Boks go down in Dublin

There is a world of difference between confidence and overconfidence.

It is the difference between victory and defeat, between joy and humiliation. 

And we saw it again at the grand stadium on Lansdowne Road in Dublin.

History tells us that overconfidence has forever been the Springboks' besetting sin, and in Dublin they looked overconfident, as if playing against the Six Nations champions was a simple matter of pitching up and waiting for victory to happen.

Maybe beating their All Blacks did not give the Springboks confidence but overconfidence, that it did them no favours.

Even when they were six points down in the first half they kicked for line-outs as if tries were their birthright – even though the humble Irish had plans to deal with their mauls. And then in the second half when the Irish fashioned a line-out maul, they were the ones to score. In fact they looked better at mauling than the 'physical' Springboks did.

The Springboks won all of their own line-outs and in addition five Irish throws. The Springboks dominated the scrums in which the Irish lost a tighthead and conceded three penalties. But set phases were not enough.

The Irish made more than twice the number of the tackles that the Springboks made and, far from tiring, were still making them at the end. Not only did they tackle like demons, using three men to stop Duane Vermeulen for example, but they were better at controlling the tackle ball. They were able to present controlled, still ball at tackles where the Springboks gave their scrumhalves wobbly ball too often, partly because Jamie Heaslip and Co managed to get in the way.

And what was clear is that scrumhalves make a difference. Stephen Fry, Springbok captain in the 1950s, believed you made your best player your scrumhalf – you picked your scrumhalf first. On the evidence of today scrumhalf is South Africa's weakest position.

The Irish kicking was far better. They kicked to get the ball back and their second try was from the brilliant kick of the year. When it came to goal-kicking opportunities, the Irish took theirs and missed none. The Springboks eschewed three opportunities and missed two. And Rob Kearney was best under the high ball, as he usually is.

Humility is a virtue; pride is a vice. Humiliation is an excellent way to get humility. Perhaps from now on the Springboks will be better, fed on a solid diet of humble pie.

There was in Dublin none of the personality and incisiveness that they had shown at Ellis Park.

The last time the Irish beat the Springboks at Lansdowne Road was in 2006. The next year South Africa won the Rugby World Cup. Humility is good for the soul.

There was nothing overconfident or arrogant about the Irish performance. They just did what they had to do with all their might for 80 minutes and they certainly deserved to win.

Ireland had a surprise change just before the match when Chris Henry was forced to withdraw, his place taken by debutant Rhys Ruddock, son of coach Mike of Wales

Before the anthems, there was a minute's silence for three top South African sportsmen who had died – and it really was silence. One of those who died was the  popular Springbok Tinus Linee

There would have been complete silence at kicks at goal as well, were it not tor the harsh intrusion of a South African voice trying to put off an Irish kicker.

South Africa kicked off and Ireland scored first. Jannie du Plessis was penalised at a scrum and Jonathan Sexton goaled. 3-0 after 9 minutes.

From the kick-off Duane Vermeulen ran but the ball was knocked on.

The Springboks came with a massive attack that got closer and closer, but Francois Hougaard was looking for his flyhalf when the ball came back through his legs and Sexton flykicked it downfield.

Willie le Roux made many metres in counterattack but handling let the South Africans down. Not to be outdone Kearney also did well on a strong counterattack.

When Jan Serfontein was penalised, Sexton made it 6-0 after 23 minutes.

The Springboks had a period of massive attack. They turned a penalty into an attacking line-out but chose not to listen to the referee's instruction to use it and so gave the Irish a scrum. They won a penalty at a scrum to set up a five-metre line-out, but Hougaard was looking for his flyhalf when he lost the ball forward. Eventually, just before half-time, Pollard goaled a penalty when Paul O'Connell was penalised at a tackle.

That made the half-time score 6-3 to Ireland.

Not once in the match did the Springboks hold the lead as the Irish won the second half 23-12.

Bowe chipped and outjumped Hougaard to win the ball on the right and then Robbie Henshaw kicked a long ball down into the empty Springbok right. Le Roux was first to the ball but Henshaw's pressure forced the kick out five metres from the Springbok line. The Irish made a maul and then suddenly Rhys Ruddock burst away at the front of where the line-out had been formed and plunged over for a try. 13-3 after 43 minutes.

South Africa, whose bench had served them so well in recent times, made early changes but without much impact.

After a period of phases which did not really threaten the Irish, the Springboks, now chasing the game, kicked a scrum penalty out for a five-metre line-out. They threw to Victor Matfield and this time managed to rush a maul over for a try credited to Marcell Coetzee. 13-10 after 57 minutes. Their next score was 22 minutes later. In those 22 minutes, Ireland built up an unassailable lead.

Vermeulen tackled Heaslip High. 16-10 after 62 minutes.

Adriaan Strauss tackled Kearney in the air and went to the sin bin.

Sexton goaled a penalty. 19-10 after 70 minutes.

Then suddenly Sexton broke going left. Vermeulen caught him but the ball came back to Conor Murray who did not have to look before kicking into the empty box on the Springbok left. Tommy Bowe chased hard, nabbed the bouncing ball and scored an excellent try that took Ireland to 26-10 with 7 minutes to play.

Ian Madigan, on for Sexton, goaled to make it 19-10 with two minutes to play.

Then the Springboks did an unusual thing – they passed the ball to a wing and JP Pietersen strode over for a try. 29-15.

Man of the Match: It was certainly an Irishman – Jonny Sexton who goaled and set a try in motion, Conor Murray whose options were always right and whose passing was impeccable, Rob Kearney who was as safe as houses at the back and incisive on the run or big, brave, relentless Paul O'Connell and our choice is Paul O'Connell whose leadership was worth gold.

Moment of the Match: Tommy Bowe's try and what Jonny Sexton and Conor Murray did in setting it up.

Villain of the Match: Adriaan Strauss – yellow-carded just when his country needed him