possess remarkable resilience and the capacity to strike quickly when given opportunities, as Scotland had discovered to their cost seven days earlier.

That fightback materialised almost immediately after the restart. Argentina started the second half with noticeably more ambition in their carrying, running harder and more directly at England’s defensive line. In the 46th minute, just four minutes into the second period, they finally breached it. Juan Martin Gonzalez broke clear in midfield with defenders backpedalling, and from that front-foot ball Piccardo exploded through a gap with a powerful carry. The Pumas maintained their momentum through multiple phases, keeping the ball close to the ruck with short, effective carries. Piccardo, who had initiated the move with his darting break, finished it by driving over from close range beside the posts. Albornoz added a straightforward conversion to reduce the deficit to 17-10, and suddenly the atmosphere inside Allianz Stadium shifted dramatically.

England’s response was sluggish and disjointed. They struggled to maintain possession, with handling errors creeping into their game, and Argentina sensed vulnerability. The visitors continued to apply pressure, dominating the aerial battle that had been so one-sided in the first half, and in the 51st minute they were rewarded with another penalty. Guy Pepper was penalised for not releasing – though replays suggested he may have secured a legitimate turnover before Itoje was caught not releasing the tackled man – and Albornoz made no mistake from directly in front of the posts. At 17-13 with half an hour remaining, the Pumas were right back in the contest.

The momentum had swung decisively. Argentina’s defence became increasingly aggressive, rushing up with intensity to disrupt England’s attacking patterns and forcing errors. Ford attempted a drop goal in the 64th minute from a promising position, hoping to restore breathing space, but dragged it wide of the left-hand post – a rare miss from the Sale fly-half who had been so reliable throughout the autumn. Five minutes later, the Pumas drew level in terms of momentum if not scoreboard as Carreras slotted another penalty following Argentina winning a breakdown penalty inside England’s 22. At 17-16 with 20 minutes remaining, the contest hung delicately in the balance and England looked bereft of ideas, their attacking play lacking penetration and spark.

Borthwick responded by deploying his much-discussed bench at precisely the 51-minute mark – a timing he had used in every Test throughout the autumn. The “Pom Squad” of Henry Pollock, Tom Curry, Fin Baxter and Will Stuart entered to reinvigorate England’s flagging pack, though the impact was not immediate, with Argentina continuing to press. Alex Mitchell also entered the fray in the 61st minute, replacing Spencer to inject additional tempo around the fringes.

The decisive moment arrived in the 66th minute through a combination of Ojomoh’s brilliance and Slade’s experience. From a lineout on halfway, England worked possession into midfield where Ojomoh took a powerful carry off an inside ball from Ford. As he was tackled heavily by his Bath teammate Carreras, the centre somehow managed to produce an outrageous offload out the back door – flicking the ball behind him with remarkable skill whilst going to ground. The pass found Slade perfectly positioned, and the Exeter centre simply had to fall over the tryline to score beneath the posts. Ford’s conversion extended the lead to 24-16 with 14 minutes remaining, and England appeared to have finally weathered the storm.

They extended their advantage further in the 72nd minute when Pollock, making an immediate impact off the bench, produced a textbook breakdown steal. The young Northampton flanker got over the ball after tackling Isgro and forced Argentina to infringe. Ford pointed to the posts and struck a clean penalty from 30 metres to make it 27-16, seemingly putting the result beyond doubt with eight minutes remaining.

However, controversy erupted in the 76th minute when Curry made a late tackle on Mallia just after the full-back had launched a monster 50:22 kick that threatened to turn the tables on England. The Argentine landed heavily and immediately clutched his right knee in agony. Referee Pierre Brousset penalised Curry but took no further action, much to the fury of the Argentina bench. Mallia, clearly in severe distress, had to be helped from the field, leaving the Pumas with 14 men for the final minutes as they had already used all their replacements. It would later be confirmed as a suspected ACL injury that could sideline the Leicester Tigers star for up to nine months.

Argentina refused to accept defeat despite being a man down. They continued to attack with ambition and adventure, keeping the ball alive and testing England’s defensive resolve. The hosts’ discipline began to fray under sustained pressure, and in the 80th minute the Pumas finally breached the whitewash once more. After sustained phases in England’s 22, the ball was worked wide to Isgro on the left wing. The Harlequins flyer, who had been relatively quiet throughout the afternoon, showed his sevens background with a devastating angle to beat his opposite number and dive over in the corner with seconds remaining on the clock. Carreras added a superb conversion from the touchline – using a drop-goal style to speed up the restart – to make it 27-23.

The drama intensified when referee Brousset then showed a yellow card to Alex Coles for repeated infringements in the red zone during the preceding phases, though with the clock already in the red, it mattered little for the outcome. Argentina had to restart and score again from deep inside their own half. Carreras’ restart was contested but England could not secure clean possession. The ball was worked towards Argentina’s dangerous backs, and suddenly they were surging upfield.

Carreras produced a moment of individual brilliance, skinning Pollock with a sidestep and shooting into space to take the Pumas deep into England territory. Argentina reached England’s 22 with phases to spare, and the tension inside Allianz Stadium became almost unbearable. The Pumas went through 20 phases, probing for a gap, with a small but vociferous group of Argentine supporters – including a school tour party with a massive Julian Montoya flag – creating an incredible atmosphere. With time expired, the visitors won a penalty after Pollock and Curry were penalised on the floor, and kicked to the corner for one final opportunity.

Replacement hooker Ignacio Ruiz prepared to throw to the lineout five metres from England’s line, with the match hanging in the balance and the Argentine schoolboys at the front of the East Stand jumping and chanting. But under pressure from Charlie Ewels, who timed his challenge perfectly, Ruiz’s throw sailed over the top of Franco Molina. Ben Earl – England’s standout performer throughout the autumn – was quickest to react, gathering the loose ball and allowing Mitchell to kick it into the stands. The final whistle sounded immediately, triggering relief rather than celebration among the England players and supporters.

However, the drama was far from over. Tempers immediately flared at the final whistle, with Pollock and Santiago Grondona involved in an angry confrontation on the pitch, the young England flanker screaming at the Argentinians. The situation escalated in the tunnel, where Contepomi alleged that Curry had shoved him in the chest and sworn at him when the flanker attempted to speak with one of the Argentine coaching staff.

