The report has just dropped from a crazy, topsy-turvy Test.

That was great fun. I hope you enjoyed it! It certainly sets up next week’s showdown in Durban. Both sides with plenty to work on but both sides can still be proud of their performance.

Thanks for hanging.

Til next time…

Game of fine margins. I think this sums up that Test for me.

There have been a few injuries picked up today.

ON the causality list is England’s prop Joe Marler who is a doubt for the second Test against New Zealand next week.

How about some thoughts from the main men?

Here’s Ireland’s captain, Peter O’Mahoney speaking to Sky Sports:

“It was a tough battle. We knew it was going to be very, very difficult here. There are a lot of positives to take out of their postives, but there were little bits here and there that a side like the Springboks are going to punish.

“We knew coming in that there was going to be a bit of a tweak to the Springboks’ approach. Certainly, they are playing a bit more expansively. We’ll have a look.”

While we wait for the match report to land, why not have a refresher on the earlier Tests:

Here’s the moment where the game was won.

A penalty try in a seven point contest. Talk about a statement!

What a weird game. Ireland can count themselves unlucky and were it not for a few slips from Lowe they just might have.

Then again, the Springboks, with a more reliable goal kicker on the night, as well as greater accuracy on attack, could have won that at a canter.

So, fair result? This will need a second viewing. What an extraordinary game.

What do you reckon? Would you have chalked this off? Some debate around this and I reckon it’s not the last we’ll hear of it.

I hope James Lowe doesn’t beat himself up too much. Sure it was his mistake that led to the Springboks’ penalty try from the scrum, and sure it was his mistake that saw Kolbe canter in for an against-the-run-of-play try, but he was magnificent for the rest of the game.

Such fine margins at this level.

Bout sums it up.

77 min: Lowe fumbles the restart so South Africa have a five metre scrum. How costly might that prove? If he let that bounce it would have bobbled over the dead ball line. Instead the Boks have a chance to close this game out.

74 min: Held up! Oh what drama! It’ll be a goal-line drop-out for South Africa. Dorris thought he dotted the ball down over the line but he placed it on a South African’s leg. No try is the decision after a review!

74 min: Ireland are son close. Five out with a penalty advantage. So many big carries. So many big tackles. Can they get over the line?

72 min: Ireland win the line-out and set an attack down the line. South Africa’s rush defence disrupts their flow but Ireland have a free-kick as the Boks had one too many bodies in the line-out. Sloppy.

71 min: Another penalty for Ireland. Another nudge into touch from Crowley. Ireland with another line-out, this time about five metres out.

70 min: Du Toit gets up at the line-out and taps the ball back onto South Africa’s side. That was a big moment for Ireland. Pollard slices his clearing kick out of touch. So Ireland get another line-out inside the Boks’ 22.

69 min: Ireland are starting to get a little frantic. They’ll have a penalty after Aki is put under pressure illegally at the ruck – side entries there. It’s tense, players on both sides get involved in a bit of shoving and pulling after the whistle. It calms down and Crowley lands a wonderful touch finder about 10 out.

68 min: Ireland botch a line-out and South Africa get their hands on the ball and shunt it up field.

64 min: We’re back and it’s a South African penalty from the scrum.

“Should we be impressed by the second half so far?!” asks John Ryan.

No. I think it’s been pretty poor if you ask me. A wonderful opening half hour has been wiped out by a sloppy second half.

Casey is being taken off the field on a stretcher as he receives oxygen.

But he gives a thumbs up to the ground.

63 min: Casey copped a nasty blow to the head as he landed on the hard ground. No foul play. Just an awkward landing and he’s now receiving medical attention.

64 min: Scrappy yet again. Ireland secured the ball and carried it into midfield but a rush defence and pressure at the breakdown means the ball is spilled. Both teams make attempts to swipe the ball back on their side. In the end it’s an Irish knock-on that brings that passage to a close so South Africa will have the scrum feed just beyond their own 22.

63 min: Casey lands a 50:22 kick. Things are just starting to go Ireland’s way. Momentum is definitely swinging towards the emerald green. Now they have the line-out throw inside the Boks’ 22.

61 min: Ireland have the ball inside their own 22. They’re starting to grow into this game. So much for altitude fatigue, eh? But now South Africa have the ball back with Williams, on for de Klerk, box kicking high into the dark Pretoria sky. Crowley returns the favour. Cagey stuff at the minute.

60 min: Pollard misses his third kick at goal. That was by some distance.

Hang tight….. they’re checking this. There’s a chance Kelleher hooked the ball back at the ruck while on the ground.

55 min: Ireland are starting to flex their muscles and are making inroads, but Marx pinches a wonderful steal. He’s so good at that. Now South Africa are attacking with le Roux finding Kolbe with a perfectly placed cross-kick. It gets messy though – not for the first time – and Ireland turn the ball…..

