South Africa v Ireland LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 result and final score as Irish outmuscle Springboks

World No 1 side Ireland beat defending world champions South Africa in Paris in perhaps the biggest game of the pool stage

Ireland’s Johnny Sexton says son will be ‘over the moon’ after breaking record in World Cup

Ireland underlined their status as the number one team in the world with a bruising 13-8 Rugby World Cup victory over defending champions South Africa in Paris on Saturday, though the Springboks will rue their inaccuracy off the kicking tee.

Ireland scored their only try in the first half through wing Mack Hansen as he found some rare space out wide and led 7-3 at the break but had to withstand a barrage of Springbok pressure in the second half amid a raucous atmosphere.

South Africa’s only try came from winger Cheslin Kolbe but they missed the conversion and three penalty chances to highlight their goal-kicking woes and perhaps hasten the return of experienced fly-half Handre Pollard to the team.

Ireland will be odds-on to win the pool as they claimed a 16th test win in a row, while South Africa suffer defeat in a World Cup game for the first time in nine matches and will likely have to beat Tonga in their final group game on 1 October.

Follow all of the reaction from Stade de France. Plus get the latest Rugby World Cup odds here and tips on Ireland vs South Africa here.

Rugby World Cup 2023: South Africa vs Ireland

• South Africa face Ireland live on ITV1
• Penalty! South Africa 3-0 Ireland (Libbok)
• Try! South Africa 3-7 Ireland (Hansen)
• Half-time: South Africa 3-7 Ireland
• Try! South Africa 8-7 Ireland (Kolbe)
• Penalty! South Africa 8-10 Ireland (Sexton)
• Penalty! South Africa 8-13 Ireland (Crowley)
• Full-time: South Africa 8-13 Ireland

[23 September 2023 21:18 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 8-7 Ireland

56 min: South Africa have replaced five of their forwards; Ireland are yet to replace one. Will that difference in energy start to tell?

[23 September 2023 21:17 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 8-7 Ireland

53 min: Great play by South African full back Willemse, who sidesteps Ringrose on to the floor and then drills a kick which bounces off near the Irish 22.

[23 September 2023 21:15 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Try! South Africa 8-7 Ireland (Kolbe)

50 min: That pressure pays! Ireland give away a penalty advantage and South Africa take the chance to fling the ball wide. Waiting on the left touchline in space is wing Cheslin Kolbe, who has plenty of time to not only score but run a little closer to the posts. It’s a bad miss from Libbok, though.

[23 September 2023 21:12 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-7 Ireland

48 min: South Africa come again, and they win a penalty in Irish territory when Aki seals at the ruck, preventing the Springboks from turning it over. They opt to scrum, five yards out. They want to pile pressure on the Irish pack...

[23 September 2023 21:10 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-7 Ireland

45 min: Brilliant work at the breakdown by the Springbok’s No 8 Wiese, who forces the Irish to hold on and fail to release. Penalty, and De Klerk goes for a kick from long range.... he hits the posts! South Africa chase it down and collect the ball in Ireland’s 22, but James Lowe does brilliantly to tackle Etzebeth, create a maul and earn a penalty for the Irish.

[23 September 2023 21:06 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-7 Ireland

42 min: Sexton kicks into the corner and tries to point out that it deflected off a South African hand, but he’s ignored. It matters not though, as O’Mahony immediately disrupts Etzebeth’s attempt to catch the lineout, and Ireland get their own. But South Africa pinch it! Ireland’s opportunity is gone.

[23 September 2023 21:03 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-7 Ireland

The referee gives his whistle a peeeep! and we’re under way. And immediately Etzebeth gives away a penalty to give Ireland some relief from early pressure. That seemed harsh, on replay. The lock tried to roll away.

[23 September 2023 20:57 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Half-time: South Africa 3-7 Ireland

That first half, in pictures:

South Africa's fly-half Manie Libbok scores a penalty (AFP via Getty Images)

Bundee Aki charges forwards with the ball in hand (Reuters)

Ireland's James Ryan hands the ball down in a lineout (AP)

Damian Willemse of South Africa runs with the ball (Getty Images)

Mack Hansen scores Ireland’s first-half try (Reuters)

[23 September 2023 20:50 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 3-7 Ireland

From our reporter Luke Baker in Paris:

What an incredible half of Test match rugby. More physical and bruising than we could have imagined - both teams have been fighting for every inch with ball in hand, in the tackle and at the breakdown. And, if anything, Ireland are outmuscling the Springboks. Ireland centre Bundee Aki has led the way, just as he has all tournament. It was his initial linebreak that led to the 22 entry for Ireland’s only try and he then got them back in there once they’d been pushed out by the well-marshalled Boks defence. He made a brilliant dominant tackle on Jesse Kriel just metres from the line midway through the half when the Springboks centre looked destined to score and Aki has been the go-to man on first-phase crash ball, consistently getting over the gainline. It has been a masterclass from him so far.

[23 September 2023 20:47 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Half-time: South Africa 3-7 Ireland

It comes to nothing, and that’s half-time.

Wow, breathless stuff. Great to watch.