In an extraordinary post-match press conference, Contepomi used the word “bully” multiple times to describe Curry’s behaviour. “I was standing there and he was coming and wanted to say hi to one of our coaches, but we said no because we were upset,” explained the Pumas coach. “He was reckless and broke our player’s knee. I know it is rugby but if we don’t look after each other in rugby it could be dangerous. He was coming and said ‘mate you broke his knee’ and then he pushed me like that. Maybe that is the way he is, I don’t know him. After breaking someone’s knee I think you need to be at least humble enough and respectful to say ‘sorry I did something wrong’ but he went the opposite. Maybe it is his way of being a bully.”

England swiftly circled the wagons to defend their player. Richard Smith KC, England’s in-house lawyer, attended Argentina’s press conference to hear the allegations, but England gave no indication they would launch an investigation. Borthwick mounted a robust defence of his flanker, telling reporters: “I think that anybody in this room who has had any contact with Tom Curry knows the character of the man. His character is impeccable. He’s a fantastic team man, a very respectful guy. I think Tom Curry’s character is unquestionable.”

The England coach added: “I’m unaware of what happened in the tunnel, but post-game, on the pitch, emotions are always flying high. We’re two sides which have a huge amount of respect for one another. We’ve played them three times this year and we know a number of their players from the Premiership and beyond.”

The victory maintains England’s perfect home record in 2025 and equals their winning streak from 2000-01 under Sir Clive Woodward, which included victories over world champions Australia and France before ending at 11 consecutive wins with a defeat to Ireland. Borthwick’s side will hope to surpass that mark when they begin their Six Nations campaign against Wales in February, with genuine aspirations of challenging for the title. Their final fixture in Paris against France could yet prove a championship decider.

Ojomoh was deservedly named man of the match after making 129 metres with ball in hand alongside his try and two assists. He becomes only the second son of an England international to start for his country, and his performance suggested he has staked a genuine claim on the inside centre berth alongside the injured Fraser Dingwall and Ollie Lawrence. Ford’s 12-point contribution maintained his excellent form throughout the autumn, whilst Earl’s 23 successful tackles and consistent excellence in the loose continued to mark him as one of England’s most valuable players.

For Argentina, the defeat ends their autumn tour with two wins from three matches, having thrashed Wales 52-28 and fought back to overcome Scotland 33-24. Felipe Contepomi’s side demonstrated once again their capacity to stage dramatic comebacks, but they will rue their dismal first-half performance which left them with too much ground to recover. The Pumas remain one of world rugby’s most dangerous sides, particularly when given space to counter-attack, but their inability to fire in the opening 40 minutes ultimately cost them. The loss of Mallia to injury and the post-match acrimony left a sour taste to end what had been an otherwise successful tour.

England now head into the Six Nations as genuine title contenders, though this performance will have provided Borthwick with food for thought. The hosts’ second-half struggles, particularly their inability to maintain possession and territorial control after establishing a commanding lead, exposed vulnerabilities that better sides will look to exploit. The slow tempo – with rucks routinely taking over six seconds – and reliance on aerial combat over attacking ambition will also face scrutiny. However, on a run of 11 consecutive victories, with a first four-match autumn clean sweep since Eddie Jones’s inaugural year in 2016, and with growing strength in depth across the squad featuring breakthrough stars like Ojomoh, Pollock and Pepper, England are building genuine momentum.

The question now is whether they can maintain their trajectory and convert this progress into silverware when the Six Nations begins, with a potential title showdown in Paris against France looming at the championship’s conclusion. South Africa remain the standard-bearers in world rugby after demolishing Ireland, but England are firmly positioned at the vanguard of the chasing pack – even if the ugly scenes at Twickenham’s conclusion provided an unwelcome blemish on an otherwise successful year.

New Zealand signed off their 2025 season with a dominant 52-26 victory over Wales at Principality Stadium, though not before Tom Rogers etched his name into history by becoming the first Welshman to score a hat-trick against the All Blacks.

Key moments

4′ – TRY NEW ZEALAND: Caleb Clarke finishes slick backline movement in left corner after Ruben Love’s flat pass, Damian McKenzie converts (Wales 0-7 New Zealand)
9′ – TRY WALES: Tom Rogers scores in corner after Louis Rees-Zammit wins aerial battle and Dan Edwards produces backhanded offload, Dan Edwards converts (Wales 7-7 New Zealand)
13′ – PENALTY NEW ZEALAND: Damian McKenzie kicks penalty after Taine Plumtree penalised for not releasing (Wales 7-10 New Zealand)
29′ – TRY NEW ZEALAND: Ruben Love produces brilliant solo try with step and acceleration from 20 metres after Wallace Sititi’s powerful carry, Damian McKenzie converts (Wales 7-17 New Zealand)
33′ – TRY WALES: Tom Rogers gets second try after Tomos Williams grubber kick, Blair Murray regathers and excellent hands from Dan Edwards and Max Llewellyn create space, Dan Edwards converts (Wales 14-17 New Zealand)
38′ – TRY NEW ZEALAND: Tamaiti Williams powers through three defenders from close-range lineout, spinning out of multiple tackles, Damian McKenzie converts (Wales 14-24 New Zealand)
Half-time: Wales 14-24 New Zealand
43′ – TRY WALES: Tom Rogers completes historic hat-trick after Dafydd Jenkins charges down kick and Joe Hawkins and Max Llewellyn create space with excellent distribution, Dan Edwards converts (Wales 21-24 New Zealand)
46′ – NO TRY NEW ZEALAND: Caleb Clarke denied after Du’Plessis Kirifi knock-on in buildup spotted by TMO
48′ – NO TRY NEW ZEALAND: Will Jordan held up over line after referee Hollie Davidson reverses on-field decision following TMO review showing Welsh defender got arm under ball
51′ – TRY NEW ZEALAND: Rieko Ioane scores in corner from Damian McKenzie cross-field kick, twisting through Dan Edwards’ tackle, Damian McKenzie converts (Wales 21-31 New Zealand)
58′ – YELLOW CARD WALES: Gareth Thomas sent to sin-bin for no-arms tackle on final team warning
59′ – TRY NEW ZEALAND: Sevu Reece finishes patient 14-phase buildup in right corner after space created by numerical advantage, Damian McKenzie converts (Wales 21-38 New Zealand)
68′ – YELLOW CARD WALES: Taine Plumtree sent to sin-bin for high tackle on Will Jordan with shoulder to head contact
70′ – TRY NEW ZEALAND: Sevu Reece gets second try with brilliant sidestep and footwork to beat Jarrod Evans after regathering awkward bounce, Damian McKenzie converts (Wales 21-45 New Zealand)
76′ – TRY WALES: Louis Rees-Zammit scores acrobatic flying finish in corner, diving parallel to ground after 11-phase buildup, Jarrod Evans misses conversion (Wales 26-45 New Zealand)
79′ – TRY NEW ZEALAND: Caleb Clarke scores second try after Leicester Fainga’anuku line break and one-handed offload to Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie converts (Wales 26-52 New Zealand)
Full-time: Wales 26-52 New Zealand

