Disaster or Discovery: Ireland player rating vs South Africa
Ireland's Caelan Doris(Image: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)Ireland lost to South Africa in the fourth of their four November games.It was an extraordinary contest with both coaches and both captain's agreeing it was 'chaotic' as Ireland shipped four cards in the first-half alone and at one point were playing with 12 men.The game was lost 13-24 in the end but somehow Ireland had contrived to win the second-half 6-5 thanks to some noticeable contributions from the bench.As far as player ratings go, it was nothing like a 'normal' day out for the home side and it is sur to fuel the coming Six Nations debate. Are some of these young guns ready-to-go?IRELAND: PLAYER BY PLAYERMack Hansen - Comes away from the series with an enhanced profile, having it established he can play Test level full-back while he was the player who went to out-half when Prendergast and Crowley were off. 6 Tommy O’Brien - Just as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was lucky not be carded for a no arms tackle on him, he was lucky not to be carded for a high tackle that saw the ref call for him to be removed for a HIA n/aGarry Ringrose - Best game in an Ireland shirt for a long time by some distance, his eight tackles and two misses was a terrific contribution to an outnumbered backline. Also 10 carries for 21 metres. 8Bundee Aki - Take it for granted the meaty centre's heft and weight were used to augment the under pressure pack on a regular basis. Six tackles, one miss, with seven carries for four metres. 6James Lowe - Twelve carries for 49 metres made him Ireland's top carrier and given the way the numbers were bouncing around will have been relieved the 'Boks rarely tried to run wide. Two tackles, no misses. 7Sam Prendergast - YELLOW 34'; Well, well, when the heat was turned up behind the scenes and in the action, belied his reputation, and 6'2" frame to good use. 11 tackles, one miss. Only Doris registered more. 7Jamison Gibson-Park - Don't doubt that amid the mayhem and pandemonium, this was a superb controlling performance linking outnumbered forwards and backs. Casey's arrival saw him finish on the wing. 8Andrew Porter - YELLOW 40'; Ref took jaundiced view of scrum technique, he/Ireland paid a heavy price. It's small consolation but turned up as Ireland's jt-2nd best defender with 11 tackles, one miss. 3Dan Sheehan - The regulars who get the money down on the hooker to score a try weren't disappointed. Ireland, overall, had a 75 percent win rate on their own lineout, eight from 12, once again not great. 5Tadhg Furlong - Struggled at scrum, worrying as it is the tighthead's primary function, more important than anything else he does. Four carries for six metres, five tackles and three misses in 60 mins. 5James Ryan - YELLOW 20'which is upgraded to 20 min red; it's illegal to go off you feet at rucks, illegal to make contact in head/shoulder area, and an Ireland 'try' was called back. Costly rush of blood. 3Tadhg Beirne - Eight tackles, no misses, two carries for three metres, two vital turnovers, but don't doubt his key ability proved to be getting up off the ground and back into the line time after time. 7Ryan Baird - Won three of Ireland eight successful lineouts, six tackles, no misses, four carries for four metres through 60 minutes and the pain-barrier, having injured his foot just after half-time. 7Josh van der Flier - Possibly out to prove a point following a tough no love summer with the Lions, 11 tackles in traffic, just one miss, 10 carries, two defenders beaten, for 28 metres stands up well. 8Caelan Doris - No Ireland rugby captain in history has had to work as hard as this captain against South Africa, organising, calling, encouraging, having to play too. Top tackler with 13, nine carries .8Replacements: Rónan Kelleher 7, Paddy McCarthy YELLOW 52' also troubled at scrum 6, Finlay Bealham 6, Cian Prendergast three line-out wins, seven tackles 8, Jack Conan 6, Craig Casey n/a, Jack Crowley YELLOW 39' 7, Tom Farrell 6Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond.
