Ireland 19-16 South Africa
So much more than a Boks ticking exercise by an Ireland team on a hot streak.
In their first game since that historic tour series victory in New Zealand, Andy Farrell's men knew they were going to have to empty the well against the reigning world champs.
They did just that, withstanding a by now predictable but still utterly fearsome physical challenge from South Africa's powerhouses to deserve the three-point victory, even if the visitors will look at their miserable kicking at goal as a vital factor in their defeat.
So much so that the enthralled Aviva Stadium crowd soundtracked the final moments with an impassioned rendition of Fields of Athenry, the bravery of the effort epitomised by strapped-up skipper Johnny Sexton nailing a 74th minute penalty to put Ireland just out of sight.
Ireland came into the Autumn series as the world's top ranked team and, with this performance, put down a serious marker for when these sides meet again in a World Cup finals pool game next September.
Words like immense and intense get thrown around a lot when it comes to rugby. Well, the first half was as good as it gets in that regard.
The only dents on the scoreboard were made by two successful penalties on both sides - twice from the boot of Sexton and one apiece by the South Africans, Damian Willemse and Cheslin Kolbe.
Earlier, Kolbe had been sin-binned for upending Mack Hansen with a tip tackle but the home side couldn't breach the Boks rearguard. Not yet, at least.
Given the ferocity of the hits, the effort required was costly in terms of personnel and, by the start of the second half and with the score at 6-6, Ireland had lost three men to injury.
Stuart McCloskey, who had an excellent 27 minutes, went off with his right arm in a sling, then a disappointed Conor Murray followed soon after on his 100th appearance.
The biggest loss on paper was Tadhg Furlong, who suffered an ankle injury just before the break and was replaced when the sides returned to the dressing-room.
But Finlay Bealham came on and played his part in an outstanding second half performance, particularly at scrum time, where the Boks were supposed to gain dominance.
On top of that, Sexton took a massive hit from Jessie Kriel not long after the restart but, his leg strapped, he carried on despite not being at full capacity until replaced by Joey Carbery late on.
Ultimately the losses didn't matter. It was the visitors' resistance that was broken in the 46th minute - the hosts adding insult to injury by scoring from a lineout maul.
A jubilant Josh van der Flier dotted down just millimetres inside the touchline.
That achieved, Ireland then produced the best move of the night and a score to grace any big occasion.
Caelan Doris somehow kept the ball alive, scooping it up to van der Flier.
Murray's replacement Jamison Gibson-Park, a propulsive force in his first appearance of the season, whipped it across to Tadhg Beirne.
Then Hugo Keenan got it to Test debutant Jimmy O'Brien and his perfect pass sent Mack Hansen over.
Sexton missed both conversion attempts from close to the touchline - but, with a 10-point lead, Ireland's tails were up.
Bealham got a little carried away when he tried an ambitious pass to Sexton.
The home side survived that error, but their effective scramble defence couldn't prevent the Boks' first try in the 67th minute when Franco Mostert stretched for the line and got there.
Kolbe missed with the conversion and Ireland were relieved that Sexton was handed the chance to push his side 19-11 ahead with six minutes remaining with a penalty. He seized it.
Back came the World Cup holders and Kurt-Lee Arendse skipped over in the corner. Despite Kolbe missing another conversion, Ireland had to negotiate the final three minutes with their three point lead.
They expertly managed the task.
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