The victory, coming just seven days after their disappointing loss to England at Twickenham that denied them a Grand Slam, provided some consolation for Scott Robertson’s side as they finished the year with a 10-3 record. For Wales, the wait for a first victory over New Zealand since 1953 continues, extending the All Blacks’ winning streak to 34 matches in this fixture.

That's our 2025 season wrapped up. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/WaOqlVGf4m

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) November 22, 2025

Robertson made 13 changes to his starting lineup, handing valuable test exposure to fringe players in the final match of the year. Only captain Scott Barrett, flanker Simon Parker and Will Jordan retained their places from the England defeat, with Jordan switching from fullback to the right wing. The gamble nearly backfired as Wales, despite holding just 33 percent possession, stayed within touching distance for 50 minutes before New Zealand’s class and superior fitness told in the final quarter.

Before kickoff, the Principality Stadium was transformed into a spectacular theatre. The roof was closed and the lights dimmed as fireworks burst around the players, who were illuminated by a single spotlight. The crowd of over 70,000 delivered an a cappella rendition of the Welsh national anthem, marking 120 years since it was first sung before a rugby match, coincidentally also against New Zealand in 1905. The haka followed under the dramatic lighting, with Rieko Ioane leading Kapa o Pango as the crowd tried to drown it out. Scottish referee Hollie Davidson made history as the first woman to take charge of an All Blacks test match.

The match exploded into life from the opening whistle, with New Zealand striking first through Caleb Clarke after just four minutes. The forwards laid the platform with powerful carries from Simon Parker and Samisoni Taukei’aho down the blindside, before the All Blacks swung the ball left through the hands. Ruben Love’s flat pass created the overlap, and Clarke, showing his devastating pace, streaked away to score in the left corner, brushing off a tackle attempt from Rees-Zammit. Damian McKenzie converted from the touchline to begin what would be a perfect day with the boot, never missing a single kick at goal throughout the match.

Wales’ response was immediate and spectacular. Louis Rees-Zammit soared above McKenzie to claim a high ball from a Tomos Williams box kick on the edge of the 22-metre area, beating the All Blacks fullback in the aerial contest and giving Wales crucial front-foot possession. They recycled quickly and spread the ball left, where first five-eighths Dan Edwards produced a brilliant backhanded offload that may have gone to ground but was scooped up brilliantly by Rogers, who dived over in the corner. Edwards’ conversion from wide out levelled the scores at 7-7 after just nine minutes, setting the tone for a thrilling first half and giving the home crowd hope.

McKenzie restored New Zealand’s lead with a penalty in the 13th minute after Taine Plumtree was penalised for going off his feet at the breakdown, unable to release the tackled player. Wales nearly struck back moments later when prop Rhys Carre powered through a gap and charged towards the line from 10 metres out. It looked certain he would score, but Pasilio Tosi produced a crucial defensive play, first stopping Carre in the tackle and then springing to his feet with lightning speed to win a turnover penalty just two metres from the line. It was a try-saving moment that kept New Zealand ahead.

The All Blacks extended their advantage in the 29th minute when Love produced the try of the half. Following a goal-line dropout after McKenzie’s kick had gone too deep, Wallace Sititi took the restart and came flying like he’d been shot out of a cannon, charging back at the Welsh defensive line with devastating effect. After several phases built momentum, the ball reached Love flat-footed on Wales’ 22-metre line. The fullback unleashed a devastating right-foot step that sent him between Carre and Deaves, then showed blistering acceleration to sprint 20 metres under the posts, fending off a despairing tackle attempt. McKenzie’s simple conversion made it 17-7, and New Zealand appeared to be taking control.

Wales refused to buckle, with Rogers claiming his second try in the 33rd minute to keep the contest alive. The try started with brilliant work by Dafydd Jenkins, who drove deep into New Zealand territory. With penalty advantage after the All Blacks strayed offside, Tomos Williams spotted space behind the defensive line and dropped a clever grubber kick through. Blair Murray, the fullback playing against his country of birth, showed excellent awareness to run onto the ball and regather. Wales recycled quickly, and after Edwards drew defenders, Max Llewellyn received the ball and slipped a pass to Rogers on the left wing. The Scarlets flyer had too much pace for the covering defence and crossed in the same corner as his first try. Edwards’ conversion from wide out cut the deficit to just three points at 17-14, and the atmosphere inside the stadium became electric.

Prop Tamaiti Williams had the final word of the half, powering through three defenders from close range after a five-metre lineout. Holland won the lineout ball at the front, and when it emerged from the drive, it went to Williams. The big prop showed incredible strength, refusing to go down as he was hit by two Welsh forwards. He took on two more defenders and cork-screwed his way through multiple tackles, spinning out of their grip to force the ball down. It was a display of raw power that gave the All Blacks a 24-14 advantage at the break despite Wales’ spirited resistance and their 108 first-half tackles compared to just 38 by New Zealand.

