‘never Seen a Game Like IT’ – Farrell on Sa Loss

Irish Rugby: A Chaotic Defeat to South Africa

Ireland’s encounter against South Africa in Dublin on November 22, 2025, was far from straightforward. Head coach Andy Farrell described it as a game he had never seen before, filled with unexpected challenges that left his team down to just twelve players for the duration of the second half.

The match began with a flurry of cards, beginning when James Ryan’s yellow card was upgraded to a 20-minute red. This set the stage for a tumultuous encounter where Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley, Andrew Porter, and Paddy McCarthy were all sin-binned. Despite these setbacks, Farrell expressed pride in his players’ fightback.

Farrell’s Reflections on the Game

“I haven’t seen a game like that ever,” said Farrell with conviction, addressing a reporter who had earlier described the opening 40 minutes as “borderline shambolic.” Farrell insisted he did not use the word “chaotic” but clarified his point by saying, “First and foremost, you look at yourself and why things have happened. So, we’ll do that, and make sure that we learn the lessons from that.”

“My overriding thought of the game is that I’m unbelievably proud,” he added, emphasizing his belief in the team’s resilience despite the adversity. “But for all sorts of reasons, I thought going down to 12 men, how the lads came out and showed the bottle for the country, certainly in that first 10 minutes of that second half, it was absolutely amazing.” Farrell highlighted the importance of maintaining composure, particularly during scrum time, where Ireland struggled.

A Dominant South Africa Performance

Despite their struggles, Farrell acknowledged “stupid errors” and a loss of composure as key factors in the defeat. He noted that some of the issues stemmed from poor kicking game execution, which had been strong against Australia just days prior. The assistant coach Mzwandile Stick had previously criticized South African officiating, but Farrell maintained that the current match was separate and not influenced by past incidents.

“We brought it up with the referees before the game and they said that would never be a factor,” explained Farrell, adding, “Obviously, this is a separate game. I’ll let you be the judge of that.” The South African head coach, Rassie Erasmus, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the physical nature of the match but acknowledging that South Africa could not quite secure victory.

Lessons Learned and Future Outlook

The defeat highlighted the challenges Ireland face in handling high-pressure situations. Despite the setback, Farrell remained optimistic about his team’s prospects moving forward. He noted that while South Africa was dominant for most parts of the game, they could not secure a decisive victory.

“It was hectic and it was difficult to manage,” admitted Erasmus. “It was difficult to understand sometimes who’s on and who’s off and who comes back and who’s got an HIA (head injury assessment) and who’s injured.” The coach acknowledged the complexity of managing such a high-stakes game.

With this match behind them, Farrell and his team will look to learn from their experiences and prepare for future challenges.

The next steps involve addressing the “stupid errors” that cost them during critical moments in the game, ensuring they can maintain composure under pressure in upcoming matches.

In conclusion, this test match against South Africa serves as a significant learning experience for Ireland’s rugby team. While the result was disappointing, the fight displayed by the players is a testament to their spirit and determination. As Farrell reflects on the game, he remains focused on using these lessons to strengthen his squad for future competitions.