# 1998 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa

[[Category:1998 rugby union tours|Ireland]]
The 1998 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa was the team's third tour to the country, having previously visited in 1961 and 1981. Both Paul Wallace and Keith Wood had previously been on a tour to South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 1997. Cape Town-born Dion O'Cuinneagain, had captained South Africa at both schoolboy and sevens level, before he switched allegiances. He made his senior international debut for Ireland in the 37–13 defeat against South Africa on 13 June 1998. Justin Fitzpatrick and Trevor Brennan also made their senior international debuts in the same game. A fourth debutant, Justin Bishop, scored a try while Eric Elwood added a conversion and two penalties. South Africa won the series 2-0, but the series was marred by violence and ill-will between the two teams.

## Non-international matches

    Scores and results list Ireland's points tally first.
| Opposing Team | For | Against | Date | Venue |
| Boland Cavaliers | 48 | 35 | 30 May 1998 | Boland Stadium, Wellington, Western Cape |
| SWD Eagles | 20 | 27 | 3 June 1998 | Outeniqua Park, George, Western Cape |
| Western Province | 6 | 12 | 6 June 1998 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| Griquas | 13 | 52 | 9 June 1998 | Eclectic CG |
| Leopards | 26 | 18 | 16 June 1998 | Olën Park, Potchefstroom, North West |

## Test matches
### First Test

Many predicted South Africa, who were wearing white jerseys due to the colour clash with Ireland's green jumper, to win their first test match of the season comfortably. While they eventually did so, the visitors competed admirably in the first half, trailing by only three points at half time, 13−10. The Springboks, who looked rusty in the first half, finally clicked in the second half and debutant winger Stefan Terblanche scored four tries.
* 13 June 1998 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)
| South Africa | 37–13 | Ireland |
| Try: Terblanche 3' c, 51', 56' c, 66' Andrews 78' c Con: du Toit (3/5) 3', 56', 78' Pen: du Toit 29', 40' | Report | Try: Bishop 20' c Con: Elwood (1/1) 20' Pen: Elwood 7', 54' |
* Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 26,000 Referee: Ed Morrison (England)
| FB | 15 | Percy Montgomery |
| RW | 14 | Stefan Terblanche |
| OC | 13 | Andre Snyman |
| IC | 12 | Pieter Muller |
| LW | 11 | Pieter Rossouw |
| FH | 10 | Gaffie du Toit |
| SH | 9 | Joost van der Westhuizen |
| N8 | 8 | Gary Teichmann (c) |
| BF | 7 | Andre Venter |
| OF | 6 | Rassie Erasmus |
| RL | 5 | Mark Andrews |
| LL | 4 | Krynauw Otto |
| TP | 3 | Adrian Garvey |
| HK | 2 | James Dalton |
| LP | 1 | Ollie le Roux |
| Replacements: ||
| FH | 16 | Franco Smith |
| WG | 17 | McNeil Hendricks |
| HK | 18 | Werner Swanepoel |
| LK | 19 | Andrew Aitken |
| N8 | 20 | Bobby Skinstad |
| PR | 21 | Robbie Kempson |
| HK | 22 | Naka Drotské |
| Coach: ||
| Nick Mallett ||
| FB | 15 | Conor O'Shea |
| RW | 14 | Justin Bishop |
| OC | 13 | Kevin Maggs |
| IC | 12 | Mark McCall |
| LW | 11 | Denis Hickie |
| FH | 10 | Eric Elwood |
| SH | 9 | Conor McGuinness |
| N8 | 8 | Victor Costello |
| OF | 7 | Andy Ward |
| BF | 6 | Dion O'Cuinneagain |
| RL | 5 | Paddy Johns (c) |
| LL | 4 | Malcolm O'Kelly |
| TP | 3 | Paul Wallace |
| HK | 2 | Keith Wood |
| LP | 1 | Justin Fitzpatrick |
| Replacements: ||
| CT | 16 | Rob Henderson |
| FL | 17 | Trevor Brennan |
| LK | 18 | Gabriel Fulcher |
| LK | 19 | David Humphreys |
| FL | 20 | Brian O'Meara |
| SH | 21 | Allen Clarke |
| FH | 22 | Peter Clohessy |
| Coach: ||
| Warren Gatland ||