The second half began dramatically as Rogers completed his historic hat-trick just two minutes after the restart. Dafydd Jenkins charged down a McKenzie kick to win possession, breathing life into the Welsh attack. The big lock then won a crucial ball in the air to give his team front-foot momentum. From there it was slick hands, with Joe Hawkins at inside centre producing a wonderful long pass that took out two New Zealand defenders. The ball found Llewellyn, who had space on the left edge and immediately released Rogers. The winger showed a nice side-step off his left foot to beat Love as the last defender and crossed for his third try. Edwards’ conversion made it 21-24, Rogers had made history, and the Principality Stadium erupted in anticipation of a potential upset. He became only the fourth player ever to score a hat-trick against the All Blacks, joining Greg Cornelsen, Ray Mordt and Andre Joubert in that exclusive club.

What followed was a period of chaos and TMO interventions that nearly saw New Zealand score twice in quick succession. Clarke appeared to cross in the 46th minute after the All Blacks built through more than a dozen phases. From a midfield position, McKenzie released Love, who tipped it onto Clarke. The powerful winger burst through tackles from Llewellyn and Murray and brought it around to score next to the posts. McKenzie’s conversion was successful, but television match official Ian Tempest intervened, having spotted that Kirifi had knocked the ball forward on the ground at an earlier breakdown. The try was scrubbed out, though New Zealand retained possession through a penalty for Wales not rolling away.

From the resulting five-metre lineout, more drama unfolded. Holland’s throw was scrappy and went backwards, evading Kirifi before Jordan scooped it up. The fullback showed incredible strength, willing his way through multiple Welsh defenders towards the goal line. Referee Hollie Davidson was right on the spot and initially awarded the try, saying she had seen a grounding on the line. However, she then double-checked with the TMO. After reviewing multiple angles, it was deemed inconclusive whether Jordan had grounded the ball, and Davidson took another look before ruling Jordan had been held up, with a Welsh arm getting under the ball. It was a let-off for Wales, who had absorbed wave after wave of All Blacks pressure.

The pressure finally told in the 51st minute when McKenzie delivered a pinpoint cross-field kick from left to right. The kick was intended for Jordan on the wing, but the ball bounced awkwardly and sailed over both Jordan and Rogers in the aerial contest. Ioane was backing up perfectly and gathered the loose ball. Despite the best efforts of Edwards, who tackled him, Ioane showed great strength to twist his back towards the tackler and force his way over the line, stretching to place the ball in the corner. McKenzie’s superb conversion from the right touchline extended the lead to 31-21, finally giving New Zealand breathing room after their two disallowed tries.

Wales’ discipline then deteriorated dramatically as fatigue set in from making tackles constantly without the ball. Gareth Thomas was sin-binned in the 58th minute for a no-arms tackle after persistent team infringements at the breakdown. Captain Dewi Lake had already received a warning from Davidson that the next infringement would result in a yellow card, and when Thomas’ high tackle came without wrapping his arms, he was given his marching orders.

The numerical advantage proved immediate. From the resulting lineout just five metres out, the All Blacks mounted several sorties. Taukei’aho was stopped near the posts, then Newell hammered away at the line. After 14 phases, the All Blacks had stretched the Welsh defence to breaking point. They snaked left with Taukei’aho coming close again before Christie and McKenzie shifted the ball back down the right. Keeping the ball alive through multiple phases, they created space on the right edge for replacement wing Sevu Reece. The ball went through Jordan’s hands to Lienert-Brown, who fired it onto an unmarked Reece. The Wellington flyer had a simple run-in, diving over in the right corner. McKenzie’s perfect conversion from wide out made it 38-21.

As Thomas returned in the 68th minute, Plumtree joined him in the sin-bin for a high tackle on Jordan. The TMO review showed Plumtree’s shoulder had made direct contact with Jordan’s head, with his body height slightly too high. It met the threshold for a yellow card, and Wales were reduced to 13 men for a period, facing the onslaught with just 14 for much of the final 20 minutes. The floodgates opened under the relentless pressure.

Reece claimed his second try in the 70th minute with a moment of individual brilliance that showcased his world-class footwork. After New Zealand built through multiple phases from the penalty, McKenzie spotted space and flung a pass out right. The ball found open ground, meaning Reece had to turn and regather the awkward bounce before facing the right way again. By the time he did, Jarrod Evans was chasing him down as the final defender. It didn’t matter. With a shimmy, a wriggle and a devastating sidestep, Reece left Evans grasping at air as if he were a training mannequin. He strolled over in the corner for what was probably the try of the match. McKenzie’s seventh consecutive successful conversion stretched the lead to 45-21, and what had once been a close contest was now becoming a rout.

Rees-Zammit provided Wales with a moment of brilliance in the 76th minute, producing a trademark flying finish in the corner that gave the home crowd something to celebrate. After Wales went through more than 11 phases, showing great patience with the ball, they worked their way to within five metres of the line. Jenkins and Lake made strong carries before Wales shifted it right. Rees-Zammit received the ball on the right wing with Clarke defending. The former NFL rookie showed his exceptional athleticism, taking off from several metres out and flying through the air. He stretched parallel to the ground, reaching out superman style with one arm extended, and managed to plant the ball in the corner under pressure from Clarke before landing. It was an acrobatic finish that demonstrated why he’s regarded as one of the most exciting finishers in world rugby. Evans’ conversion attempt from the right touchline drifted wide, but Wales had scored more than 25 points against the All Blacks for the first time in their history.

Clarke had the final say, scoring his second try in the 79th minute after Leicester Fainga’anuku’s powerful run created the opportunity. Wales attempted to shift the ball but Llewellyn missed his tackle in the midfield channel. Fainga’anuku exploded through the gap on halfway, breaking the line with devastating effect. The powerful centre then delivered a brilliant one-handed offload as he was being tackled, finding Ioane in support. The All Blacks centre unselfishly drew the final defender before passing wide to Clarke, who had an easy run-in on the left wing, strolling over unopposed. McKenzie’s conversion brought up 50 points and completed his perfect eight-from-eight kicking performance, accumulating 17 points from seven conversions and a penalty. Reece then tapped the final penalty quickly and kicked the ball directly into the stands to bring the curtain down on a solid 26-point victory.

