Ireland have been denied the chance to record a historic series win in South Africa after the Springboks won the third and final fixture 19-13 in Port Elizabeth.
Joe Schmidt's side went behind after six minutes due to Luke Marshall conceding a penalty that allowed Elton Jantjies to put his side on the board from the touchline.
Marshall redeemed himself on the quarter-hour mark when he got outside Jantjies and crossed over, with Paddy Jackson adding two more points with the subsequent conversion.
A penalty apiece was then exchanged before JP Pietersen gathered Jantjies's precise cross-field kick to give the South Africans the lead on the stroke of half time.
Ireland finished the game with the ball in hand and laying siege to the Springbok line, but it was to be in vain as the Southern Hemisphere side clinched the win and the Test.
