1998 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa

{{Short description|Series of rugby matches played by the Irish national team}}

{{Infobox Tour Rugby

|team={{nrut|Ireland}}

|destination=South Africa

|yearstart=1998

|yearfinish=

|manager=Donal Lenihan

|coach=Warren Gatland

|captain=Paddy Johns

|top test point scorer= Stefan Terblanche (20)

|top test try scorer=Stefan Terblanche (4)

|matchplayed=7

|matchwon=2

|matchdraw=0

|matchlost=5

|testplayed=2

|testwon=0

|testdraw=0

|testlost=2

|opponent1={{ru|ZAF}}

|icon1=

|played1=2

|won1=0

|draw1=0

|lost1=2

|previous = Australia 1994

|next = Australia 1999

}}

The 1998 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa was the team's third tour to the country, having previously visited in 1961 and 1981. Both Paul Wallace and Keith Wood had previously been on a tour to South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 1997. Cape Town-born Dion O'Cuinneagain, had captained South Africa at both schoolboy and sevens level, before he switched allegiances. He made his senior international debut for Ireland in the 37–13 defeat against South Africa on 13 June 1998.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110604112532/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/rugby/news/1998/11/27/divided_loyalties/ Divided loyalties? Ireland's flanker was born in South Africa] Justin Fitzpatrick and Trevor Brennan also made their senior international debuts in the same game. A fourth debutant, Justin Bishop, scored a try while Eric Elwood added a conversion and two penalties.{{Cite web |url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/history/css/arch_history.htm |title=www.irishrugby.ie |access-date=30 October 2008 |archive-date=27 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227235812/http://www.irishrugby.ie/history/css/arch_history.htm |url-status=dead }} South Africa won the series 2-0, but the series was marred by violence and ill-will between the two teams.{{cite news|title=Who fears to speak of summer '98|publisher=Irish Independent|date=28 November 2009|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/who-fears-to-speak-of-summer-98-26586468.html|access-date=4 November 2019|first=David|last=Kelly}}

Non-international matches

:Scores and results list Ireland's points tally first.

class="wikitable" ! Opposing Team !! For !! Against !! Date !! Venue
Boland Cavaliers	48	35	30 May 1998	Boland Stadium, Wellington, Western Cape{{cite web \|title=Ireland Rugby tours \|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/history/css/arch_history_79.htm \|website=Irish Rugby \|access-date=23 December 2021 \|archive-date=23 December 2021 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223193010/https://www.irishrugby.ie/history/css/arch_history_79.htm \|url-status=dead }}
SWD Eagles	20	27	3 June 1998	Outeniqua Park, George, Western Cape
Western Province	6	12	6 June 1998	Newlands, Cape Town
Griquas	13	52	9 June 1998	Eclectic CG
Leopards	26	18	16 June 1998	Olën Park, Potchefstroom, North West

Test matches

=First Test=

Many predicted South Africa, who were wearing white jerseys due to the colour clash with Ireland's green jumper, to win their first test match of the season comfortably. While they eventually did so, the visitors competed admirably in the first half, trailing by only three points at half time, 13−10. The Springboks, who looked rusty in the first half, finally clicked in the second half and debutant winger Stefan Terblanche scored four tries.{{cite news|publisher=The Sunday Times|date=14 June 1998|first=Tom|last=English|title=Terblanche runs Ireland ragged|page=14|issue=9068}}

{{Rugbybox

|date = 13 June 1998

|time = 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)

|home = {{Ru-rt|RSA}}

|score = 37–13

|report = Report{{cite web|url=http://stats.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/23416.html|title=South Africa vs Ireland at Bloemfontein, 13 Jun 1998|website=ESPN.com}}

|away = {{ru|IRE}}

|try1 = Terblanche 3' c, 51', 56' c, 66'
Andrews 78' c

|con1 = du Toit (3/5) 3', 56', 78'

|pen1 = du Toit 29', 40'

|try2 = Bishop 20' c

|con2 = Elwood (1/1) 20'

|pen2 = Elwood 7', 54'

|stadium = Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

|attendance = 26,000

|referee = Ed Morrison (England)

}}

width="25"\|	width="25"\|
style="width:100%;"
style="vertical-align:top; width:50%"\| {\| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
FB	15	Percy Montgomery
RW	14	Stefan Terblanche
OC	13	Andre Snyman
IC	12	Pieter Muller
LW	11	Pieter Rossouw
FH	10	Gaffie du Toit	{{suboff}}
SH	9	Joost van der Westhuizen
N8	8	Gary Teichmann (c)
BF	7	Andre Venter
OF	6	Rassie Erasmus
RL	5	Mark Andrews
LL	4	Krynauw Otto
TP	3	Adrian Garvey
HK	2	James Dalton
LP	1	Ollie le Roux
colspan=3\|Replacements:
FH	16	Franco Smith	{{subon}}
WG	17	McNeil Hendricks
HK	18	Werner Swanepoel
LK	19	Andrew Aitken
N8	20	Bobby Skinstad
PR	21	Robbie Kempson
HK	22	Naka Drotské
colspan=3\|Coach:
colspan="4"\|{{flagicon\|RSA}} Nick Mallett

|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%"|

width="25"\|	width="25"\|
cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin:auto"
FB	15	Conor O'Shea
RW	14	Justin Bishop
OC	13	Kevin Maggs
IC	12	Mark McCall
LW	11	Denis Hickie
FH	10	Eric Elwood
SH	9	Conor McGuinness
N8	8	Victor Costello
OF	7	Andy Ward
BF	6	Dion O'Cuinneagain
RL	5	Paddy Johns (c)
LL	4	Malcolm O'Kelly
TP	3	Paul Wallace
HK	2	Keith Wood
LP	1	Justin Fitzpatrick
colspan=3\|Replacements:
CT	16	Rob Henderson	{{subon}}
FL	17	Trevor Brennan	{{subon}}
LK	18	Gabriel Fulcher	{{subon}}
LK	19	David Humphreys
FL	20	Brian O'Meara
SH	21	Allen Clarke
FH	22	Peter Clohessy
colspan=3\|Coach:
colspan="4"\|{{flagicon\|NZL}} Warren Gatland

