IRELAND

ROB KEARNEY FULL-BACK - 8

Ended a marvellous year with a succession of counterattacks and was superb under the high ball in difficult conditions. Best player on the pitch.

TOMMY BOWE WING – 6

Had a sniff of the try line in the second half after a cross-kick by Sexton but had few opportunities to repeat his try-scoring feat against Australia.

BRIAN O'DRISCOLL CENTRE, capt – 6

Ireland's leading try-scorer carved through the defence early on but was generally out of sorts. Another fairytale ending this time for Ireland's talisman with a match-winning tackle.

PADDY WALLACE CENTRE – 5

Barely lasted a quarter of the game before limping off but showed plenty of enterprise in his few opportunities to run at the Springboks.

KEITH EARLS WING – 5

Luke Fitzgerald's replacement had a late chip and chase but had few opportunities in attack. Terrific in defence, though.

JONATHAN SEXTON FLY-HALF – 7

Justified his selection ahead of Ronan O'Gara. An early penalty settled any nerves and he shows a swaggering arrogance of a Tony Ward. His kicks won the game.

TOMAS O'LEARY SCRUM-HALF – 6

Showed what the Lions missed last summer. An impressive general and made some telling tackles. Outplayed his opposite number.

CIAN HEALY PROP – 5

Terrific in the loose against the Wallabies but part of a scrum that took a bit of a battering in the first half.

JERRY FLANNERY HOOKER – 6

Gave away four stones to John Smit but his extra mobility was telling in the second half.

JOHN HAYES PROP – 6

The heaviest forward on the pitch he struggled in the scrum but made some telling charges into the heart of the Springbok defence.

DONNCHA O'CALLAGHAN LOCK – 7

Got stronger as the game progressed and was a key figure in some driving mauls that sucked the strength out of the opposition pack.

PAUL O'CONNELL LOCK – 6

The Lions captain gave the Springbok totem Victor Matfield a run for his money in the line-out and showed some deft handling skills.

STEPHEN FERRIS FLANKER – 5

An ankle injury prevented him from playing the second half. Ireland missed his strength.

DAVID WALLACE FLANKER – 7

Worked tirelessly and made some vital tackles, particularly on de Villiers, late in the game as the Springboks threatened a second try.

JAMIE HEASLIP No8 – 7

He was Ireland's most effective ball-carrier in the first half and coped well with some messy ball at the back of the scrum. Ireland's best forward.

REPLACEMENTS

Sean O'Brien (for Ferris, h-t) A powerful introduction in the second half. Was not overawed by the physical challenge. 7

Gordon D'Arcy (P Wallace, 23) Strengthened his claims to be O'Driscoll's centre partner in the Six Nations. 6

SOUTH AFRICA

ZANE KIRCHNER FULL-BACK 6

JP PIETERSEN WING 5

JAQUE FOURIE CENTRE 6

WYNARD OLIVIER CENTRE 5

BRYAN HABANA WING 5

MORNE STEYN FLY-HALF 4

FOURIE DU PREEZ SCRUM-HALF 5

TENDAI MTAWARIRA PROP 5

JOHN SMIT HOOKER, capt 6

BJ BOTHA PROP 5

ANDRIES BEKKER LOCK 5

VICTOR MATFIELD LOCK 6

HEINRICH BRUSSOW FLANKER 7

SCHALK BURGER FLANKER 6

DANIE ROSSOUW No8 5

REPLACEMENTS

CJ van der Linde (for Mtawarira 42) 6

Bismarck du Plessis (for BJ Botha 47) 6

Dewald Potgieter (for Bekker 60) 5

Ruan Pienaar (for Steyn 60) 5

Jean de Villiers (for Olivier 63) 5