Sexton stars as Ireland hammer South Africa

Ireland 38-3 South Africa

Ireland brushed past a woeful South Africa side to come away from their opening autumn international with a 38-3 win at the Aviva Stadium.

The Springboks came into the clash on the back of a thrilling one-point loss to the All Blacks, but showed none of the same passion and desire as Ireland were allowed to ease to victory in front of their jubilant home support on Saturday.

The under-par Boks were in stark contrast to an Irish side that impressed with their energy and tactical kicking, showing the visitors – who made puzzling decisions throughout – how to properly control a Test match.

Silly penalties from the Boks allowed Johnny Sexton to open up an early 9-0 lead for Ireland, before Andrew Conway took advantage of a Courtnall Skosan mistake to score the first try of the game in the corner. The conversion was missed, but Ireland were comfortably ahead at the break at 14-0.

The Springboks showed some improvement at the beginning of the second half, notching their first points of the game with a kick at goal after piling rare pressure on the opposition, but from there on it was business as usual as Ireland were allowed to run freely at the Aviva Stadium.

First Sexton cancelled out Elton Jantjies’ kick with his fourth penalty, after which Ireland opened up the floodgates with three scores in the latter stages of the game.

Rhys Ruddock wrestled his way over in the 72nd minute, then Rob Herring profited from being at the back of a driving maul, before Jacob Stockdale brought down the curtain on the game with a try in the final move of the match.

Ireland: Rob Kearney, Andrew Conway, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, Devin Toner, Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, James Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Kieran Marmion, Joey Carbery, Darren Sweetnam.

South Africa: Andries Coetzee; Dillyn Leyds, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Courtnall Skosan; Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje;  Francois Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi; Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth (captain), Coenie Oosthuizen Malcolm Marx, Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi , Steven Kitshoff, Wilco Louw, Franco Mostert, Uzair Cassiem, Rudy Paige, Handre Pollard, Francois Venter.