The world champions might have felt underwhelmed with their winning margin of 11 points in Dublin, which only emphasises their standing as the best team on the planet. In truth, daylight is in second place at the moment.
It was eight years ago that South Africa were humbled 38-3 at the Aviva Stadium. That result belongs to a bygone era. The current crop of Springboks are out on their own and breaking new ground.
Ireland were remarkably dogged on a chaotic Saturday evening, but could easily have succumbed to a much heavier defeat. While South Africa did not fully capitalise on a slew of cards for their hosts – four yellows plus James Ryan’s 20-minute red – their performance reinforced how tough it will be to stop them landing a third World Cup in succession in 2027.
Here are the most ominous aspects for teams trying to take their crown.
Impeccable opening score
Jasper Wiese was penalised at an early breakdown before redeeming himself to derail Ireland’s first attack just inside his own 22, winning an opportunistic jackal turnover. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu smacked a decent touch-finder, giving his team a chance to launch from a couple of metres beyond halfway.
Malcolm Marx’s throw found Pieter-Steph du Toit at the tail beautifully, and a drive earned immediate impetus – as well as a penalty advantage. Damian de Allende, a pillar of consistency for this formidable side, trucked up the middle and linked with Wiese.
Cobus Reinach could feed Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who had Cheslin Kolbe looping onto his left shoulder, from a rapid ruck. Kolbe split the ragged defensive line and Du Toit, having whipped all the way around from the initial line-out on the opposite flank, surged onto another pass to release Damian Willemse. Even if the last pass may have travelled slightly forward, the all-court team score married dynamism and skills and oozed class.
