Upsets, red cards and humble pie - Ireland's biggest wins over SA

Ireland have won nine of the 28 Test matches they have played against South Africa

A video titled 'Unfinished Business' appeared on the Springboks' social media channels this week and spoke of Ireland as a "new contender" - yet these two rugby nations have been going head to head for 118 years.

Their first meeting came in Belfast in November of 1906, with South Africa winning 15-12 thanks to a last-minute try from winger Anton Stegmann.

The Springboks have certainly had the better of the rivalry, winning 18 of the 28 Tests played between the sides.

However, ahead of the latest chapter in Pretoria on Saturday, Ireland can look back on some famous wins against the four-time World Cup winners.

10 April 1965 - Ireland 9-6 South Africa (Lansdowne Road)

Kiernan kicked six points for Ireland in their first win over South Africa

It would be 59 years on from that first match, and another five defeats, before Ireland earned their first victory over South Africa.

On a tour when the Springboks would also lose a Test to Scotland, Paddy McGrath's try and a pair of Tom Kiernan penalties saw the hosts run out 9-6 winners in Dublin.

In the days of three points for a try, the scores were tied at 6-6 when Kiernan's late kick saw Ireland home.

Having waited almost six decades for a win over South Africa, Ireland would then go 39 years without another.

13 November 2004 - Ireland 17-12 South Africa (Lansdowne Road)

Ronan O'Gara scored all his side's points in the 2004 victory, including the only try

While South African centre Damian de Allende made headlines by predicting the July 2024 series would be "almost like a war", there was a fair share of hyperbole in the build-up to this 2004 Test too.

Before the game in Dublin, South Africa's then coach Jake White told media he felt only three Irish players - Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell and Malcolm O'Kelly - would get into his squad.

One of the Irish players he overlooked, Ronan O'Gara, would be the star of the show when the teams took to the field, scoring all 17 of his side's points in an emphatic victory.

The game would be the start of a purple patch of five Irish wins in seven meetings.

11 June 2016 - South Africa 20-26 Ireland (Newlands Stadium)

Ireland played almost an hour with 14 men yet still won in Cape Town

Ireland's sole win on South African soil came eight years ago in Cape Town.

The 26-20 victory for Joe Schmidt's side was secured despite flanker CJ Stander being shown a red card in the first half for an aerial collision with Pat Lambie.

Tries from Jared Payne and Conor Murray helped Ireland into their winning position and they would hold on with 14 men despite Pieter-Steph du Toit's late score.

The Springboks would, however, get the better of both the next two Tests to ensure that Ireland's wait for a series victory in South Africa goes on.

11 November 2017 - Ireland 38-3 South Africa (Aviva Stadium)

Ireland's largest victory in the fixture came in 2017

Ireland's widest margin of victory in this fixture came in 2017 as part of an autumn clean sweep that also included wins over Fiji and Argentina.

The hosts in Dublin grabbed three of their four tries late in the piece but the final flourish across the last 10 minutes only served to put a more accurate reflection on the scoreline with Ireland ultimately winning 38-3.

Their previous biggest win over South Africa had been by 17 points in 2006.

South Africa had arrived at a low ebb under Allister Coetzee but, with Rassie Erasmus taking over soon after, they would be crowned world champions for a third time less than two years later.

23 September 2023 - South Africa 8 -13 Ireland (Stade de France)

Ireland and South Africa met at a World Cup for the first time last year

The most recent meeting between the two sides in Paris was their first at a World Cup.

With Bundee Aki in inspired form, Ireland won by five points after a late South African charge was stalled short of the line.

The victory in a pulsating and physical contest ensured Andy Farrell's side would top the pool but South Africa had the last laugh, going on to win the whole competition while Ireland once again fell at the quarter-final stage with defeat to New Zealand.

The fixture was in the headlines again this week with South African lock Eben Etzebeth asked about previous comments he had made regarding what was said between players at the final whistle.