### Second Test

The Springboks had to make one change to their line-up for the second test in Pretoria, with Gaffie du Toit unavailable due to a rib injury and replaced by Franco Smith. The Springboks completed a shut-out to seal the series and scored five tries in the process, but the match was a very spiteful one marred by numerous cynical incidents and brawls which eventually resulted in Springbok lock Krynauw Otto getting time in the sin bin.
* 20 June 1998 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)
| South Africa | 33–0 | Ireland |
| Try: van der Westhuizen 17' Erasmus 35' c Dalton 40' c Teichmann 66' c Rossouw 77' c Con: Montgomery (4/5) 35', 40', 66', 77' | Report | |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 34,850 Referee: Joël Dumé (France)
| FB | 15 | Percy Montgomery |
| RW | 14 | Stefan Terblanche | 45' |
| OC | 13 | Andre Snyman |
| IC | 12 | Pieter Muller |
| LW | 11 | Pieter Rossouw |
| FH | 10 | Franco Smith |
| SH | 9 | Joost van der Westhuizen | 75' |
| N8 | 8 | Gary Teichmann (c) |
| BF | 7 | Andre Venter |
| OF | 6 | Rassie Erasmus | 75' |
| RL | 5 | Mark Andrews |
| LL | 4 | Krynauw Otto 58' to 68' |
| TP | 3 | Adrian Garvey |
| HK | 2 | James Dalton | 64' |
| LP | 1 | Ollie le Roux | 56' |
| Replacements: ||
| WG | 16 | McNeil Hendricks | 45' |
| PR | 17 | Robbie Kempson | 56' |
| HK | 18 | Naka Drotské | 64' |
| FL | 19 | Andrew Aitken | 75' |
| SH | 20 | Werner Swanepoel | 75' |
| FH | 21 | Henry Honiball |
| N8 | 22 | Bobby Skinstad |
| Coach: ||
| Nick Mallett ||
| FB | 15 | Conor O'Shea |
| RW | 14 | Justin Bishop |
| OC | 13 | Kevin Maggs |
| IC | 12 | Mark McCall |
| LW | 11 | Denis Hickie | 38' |
| FH | 10 | Eric Elwood | 55' |
| SH | 9 | Conor McGuinness |
| N8 | 8 | Victor Costello | 55' |
| OF | 7 | Andy Ward |
| BF | 6 | Dion O'Cuinneagain |
| RL | 5 | Paddy Johns (c) |
| LL | 4 | Malcolm O'Kelly |
| TP | 3 | Paul Wallace |
| HK | 2 | Keith Wood |
| LP | 1 | Justin Fitzpatrick | 63' |
| Replacements: ||
| FH | 16 | David Humphreys | 55' |
| CT | 17 | Rob Henderson | 38' |
| FL | 18 | Trevor Brennan | 55' |
| PR | 19 | Peter Clohessy | 63' |
| FL | 20 | Brian O'Meara |
| LK | 21 | Gabriel Fulcher |
| FH | 22 | Allen Clarke |
| Coach: ||
| Warren Gatland ||

## Touring party

* Manager: Donal Lenihan
* Assistant Manager: Phil Danaher
* Coach: Warren Gatland
* Captain: Paddy Johns

### Backs

| Jonny Bell (Northampton) Justin Bishop (London Irish) Ciaran Clarke (Terenure College RFC) Eric Elwood (Galwegians RFC) D. Hegarty (Terenure College RFC) Rob Henderson (London Wasps) Denis Hickie (St. Mary's College RFC) David Humphreys (London Irish) | Killian Keane (Garryowen) Kevin Maggs (Bristol) Mark McCall (London Irish) Conor McGuinness (St. Mary's College RFC) Brian O'Meara (Cork Constitution) Conor O'Shea (London Irish) James Topping (Ballymena RFC) Richard Wallace (Saracens) |

### Forwards

| Trevor Brennan (Bective Rangers) Allen Clarke (Northampton) D. Clohessy (Young Munster) Peter Clohessy (Young Munster) David Corkery (Bristol) Reggie Corrigan (Greystones RFC) Victor Costello (St. Mary's College RFC) Justin Fitzpatrick (London Irish) Anthony Foley (Shannon) Gabriel Fulcher (London Irish) | Mick Galwey (Shannon) John Hayes (Shannon) Bernard Jackman (Clontarf) Paddy Johns (Saracens) Malcolm O'Kelly (London Irish) Dion O'Cuinneagain (Sale Sharks) David Wallace (Garryowen) Paul Wallace (Saracens) Andy Ward (Ballynahinch RFC) Keith Wood (NEC Harlequins) |