Six Nations Grand Slam champions Ireland ended their year on a suitably high note in Dublin on Saturday with a commendable 15-10 victory over world and Tri-Nations champions Springboks for their third successive home win over the visitors.

Ireland’s young fly-half Jonathan Sexton – preferred to 93-times capped Ronan O’Gara – kicked all their points while Schalk Burger got the only try of the match for the Springboks, who ended their long season on a low note with just one win in five matches on their northern hemisphere tour.

The opening few minutes saw more action than both England and Argentina managed in a whole match a fortnight ago as a knocked on ball from a promising move by Ireland’s back division ended up with Morne Steyn missing a drop goal.

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