Johannesburgers just know how to light up their city during international rugby match days. Well, Saturday was no different as the city dwellers painted the streets green and gold before welcoming Ireland at the iconic Emirates Park fortress.
The Springboks were out not only to salvage lost pride following their Cape Town defeat, but also to prevent the Irish from becoming the first of the four home nations to win a series on South African soil.
Things started off badly for Alister Coetzee's troops as a Devin Toner try and 14 points from the boot of flyhalf Paddy Jackson saw the Boks going to the break 19-3 'shattered'.
Boooooos Booooos and even louder boooooos escorted the players down the tunnel.
I don't know if the boos worked as the Springboks mounted a dramatic second half comeback to win 32-26 with four smart tries that left everyone inside the stadium pretty chaffed.
The win was the first under new Springbok coach Allister Coetzee and maintained his nation's hopes of safeguarding an enviable record of not having lost a Test series at home in the past 19 years.
All eyes will be in Port Elizabeth next Saturday for the series decider. If the Boks play like they did in the last 10-15 minutes on Saturday, then PE rugby fans are in for a classic.
The Springboks were out not only to salvage lost pride following their Cape Town defeat, but also to prevent the Irish from becoming the first of the four home nations to win a series on South African soil.
Things started off badly for Alister Coetzee's troops as a Devin Toner try and 14 points from the boot of flyhalf Paddy Jackson saw the Boks going to the break 19-3 'shattered'.
Boooooos Booooos and even louder boooooos escorted the players down the tunnel.
I don't know if the boos worked as the Springboks mounted a dramatic second half comeback to win 32-26 with four smart tries that left everyone inside the stadium pretty chaffed.
The win was the first under new Springbok coach Allister Coetzee and maintained his nation's hopes of safeguarding an enviable record of not having lost a Test series at home in the past 19 years.
All eyes will be in Port Elizabeth next Saturday for the series decider. If the Boks play like they did in the last 10-15 minutes on Saturday, then PE rugby fans are in for a classic.
