Matches

Mhlaba's SARU co-tourists from 1979,Poro and Sonto both started in the President's XV in East London in a multiracial, invitational side who were somewhat overrun by an Irish side spearheaded by a rampant backrow with captain Slattery notching a hat-trick of tries. Murphy contributed another eighteen points through six conversions, a penalty and a drop goal as he put down a firm marker for the full back test position.
On the face of it, the Country Districts B XV side posed the most unlikely banana skin the tourists would encounter on the tour. The Districts' A side was itself on tour to Canada and a number of the Irish players had allegedly voiced their concerns over a lack of credible and serious opposition ahead of the forthcoming first test, which at best could be described as unfortunate given the 17-16 reversal recorded in an error strewn performance by the visitors.
There were first caps for Murphy,Paul Dean and Jerry Holland at Newlands, a game which Ireland could undoubtedly have won, matching the Springbok pack in all phases of the game but they were seriously undermined and derailed by injuries to both Murphy and Campbell, which ultimately ruled both players out for the remainder of the tour. The fixture was the 99th test match played by South Africa. They sported white shirts in deference to the Irish but it was the presence of Erroll George Tobias in a Springbok shirt, in a midfield pairing with Danie Gerber, making him the first coloured player to appear in an international for the republic rather than the scoreline which made the international headlines on the day rather than the closeness of the result.

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