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International

Ireland camp broach Feinberg-Mngomezulu call as skipper sums up Test in one word

159 days ago

South Africa's fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the Autumn Nations Series international rugby union match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, on November 22, 2025. (Photo by Paul Faith / AFP via Getty Images)

Ireland captain Caelan Doris is confident the adversity experienced in Saturday’s ill-disciplined 24-13 defeat to South Africa will prove beneficial for his side’s development.

The hosts’ quest to end the autumn with a statement win over the world champions was undermined by a 20-minute red card for lock James Ryan and four players being sent to the sin bin.

Trailing 19-7 at the end of a bizarre first half, Ireland began the second period with just 12 men before somehow outscoring the dominant Springboks during a spirited second-half showing.

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“It was pretty unique; chaotic is the word that sums it up, definitely,” said Doris.

“I’m proud of the fight, the courage, the character that we showed at times.

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“Obviously, you want that to transfer into points and results, but I do think it’s going to stand to us going forward, definitely.”

Springboks fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu escaped a card for a high hit on Tommy O’Brien in the opening stages of a bruising Test match at the Aviva Stadium.

The contentious incident came after South Africa’s coaching staff complained in the build-up of unfair treatment from match officials following red-card incidents in wins over France and Italy earlier this month.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell appeared frustrated at the lack of punishment for Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Asked whether he felt comments from the Springboks’ camp had influenced English referee Matthew Carley, Farrell said: “Well, we brought it up with the referees before the game and they said that would never be a factor because this is a separate game.

“I’ll let you be the judge of that.”

Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s fortune fuelled a sense of injustice among a fired-up capacity crowd, which was heightened when lock Ryan was deservedly dismissed for an illegal clearout on Malcolm Marx, resulting in a Tadhg Beirne try being disallowed.

Despite falling 12-0 behind and being down to 13 men following a yellow card for Sam Prendergast, Ireland found a way back into the contest through Dan Sheehan’s converted score.

However, that hard work was undone in the closing minutes of the opening period, with Jack Crowley and Andrew Porter joining Prendergast in the bin, either side of South Africa being awarded a penalty try.

“You can look at all sorts of different situations within the game and you can say that that was the turning point,” replied Farrell when asked about the end of the first half.

“A few stupid errors from ourselves playing the ball through the ruck, and I think we’d three offside penalties.

“They’re the manageable ones that you don’t give a team like that access, but we did.”

Replacement prop Paddy McCarthy became the fifth Ireland player to receive a card when he was sin-binned in the second half.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu claimed South Africa’s fourth try, adding to earlier efforts from Damian Willemse and Cobus Reinach, while Prendergast slotted two penalties in reply.

Ireland, who travel to defending champions France in the opening match of the 2026 Six Nations on February 5, end November with two wins from four following an opening defeat to New Zealand and victories over Japan and Australia.

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Comments

117 Comments

CC 157 days ago

coach Andy Farrell appeared frustrated at the lack of punishment for Feinberg-Mngomezulu?🫣There was no lack of punishment Andy boy, your team didn't have the power and physicality too take on the Bokke 💪💪💪💪🏉🏉🏉🏉🏆🏆🏆🏆so that is why they used spoiling tactics but it backfired big time 🫣

RB 158 days ago

It's funny how the boks are always accused of whining about the referees but the Irish shouldn't be slept on they love a good moan I think if anything the ref was trying to tone down the severity of the sanction because if we want it to be consistent with the previous games Ryan should have gotten a straight red it was reduced to a 20min red , SFM should have gotten a yellow it was reduced to just a pen and then O'Brien should have received a yellow for his tackle on Moodie it was reduced to a pen I think the Irish should thank their lucky stars he was a bit lenient

StoneCold 158 days ago

Interesting game - SFM certainly looked like a yellow but it was balanced out with T’OB on Canan - could have been a yellow with review…

I would love some of your thoughts: sanctioning of cynical fouling close to the try line (i.e. as per Ireland this past week) should be revisited. I don’t think that multi yellow cards is fan-friendly or justice for the attacking side (with constant repeat offenders). Most test teams these days will back themselves to defend 10 minutes with a player down. I suggest that after 1x yellow is issued, the next cynical is awarded penalty tries? On Saturday, Ireland sensed that the ref was too shy to go to his pocket again, so they kept on with crossing the legal line - (imo at least 2x extra yellows should have been issued)

The 2015 All Blacks were great proponents of this tactic - give away a possible 3 points rather than a certain 7 then relieve pressure with a deep kickoff - backing themselves to score another 3 or 7 thereafter?

