{"id":79784,"date":"2025-08-08T17:21:48","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T15:21:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=79784"},"modified":"2025-08-08T17:21:48","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T15:21:48","slug":"ireland-grinds-out-gritty-win-over-south-africa-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=79784","title":{"rendered":"Ireland grinds out gritty win over South Africa A"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Reinhart Viljoen, who scored two tries for the South African u18A side, takes on two Irish defenders in a narrow 36-39 defeat to the tourists in the opening match of the u18 International Series at Ho\u00ebrskool Durbanville, in the Western Cape. Photo: Charmaine Sander<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A typically gritty display by Ireland saw the visiting side sneak past a spirited South Africa A <\/strong>and snatch a narrow 39-36 victory in the opening match of the 2025 u18 International Series, at Ho\u00ebrskool Durbanville<\/strong>, on Friday.<\/p>\n

Relive all the u18 International action on\u00a0SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Early on, South Africa\u2019s Jeffrey Singo<\/strong> and Quinton Potgieter<\/strong> imposed themselves with a series of powerful carries.<\/p>\n

However, it was Ireland\u2019s captain, Lee Fitzpatrick<\/strong>, who opened the scoring, crossing the whitewash for the first of his two tries.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/strong> shone. Nippy, yet robust, he twice went over for tries as he and captain Jeandr\u00e9 Uithaler<\/strong>‘s accurate boot helped the hosts to a 26\u201319 lead at half-time.<\/p>\n