Wallace Sititi was named player of the match, with his thundering carries throughout proving crucial. The number eight made 11 carries and consistently won collisions, dominating the gainline battle and laying the platform for New Zealand’s dominance. Taukei’aho roamed wide on numerous occasions, making crucial metres with his strong running, while Holland proved a reliable target in the lineout, winning crucial ball throughout. McKenzie’s flawless kicking display yielded 17 points and never looked in doubt, while Jordan impressed under the high ball despite being denied a try, winning multiple aerial contests that prevented Wales from building pressure.

The statistics told the story of New Zealand’s dominance. The All Blacks held 67 percent possession, ran 1,313 metres compared to Wales’ 540, and conceded just three penalties to Wales’ 11. Wales made 228 tackles to New Zealand’s 85, evidence of the relentless pressure they faced throughout. The All Blacks also had nine line breaks compared to Wales’ eight, despite having far more of the ball, showing that Wales were dangerous when they had possession but simply didn’t see enough of it.

The result gives New Zealand something to build on heading into 2026, though questions remain about their consistency after three losses this season, including defeats to South Africa, France and England. Robertson will be pleased with the exposure given to fringe players, but the defensive vulnerabilities exposed at times will be a concern.

For Wales, despite conceding 50 points at home for the third time in 2025, there were glimpses of attacking quality and resilience that suggest better days may lie ahead under new head coach Steve Tandy, particularly ahead of their final autumn international against world champions South Africa next weekend. The hosts will be without 13 players who play club rugby in England and France because the game has been organised outside World Rugby’s international window, presenting another significant challenge.

South Africa ended their 13-year wait for victory in Dublin with a 24-13 triumph over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening, though the world champions were forced to withstand a determined rearguard action from opponents who equalled the record for most cards received in a single Test match.

Key moments:

4′ – TRY SOUTH AFRICA: Damian Willemse finishes brilliantly in corner, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu misses conversion (Ireland 0-5 South Africa)
19′ – RED CARD IRELAND: James Ryan shown 20-minute red card for illegal clear-out on Malcolm Marx
34′ – YELLOW CARD IRELAND: Sam Prendergast sent to sin bin for repeated infringements
34′ – TRY SOUTH AFRICA: Cobus Reinach snipes over from close range, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converts (Ireland 0-12 South Africa)
37′ – TRY IRELAND: Dan Sheehan crashes over from close range, Jack Crowley converts (Ireland 7-12 South Africa)
40′ – YELLOW CARD IRELAND: Jack Crowley sent to sin bin for hand in ruck
40+2′ – YELLOW CARD IRELAND: Andrew Porter sent to sin bin for scrum infringement
40+3′ – PENALTY TRY SOUTH AFRICA: Matthew Carley awards penalty try after Irish scrum collapses (Ireland 7-19 South Africa)
Half-time: Ireland 7-19 South Africa
44′ – PENALTY IRELAND: Sam Prendergast kicks penalty (Ireland 10-19 South Africa)
47′ – TRY SOUTH AFRICA: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu bursts through to score, conversion missed (Ireland 10-24 South Africa)
56′ – PENALTY IRELAND: Sam Prendergast kicks penalty (Ireland 13-24 South Africa)
62′ – YELLOW CARD IRELAND: Paddy McCarthy sent to sin bin for repeated scrum penalties
79′ – YELLOW CARD SOUTH AFRICA: Grant Williams sent to sin bin for not rolling away
Full-time: Ireland 13-24 South Africa

In an extraordinary contest that descended into chaos at times, Ireland were shown five yellow cards and one 20-minute red card in a catastrophic disciplinary breakdown that saw them reduced to 12 players before half-time. Yet despite the numerical disadvantages and South Africa’s overwhelming scrum dominance, Andy Farrell’s side demonstrated such ferocious resistance that Rassie Erasmus will acknowledge his team should have won far more convincingly given their possession and territory.

First victory in Dublin since 2012 💥#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #IREvRSA pic.twitter.com/JW9CR4bkBg

— Springboks (@Springboks) November 22, 2025

The atmosphere inside the Aviva Stadium was electric as both sides entered their final autumn international of 2025. Ireland, buoyed by convincing victories over Japan and Australia, sensed an opportunity to claim a statement scalp. South Africa, unbeaten on their European tour with wins over Japan, France and Italy, arrived determined to conquer the one venue that had eluded Erasmus throughout his all-conquering coaching tenure.

The match exploded into life immediately, with Ireland striking purposefully through early attacks down the left flank. Twice in the opening exchanges James Lowe found space on the wing through clever skip passes from Sam Prendergast and Garry Ringrose, suggesting the hosts had arrived with genuine ambition to topple the world’s number one side. The crowd roared its approval as Ireland established early territorial dominance.

But South Africa demonstrated within four minutes precisely why they are the sport’s pre-eminent force. From a lineout on Ireland’s 10-metre line, the Springboks launched an attack that showcased their evolved attacking philosophy. Pieter-Steph du Toit gathered at the tail and powered forward through initial contact, making crucial metres before presenting quick ball. When the recycled possession emerged, Caelan Doris jumped aggressively out of the defensive line, attempting to shut down the threat at source. His gamble backfired spectacularly as it created a dog-leg in Ireland’s defensive structure.

Damian de Allende identified the space instantly, timing his run perfectly before exploiting the gap with a powerful surge that left Irish defenders scrambling. The inside centre’s delayed pass then released the attack into wider channels where Cheslin Kolbe, with his trademark footwork and acceleration, sniped through another narrow opening. The diminutive wing drew the final defender before delivering a perfectly weighted pass to Damian Willemse on the left touchline.

With Mack Hansen and Tommy O’Brien converging on him and minimal space to work with, Willemse produced a moment of supreme athleticism. The full-back launched himself towards the corner flag in a superman dive, stretching his right arm fully extended to plant the ball millimetres inside the touchline before momentum carried him into touch. Feinberg-Mngomezulu pushed the conversion attempt across the face of the posts, but the Springboks had drawn first blood with a try that perfectly encapsulated their transformation from one-dimensional power rugby to a team capable of striking from anywhere.

