Upsets, red cards and humble pie -Ireland's biggest wins over SA

Although the video titled 'Unfinished Business' that appeared on the Springbok's social media channels this week spoke of Ireland as a "new contender", these two rugby nations have been going head to head for 118 years.

Their first meeting came in Belfast in November of 1906, with South Africa winning 15-12 thanks to a last-minute try from winger Anton Stegmann.

The Springboks have certainly had the better of the rivalry, winning 18 of the 28 Tests played between the sides, but ahead of the latest chapter in Pretoria on Saturday, Ireland can look back on some famous wins against the four-time World Cup winners.

10 April 1965 - Ireland 9-6 South Africa (Lansdowne Road)

It would be 59 years, and another five defeats, before Ireland earned their first ever victory over South Africa.

On a tour when the Springboks would also lose a Test to Scotland, Paddy McGrath’s try and a pair of Tom Kiernan’s penalties saw the hosts run out 9-6 winners in Dublin.

In the days of three points for a try, the scores were tied at 6-6 when Kiernan's late kick saw Ireland home.

Having waited almost six decades for a win over South Africa, Ireland would then go 39 years without another one.

13 November 2004 - Ireland 17-12 South Africa (Lansdowne Road)

While South African centre Damian de Allende saying he anticipated the series this month would be a "war" made plenty of headlines, there was a fair share of hyperbole in the build up to this 2004 Test too.

Before the game in Dublin, South Africa's then coach Jake White had told media he felt only three Irish players - Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell and Malcolm O'Kelly - would get into his squad.

One of the Irish players he overlooked, Ronan O'Gara, would be the star of the show when the teams took the field, scoring all 17 of his side's points in an emphatic victory.

The game would be the start of a run of five Irish wins in seven meetings.

11 June 2016 - South Africa 20-26 Ireland (Newlands Stadium)

Ireland's sole win on South African soil came eight years ago in Cape Town.

The 26-20 victory for Joe Schmidt's side was secured despite flanker CJ Stander being shown a red card in the first half for an aerial collision with Pat Lambie.

Tries from Jared Payne and Conor Murray helped Ireland into their winning position and they would hold on with 14 men despite Pieter-Steph du Toit's late score.

The Springboks would, however, get the better of both the next two Tests to ensure that Ireland's wait for a series victory in South Africa goes on.

11 November 2017 - Ireland 38-3 South Africa (Aviva Stadium)

Ireland's widest margin of victory in this fixture came in 2017 as part of an Autumn clean sweep that also included wins over Fiji and Argentina.

The hosts in Dublin grabbed three of their four tries late in the piece but the final flourish across the last ten minutes only served to put a more accurate reflection on the scoreline with Ireland ultimately winning 38-3.

Their previous biggest win over South Africa had been by 17 points in 2006.

South Africa had arrived at a low ebb under Allister Coetzee but, with Rassie Erasmus taking over soon after, they would be crowned World champions for a third time less than two years later.

23 September 2023 - South Africa 8 -13 Ireland (Stade de France)

The most recent meeting between the two sides in Paris was their first ever at a World Cup.

With Bundee Aki in inspired form, Ireland won by five points after a late South African charge was stalled short of the line.

The victory in a pulsating and physical contest ensured Andy Farrell's side would top the pool but South Africa would have the last laugh, going on to win the whole competition while Ireland once again fell at the quarter-final stage with defeat to New Zealand.

The fixture was in the headlines again this week with South African lock Eben Etzebeth asked about previous comments he had made regarding what was said between players at the final whistle.