South Africa vs Ireland Rugby Union Head-to-Head & Stats
South Africa and Ireland's rugby rivalry began in 1906, with South Africa winning the initial encounter. Ireland secured their first victory in 1965. The head-to-head record strongly favors South Africa, but Ireland has shown resilience in recent matches. Both teams have periods of dominance, and their recent matchups include Ireland's win in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The two nations will face off again in a two-match series in South Africa in July 2024.
- South Africa won the first six games against Ireland starting in 1906.
- Ireland's first win came in 1965, with both teams having periods of dominance since.
- Upcoming fixtures in 2024: Ireland will tour South Africa for a two-match series.
Ireland have just one win in South Africa (Getty Images)
Ireland and South Africa first met on 24 November 1906; a match that saw the Springboks win 15-12. Like all Tests in the early part of the century, games were few and far between, but Ireland had to wait until 1965 to get their first victory over South Africa (in the seventh Test between the two).
- South Africa vs Ireland Head-to-Head Record
- Latest Results
- Rugby World Cup Record
- 2024 South Africa vs Ireland Fixtures
South Africa vs Ireland Head-to-Head Record
Both Ireland and South Africa are considered among the consistently top nations in Rugby Union. While South Africa have a superior head-to-head record, Ireland have certainly come back into it in more recent times.
The Springboks won the first six games against Ireland before the Irish won in 1965. The Test after that ended in a draw before South Africa won the next eight between 1981 and 2004.
Since then both teams have enjoyed short periods of dominance over each other.
| Info | Played | Won by Ireland | Won by South Africa | Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 30 | 10 | 19 | 1 |
| In South Africa | 12 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| In Ireland | 17 | 7 | 9 | 1 |
| Neutral | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Latest Results
| Date | Result | Score | Venue | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Nov 2009 | Ireland Won | 15-10 | Croke Park | Ireland |
| 6 Nov 2010 | South Africa Won | 23-21 | Aviva Stadium | Ireland |
| 10 Nov 2012 | South Africa Won | 16-12 | Aviva Stadium | Ireland |
| 8 Nov 2014 | Ireland Won | 29-15 | Aviva Stadium | Ireland |
| 11 Jun 2016 | Ireland Won | 26-20 | Newlands | South Africa |
| 18 Jun 2016 | South Africa Won | 32-26 | Ellis Park | South Africa |
| 25 Jun 2016 | South Africa Won | 19-13 | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium | South Africa |
| 11 Nov 2017 | Ireland Won | 38-3 | Aviva Stadium | Ireland |
| 5 Nov 2022 | Ireland Won | 19-16 | Aviva Stadium | Ireland |
| 23 Sep 2023 | Ireland Won | 13-8 | Stade de France | France |
| 6 Jul 2024 | South Africa | 27-20 | Loftus Versfeld | South Africa |
| 13 Jul 2024 | Ireland Won | 25-24 | Kings Park | South Africa |
Rugby World Cup Record
South Africa and Ireland have only met in one previous Rugby World Cup. That game took place in the group stages of the 2023 tournament, a match Ireland won 13-8 and was considered one of the best games of the tournament.
2024 South Africa vs Ireland Fixtures
Ireland and South Africa played a two-match series in July 2024. The series was drawn 1-1 after Ireland won the second Test in Durban 25-24 with a last minute drop goal.
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