# 2016 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa

In June 2016, Ireland played a three test series against South Africa as part of the 2016 mid-year rugby union tests. It was the first time that Ireland had played a test series against South Africa in South Africa since 2004. They played the Springboks across the three weeks that the June International window is allocated to; 11 June–25 June. The series was part of the fourth year of the global rugby calendar established by the International Rugby Board, which ran through to 2019.

## Fixtures

| Date | Venue | Home | Score | Away |
| 11 June 2016 | DHL Newlands, Cape Town | South Africa | 20–26 | Ireland |
| 18 June 2016 | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg | South Africa | 32–26 | Ireland |
| 25 June 2016 | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth | South Africa | 19–13 | Ireland |

## Squads

Note: Ages, caps and clubs are as per 11 June, the first test match of the tour.

### Ireland

On 25 May 2016, Joe Schmidt announced his 32-man squad for Ireland's June test series against South Africa.
On 2 June, Luke Fitzgerald, Dave Kearney, Rob Kearney and Johnny Sexton were all ruled out of the tour after sustaining injuries in and after the Pro12 Grand Final. Craig Gilroy, Matt Healy, Ian Madigan and Tiernan O'Halloran were called up as their replacements.
Coaching team:
* Head coach: Joe Schmidt
* Defence coach: Andy Farrell
* Forwards coach: Simon Easterby
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Rory Best (c) | Hooker | (1982-08-15)15 August 1982 (aged 33) | 94 | Ulster |
| Seán Cronin | Hooker | (1986-05-06)6 May 1986 (aged 30) | 50 | Leinster |
| Richardt Strauss | Hooker | (1986-01-29)29 January 1986 (aged 30) | 16 | Leinster |
| Finlay Bealham | Prop | (1991-10-09)9 October 1991 (aged 24) | 1 | Connacht |
| Tadhg Furlong | Prop | (1992-11-14)14 November 1992 (aged 23) | 5 | Leinster |
| Dave Kilcoyne | Prop | (1988-12-14)14 December 1988 (aged 27) | 15 | Munster |
| Jack McGrath | Prop | (1989-10-11)11 October 1989 (aged 26) | 30 | Leinster |
| Mike Ross | Prop | (1979-12-21)21 December 1979 (aged 36) | 59 | Leinster |
| Ultan Dillane | Lock | (1993-11-09)9 November 1993 (aged 22) | 3 | Connacht |
| Iain Henderson | Lock | (1992-02-21)21 February 1992 (aged 24) | 23 | Ulster |
| Quinn Roux | Lock | (1990-10-30)30 October 1990 (aged 25) | 0 | Connacht |
| Donnacha Ryan | Lock | (1983-12-11)11 December 1983 (aged 32) | 39 | Munster |
| Devin Toner | Lock | (1986-06-29)29 June 1986 (aged 29) | 36 | Leinster |
| Jordi Murphy | Flanker | (1991-04-22)22 April 1991 (aged 25) | 14 | Leinster |
| Sean Reidy | Flanker | (1989-05-10)10 May 1989 (aged 27) | 0 | Ulster |
| Rhys Ruddock | Flanker | (1990-11-13)13 November 1990 (aged 25) | 10 | Leinster |
| CJ Stander | Flanker | (1990-04-05)5 April 1990 (aged 26) | 5 | Munster |
| Jamie Heaslip | Number 8 | (1983-12-15)15 December 1983 (aged 32) | 85 | Leinster |
| Kieran Marmion | Scrum-half | (1992-02-11)11 February 1992 (aged 24) | 5 | Connacht |
| Conor Murray | Scrum-half | (1989-04-20)20 April 1989 (aged 27) | 47 | Munster |
| Eoin Reddan | Scrum-half | (1980-11-20)20 November 1980 (aged 35) | 70 | Leinster |
| Paddy Jackson | Fly-half | (1992-01-05)5 January 1992 (aged 24) | 13 | Ulster |
| Ian Madigan | Fly-half | (1989-03-21)21 March 1989 (aged 27) | 29 | Leinster |
| Johnny Sexton | Fly-half | (1985-07-11)11 July 1985 (aged 30) | 61 | Leinster |
| Robbie Henshaw | Centre | (1993-06-12)12 June 1993 (aged 22) | 20 | Connacht |
| Luke Marshall | Centre | (1991-03-03)3 March 1991 (aged 25) | 6 | Ulster |
| Stuart Olding | Centre | (1993-03-11)11 March 1993 (aged 23) | 2 | Ulster |
| Jared Payne | Centre | (1985-10-13)13 October 1985 (aged 30) | 14 | Ulster |
| Keith Earls | Wing | (1987-10-02)2 October 1987 (aged 28) | 50 | Munster |
| Luke Fitzgerald | Wing | (1987-09-13)13 September 1987 (aged 28) | 34 | Leinster |
| Craig Gilroy | Wing | (1991-03-11)11 March 1991 (aged 25) | 6 | Ulster |
| Matt Healy | Wing | (1989-03-14)14 March 1989 (aged 27) | 0 | Connacht |
| Dave Kearney | Wing | (1989-06-19)19 June 1989 (aged 26) | 16 | Leinster |
| Andrew Trimble | Wing | (1984-10-20)20 October 1984 (aged 31) | 63 | Ulster |
| Rob Kearney | Fullback | (1986-03-26)26 March 1986 (aged 30) | 69 | Leinster |
| Tiernan O'Halloran | Fullback | (1991-02-26)26 February 1991 (aged 25) | 0 | Connacht |

