Springboks claim 2-1 series victory over Ireland with 19-13 win in Port Elizabeth

South Africa 19 - 13 Ireland, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Scorecard 

Springboks managed to hold on Ireland's persistent challenge to secure a 2-1 series victory after 19-13 win in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Fly-half Elton Jantjies kicked 11 points with the boot after successfully slotting three penalties and a conversion for the home side.

An early scoring opportunity was presented to the Boks in the fifth minute after Ireland's centre Luke Marshall was caught offside. Jantjies did not disappoint teammates as the home side opened its account on the scoreboard.

Boks suffered a major setback as fullback Willie le Roux was sin-binned after getting booked for a reckless tackle on opposite number 15 Tiernan O'Halloran.

The visitors took absolute advantage of Boks getting reduced down to 14 men as Marshall crossed over for a try in the 15th minute. A successful conversion from fly-half Paddy Jackson gave Ireland a nifty four-point lead.

Jackson added three more to Ireland's tally with a penalty kick in the 22nd minute to extend the advantage to seven points.

On 31st minute, match referee Glen Jackson awarded a penalty to the Boks as Ireland prop Jack McGrath collapsed the scrum. Jantjies' goal narrowed down the deficit to four points.

At the very brink of the first-half, Jantjies produced a wonderful cross-field kick which was collected by wing JP Pietersen who touched down in the left corner to register Boks' first try of the match.

Jantjies added the extras as Boks took a slender three-point lead.

The second-half did not see much of the action as apart from three penalties of which two were scored by the Boks and one by the visitors.

Boks wing Ruan Combrinck successfully nailed a penalty from just inside his own half in the 59th minute where as Jantjies and Jackson scored one each in the 68th and 69th minute respectively.

With a deficit of six points, a try scoring opportunity walked over to the visitors on the penultimate minute as Jackson kicked a penalty inside Boks' 22.

However, a timely tackle from Boks scrum-half Faf de Klerk restricted Ireland from scoring a decisive try as the home side managed to hang on to the six-point advantage.

Too many handling errors cost Ireland dearly as they missed out on a memorable series win.

However, coach Joe Schmidt and his men can take plenty of positives away from this tour after proving themselves capable of competing with top rugby sides.