2004 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa

2004 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa
Top test point scorer(s)	Ronan O'Gara (17)
Top test try scorer(s)	Bakkies Botha (2)
Summary	P W D L
Total	02 00 00 02
Test match	02 00 00 02
Opponent	P W D L
South Africa	2 0 0 2
Tour chronology
Previous tour	Southern Hemisphere 2003
Next tour	Japan 2005

The 2004 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa was a series of matches played in June 2004 in South Africa by Ireland national rugby union team.

Ireland travelled to South Africa in June 2004, having won their first Triple Crown since 1985, and beaten the champions of the 2003 Rugby World Cup, England in their first home game since the final.^[1] As a result, the Irish manager, Eddie O'Sullivan, was confident that Ireland would achieve their first win over South Africa in 39 years, their only previous victory having come in Dublin in 1965.

By contrast, South Africa had just changed their coach to Jake White and he had radically changed the team for his first test since taking charge of the Springboks. The first of the two game test series was played at altitude in Bloemfontein and South Africa eventually won the match 31–17, despite the scores being level at 11–11 at half time.^[2]

The second match was played in the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town, and was a closer affair. However, South Africa maintained their unbeaten record against Ireland on home soil by winning 26–17.^[3]

12 June 2004

South Africa	31–17	Ireland
Try: Botha (2) Julies Wannenburg Con: Du Toit Pen: Du Toit	Report[2]	Try: Horgan Pen: O'Gara (4)

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 39,000 Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)

South Africa: 15. Gaffie du Toit, 14. Breyton Paulse, 13. Marius Joubert, 12. Wayne Julies, 11. Henno Mentz, 10. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 9. Fourie du Preez, 8. Jacques Cronjé, 7. Pedrie Wannenburg, 6. Schalk Burger , 5. Victor Matfield, 4. Bakkies Botha, 3. Eddie Andrews, 2. John Smit (c), 1. Os du Randt – Replacements: 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Quinton Davids, 19. Gerrie Britz – Unused: 16. Hanyani Shimange, 19. Gerrie Britz, 20. Bolla Conradie, 21. Jaque Fourie, 22. Brent Russell
Ireland: 15. Girvan Dempsey, 14. Shane Horgan, 13. Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12. Gordon D'Arcy, 11. Geordan Murphy, 10. Ronan O'Gara, 9. Peter Stringer, 8. Anthony Foley, 7. David Wallace, 6. Simon Easterby, 5. Paul O'Connell, 4. Malcolm O'Kelly, 3. John Hayes, 2. Shane Byrne, 1. Reggie Corrigan – Replacements: 16. Frankie Sheahan, 17. Marcus Horan, 19. Alan Quinlan, 22. Kevin Maggs – Unused: 18. Donncha O'Callaghan, 20. Guy Easterby, 21. David Humphreys

19 June 2004

South Africa	26–17	Ireland
Try: Paulse Fourie Con: Montgomery (2) Pen: Montgomery (4)	Report[3]	Try: Howe O'Driscoll Con: O'Gara Humphreys Drop: O'Gara

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Referee: Joel Jutge (France)

South Africa: 15. Percy Montgomery, 14. Breyton Paulse, 13. Marius Joubert, 12. Wayne Julies , 11. Jaque Fourie, 10. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 9. Fourie du Preez, 8. Jacques Cronjé, 7. Pedrie Wannenburg, 6. Schalk Burger, 5. Victor Matfield, 4. Quinton Davids, 3. Eddie Andrews, 2. John Smit (c), 1. Os du Randt – Replacements: 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Geo Cronjé, 19. Gerrie Britz, 22. Brent Russell – Unused: 16. Hanyani Shimange, 20. Bolla Conradie, 21. Gaffie du Toit
Ireland: 15. Girvan Dempsey, 14. Shane Horgan, 13. Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12. Kevin Maggs, 11. Tyrone Howe, 10. Ronan O'Gara, 9. Peter Stringer, 8. Anthony Foley, 7. David Wallace, 6. Simon Easterby, 5. Paul O'Connell, 4. Malcolm O'Kelly, 3. John Hayes, 2. Shane Byrne, 1. Reggie Corrigan – Replacements: 16. Frankie Sheahan, 17. Marcus Horan, 18. Alan Quinlan, 19. Donncha O'Callaghan, 20. Guy Easterby, 21. David Humphreys, 22. Gavin Duffy

• Manager: Eddie O'Sullivan
• Captain: Brian O'Driscoll

^[4]

• History of rugby union matches between Ireland and South Africa