South Africa equalled the all-time record of 17 successive Test victories with success over a determined Irish team at Lansdowne Road.

Nick Mullins reports (BBC Radio 5 Live)

Gary Teichmann's team produced a devastating burst of 17 points in a seven-minute second half period to wrap up the win that takes them level with the triumphant run achieved by New Zealand in the 1960s.

Now England await at Twickenham next week as the Springboks aim to capture the record outright.

But the tourists will be relieved to have survived a tricky encounter in Dublin, which several times threatened to degenerate into a repeat of the infamous violent clash between the two sides in South Africa last summer.

Unfancied Ireland dominated the opening 30 minutes but still found themselves behind following a try from wing forward Johan Erasmus.

But it was Bobby Skinstad on the other flank who turned the match decisively in South Africa's favour.

Henry Honiball is stopped in his tracks by Conor McGuiness

The 22-year-old scored a superb try after Percy Montgomery had begun the second half scoring with a penalty. He burst his way through the Irish defence from 30 yards out, dummying two tacklers before going over his fifth international try.

Two minutes later Skinstad created another try with a blistering break and long pass to stand-off Henry Honiball, who set up scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen from close range.

Montgomery converted both tries to give the Springboks an emphatic lead.

But to their credit Ireland refused to lie down and responded with a try from Keith Wood, who burrowed his way over from a few yards out.

Eric Elwood added the conversion to the two penalties he bagged in the first half

Welsh referee Clayton Thomas several times had to warn the players as the ill feeling, which began on Ireland's tour last summer, threatened to mar the match.

But the official only produced the yellow card late in the game when Irish replacement Reggie Corrigan and South African prop Andrew Garvey were reprimanded after exchanging blows.

Teams:

Ireland: C O'Shea (London Irish); J Bishop (London Irish), J Bell (Dungannon), K Maggs (Bath), G Dempsey (Terenure College); E Elwood (Galwegians), C McGuinness (St Mary's College); J Fitzpatrick (Dungannon), K Wood (Harlequins), P Clohessy (Young Munster), P Johns (Saracens) capt, M O'Kelly (London Irish), D O'Cuinneagain (Sale), A Ward (Ballynahinch), V Costello (St Mary's College).

Replacements: R Henderson (Wasps), D Humphreys, (Dungannon), C Scally (UCD), D Corkery (Cork Constitution), J Davidson (Castres), R Corrigan (Lansdowne), R Nesdale (Newcastle).

South Africa: P Montgomery (Griqualand West); S Terblanche (Boland Cavaliers), A Snyman (Blue Bulls), C Stewart (Western Province), P Rossouw (Western Province); H Honiball (Natal Sharks), J van der Westhuizen (Blue Bulls); R Kempson (Natal Sharks), J Dalton (Golden Lions), A Garvey (Natal Sharks), K Otto (Blue Bulls), M Andrews (Natal Sharks), J Erasmus (Free State), B Skinstad (Western Province), G Teichmann (Natal Sharks) capt.