The odds were so heavily stacked against Ireland they were lost in the clouds.
South Africa were missing some big players but Ireland were without Peter O’Mahony, Johnny Sexton, Rob Kearney, Simon Zebo and more.
When Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell spoke of Ireland making history in South Africa, we indulged them with nods and smiles. Few of us thought it possible. Ireland started strongly at Newlands but hands were flung in the air as CJ Stander was sent off.
There goes history.
No-one told Ireland though or if they did, Rory Best didn’t pass on the message.
Ireland knuckled down and trusted the man next to them. There was work to be done and there was more than enough to go around.
When Lwazi Mvovo burst through to dot down, and Robbie Henshaw was yellow-carded after trial by replay – despite a block on Luke Marshall in defence – it appeared as if the floodgates would open. This, after all, was Ireland’s 15th Test in their 12th month of an epic, sapping season.
Rallying upfield through Andrew Trimble and Jordi Murphy carries, Paddy Jackson found space to make it 13-13 with a drop goal. Four years on from his hits and misses in the Heineken Cup final and still unafraid of calling the big play upon himself.
The three-pointer gave his team heart and some massive defence was needed as the Springboks flooded the Irish 22. There were big tackles by Jamie Heaslip, Murphy and Best. Trimble and Keith Earls were shooting up to coral the Boks in-field.
Iain Henderson made a fantastic grip and rip and the storm was weathered.
The second half saw Ireland get Henshaw back and, restored to 14 men, Ireland started to land some jabs. Ireland were in T1000 mode – hooking the tailpipe and rolling with the swerves. South Africa couldn’t understand how or why they were still fighting and started to get sloppy.
Jared Payne, loving it at fullback, supplied a break up the right and found Trimble in support. Then Best came charging to keep the move alive. Limitless lungs.
The captain found Conor Murray and he did the rest. He’s been doing the rest since he stood up to Aaron Smith and the All Blacks at Rugby League Park, Christchurch, in 2012.
20-13 after a Jackson conversion and it was almost time to believe when Jackson brushed off a penalty miss to land another. Getting confident usually stings Irish fans, and reporters, at the best of times. So it was, again, as Jackson threw an intercepted pass and Pieter Steph du Toit cantered under the posts.
23-20 and thoughts turned to that 2013 heartbreak against New Zealand. It helped none when another Jackson penalty made it 26-20.
We could still be undone by a converted try. There was still time to hand this one back.
Once again, however, Ireland didn’t get the message.
This:
History broken twice in one day! This tackle sums up Ireland's greatest win #IREvSA #Character pic.twitter.com/cOzqiEW2me
— Trevor Hogan (@TrevHogan) June 11, 2016
This is what victory looks like.
Every player grew to giant-like proportions and tapped reserves they barely knew they were capable of.
The bodies will be aching and the 20 Irish players that featured in the history-making win will be afforded Monday off.
After that, it’s back to work. One down, two to go.
