The homeside took a narrow three point lead at halftime after Jantjies kicked three penalties and one first half conversion, 13 – 10.

After a few minutes of armwrestling it was Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies who added the first points for his team through an early penalty as they took a 3 – 0 lead after just 5 minutes. He had another opportunity three minutes later, but failed to stretch the lead.

Springbok fullback Willie Le Roux was yellow carded for a dangerous challenge on Irish fullback Jared Payne in the tenth minute. With the Springboks only fourteen men on the field, it allowed Ireland to score their first points through a Luke Marshall try towards the end of the first quarter, flyhalf Paddy Jackson converted as the Irish took a 3 – 7 lead after seventeen minutes.

Jackson stretched their lead to 3 – 10 after 23 minutes as the momentum shifted to the Irish.

After a territorial battle with either side giving away an inch, Jantjies added another penalty goal for the Boks from about 45 meters out to trail 6 – 10 with nine minutes to half time.

South Africa continued to dominate in the scrum and another South African penalty almost ended up in a try for the visitors as scrumhalf Faf de Klerk opted for a quick tap instead of an easy three points on offer.

The Boks started to advance back into Irish territory. A well executed cross kick from Jantjies landed in left wing JP Pietersen’s arms as he held on to score in the corner. Jantjies added the extras to regain the lead 13 – 10 as the half time hooter blew in the back ground.

Ireland started the second half doing most of the attacking, but it was again South Africa to score the first points, this time through a 50 meter penalty kick from right wing, Ruan Combrinck, as the Boks extended their lead to 16 – 10 at the start of the third quarter.

Elton added another three points before Jackson kicked a penalty for the Irish on the 70 minute mark to edge closer to the Springboks score, trailing 19 – 13 as the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes.

The Irish threw everything at the Springboks in the final 10 minutes, but a try saving tackle from de Klerk secured a win for the home side, 19 – 13 and a 2 – 1 Series win for the Springboks.