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 20:45 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-7 Ireland

39 min: Ireland celebrate another breakdown penalty like they’ve scored a try. Sexton kicks deep into South African territory and this will be the final play of the half.

[23 September 2023 20:44 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-7 Ireland

37 min: James Lowe tries a clever kick down the line as South Africa’s rush defence comes up, but it’s just a little overcooked and it bounces behind.

[23 September 2023 20:40 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Try! South Africa 3-7 Ireland (Hansen)

33 min: This time it pays off! Ireland probe and probe, working across the try line from left to right. A clever move involving Sexton almost sees the fly half over for the score but he’s stopped just short – but with the very next phase Ireland fling it wide to Mack Hansen who has space to go over.

Sexton adds the two.

[23 September 2023 20:37 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-0 Ireland

30 min: A brilliant break by Bundee Aki who steams through midfield and is eventually hauled down inside South Africa’s 22. Ireland work through phase after phase but South Africa hold firm – until they give away a penalty. Ireland could simply kick, but they go for the corner, again...

[23 September 2023 20:33 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-0 Ireland

27 min: James Lowe retreats to collect and then tries to shimmy his way out of trouble. He fails and gets tackled on his own 22, isolated, but does well to hold on just long enough to get some support and avoid a turnover. Ireland earn themselves a scrum in their defensive territory.

[23 September 2023 20:30 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-0 Ireland

24 min: Ireland survive once more as Kriel fails with an ambitious offload on the try line. He didn’t need to attempt that.

[23 September 2023 20:28 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-0 Ireland

22 min: Damian de Allende crashes into Sexton, who goes down looking a little shaken. The centre bursts on and is held up just shy of the try line, before Ireland manage to scramble the ball away and touch down to give South Africa a 5m attacking scrum.

Sexton seems to be OK. Ireland have some more defending to do.

[23 September 2023 20:25 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-0 Ireland

21 min: Ireland win the lineout but Etzebeth charges down a box kick superbly and Ireland are struggling to get out of their own 22 right now. Meanwhile Garry Ringrose is coming off for a HIA replacement after taking a whack in a tackle.

[23 September 2023 20:23 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-0 Ireland

19 min: A brilliant kick by Willemse bobbles out right by the corner flag – perfection. Ireland will have a throw on their five-metre line...

[23 September 2023 20:21 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-0 Ireland

17 min: Brilliant defence by the Irish who force the South Africans into giving up a penalty for failing to release. Sexton kicks towards the corner and this time Ireland win their own lineout – but they give away a penalty themselves at the breakdown for the same reason. Both teams are celebrating in each other’s faces, it’s getting tasty.