Flyhalf Elton Jantjies kicked South Africa to a 19-13 win over Ireland in the third and final Test, but it took some desperate defending to clinch the series on Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The Springboks, who only saw about 30 percent of the ball in the game, hung on through an anxious final 10 minutes as the visitors came with meters of a last-gasp try that would have handed them a historic victory.
Both sides scored a try with Ireland going over first after 16 minutes when Luke Marshall crashed through the Springboks defense after a strong build up.
Photo: EPA
South Africa conjured up a clever try on the stroke of halftime as Jantjies kicked up into the left-hand corner for flying win J.P. Pietersen to snatch the ball out of the air and cross.
South Africa were again disjointed as a clever Irish side kept asking questions and the tourists went 10-3 ahead with 20 minutes gone.
Marshall’s first Test try came as Ireland showed patience with ball in hand and put together several key phases to allow the center to force a break in the home defense.
The hosts went into a 13-10 halftime lead just before the break after a piece of improvization from Jantjies found Pietersen with uncanny precision.
In the second half, just nine points were added to the score. A long-range penalty from wing Ruan Combrinck extended the lead on the hour and then Jantjies popped over another penalty to make it 19-10.
Paddy Jackson, who kicked eight points for Ireland, brought it back to a six-point game with 10 minutes to go, sparking a last furious burst from the visitors.
Tenacious home defending kept them away from the line to hand South Africa an unconvincing series win.
France, Argentina
AP, TUCUMAN, Argentina
France squared their series in Argentina by routing the Pumas 27-0 in a rainy second Test on Saturday.
France ended a four-match losing run dating back to the Six Nations and blanked Argentina for the first time since their first Test in 1949.
The Pumas previously failed to score a point 16 years ago and last failed at home in 1952.
The result brought a sober end to a home series that included a win over Italy and a first-Test win over France a week ago on the same ground.
The Pumas did not fire a single shot, or even have a penalty kick at goal. Virtually the same team who won 30-19 in style last weekend were lethargic in the rain and on a heavy ground.
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