### South Africa

On 28 May 2016, Allister Coetzee named his first squad since being appointed head coach. He included the following players in a 31-man squad for a three-test match series against the touring Ireland:
Pieter-Steph du Toit was initially named in the squad, but withdrew through injury and was replaced by Franco Mostert on 31 May 2016. However, on 6 June, Du Toit was given the all-clear by the medical staff and returned to training with the squad. Centre Jan Serfontein was ruled out for the entire series, but no replacement was named.
Pat Lambie was ruled out of the second test match after suffering a concussion in the first test and being given a mandatory rest period in line with World Rugby's Return to Play protocol. On 13 June 2016, Morné Steyn was called up to the squad as injury cover for Lambie.
Coaching team:
* Head coach: Allister Coetzee
* Backs coach: Mzwandile Stick
* Forwards coach: Johann van Graan
* Assistant coach: Matt Proudfoot
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Bongi Mbonambi | Hooker | (1991-01-07)7 January 1991 (aged 25) | 0 | Stormers |
| Scarra Ntubeni | Hooker | (1991-02-18)18 February 1991 (aged 25) | 0 | Stormers |
| Adriaan Strauss | Hooker | (1985-11-18)18 November 1985 (aged 30) | 54 | Bulls |
| Steven Kitshoff | Prop | (1992-02-10)10 February 1992 (aged 24) | 0 | Bordeaux |
| Frans Malherbe | Prop | (1991-03-14)14 March 1991 (aged 25) | 12 | Stormers |
| Tendai Mtawarira | Prop | (1985-08-01)1 August 1985 (aged 30) | 75 | Sharks |
| Trevor Nyakane | Prop | (1989-05-04)4 May 1989 (aged 27) | 23 | Bulls |
| Julian Redelinghuys | Prop | (1989-09-11)11 September 1989 (aged 26) | 2 | Lions |
| Lood de Jager | Lock | (1992-12-17)17 December 1992 (aged 23) | 19 | Cheetahs |
| Pieter-Steph du Toit | Lock | (1992-08-20)20 August 1992 (aged 23) | 8 | Stormers |
| Eben Etzebeth | Lock | (1991-10-29)29 October 1991 (aged 24) | 44 | Stormers |
| Franco Mostert | Lock | (1990-11-27)27 November 1990 (aged 25) | 0 | Lions |
| Siya Kolisi | Flanker | (1991-06-16)16 June 1991 (aged 24) | 13 | Stormers |
| Jaco Kriel | Flanker | (1989-08-21)21 August 1989 (aged 26) | 0 | Lions |
| Francois Louw | Flanker | (1985-06-15)15 June 1985 (aged 30) | 43 | Bath |
| Sikhumbuzo Notshe | Flanker | (1993-05-28)28 May 1993 (aged 23) | 0 | Stormers |
| Duane Vermeulen | Number 8 | (1986-07-03)3 July 1986 (aged 29) | 35 | Toulon |
| Warren Whiteley | Number 8 | (1987-09-18)18 September 1987 (aged 28) | 3 | Lions |
| Faf de Klerk | Scrum-half | (1991-10-19)19 October 1991 (aged 24) | 0 | Lions |
| Nic Groom | Scrum-half | (1990-02-21)21 February 1990 (aged 26) | 0 | Stormers |
| Rudy Paige | Scrum-half | (1989-08-02)2 August 1989 (aged 26) | 2 | Bulls |
| Garth April | Fly-half | (1991-07-16)16 July 1991 (aged 24) | 0 | Sharks |
| Elton Jantjies | Fly-half | (1990-08-01)1 August 1990 (aged 25) | 2 | Lions |
| Pat Lambie | Fly-half | (1990-10-17)17 October 1990 (aged 25) | 50 | Sharks |
| Morné Steyn | Fly-half | (1984-07-11)11 July 1984 (aged 31) | 60 | Stade Français |
| Damian de Allende | Centre | (1991-11-25)25 November 1991 (aged 24) | 13 | Stormers |
| Jesse Kriel | Centre | (1994-02-15)15 February 1994 (aged 22) | 11 | Bulls |
| Lionel Mapoe | Centre | (1988-07-13)13 July 1988 (aged 27) | 1 | Lions |
| Jan Serfontein | Centre | (1993-04-15)15 April 1993 (aged 23) | 26 | Bulls |
| Ruan Combrinck | Wing | (1990-05-10)10 May 1990 (aged 26) | 0 | Lions |
| Lwazi Mvovo | Wing | (1986-06-03)3 June 1986 (aged 30) | 15 | Sharks |
| JP Pietersen | Wing | (1986-07-12)12 July 1986 (aged 29) | 66 | Sharks |
| Willie le Roux | Fullback | (1989-08-18)18 August 1989 (aged 26) | 34 | Sharks |

