Ireland threw everything at a tired South Africa at Newlands on Saturday but in the end it was just not enough.

South Africa held on for a 26-17 win here in the second Test and a 2-0 win in the series.

The visitors had most of the play in the second half and a crucial one man-advantage for 10 minutes with Wayne Julies in the bin but they could not breach the Bok defence, tirelessly marshalled by open side flanker Schalk Burger.

Ireland had several chances to score and coach Eddie O'Sullivan will be scratching his head over the amount of errors his side made in the second half.

The Irish also failed to put any pressure on the Bok scrum. In fact Ireland's scrum was their major weakness. They had several attacking scrums in great positions but the powerful South African pack disrupted their ball sufficiently to spoil the opportunities.

Both Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll and coach Eddie O'Sullivan spoke before the Test of the great opportunity they had of becoming the first Irish team to win in South Africa and on this evidence they will be kicking themselves.

Ireland had most of the play in the second half but they could not turn the early possession into points.

In fact, their most promising move cost them three points when they could not drive over from a lineout close in.

The Springboks turned the ball over, kicked it up field, Brian O'Driscoll was caught in possession and conceded the penalty which Montgomery slotted over to lead 23-10.

Ireland's hopes received a boost with 20 minutes left on the clock when Springbok centre Julies was sin-binned for playing the ball on the ground. He was one of several Springboks who were penalised for this offence.

O'Driscoll, still the most dangerous of the Irish players, took advantage of the extra numbers.

Ireland continued to apply pressure on the Springbok line and clever grubber by replacement fly-half David Humphreys was pounced on by the Irish skipper and suddenly it was game on.

Julies came back on but the hosts had lost their urgency.

It was obvious from the opening 15 minutes of the first half that Ireland were intent on playing in the Springboks' half and both O'Gara and centre Brian O'Driscoll seemed intent of kicking the ball towards the right-hand corner of the field.

Ireland suffered a blow when fullback Girvan Dempsey had to leave the field after 18 minutes following a clash of heads and was replaced by Gavin Duffy.

The Boks hit back immediately after that when a great run down the right-hand side by returning fullback Percy Montgomery eventually lead to a Breyton Paulse try in the left-hand corner.

The Springboks continued to apply the pressure after that and had several opportunities to add to Paulse's try.

They could not breach the Irish defence, however, and had to settle for a Montgomery penalty and a 13-7 lead after 27 minutes.

Matters deteriorated just before the break when prop Reggie Corrigan was sin-binned for a flurry of punches on Breyton Paulse.

From the next move the Springboks launched a series of attacks and were rewarded when Jacque Fourie scored in the right-hand corner and Montgomery converted to give the hosts a 20-7 lead.

O'Gara converted a drop goal on the stroke of half-time to cut the Boks' lead in half.