High and lows for Ireland winger Lowe in loss to South Africa / Photo: PHILL MAGAKOE - AFP
High and lows for Ireland winger Lowe in loss to South Africa
Ireland back James Lowe created a score, had a try disallowed, then gifted one to South Africa in a 27-20 first Test win for the world champion Springboks in Pretoria on Saturday.
Here is how the drama unfolded at Loftus Versfeld stadium for the 31-year-old New Zealand-born winger in the battle of the top-ranked teams.
35 minutes
As Lowe was bundled into touch with ball in hand, he stayed calm, kept his feet off the ground, and passed to debutant full-back Jamie Osborne, who scored in the corner to bring the tourists within five points of the world champions.
58 minutes
Lowe thought he had levelled the score at 13-13 after gaining possession out wide from a turnover and evaded two would-be Springboks tacklers to score. However, a television match official review revealed a ruck infringement and the try was ruled out.
65 minutes
Lowe brilliantly kept a Handre Pollard penalty from going into touch, but his acrobatics backfired as the loose ball was hacked forward by South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe for a try which Pollard converted for a 20-8 advantage.
S.Bruno--MJ