## Matches
### First Test

* 11 June 2016 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)
| South Africa | 20–26 | Ireland |
| Try: Mvovo 31' c Du Toit 68' c Con: Jantjies (2/2) 31', 68' Pen: Lambie (1/2) 15' Jantjies (1/1) 25' | Report | Try: Payne 10' c Murray 42' c Con: Jackson (2/2) 11', 42' Pen: Jackson (3/4) 18', 67', 76' Drop: Jackson (1/2) 36' |
* DHL Newlands, Cape Town Attendance: 42,640 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
| FB | 15 | Willie le Roux |
| RW | 14 | JP Pietersen |
| OC | 13 | Lionel Mapoe | | 68' |
| IC | 12 | Damian de Allende |
| LW | 11 | Lwazi Mvovo |
| FH | 10 | Pat Lambie | | 22' |
| SH | 9 | Faf de Klerk | | 68' |
| N8 | 8 | Duane Vermeulen |
| OF | 7 | Siya Kolisi |
| BF | 6 | Francois Louw | | 55' |
| RL | 5 | Lood de Jager | 10' to 20' | 55' |
| LL | 4 | Eben Etzebeth |
| TP | 3 | Frans Malherbe | | 76' |
| HK | 2 | Adriaan Strauss (c) |
| LP | 1 | Tendai Mtawarira | | 58' |
| Replacements: ||
| PR | 16 | Bongi Mbonambi |
| PR | 17 | Trevor Nyakane | | 58' |
| HK | 18 | Julian Redelinghuys | | 76' |
| LK | 19 | Pieter-Steph du Toit | | 55' |
| N8 | 20 | Warren Whiteley | | 55' |
| SH | 21 | Rudy Paige | | 68' |
| FH | 22 | Elton Jantjies | | 22' |
| CE | 23 | Jesse Kriel | | 68' |
| Coach: ||
| Allister Coetzee ||
| FB | 15 | Jared Payne |
| RW | 14 | Andrew Trimble |
| OC | 13 | Robbie Henshaw | 31' to 41' |
| IC | 12 | Luke Marshall |
| LW | 11 | Keith Earls | | 76' |
| FH | 10 | Paddy Jackson |
| SH | 9 | Conor Murray |
| N8 | 8 | Jamie Heaslip |
| OF | 7 | Jordi Murphy | | 73' |
| BF | 6 | CJ Stander | 22' |
| RL | 5 | Devin Toner |
| LL | 4 | Iain Henderson | | 68' |
| TP | 3 | Mike Ross | | 58' |
| HK | 2 | Rory Best (c) | | 68' |
| LP | 1 | Jack McGrath |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Seán Cronin | | 68' |
| PR | 17 | Finlay Bealham |
| PR | 18 | Tadhg Furlong | | 58' |
| LK | 19 | Ultan Dillane | | 68' |
| FL | 20 | Rhys Ruddock | | 73' |
| SH | 21 | Kieran Marmion |
| FH | 22 | Ian Madigan |
| WG | 23 | Craig Gilroy | | 76' |
| Coach: ||
| Joe Schmidt ||
* Man of the Match:
* Devin Toner (Ireland)
* Touch judges:
* Angus Gardner (Australia)
* Matthew Carley (England)
* Television match official:
* Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Notes:
* Faf de Klerk (South Africa) made his international debut.
* This was Ireland's first ever victory over South Africa in South Africa.

