Join the Miguel Delaney Inside Football Get exclusive insights and behind-the scenes access to the Miguel Delaney: inside newsletter Football NewsletterJoin the Miguel Delaney inside Football newsletterIreland paid a heavy price for ill-discipline as world champions South Africa ended a 13-year wait for victory in Dublin by battling to a chaotic 24-13 victory.Andy Farrell’s men lost James Ryan to a 20-minute red card during a remarkable first half in which team-mates Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley and Andrew Porter were sent to the sin bin.Ireland’s repeated infringements followed the perceived injustice of Springboks fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu avoiding an early card for a high hit on Tommy O’Brien.open image in galleryIreland fell short in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA Wire)With the hosts down to 13 men, hooker Dan Sheehan crossed in response to scores from Damian Willemse and Cobus Reinach, before a penalty try left the visitors 19-7 ahead at the break.Depleted Ireland outscored their opponents in a spirited second half thanks to a pair of Prendergast penalties – either side of a score from Feinberg-Mngomezulu – but were ultimately well beaten.Paddy McCarthy became the fourth Irishman to be shown a yellow card as South Africa avenged Aviva Stadium defeats in 2014, 2017 and 2022.Two years out from the next World Cup, Ireland boss Farrell said taking on rugby’s top-ranked nation would be a “litmus test” of his side’s current standing.The fired-up hosts began on the front foot but fell behind inside four minutes when Willemse dived over in the left corner to cap a devastating attack.open image in galleryTempers flared after a tackle from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (AP)Feinberg-Mngomezulu was off target with the touchline conversion and then fortunate to escape punishment after sparking a mass brawl with his crude challenge on O’Brien.Ireland suffered further frustration at the midway point of a ferocious first half.After Prendergast struck the left post with a penalty, James Lowe caught the rebound, culminating in Tadhg Beirne bulldozing over.Referee Matthew Carley disallowed the try on review and sent lock Ryan to the sin bin for an illegal clearout on Malcolm Marx in the build up, prompting boos from the terraces due to the perceived inconsistency.open image in galleryJames Ryan was sent off for a dangerous clearout (AP)South Africa prop Boan Venter had a 26th-minute score chalked off because of Jasper Wiese’s forward pass earlier in the move…
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