South Africa has come from 12-3 down at halftime to beat Ireland 16-12 in rugby at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

The Springboks were lethargic in the first half, perhaps still stunned by the brief hospitalisation in the morning of prop Tendai Mtawarira for heart palpitations.

“The Beast” was understandably withdrawn from the run-on side.

When the second half kicked off, so finally did South Africa, thanks to a pack which showed its true feisty and bullish colours.

Within minutes, their pressure on the tryline forced new Ireland captain Jamie Heasip to be sin-binned, and moments later the only try was scored off a ruck near the posts, by diving scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar.

Pat Lambie added a conversion, and his second penalty in the 53rd gave the Boks the lead for the first time. They never looked like giving it up.