### Second Test

* 18 June 2016 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)
| South Africa | 32–26 | Ireland |
| Try: Combrinck 55' c Whiteley 63' m Du Toit 69' c De Allende 75' c Con: Jantjies (3/4) 57', 70', 76' Pen: Jantjies (2/4) 3', 80' | Report | Try: Toner 33' c Heaslip 59' c Con: Jackson (2/2) 34', 60' Pen: Jackson (4/4) 10', 14', 22', 27' |
* Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 58,400 Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
| FB | 15 | Willie le Roux |
| RW | 14 | JP Pietersen |
| OC | 13 | Lionel Mapoe |
| IC | 12 | Damian de Allende |
| LW | 11 | Lwazi Mvovo | 40' |
| FH | 10 | Elton Jantjies | 59' | 62' |
| SH | 9 | Faf de Klerk |
| N8 | 8 | Duane Vermeulen | 40' |
| OF | 7 | Siya Kolisi | 67' |
| BF | 6 | Francois Louw |
| RL | 5 | Pieter-Steph du Toit |
| LL | 4 | Eben Etzebeth |
| TP | 3 | Frans Malherbe | 46' |
| HK | 2 | Adriaan Strauss (c) |
| LP | 1 | Tendai Mtawarira | 51' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Bongi Mbonambi |
| PR | 17 | Trevor Nyakane | 51' |
| PR | 18 | Julian Redelinghuys | 46' |
| LK | 19 | Franco Mostert | 67' |
| N8 | 20 | Warren Whiteley | 40' |
| SH | 21 | Rudy Paige |
| FH | 22 | Morné Steyn | 59' | 62' |
| WG | 23 | Ruan Combrinck | 40' |
| Coach: ||
| Allister Coetzee ||
| FB | 15 | Jared Payne | 76' |
| RW | 14 | Andrew Trimble |
| OC | 13 | Robbie Henshaw | 76' |
| IC | 12 | Stuart Olding |
| LW | 11 | Craig Gilroy |
| FH | 10 | Paddy Jackson |
| SH | 9 | Conor Murray | 77' |
| N8 | 8 | Jamie Heaslip |
| OF | 7 | Rhys Ruddock | 42' to 49' | 42' to 49' |
| BF | 6 | Iain Henderson | | | 70' |
| RL | 5 | Quinn Roux | 50' |
| LL | 4 | Devin Toner |
| TP | 3 | Tadhg Furlong | 59' |
| HK | 2 | Rory Best (c) | 65' |
| LP | 1 | Jack McGrath | 65' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Richardt Strauss | 65' |
| PR | 17 | Dave Kilcoyne | 65' |
| PR | 18 | Finlay Bealham | 59' |
| LK | 19 | Donnacha Ryan | 50' |
| FL | 20 | Sean Reidy | 42' | 49' | 70' |
| SH | 21 | Kieran Marmion | 77' |
| FH | 22 | Ian Madigan | 76' |
| FB | 23 | Tiernan O'Halloran | 76' |
| Coach: ||
| Joe Schmidt ||
* Man of the Match:
* Ruan Combrinck (South Africa)
* Touch judges:
* Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
* Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
* Television match official:
* Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Notes:
* Ruan Combrinck and Franco Mostert (both South Africa) and Sean Reidy and Quinn Roux (Ireland) made their international debuts.