54 min: South Africa make a mess of a line-out. Snyman got up and was found by Marx, but he just spilled it. Maybe it was lower than he’d have liked but that wasn’t good enough. So Ireland have the scrum just outside of the Boks’ 22.

52 min: An Irish player spills in contact and South Africa counter 40 metres up field, right back to Ireland’s 22. Strong carries from Kriel and de Allende. Le Roux stitching things together at first receiver. Van Stade, on for Kolisi, adds his weight to the mix. Steenkamp and Marx, with fresh legs, get over the gainline. But van der Flier, as he so often does, gets low and steals the ball from Snyman on the ground. What a player. Casey then clears with a meaty kick. Excellent defence from Ireland. Porter has to leave the field clutching a bloody hand.

51 min: A load of good that did. South Africa give away a penalty at the scrum.

50 min: Here comes the Bomb Squad. South Africa makes six changes to the pack as all six replacements enter the scene. The entire tight five is switched as well as a flank.

50 min: Line-out for South Africa and Mostert catches it clean and looks to ignite a move down the line. But Kriel can’t hold on after collecting a flat pass at pace.

49 min: Kriel chucks a hopeful off-load to Arendse who can’t gather in the left tram. That’s from a brilliant carry and delayed pass from du Toit – who is having a great game – and another promising opportunity fizzles out for the Boks.

48 min: Kriel is bundled into touch on Ireland’s 22. South Africa have had all the ball but haven;t done much with it. But they have it back as Kelleher misses his jumper and Smith pinches the loose ball.

47 min: Another miss from Pollard. That was easier than the one he shanked earlier. Will South Africa regret that?

45 min: There’s a penalty for South Africa after Kolisi carries with enormous strength, bringing multiple Irish defenders with him. A great leg drive has South African charging forward and that invariably leads to a a defender straying off-side. Now Pollard has the chance to add three points to his tally.

44 min: South Africa are getting close. Going coast to coast, picks and goes aplenty but Beirne picks an interception! Incredible defence from Ireland. Not clinical enough from South Africa. A big hit from Osborne on de Klerk forced the speculative pass. Ireland clear close to half-way.

42 min: A slick tip-on from le Roux as the defence rushed forward finds Arendse. South Africa have started brightly and there’s a penalty against Aki who barges over the man on the ground, but from the side. He’s not happy about it. Pollard nudges to the corner. Five out with this line-out.

41 min: Sheehan is off after picking up a knock to his knee in the first half. Kelleher isn’t a bad replacement, mind. Ringriose also replaces Henshaw.

And we’re back! Ireland need a bit more spark. Can they find it?

Although, John Ryan isn’t impressed:

“Before we hear all the talk about what a great, physical, test it was, let’s have some context: South Africa have had all the possession and done nothing with it since the try, and Ireland can’t even kick their penalties from in front of the posts. If these are the two best teams in rugby at the moment we can pack it up now till September...”

I think that’s harsh. I rather enjoyed that.

Back in a few.

40 min: Pollard misses his shot. That does’t happen to often.

39 min: Penalty for South Africa. Porter coughing up his second penalty again, this time for illegally disrupting the half-back from an off-side position. Pollard will take aim at the posts.

38 min: Mostert brings down a line-out and Mbonambi gets the rumble on from the back of a maul. There’s a brilliant tackle from Aki who stays upright and wins a turnover from a separate maul in midfield. Lowe unfurls a monster kick down field.

34 min: Ireland keep it tight and take it close. Porter then Dorris carry. There’s an attempted off-load to Lowe that doesn’t come off but Ireland keep the ball. They’ve been pushed back to about 15 metres out though they come again.

33 min: Another penalty for Ireland as Kriel strays off side from the South African drop-out. This time Crowley kicks it into touch. Ireland will have the line-out throw about seven out from the Boks line.

32 min: Crowley misses his kick! That wasn’t a gimme but it certainly wasn’t a tough chance. Should have landed that.

30 min: After a lengthy delay following the penalty, we’re back with Smith carrying into contact from the restart. De Klerk box kicks and now Ireland have the ball with Furlong. Dorris carries well. Van der Flier takes it close to the 22 and Mbonambi gives away a penalty at the breakdown. Harsh perhaps, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Crowley points to poles.

28 min: Porter tackles de Klerk at the base of a ruck while still on the floor. Can’t do that so Pollard will get a relatively easy shot at goal.

27 min: Pollard lifts a high kick and between de Allende and Kriel they retain possession. Le Roux floats a pass to no one but Kolbe keeps it alive. Eventually Ireland pinch it but the kick from Crowley goes straight out of touch after he received a pass from outside his 22. That means South Africa get the line-out throw inside the 22.

25 min: Ireland’s scrum takes an age and everntually South Africa give away a free kick. Not sure why to be honest. Does anyone know what actually takes place at scrum time? Either way, Ireland clear and South Africa have the line-out feed.