=Second Test=

The Springboks had to make one change to their line-up for the second test in Pretoria, with Gaffie du Toit unavailable due to a rib injury and replaced by Franco Smith. The Springboks completed a shut-out to seal the series and scored five tries in the process, but the match was a very spiteful one marred by numerous cynical incidents and brawls which eventually resulted in Springbok lock Krynauw Otto getting time in the sin bin.{{cite news|publisher=The Sunday Times|date=21 June 1998|first=Tom|last=English|title=Five tries leave Ireland punch-drunk|page=17|issue=9069}}

{{Rugbybox

|date = 20 June 1998

|time = 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)

|home = {{Ru-rt|RSA}}

|score = 33–0

|report = Report{{cite web|url=http://stats.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/23424.html|title=South Africa vs Ireland at Pretoria, 20 Jun 1998|website=ESPN.com}}

|away = {{ru|IRE}}

|try1 = van der Westhuizen 17'
Erasmus 35' c
Dalton 40' c
Teichmann 66' c
Rossouw 77' c

|con1 = Montgomery (4/5) 35', 40', 66', 77'

|pen1 =

|try2 =

|con2 =

|pen2 =

|stadium = Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

|attendance = 34,850

|referee = Joël Dumé (France)

}}

width="25"\|	width="25"\|
style="width:100%;"
style="vertical-align:top; width:50%"\| {\| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
FB	15	Percy Montgomery
RW	14	Stefan Terblanche	{{suboff\|45}}
OC	13	Andre Snyman
IC	12	Pieter Muller
LW	11	Pieter Rossouw
FH	10	Franco Smith
SH	9	Joost van der Westhuizen	{{suboff\|75}}
N8	8	Gary Teichmann (c)
BF	7	Andre Venter
OF	6	Rassie Erasmus	{{suboff\|75}}
RL	5	Mark Andrews
LL	4	Krynauw Otto {{sin bin\|58\|68}}
TP	3	Adrian Garvey
HK	2	James Dalton	{{suboff\|64}}
LP	1	Ollie le Roux	{{suboff\|56}}
colspan=3\|Replacements:
WG	16	McNeil Hendricks	{{subon\|45}}
PR	17	Robbie Kempson	{{subon\|56}}
HK	18	Naka Drotské	{{subon\|64}}
FL	19	Andrew Aitken	{{subon\|75}}
SH	20	Werner Swanepoel	{{subon\|75}}
FH	21	Henry Honiball
N8	22	Bobby Skinstad
colspan=3\|Coach:
colspan="4"\|{{flagicon\|RSA}} Nick Mallett

|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%"|

width="25"\|	width="25"\|
cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin:auto"
FB	15	Conor O'Shea
RW	14	Justin Bishop
OC	13	Kevin Maggs
IC	12	Mark McCall
LW	11	Denis Hickie	{{suboff\|38}}
FH	10	Eric Elwood	{{suboff\|55}}
SH	9	Conor McGuinness
N8	8	Victor Costello	{{suboff\|55}}
OF	7	Andy Ward
BF	6	Dion O'Cuinneagain
RL	5	Paddy Johns (c)
LL	4	Malcolm O'Kelly
TP	3	Paul Wallace
HK	2	Keith Wood
LP	1	Justin Fitzpatrick	{{suboff\|63}}
colspan=3\|Replacements:
FH	16	David Humphreys	{{subon\|55}}
CT	17	Rob Henderson	{{subon\|38}}
FL	18	Trevor Brennan	{{subon\|55}}
PR	19	Peter Clohessy	{{subon\|63}}
FL	20	Brian O'Meara
LK	21	Gabriel Fulcher
FH	22	Allen Clarke
colspan=3\|Coach:
colspan="4"\|{{flagicon\|NZL}} Warren Gatland

Touring party

Manager: Donal Lenihan
Assistant Manager: Phil Danaher
Coach: Warren Gatland
Captain: Paddy Johns

=Backs=

style="vertical-align:top"

Killian Keane (Garryowen)
Kevin Maggs (Bristol)
Mark McCall (London Irish)
Conor McGuinness (St. Mary's College RFC)
Brian O'Meara (Cork Constitution)
Conor O'Shea (London Irish)
James Topping (Ballymena RFC)
Richard Wallace (Saracens)

=Forwards=

style="vertical-align:top"

Trevor Brennan (Bective Rangers)
Allen Clarke (Northampton)
D. Clohessy (Young Munster)
Peter Clohessy (Young Munster)
David Corkery (Bristol)
Reggie Corrigan (Greystones RFC)
Victor Costello (St. Mary's College RFC)
Justin Fitzpatrick (London Irish)
Anthony Foley (Shannon)
Gabriel Fulcher (London Irish)

References

Category:Ireland national rugby union team tours

Category:Ireland national rugby union team tours of South Africa

Ireland tour

Ire

South