Five Home Truths about the first South Africa-Ireland test - not least why Ireland face a more difficult task in the second test

07/08/2024 08:00 PM

Last Saturday's seven-point loss to South Africa will look good in the head-to-heads, a 27-20 defeat at Loftus Versfeld some 1,330 feet above sea-level is not a stand-out disaster.But it is a slightly gilded lily as Ireland, five points down at half-time, struggled to impose themselves in the second-half.Given this is a Saturday-on-Saturday two test games tour, judgement on Ireland's summer of 'twenty-four tour rests on next week's outcome.