### Third Test

* 25 June 2016 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)
| South Africa | 19–13 | Ireland |
| Try: Pietersen 39' c Con: Jantjies (1/1) 40' Pen: Jantjies (3/4) 5', 31', 68' Combrinck (1/1) 59' | Report | Try: Marshall 15' c Con: Jackson (1/1) 16' Pen: Jackson (2/3) 22', 69' |
* Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth Attendance: 42,324 Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
| FB | 15 | Willie le Roux |
| RW | 14 | Ruan Combrinck |
| OC | 13 | Lionel Mapoe |
| IC | 12 | Damian de Allende |
| LW | 11 | JP Pietersen |
| FH | 10 | Elton Jantjies |
| SH | 9 | Faf de Klerk |
| N8 | 8 | Warren Whiteley |
| OF | 7 | Siya Kolisi | 60' |
| BF | 6 | Francois Louw |
| RL | 5 | Pieter-Steph du Toit |
| LL | 4 | Eben Etzebeth | 73' |
| TP | 3 | Frans Malherbe | 56' |
| HK | 2 | Adriaan Strauss (c) | 78' |
| LP | 1 | Tendai Mtawarira | 56' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Bongi Mbonambi | 78' |
| PR | 17 | Steven Kitshoff | 56' |
| PR | 18 | Julian Redelinghuys | 56' |
| LK | 19 | Franco Mostert | 73' |
| FL | 20 | Jaco Kriel | 60' |
| SH | 21 | Rudy Paige |
| FH | 22 | Morné Steyn |
| WG | 23 | Lwazi Mvovo |
| Coach: ||
| Allister Coetzee ||
| FB | 15 | Tiernan O'Halloran | 10' | 18' | 40' |
| RW | 14 | Andrew Trimble |
| OC | 13 | Luke Marshall |
| IC | 12 | Stuart Olding |
| LW | 11 | Keith Earls | 72' |
| FH | 10 | Paddy Jackson |
| SH | 9 | Conor Murray | 68' |
| N8 | 8 | Jamie Heaslip |
| OF | 7 | Jordi Murphy |
| BF | 6 | CJ Stander | 68' |
| RL | 5 | Devin Toner |
| LL | 4 | Iain Henderson | 68' |
| TP | 3 | Mike Ross | 50' |
| HK | 2 | Rory Best (c) | 72' |
| LP | 1 | Jack McGrath |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Seán Cronin | 72' |
| PR | 17 | Finlay Bealham |
| PR | 18 | Tadhg Furlong | 50' |
| LK | 19 | Ultan Dillane | 68' |
| FL | 20 | Rhys Ruddock | 68' |
| SH | 21 | Eoin Reddan | 68' |
| FH | 22 | Ian Madigan | 72' |
| WG | 23 | Matt Healy | 10' | 18' | 40' |
| Coach: ||
| Joe Schmidt ||
* Man of the Match:
* JP Pietersen (South Africa)
* Touch judges:
* Angus Gardner (Australia)
* Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
* Television match official:
* Rowan Kitt (England)
Notes:
* Steven Kitshoff, Jaco Kriel and Bongi Mbonambi (all South Africa) and Matt Healy (Ireland) made their international debuts.
* Conor Murray (Ireland) earned his 50th test cap.
* This was Eoin Reddan's last international after announcing his retirement from the professional game.

## Statistics

Key
* Con: Conversions
* Pen: Penalties
* DG: Drop goals
* Pts: Points