Kicking and screaming - Ireland, South Africa & the butterfly effect of rugby

It was an easy comparison to make before the game that Ireland and South Africa's Rugby World Cup Pool B meeting in Paris was going to be like a heavyweight boxing match.

Styles make fights, and so that came to pass. The boxing comparisons continued after the full-time whistle, players and coaches on both sides predicting a rematch may well be on the cards.

A lot of rugby still has to be played for that to happen, and while both sides are a good bet to make it to the quarters, France and New Zealand have to be toppled even before a semi-final.

Saturday’s box-office clash at the Stade de France was a perfect example of how not to judge a game off the scoreboard. Only two tries and 21 points in total were shared between the sides, yet there wasn’t a wasted second across the 80 minutes. Both sides played their part in showing just how gripping rugby can be when physicality and skill meet in the middle. If we’re treated to a better game between now and the end of October, we’ll be doing well.

There’s no doubt Ireland rode their luck, and South Africa can point to a handful of 'What if?’ moments that they will surely learn from as they head to the quarter-finals.

Place-kicking was identified as their biggest concern both before the tournament and before this game. The defending champions had missed eight of their 18 shots at goal in their wins against Scotland and Romania, and made just one of five in Paris on Saturday night.

The simple summary is that had Handre Pollard been on the tee rather than Manie Libbok or Faf de Klerk it would have been a different story. Conversely, with Libbok in the side South Africa look a more dangerous attacking force. Swap Pollard in for the Stormers out-half and you may not necessarily get the