Ireland earned a remarkable first Test win in South Africa despite CJ Stander’s first-half red card.
Jared Payne’s try helped Ireland lead 7-0 and they were 10-3 ahead when South Africa-born Stander was sent off for a reckless challenge on Patrick Lambie.
Lwazi Mvovo’s score saw the Springboks edge ahead as Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw was also sin-binned.
But Conor Murray’s second-half try and eight Paddy Jackson points were enough despite Pieter-Steph du Toit’s try.
After an impeccable opening 68 minutes, Jackson’s telegraphed pass gifted replacement Du Toit a converted try as the Springboks cut Ireland’s lead to 23-20.
But the Ulster fly-half regrouped to take his points total to 16 with a penalty a minute later and the Irish withstood late pressure to compete their first win in South Africa in eight attempts.
Irish show remarkable resolve after Stander red card
Ireland dominated the Springboks early on and Payne’s try, after a clever Luke Marshall grubber kick, helped them into a 10-3 lead.
However, the visitors then had flanker Stander sent off after he tried to charge down a kick from Lambie but missed the ball and jumped into the South African, his hip connecting with the fly-half’s chin and knocking him out.
The youngster was left spread-eagled by the tackle and went off on a stretcher before being taken to hospital with concussion, and French referee Mathieu Raynal red-carded Stander – a former South Africa Under-20 captain – after viewing the replay.
When the fleet-footed Mvovo’s try helped the Springboks move into a 13-10 lead within eight minutes, there looked likely to be only one winner.
But Ireland were not prepared to accept that script as Jackson’s drop-goal levelled the contest before the break.
Murray’s try after the restart gave Ireland renewed belief and captain Rory Best was among those who produced a series of vital turnovers as the visitors refused to wilt in the second half.
Ireland: J Payne; A Trimble, R Henshaw, L Marshall, K Earls; P Jackson, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best, M Ross; I Henderson, D Toner; CJ Stander, J Murphy, J Heaslip
Replacements: S Cronin, F Bealham, T Furlong, U Dillane, R Ruddock, K Marmion, I Madigan, C Gilroy
South Africa: W le Roux, JP Pieterse, L Mapoe, D de Allende, L Mvovo; P Lambie, F de Klerk; T Mtawarira, A Strauss, F Malherbe; E Etzebeth, L de Jager; F Louw, S Kolisi, D Vermeulen
Replacements: B Mbonambi, T Nyakane, J Redelinghuys, P du Toit, W Whiteley, R Paige, E Jantjies, J Kriel
