Ireland grinds out gritty win over South Africa A
A typically gritty display by Ireland saw the visiting side sneak past a spirited South Africa A and snatch a narrow 39-36 victory in the opening match of the 2025 u18 International Series, at Hoërskool Durbanville, on Friday.
Relive all the u18 International action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)
It was the big men up front who set the tone from the first whistle, with bone-crunching tackles being traded like two boxers feeling each other out in the opening round of a title fight.
Early on, South Africa’s Jeffrey Singo and Quinton Potgieter imposed themselves with a series of powerful carries.
However, it was Ireland’s captain, Lee Fitzpatrick, who opened the scoring, crossing the whitewash for the first of his two tries.
In trademark fashion, the Irish forwards established a solid platform through dominant driving mauls and clinical first-phase ball from set pieces. Coupled with a well-drilled rush defence, those tactics forced the home side into early strategic uncertainty, though the same tactics would later provide the spark South Africa A needed.
As crowds across the country have come to expect, the South African backline eventually clicked into gear, exploiting space out wide to punish the Irish. Oakdale fullback Reinhart Viljoen shone. Nippy, yet robust, he twice went over for tries as he and captain Jeandré Uithaler‘s accurate boot helped the hosts to a 26–19 lead at half-time.
The second half, however, belonged to the visitors. Ireland found their rhythm, targeting the ruck with relentless pressure, and they gradually took control of the contest thanks to tireless work from their loose forwards, led by 8th-man Alex Lautsou.
When inside centre and Man of the Match, Bernard White, scored his second try, it swung the momentum firmly in Ireland’s favour. South Africa A, though, stayed in touch as the contest seesawed, but the accurate boot of Connor McVicker ultimately proved the difference.
His two conversions and two penalties contributed 10 crucial points, and that, combined with braces from both Fitzpatrick and White, ensured Ireland began their three-match tour with a tight, hard-fought victory.
Scorers:
Ireland u18 39 (19) – Tries: Lee Fitzpatrick (2), Bernard White (2), Alex Lautsou. Conversions: Luke Coffey (2), Connor McVicker (2). Penalties: McVicker (2). South Africa A u18 36 (26) – Tries: Reinhart Viljoen (2), Jeffrey Singo, Neutu Kepe, Lizwe Mthethwa. Conversions: Jeandré Uithaler (4). Penalty: Uithaler.