22 min: South Africa go right then left off the scrum but don’t make much ground. Le Roux floats a pass that looked forward which lands in Sheehan’s breadbasket. Crowley kicks and le Roux does well under pressure before de Allende bounces off two tacklers. A little ragged from both until du Tout canters 20 metres up field and links with Kolbe who steps back infield. South Africans are swarming forward but there’s a knock-on at the back of the ruck as Crowley disrupts de Klerk’s ball.

21 min: From the line-out, Crowley lifts a high kick that causes confusion in the Springboks ranks. Osborne and Nash give chase but there’s an Irish knock-on. Scrum to South Africa just inside Irish territory on the left flank.

20 min: Le Roux lands a cross-kick on a dime, bounced it just inside the touchline as it trickles out of touch just short of the 22. Line-out to Ireland.

19 min: At the third time of asking Smith grabs a restart and de Klerk hoofs to halfway. Sheehan gets the ball to throw to the line but hesitates and is penalised for delaying. So Pollard get the chance to kick clear.

15 min: Kolisi runs over Henshaw, obliterating him as he carried into contact. That was monstrous! There’s a break in play as Henshaw needs medical attention so we’ll get going again with a Springboks scrum just over half-way.

15 min: Osborne does well under pressure to keep the ball on side in his 22. The young lad has stood up so far. Crowley then clears for a SA line-out.

12 min: Another penalty for Ireland. Smith gets in to pinch the ball but Nche, who made the big tackle on Beirne, doesn’t roll away in time.

10 min: Pollard kicks away possession in the hope of a better chase, but over-cooks it so Lowe can field and dot behind his line. Smith – for the second time in the game – spills a restart so it’s back to Ireland who also get a penalty after a Arendse held on.

9 min: That is a monstrous kick from Kolbe. My goodness, what a player. It’s a great scrum from Ireland and Smith, on his own line, is forced to pick up and carry. He flings a pass to Kolbe who catches and kicks a 50 metre bomb. Osborne makes a mess of it so it’ll be a South African throw on halfway.

7 min: Ireland knock-on a metre out and there’s a bit of argy-bargy afterwards. Great defence from South Africa on the line.

6 min: Ireland are a metre out. Porter then Beirne come close. They have the advantage for an off-side. Some big hits from the Saffas but a great response from Ireland. Looks like they’re shaping up to tap and go.

5 min: Smith drops a goober from the restart so Ireland will have the feed to the line-out inside South Africa’s 22.

2 min: Ireland with the early carries but there’s a rip from Kwagga Smith to steal possession. Now South Africa get through their phases until Pollard hoists a high kick that is expertly fielded by Osborne.

PEEEEEEEP! Here we go!

Allegiances aside, the South African anthem is a banger. That was mighty from the Pretoria faithful.

Time for the anthems.

Ireland will be playing in their traditional green jerseys. The Springboks will be in their changed strip if white with turquoise trim.

Three Zulu ‘warriors’ have screamed onto the pitch. They’re absolute units! If the Boks have an injury crisis one of these lads could certainly do a job.

First they’d need to put a shirt on and put their spears down.

The players are making their way out to the field.

They pass under a sign that reads, “Altitude. 1 350m. It matters”.

That’s a reminder that up on the Highveld, where Pretoria is located, the air is thin and lungs burn.

Jamie Osborne has played 17 times for Leinster this season. Not once has he played at 15.

So sticking him at full-back, on debut, in a position that isn’t his first choice, against the Springboks, in Pretoria, is either a genius move from Farrell or a reckless Hail-Mary.

That’s not to say that South Africa will necessarily hoist high kicks on him at every turn. That’s not really their game. But I do expect the young lad to get tested at various points.

The last time Ireland played in Pretoria Rassie Erasmus was playing and scored a try in a 33-0 win.

Mark McCall, Saracens’ coach, started at 13 for Ireland with the great Joost van der Westhuizen starring at scrum-half for the Boks.

One for Irish fans:

Here’s Rob Kitson’s report from their 13-8 win at the Stade de France nine months ago.

I was there. It was a blockbuster game. A classic in a tournament stacked with classics. I don’t want to jinx it but I reckon we’re in for something special again this afternoon.

File this under B for Bantz

I might be biased, but this is the main event today.

But if you’re feeling a little peckish before we get stuck in, why not nibble on some of this:

Away from rugby, South Africa and Ireland have a wonderful relationship.

Ireland is the only country in the European Union that allows South African passport holders to enter without a visa. Irish politicians were among the first to oppose apartheid in South Africa. While still in prison and on the UK’s terrorist watchlist in 1988, Nelson Mandela was awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin. In March this year, Ireland’s was the first government to back South Africa’s case of genocide against Israel at the international court of justice.

But this rivalry has been stirred, and frothed, and shaken by players, coaches and trolls online.

In this piece from a few weeks back, I made the case that it is now (possibly) rugby’s hottest relationship.

What do you think?