Just a thought? I would be interested in comments?

Naas “Mkhize” Botha 158 days ago

So the ref can only react to incidents on the pitch and to be fair he was lenient because he could’ve given more cards . Ireland played dirty and that is what usually happens when a team cannot front up. There is nothing heroic about self inflicted instances. Ireland should have a long look on themselves because what international team gets that many cards. It’s terrible.

Mike Gibson 158 days ago

Nah. SA had no intention of playing rugby. Scrum is for restarting play. They had no intention of restarting play at any instant even against 12 men!

The option to pick a scrum instead of a penalty allows a continuous scrums which does not fulfil the purpose of restarting the match.

Once Carley had eyes only for Porter then Marx and Du Toit started pushing at an angle. Dirty play and cynical cowardly tactics by SA.

Robo 158 days ago

World Rugby define the rules of the game and how players must conform to those rules. Ireland v South Africa became a total farce because the officials were incompetent from the beginning right through to the end. Irish discipline should gave been better but the officials abd the TMO got so many decisions wrong it became a joke. Players must play by the rules but the players and supporters expect the officials to officiate and impose those rules with fair and irooer expertise. On this occasion they fell well short from the first SA shoulder tto head no arms tackle I'm the first few minutes. The foul was with INTENT and should have been an Automatic Red Card. Their decisions from there went downhill. There were so many penalties at scrum time and yet the referee never once went to the other side of tge Put In to try and discover what was causing the problem. In a word they were incompetent and made a farce of what should have been a good gameiof Rugby. Players come under scrutiny throughout the game but Referees and Officials do not apoear to have to answer to anyone for their mistakes.

Robo.

SL 158 days ago

What we actually had was a referee who had done his homework on both teams. Everyone outside Ireland know they scrummage illegally, take out players beyond rucks or not involved in rucks, join rucks from the side and from offside positions, play the ball constantly on the floor and generally cheat at any breakdown near their own line. Doris should have had a yellow card too for 3 cynical interventions five yards out. Carley reffed Ireland properly and they can have no complaints.

RB 159 days ago

What's strange about the fuss about the SFM tackle is O'Brien made an identical tackle on Moodie in the second half no head contact in both but bad body position and just like SFM it was just a pen and now we're pretending like that was the match defining moment

DP 159 days ago

Clutching at straws. Geez that Irish pack got hammered. Fair play to them though, where you getting beasted you’ve got to do whatever you can to limit the damage, nefarious play at will. This match has shone a massive light on Ireland’s tactics and it’s going to be a tough 6N now that refs know they’re a cynical side..

Mike Gibson 159 days ago

Erasmus instructing players to break rugby laws is cynical.

Putting the ball in repeatedly to scrums with no intention of restarting play is cynical.

MS 159 days ago

Stop whining and just admit that the Springboks were better on the day, man up!

CC 157 days ago

They lucky that they didn't get another penalty try because they're should have been another one

CC 157 days ago

Exactly,they were outclassed in the physical department.they talking about their cards all the time,SA also had yellow cards 🫣

Mike Gibson 159 days ago

Only Pumas can save this weekend!

RL 158 days ago

I wouldn’t be winking too much pucky-oon the people you think you helped are dying like flies at the hands of the corrupt regime you think you helped ensconce. Try reading the stats and for comprehension this time. If you can’t understand why scrums are awarded and think they’re just awarded to restart play and that the knock-on or whatever doesn’t play a role then the pocheen has turned your foetal-alcohol syndrome into wet-brain which we knew already didn’t we.

RL 158 days ago

They’re removing all your gallon-o-pocheen replies and my replies to those. I’m German and South African living in Hampshire and can fly around the world at my leisure get proper jobs without the slightest problem like so many of my white South African brethren have - unlike a sod-shack dwelling dru$k@rd like yourself - your excuse is no-one supports England hmmm - if I were you I’d not be giving out any orders or making any more sore loser accusations in what was so obviously a cynical cheat-fest from a utterly humiliated team.

RL 158 days ago

Oh!! What a bummer that didn’t work out either did it. Hate the English do you because of ‘imperialism’ 😭 how do you think so many potato packers ended up fouling the colonies not all of them were criminals 😂 most were economic migrants taking advantage of….Empire. That England win must have sent a few more itchy ticks up your unwiped mud pipe.

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