Ireland responded positively, with Lowe skinning Kolbe brilliantly on the left touchline through superb footwork and a powerful fend that sent the Springbok wing tumbling. The crowd erupted as Ireland worked the ball through multiple phases, building momentum and creating space out wide. The subsequent attack saw Tommy O’Brien receive possession on the right wing with space to exploit, only for Pieter-Steph du Toit to arrive with a thunderous initial hit that stopped the young Leinster wing in his tracks.

As O’Brien was held upright in the tackle, Feinberg-Mngomezulu arrived at pace from his fly-half position. What happened next sparked the match’s first major controversy. The South African appeared to lead with his shoulder, making no discernible attempt to wrap his arms as he collided with O’Brien. The contact appeared high, causing O’Brien’s head to whiplash violently backwards. The crowd bayed for a card as Matthew Carley consulted his TMO.

After lengthy deliberation with multiple replays scrutinised, Carley controversially awarded only a penalty. The decision stunned observers throughout the stadium and watching around the world, particularly given South Africa’s recent disciplinary issues with high tackles that had seen Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert sent off in consecutive matches against France and Italy. Irish supporters vented their fury, whilst South African players escaped with relief palpable on their faces.

Ireland kicked to the corner and established good lineout possession, but their promising position met a devastating end in the 19th minute through an act of shocking recklessness. Prendergast struck a penalty attempt cleanly from 22 metres and slightly left of centre, but watched helplessly as the ball cannoned back off the left upright with perfect trajectory for the posts. Lowe reacted quickest to the fortuitous rebound, gathering the ball before it bounced and setting Ireland on the attack once more.

The hosts flooded forward with renewed purpose. Multiple phases of aggressive carrying brought them to within metres of South Africa’s line, with the crowd sensing their first try. Tadhg Beirne received possession from short range and powered through initial contact before appearing to reach out and plant the ball over the line. The Aviva Stadium exploded in celebration.

But TMO intervention revealed a darker picture in the build-up. As Ireland had surged towards the line, James Ryan had launched himself into a ruck with complete disregard for safety protocols. The Leinster lock flew off his feet, leading with his shoulder as he cleared out the ruck. His shoulder made direct and forceful contact with Malcolm Marx’s head, the Springbok hooker’s neck snapping backwards from the impact. There was no mitigation, no attempt to use his arms, and clear recklessness in the execution.

The try was immediately disallowed and Ryan shown a yellow card. As he trudged towards the sideline, the TMO’s voice crackled through the stadium speakers, confirming what everyone feared: the yellow would be reviewed by the foul play review officer for a potential upgrade to a 20-minute red card. Within minutes, the confirmation came through. Ryan’s evening was over, his first red card at any level a bitter personal milestone, and Ireland would spend the next 12 minutes with just 14 players before being allowed to replace him with Cian Prendergast.

Down to 14 men and having had a likely try disallowed, Ireland absorbed pressure impressively for a period, completing tackles at over 90 per cent whilst maintaining defensive shape through sheer bloody-minded determination. Their best moment of reprieve came around the 26th minute when South Africa appeared to have breached the line again. Following sustained pressure and multiple carries from their powerful pack, loosehead prop Boan Venter crashed over from close range, burrowing through bodies to ground the ball.

However, the TMO once again intervened, this time in Ireland’s favour. Replays showed that in the build-up, Jasper Wiese had delivered an off-load to Eben Etzebeth that had drifted forward. The pass was subtle in its illegality, floating perhaps a metre ahead of its intended target, but it was clear enough for the officials to disallow the score. South Africa’s frustration was evident, though they could have no complaints with the accuracy of the decision.

South Africa’s scrum began asserting devastating dominance approaching the half-hour mark, revealing what would become the defining narrative of the contest. The Springbok front row, marshalled superbly by player of the match Malcolm Marx, with Thomas du Toit and Boan Venter providing formidable support, repeatedly folded back Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong. Each scrum became an ordeal for Ireland, their pack driven backwards with alarming regularity, conceding a succession of penalties that created sustained attacking platforms for the visitors.

The pressure proved relentless. Tommy O’Brien departed for a head injury assessment after making a high tackle on Canan Moodie—somehow avoiding sanction himself when his shoulder made contact with the South African wing’s head, perhaps Carley finally achieving some semblance of consistency in his officiating. Jack Crowley entered as replacement fly-half, with Mack Hansen shuffling to full-back as Ireland’s defensive structure creaked under the onslaught.

The breakthrough arrived in the 34th minute following yet another scrum penalty that left Ireland defending desperately close to their own line. When they strayed offside for a third time inside their own 22 whilst attempting to stem the tide, Carley’s patience expired. Sam Prendergast was shown a yellow card for repeated team infringements, the referee making clear that Ireland’s persistent offside play had crossed the threshold into cynical territory. The hosts were reduced to 13 men.

From the subsequent attacking scrum five metres from Ireland’s line, South Africa played with ruthless efficiency and multiple penalty advantages in their back pocket. The pack hammered away through phase after phase, each carry making ground as white-shirted defenders threw themselves into tackles with increasing desperation. Porter, Furlong and substitute McCarthy strained every sinew at scrum time, but the numerical disadvantage proved overwhelming.

As Ireland’s defensive line began to fracture under the relentless assault, Cobus Reinach spotted his opportunity. The experienced scrumhalf, playing in his 49th Test match, executed perfectly. He picked from the base of a ruck just three metres out, sold a clever dummy to freeze the closest defender, then darted through on a diagonal run that bisected two would-be tacklers. His acceleration took him clear and he slid over beside the posts for his 19th international try.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s conversion was a formality, and at 12-0 down with 13 players on the field and their scrum being demolished, Ireland’s task appeared insurmountable. The Aviva crowd had fallen eerily quiet, resignation beginning to set in.

Yet Farrell’s side demonstrated the remarkable character that has defined Irish rugby in recent years. Within three minutes, they fashioned a brilliant riposte that lifted the Aviva crowd and injected genuine hope into the contest. From a penalty in midfield, Ireland kicked to the corner rather than taking easy points, a statement of attacking intent despite their numerical disadvantage.

Ryan Baird’s majestic take at the tail of the lineout in South Africa’s 22 provided the platform. The Leinster blindside soared above Eben Etzebeth to claim clean possession, his athleticism giving Ireland quick ball to attack with. Josh van der Flier took the first carry, his trademark low body position and leg drive taking him through the first tackle and making crucial metres. The Leinster openside was eventually hauled down five metres from the line, but crucially he presented the ball perfectly for quick recycle.

