Emerging Ireland remained undefeated in Bloemfontein with a thrilling victory over the Cheetahs in what was their toughest game of the tour.
Ireland made a slow start and after conceding a few penalties in their own half, the Cheetahs got the maul motoring off a lineout, allowing Robert Hunt to score the first try.
The South African side then saw Carel-Jan Coetzee’s brilliant offload put Friedle Olivier over. However, after going to the TMO, the referee disallowed the try for a neck-roll from prop Schalk Ferreira.
Ireland hit back in style as captain James Culhane made a brilliant break off the back of a lineout before Cormac Foley’s pass sent Evan O’Connell over to give Simon Easterby’s side the lead.
After a great break from Hugh Gavin, scrum-half Foley was denied a brilliant try by a double movement right on the line.
The Cheetahs’ offloading was fluent throughout the first half and Olivier’s offload put full-back Michael Annies under the posts to give the Cheetahs a five-point lead.
Just like the opening try, another Cheetahs maul couldn’t be stopped and Corne Fourie touched down to give the hosts a 10-point lead as out-half Ethan Wentzel struggled off the tee.
An Irish maul on the Cheetahs’ five-metre line sucked in the South African side’s defence, allowing the tourists to switch the ball to the right-hand side and Andrew Osborne to stroll in to make it 17-12.
As the Cheetahs began to fatigue, Ireland started to establish territory and dominated the second half, but they were unable to turn it into points until the 54th minute.
Brilliant offloading from the forwards released Gavin. His offload found its way to substitute Alex Soroka, who scored under the posts to give Ireland a two-point lead.
The Cheetahs’ tiredness turned to ill-discipline as Carl Wegner was given a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Charlie Tector.
But the 14 men took a shock lead with 15 minutes left as Annies scored his second try of the game to put Ireland five points in arrears.
However, Ireland weren’t behind for long as scrum-half Matthew Devine spotted a gap to race through for a crucial try.
Again, Ireland led by two points – and five minutes later they sealed victory with a try from Danny Sheahan to clinch a 33-24 victory.
Man of the match Gavin said Ireland taking their chances in the second half was the deciding factor.
“We knew it was going to be tough in the heat and altitude. It was all about finishing off our chances and we did that in the end,” he said.
Emerging Ireland: B O’Connor; A Osborne, H Cooney, H Gavin, Z Ward (C Tector 62); S Prendergast (J Murphy 68), C Foley (M Devine 51); A Usanov (G Hadden 57), S Smyth (D Sheahan 67), J Aungier (S Wilson 57); E O’Connell (C O’Tighearnaigh 62), D Murray; H Sheridan (A Soroka 52), S Edogbo, J Culhane (capt).
Scorers: O’Connell, Osborne, Soroka, Devine, Sheahan, tries; Prendergast (2), Murphy (2), cons.