Ireland 21 South Africa 23: Irish made to pay heavy price as they fail to count cost of recession

Swathes of empty seats greeted the home-coming to Lansdowne Road with only 35,515 tickets sold for the 23-21 defeat by South Africa, over 16,000 short of the 51,700 capacity.

What should have been a momentous occasion to celebrate the Test debut of the 320m Aviva Stadium instead descended into a PR disaster by the greed of the Irish Rugby Football Union.

The IRFU last week apologised for their pricing strategy – tickets were only available in two-match packages costing 166 or 131 – and were punished by spells of Saturday's match being played against a backdrop of eerie silence.

It was an unsatisfying way for O'Gara – a magnificent servant to Irish rugby – to celebrate his 100th cap, even if his introduction from the bench with 15 minutes remaining did inspire a spirited fightback.

O'Gara knows supporters are suffering during the recession but confessed that the team needs their loyalty like never before.

"It's strange...the whole economic situation has affected people really badly, more than people appreciate. It's probably only going to get worse," he said.

"I don't know how many were there but there were empty seats all over the stadium. It's probably a sign of things to come.

"Next week, I don't know how many thousand will be there for Samoa....it's reality and is something everyone has to look at in terms of getting pricing right.

"We need the supporters – it's because of them that Ireland have been so good for so long.

"At the old Lansdowne Road there was an unbelievable atmosphere, so passionate and driven. We have to get those days back.

"Emotionally, Ireland's greatest tool has been their fans. They've been so good to this team and we need them back. We need them more than ever. We miss them."

The mass of empty seats and a late assault on South Africa's lead deflected attention from a poor performance by Ireland, who slumped to their fourth successive Test defeat, six in all matches.

Hammered at the set-piece, error-ridden in the loose and with an incoherent game-plan, they failed to justify their tag as firm favourites.

South Africa, ravaged by injury, possessed minimal threat outside the pack and half-backs and were little more than muscular and efficient.

That Ireland finished within two points of South Africa was down to O'Gara, who set up tries for Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney upon his late arrival.

Presented with a near-touchline conversion of Kearney's try to draw, he struck the right post.