Bundee Aki took the next carry, the Connacht centre using his considerable power to bulldoze closer to the whitewash. He was stopped a metre short but again the ball was available instantly. Jamison Gibson-Park, reading the situation perfectly, spotted Dan Sheehan looming on a blind run from the left. The scrumhalf delivered a scoring pass of exquisite timing and accuracy, hitting Sheehan in stride.

The Leinster hooker, one of Ireland’s most potent attacking weapons, required no invitation. He burst through the narrow channel between two defenders, his powerful leg drive carrying him over the line despite the attention of three Springbok tacklers who arrived fractionally too late. Sheehan crashed down with the ball firmly grounded, and the Aviva Stadium erupted in cathartic celebration. Against all odds, Ireland were back in this contest.

Jack Crowley, composed despite the circumstances of his introduction, slotted the conversion from in front of the posts to make it 12-7. With Prendergast’s sin-bin period ending in two minutes, Ireland had genuine belief they could survive to half-time with minimal further damage, regroup, and launch a second-half comeback.

Those hopes evaporated in the most brutal fashion imaginable. The final three minutes of the half descended into absolute pandemonium, a sequence of events so chaotic and damaging that it would define Ireland’s entire evening. It began with a needless act of stupidity from Crowley himself. As Ireland defended another attacking phase near their line, the Munster fly-half stuck his hands into a ruck and cynically knocked the ball from Cobus Reinach’s grasp as the scrumhalf attempted to clear it.

Carley had no hesitation. Crowley was sin-binned for deliberately slowing the ball, a clear professional foul. Ireland were back down to 13 men, having just restored themselves to 14 with Prendergast’s imminent return. Worse still, they had lost their replacement fly-half, forcing further reshuffle in an already disrupted backline.

Erasmus, watching from the coaches’ box like a chess grandmaster spotting his opponent’s fatal weakness, made his move. He immediately introduced fresh props Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw, two members of South Africa’s vaunted “Bomb Squad” renowned for their scrummaging prowess. Louw in particular, at 144 kilograms of muscle and scrummaging expertise, represented a terrifying prospect for Ireland’s beleaguered front row.

The subsequent scrum, set five metres from Ireland’s line, became a symbol of South Africa’s physical dominance. The Springbok pack engaged with devastating force, the fresh legs and superior technique producing an irresistible surge. Ireland’s seven-man scrum—they had only Aki available to pack down alongside six forwards with two players in the sin bin—buckled immediately, driven backwards at frightening speed. Carley’s arm shot out for advantage before the scrum had even fully collapsed.

Rather than use the penalty, South Africa demanded another scrum, sensing blood in the water. Erasmus’s substitutions had transformed the contest. Porter, exhausted from 40 minutes of warfare against one of rugby’s great scrums, was being systematically dismantled by the fresh Steenekamp. As the packs engaged for a second time, the outcome was even more emphatic. Ireland’s scrum folded backwards, Porter’s bind slipping as he struggled to cope with the power being generated against him.

Carley showed Porter the yellow card. Ireland were down to 12 players, matching the fewest number of players any Test team has fielded. The crowd’s frustration boiled over into loud booing, though whether directed at their own team’s indiscipline or the referee’s accumulation of cards was unclear. Paddy McCarthy entered as replacement prop, meaning Josh van der Flier had to depart to maintain the required number of front row players. Ireland’s best tackler and breakdown operator was a casualty of their scrum’s implosion.

South Africa demanded yet another scrum, and Carley by now had seen enough. The Irish pack, reduced to seven men with Bundee Aki awkwardly packing down at blindside flanker, collapsed again under immense pressure. The referee ran beneath the posts and raised his arms, awarding a penalty try. Carley’s whistle for half-time sounded immediately afterwards, the shrill blast ending 40 minutes that had veered between brilliant rugby and absolute chaos.

South Africa led 19-7 having scored three tries to Ireland’s one, but crucially they would restart the second half against 12 opponents. The booing intensified as the teams trudged off, with Irish supporters’ fury directed at their team’s catastrophic indiscipline. Five cards in one half—Ryan’s 20-minute red plus yellow cards for Prendergast, Crowley and Porter—represented a breakdown in discipline unprecedented at this level.

The second half began with Ireland still fielding just 12 men, with Mack Hansen deputising at fly-half in Prendergast’s continued absence. Yet somehow, impossibly, they emerged the brighter side in the opening exchanges. Their spirit, their refusal to buckle despite overwhelming adversity, shone through. When they earned a penalty in the 43rd minute, Prendergast—back on the field after his sin-bin period expired—stepped up to take it despite the difficult angle from the right touchline. His kick was assured, bisecting the uprights to narrow the gap to nine points at 19-10. A glimmer of hope remained.

South Africa’s response showcased why Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is regarded as one of world rugby’s most exciting young talents. Following yet another dominant scrum that won penalty advantage—Ireland’s scrum woes continuing unabated—the ball reached the 23-year-old fly-half on the right side of the field near Ireland’s 22-metre line.
What followed was a moment of individual brilliance that epitomised the Springboks’ new attacking dimension.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu sized up Gibson-Park, the sole defender in his immediate channel with Ireland stretched thin across the field. The South African sold an outrageous dummy, shaping to pass left before pulling the ball back. Gibson-Park, one of rugby’s smartest operators, bought the feint completely and shifted his weight accordingly.

Seizing his moment, Feinberg-Mngomezulu accelerated into the space, then compounded Gibson-Park’s misery by shrugging off the scrumhalf’s desperate attempted tackle with a powerful hand-off that sent the Irishman sprawling. With the defensive line breached and only scrambling cover to beat, the fly-half showed raw pace that belied his size, straightening his running line before arcing towards the posts. He slid over with defenders grasping at thin air, scoring his seventh Test try in 2025 and announcing himself on the biggest stage.

His missed conversion—perhaps betraying some nerves—left the score at 24-10 with 33 minutes remaining, but South Africa’s dominance appeared complete. Ireland, about to be restored to their full complement of 15 players, faced a 14-point deficit that seemed insurmountable given how comprehensively they had been outplayed in the key battles.

