World number one Ireland won the eagerly awaited showdown against world champions South Africa at the Rugby World Cup in France and underlined their title ambitions.
The Six Nations winner beat the defending champions 13:8 (7:3) at the Stade de France, and as first in Group B, Ireland is practically confirmed as a quarter-finalist after three games.
A thrilling duel was expected and both teams delivered. One attempt per team benefited the defensive formations of both teams. In the end, however, the Irish could be happy about the victory because South Africa missed two penalties from Manie Libbok and Faf de Klerk after the score was 8:10. Two hits between the two goalposts would have been enough to win.
Previously, vice world champion England had taken the next step towards the quarter-finals with a sweeping victory. The favorite celebrated its third success in the third game with a 71:0 (31:0) against Chile and is the undisputed leader of the Group D table with 14 points.
The English scored six tries in the first half against the hopelessly overwhelmed South Americans. Captain Owen Farrell then made two missteps and was unable to maneuver the oval ball between the two high goalposts.
Henry Arundell was the most successful point collector of the game with 25 points for his personal World Cup best of five tries. Arundell is only the third player in World Cup history to score five tries in one game. He missed the World Cup record set by New Zealander Marc Ellis in 1995 by just one attempt.
The defending champions are South Africa. At the 2019 World Cup in Japan, the “Springboks” prevailed in the final against England. The World Cup with the best 20 teams in 15-a-side rugby lasts until October 28th.