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Watch: Ireland stun South Africa with incredible final play winner

Gavin Mullin on day one of the HSBC SVNS Grand Final at Stadium Civitas Metropolitano on 31 May, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby

It was the type of match that’s fitting for a SVNS Series Grand Final. With time up on the clock, Ireland trailed South Africa 19-21 at Madrid’s Civitas Metropolitano and initially had the ball at the wrong end of the field.

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From inside their own half, Ireland began to make their way up the field. While the match appeared all but lost for the Irish, they certainly didn’t give up as they began to throw the ball around like the Harlem Globetrotters.

The Blitzboks fought desperately in defence but each pass and offload seemed to stick for the Irish. South Africa’s Rosko Specman attempted to disrupt their opponent’s momentum with some rush defence but the Irish were simply too slick.

Jordan Conroy played an especially crucial role in this spiritual phase play, with the bandaged-up back dancing towards midfield from the left touchline and beating a few defenders in the process. Then, Conroy got an offload off.

Ireland basically went coast-to-coast and eventually managed to snatch the win at the death on the back of some incredible teamwork. Gavin Mullin was the hero in the end with the 26-year-old crossing for his second of two tries in the 18th minute.

The men in green left with a once-unlikely 26-21 win.

“I just picked it up at the end and scored it,” Mullin told RugbyPass.

“The lads have had a lot of fight throughout the year, just last-minute kind of… there’s a lot of one-score games, so we just found ourselves on the right side of it, which is probably a testament to the team and how much we want to fight.

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They make a break at the end, we’re down two points, they nearly go the length, (Jordan Conroy is) chasing back to get them, and then we just had to regather ourselves and go again.”

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Ireland came close to winning the SVNS Series’ League title. They didn’t win any Cup finals during the seven regular-season events but were consistently one of the top four or so teams, which included a couple of famous wins.

The Irish beat New Zealand for the first time last December in Cape Town, and they also brought an end to Argentina’s incredible unbeaten run with a win in the Los Angeles quarter-finals earlier this year. They’ve been a good team, but they want to be better.

Trophies are what players want to win and it’s also the criteria that many fans judge their teams on. Ireland haven’t quite been on the mark in that regard this season but as they walked off the field and down the tunnel on Friday, they looked like a team who believed.

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That win over South Africa is only the start, and while there’s still plenty of rugby to be played at the new-look Grand Final event in the Spanish capital, it’s “all to play for” and that’s exciting for any team and nation that’s involved.

“It’s just about being consistent, across the five games this weekend. We’ve had tournaments where we’ve played well but we might have had one or two bad games and just been lucky nearly,” Mullin explained.

“I think just for ourselves, it’s about being consistent and trying to build on that performance. It wasn’t perfect but at the end of the day, we’re getting on the right side of the result. That’s what happens with the one-off tournament, all to play for.”

Catch all of the SVNS Madrid action live and free on RugbyPass TV. To watch the Grand Final, register HERE.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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