Yet Ireland refused to surrender. Paddy McCarthy produced a try-saving turnover on his own line in the 59th minute, jackalling brilliantly over the ball to win a penalty just as South Africa appeared certain to score. The young Leinster prop’s intervention drew enormous roars from the crowd, desperate for any morsel of hope. When Ireland finally secured clean possession in South African territory moments later, Prendergast kicked his second penalty from 30 metres to make it 24-13 with 25 minutes remaining.

The gap now stood at 11 points—two scores—and the crowd found its voice again. Ireland, restored to 15 players, began to believe an impossible comeback might be within reach. Every tackle, every breakdown contest, took on seismic importance. Caelan Doris led from the front with tackle after tackle, his defensive work rate matching anything from his previous 66 caps. Ryan Baird, playing despite clearly carrying knocks, threw his body into collision after collision.

Gibson-Park produced a moment of individual brilliance in the 53rd minute that exemplified Ireland’s refusal to die. Under immense pressure at the base of a ruck deep inside his own 22, with South African forwards bearing down on him and his scrum going backwards, the scrumhalf somehow managed to hook his boot around the ball and deliver a clearing box kick that sailed majestically downfield, finding touch on halfway. It was a kick executed from literally behind his own try-line, a piece of skill under pressure that drew applause even from South African supporters.

The contest then became attritional, Ireland defending heroically as South Africa probed for the score that would seal victory. In the 62nd minute, after three successive scrum penalties and with Ireland’s front row visibly wilting, Carley showed McCarthy a yellow card. Porter, having served his 10 minutes, had to return to the field to ensure Ireland had the required number of front row players. Van der Flier departed again, a cruel double blow given his importance to Ireland’s defensive structure.

Still Ireland held firm. Twice in the closing stages, Jack Crowley produced interventions that bordered on the miraculous. In the 72nd minute, Cheslin Kolbe charged down James Lowe’s attempted clearance and the ball ricocheted towards the Irish try-line where Canan Moodie followed up at pace. The South African wing gathered and appeared certain to score, but Crowley having chased back 40 metres arrived with a desperate lunge that disrupted Moodie’s attempt to ground the ball, forcing a knock-on.

Eight minutes later, Moodie broke free again down the right touchline after Manie Libbok’s perfectly weighted chip ahead. The wing gathered the ball five metres from Ireland’s line with just Crowley to beat. As Moodie dived towards the corner flag, Crowley threw himself horizontally through the air, stretching every sinew to get a hand to the ball and somehow knock it loose just as Moodie attempted to ground it. The Aviva crowd erupted at the try-saving tackle, Crowley’s redemption arc complete after his first-half sin-bin.

The crowd sensed an impossible comeback as Ireland won a penalty and kicked to the corner with three minutes remaining. They besieged South Africa’s 22 through multiple phases, every carry met with ferocious Springbok defence but Ireland continuing to recycle possession. Bundee Aki crashed into contact, Tom Farrell—on as a substitute—took a short ball and made ground, before Jack Conan rumbled forward.

In the 79th minute, with time expired and Ireland attacking on South Africa’s five-metre line, replacement scrumhalf Grant Williams was caught offside at a ruck. Carley showed him a yellow card, giving Ireland numerical parity at last and one final chance to salvage something from the wreckage. The crowd roared its approval, urging the players forward for one last assault.

Craig Casey, on for the injured Ringrose, tapped quickly and darted forward. The ball was recycled frantically, Ireland desperate to create space against a Springbok defensive wall that refused to yield. Farrell took another carry. Aki again. Doris driving forward with every remaining ounce of energy. The phases mounted—one, two, three, four—but South Africa’s defensive line held firm, 14 men defending like 20, scrambling and tackling and refusing to break.

On the fifth phase, Ireland moved the ball wide to the left where Manie Libbok intercepted an attempted skip pass. The South African fly-half gathered and booted the ball into the stands. Matthew Carley’s final whistle sounded, ending two hours and ten minutes of the most chaotic, bruising, compelling Test match rugby in recent memory.

Marx, his jersey torn and face bloodied, reflected afterwards on the challenging encounter. “As you can tell by the way that I look it was bruising,” the hooker said, sporting fresh bandaging around his head. “Ireland are a quality side and we knew it would go to the end. We needed to show character and we did it. We had some success at the scrum but in the second half, we weren’t as successful as we would have liked to be. Playing against a quality side is always going to be a tough battle. The character they showed was immense. Even with 12 players they kept us out. It was incredible, they have a great bond as a team.”

For Ireland, this represented a bitterly disappointing conclusion to their autumn campaign. Their defensive resolve proved extraordinary, holding South Africa to just 24 points despite extended periods with reduced numbers. They completed 61 tackles in the first half alone at 96 per cent accuracy, won two crucial turnovers, and conceded only five second-half points in open play. Yet five yellow cards—equalling the record for a single Test match—reflected a lack of composure and discipline that will concern Farrell ahead of February’s Six Nations opener against France in Paris.

The statistics revealed both Ireland’s valiant effort and their fundamental failings. They conceded 17 penalties compared to South Africa’s five. They lost six scrum penalties to none, a humiliating differential that told the story of the contest’s defining battle. Yet they made 119 tackles at 85 per cent completion across 80 minutes, won three turnovers, and refused to buckle despite circumstances that would have broken most teams.

South Africa’s victory maintained their seven-match winning streak and secured Erasmus’s first triumph in Dublin, ending the only significant gap in his glittering coaching CV. Yet the manner of victory—grinding rather than emphatic—suggested vulnerabilities that Ireland came agonisingly close to exploiting. The Springboks’ scrum remained their most devastating weapon, their rolling maul formidable, and their young playmaker showed star quality, but their inability to pull away convincingly from 12 men will provide both encouragement and warning for future opponents.

Erasmus acknowledged afterwards that his team should have been more ruthless. “We came with the right attitude and skill set,” he said. “The scrum was dominant and our defence held when it needed to. But we left opportunities out there. Ireland showed why they’re such a quality side—even down to 12 men they made us fight for every point.”