TRIES from Rhys Ruddock and Tommy Bowe helped guide Ireland to their first victory over South Africa in five years and a fifth consecutive win that represents their best run since 2009.
Leinster flanker Ruddock, the son of former Wales head coach Mike, seized his first Test try after replacing the ill Chris Henry just hours before kick-off and Bowe's score plus Johnny Sexton's 16 points gave the Aviva Stadium hosts a fully deserved Springboks scalp.
Marcell Coetzee crossed from a second-half South Africa maul and JP Pietersen added a late consolation.
Captain Paul O'Connell will lead the charge to beef Ireland up in time for next year's World Cup as head coach Joe Schmidt demands ever-increasing physicality. But sometimes brain beats brawn and Schmidt had clearly racked his mind to devise a host of ploys to diffuse South Africa's power game.
Ireland led 6-3 at the break, and opened the second half in style. Ruddock got his try from a well-worked line-out maul peel, and Sexton's conversion created a 10-point lead.
When Jack McGrath was penalised for popping up at the scrum, South Africa opted for the line-out. This time there was no stopping the maul and flanker Coetzee barrelled home.
Sexton added a third penalty before Adriaan Strauss was sin-binned for taking out the airborne Rob Kearney,
Sexton's rapier punt into the corner then piled the pressure on South Africa, with No 8 Duane Vermeulen forced to throw in.
Ireland stole possession and pounded through the phases, eventually forcing a penalty, which Sexton slotted home.
Ireland then wrapped up a famous victory when Bowe went over after latching on to Conor Murray's pinpoint chip following a smart break from Sexton that broke the first wave of Springbok resistance.
Replacement Ian Madigan landed a penalty of his own before JP Pietersen salvaged some pride with a late South Africa try.
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