Paceman Makhaya Ntini ended any hopes of another famous Ireland victory with three wickets and a spectacular run-out in the tour match at Clontarf, today.
Ireland faltered in pursuit of a healthy South African total of 294 to collapse to 162 all out in the 38th over. Ntini was held back until first change as the Springboks opened their attack with Shaun Pollock and Alan Dawson.
But he took a wicket with his first ball and claimed two further victims, including Ireland's resident Springbok Andre Botha, in a hostile opening spell of three for 21 in six overs.
In addition, he threw down the stumps from deep cover as Niall O'Brien went for a second run off Paul Adams.
South Africa were little troubled as they prepared for their opening match in the NatWest Triangular Series against England at The AMP Oval on June 28th.
Certainly, Ireland found the going far tougher than in their historic 10-wicket victory over Zimbabwe at Stormont last Friday.
Their consolation was that they kept the South Africans below 300 runs.
Three players made half-centuries after the Springboks had won the toss and elected to bat.
Most of the top-order batsmen will be pleased with their contributions.
Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs posted an opening stand of 55 and, after Gibbs' departure, Smith shared in a partnership of 76 with Botha Dippenaar.
The Irish attack posed few threats, although the South Africans found the ball slow in coming onto the bat.
After Smith had gone for 61, there was no respite for Ireland as Dippenaar was joined by Jacques Rudolph to create the cornerstone of the innings.
They added 103 runs, treating all the bowlers with equal contempt, before Dippenaar was caught off Conor Armstrong for a top score of 76.
Rudolph followed shortly after for 54 as the Springboks attempted to turn the screw, but the last 10 overs yielded only a modest 70 runs.
Seamer Gary Neely was partly responsible for that, taking wickets in successive deliveries in the final over, but his hat-trick hopes were dashed when Adams played him for a single off the final ball.
Ireland skipper Jason Molins made a bold start to his side's reply and survived on 22 when he was bowled by Pollock only for the umpire to call a no-ball.
Molins added only five more runs before he was first out, caught ironically by Pollock at slip off Charl Langeveldt.
As Ntini began to scythe his way through the top order, only O'Brien and later Andrew White showed any stubborn resistance. Fittingly, Ntini's reward for being named man-of-the-match was a lawnmower.