( CNN ) -- Six Nations winners Ireland ended the year unbeaten after defeating world rugby champions South Africa 15-10 in Dublin on Saturday thanks to an assured kicking performance from newcomer Jonathan Sexton . The fly-half , playing only his second international ahead of the veteran Ronan O'Gara , landed five penalties as the Irish overcame conceding the game 's only try to Schalk Burger in the 16th minute . The injury-hit Springboks , who won the southern hemisphere 's Tri-Nations title this year , were left to lament three missed kicks at goal by fly-half Morne Steyn and one by substitute Ruan Pienaar . The Irish fielded nine players who toured South Africa with the Lions earlier this year , when flanker Burger was banned for eight weeks for eye-gouging Luke Fitzgerald . Sexton landed an early penalty from long range , but Steyn helped to send blindsider Burger over the line and added the extras , before making it 10-3 with a drop-goal . Sexton reduced the deficit before halftime as Steyn three times missed from considerable distance . Ireland moved 12-10 ahead with two more Sexton goals despite struggling at the scrums , and the visitors started to wilt after Pienaar hit the post with a penalty attempt . New Zealand ended their northern hemisphere tour unbeaten after crushing France 39-12 in Marseille , running in five tries to none . The All Blacks have suffered an uncharacteristic four defeats this year -- three of them to the Springboks -- but took the chance to avenge the shock 27-22 home loss to Les Bleus in June . The Kiwis , who had earlier beaten Wales , Italy and England on tour , led 22-12 at halftime as backs Sitiveni Sivivatu and Mils Muliaina crossed for tries along with back-row forward Jerome Kaino . Winger Cory Jane and center Conrad Smith went over in the second half and mercurial fly-half Dan Carter kicked a total of 14 points while orchestrating the All Blacks ' most free-flowing performance of the tour against a side who had earlier beaten South Africa and Samoa . New Zealand captain Richie McCaw was named the International Rugby Board 's player of the year after the match , becoming the first to achieve the honor twice following his 2006 award . Scotland crashed back to earth following last weekend 's first win over Australia in 27 years , losing 9-6 at home to bogey side Argentina . The visitors came back from 6-0 down at halftime in Edinburgh , where they have not lost for 19 years , and inflicted the first defeat on Scots coach Andy Robinson . Phil Godman kicked two penalties to give Scotland hope of winning all their November internationals for the first time since 2002 , but paid the price for lock Nathan Hines ' second-half sin-binning as Martin Rodriguez leveled with two kicks of his own . Rodriguez then landed a drop-goal two minutes from time to give the Pumas a fourth straight win at Murrayfield and their first victory on this tour . Australia , however , relieved the pressure on coach Robbie Deans by crushing Wales 33-12 in Cardiff , avenging last year 's 21-18 defeat . Matt Giteau missed a last-gasp conversion against the Scots which would have won the match , but was to the fore this time as the Wallabies ran in three early tries . Center Digby Ioane , lock James Horwill , flanker David Pocock went over in the first 16 minutes , while Wales lost Shane Williams , try-scorer Leigh Halfpenny and Matthew Rees to injury as they surrendered a 23-12 halftime deficit . Substitute hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau crossed in the second half while Giteau kicked 13 points in total to hand Wales coach Warren Gatland , a New Zealander , his heaviest home defeat in front of a 74,339 crowd . Italy beat the touring Samoa team 24-6 for their first victory in four encounters with the Pacific Islanders , who had Henry Fa'afili sent off for a high tackle on first-half tryscorer Luke McLean .
Six Nations winners Ireland ended the year unbeaten after defeating South Africa 33-12 . Ronan O'Gara kicked five penalties as world rugby champions lose in Dublin . New Zealand avenge the year unbeaten 's home defeat by France with a Six -12 victory in Paris . Scotland lose 9 -6 at home to Argentina , while Scotland triumph 33-12 in Wales .