After a stunning opening 40 minutes, Ireland imploded in the second half and gifted a sixteen point lead to their hosts.
Paddy Jackson continued his fine scoring average from the first day with a satisfactory five out of six successful attempts from dead balls in the first half, which was complimented by a Devin Toner try, to ensure that Ireland would keep the initiative heading into half-time.
And despite shipping an early try to South Africa after the restart, it looked as though Ireland had enough in reserve to steer themselves to victory. Instead, with the altitude factor to contend with, they steered themselves over a cliff.
It all started to go downhill shortly after half-time, when Paddy Jackson missed his second penalty of the day and on 56 minutes, South Africa's pressing delivered a try courtesy of Ruan Combrinck.
Jamie Heaslip hit back with a try with the aid of an Ireland pack which advanced well from a lineout maul four minutes later but it was all South Africa after that.
Three more tries in just over ten minutes, flipped the scoreboard entirely in their favour and they finished the day with a final penalty to leave the final score at 32-26.
A bad day for couch potatoes in #Ireland.
Rugby.
Football.
Cricket.— Leo Kelly (@LeojjKelly) June 18, 2016
@ireland_rugby did they pay u to loose this game, some of u must sleep with tackle bags, to learn how to defend.
— Absalon Morris (@absalon_morris) June 18, 2016
Disappointing day all round! Armagh, Ireland Soccer and Ireland Rugby.. ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ‡®ðŸ‡ª I'm giving up on sports
— MNíLonargáin (@mnilonargain) June 18, 2016
I'm going to bed.
😔 #Ireland #rugby #football— John Smyth (@JohnSmyth3D) June 18, 2016
Gave it away. Better next week #IrelandRugby
— Jo Boyd (@JoBoyd) June 18, 2016
@irelandrugby throwing the result away, so many missed tackles this half & no more composure
— JamesPatrickGrant (@JPatrickGrant) June 18, 2016
Well @ireland_rugby have chucked that away #SAvsIRL
— Gwynney (@Gwynney10) June 18, 2016
