Brave Ireland snatch victory with last kick of game

South Africa 24, Ireland 25

AFTER a hectic and hard-fought 80 minutes in South Africa today, Ireland snatched victory with a last minute drop goal by replacement fly-half Ciaran Frawley. The Leinster player had hauled his side back into contention late in the second half with another drop goal but it will be his second kick that won the game that will be remembered for some time.

South Africa had a lot ground to make up as they trudged into the dressingroom after the half time whistle. They struggled from the start thanks to a number of knock-ons and three of their side had to receive attention for head injuries with only six minutes played.
Ireland took advantage and they made their hosts pay with Jack Crowley slotting the ball cleanyly over the bar with three minutes played. The visiting pack were in total control and a slick piece of passing sent Conor Murray over near the posts with Crowley converted to give Ireland a 10-0 advantage with 13 minutes lplayed.
The Springboks responded with a penalty from Pollard to reduce the lead to 3-10 with Ireland enjoying 73% of possession. A second Pollard penalty kept the home side in the game but a brace of Ireland penalties from Crowley saw the Irish go in at the break with a 6-16 advantage and looking good for a sweet victory. Ireland knew that they were going to meet an onslaught as the second half started and within 20 minutes they trailed 21-19, Pollard’s kicking punishing the green shirts with a hat-trick of penalties. With 12 minutes remaining Ireland laid siege on the Springbok’s line. They forced a lineout and Frawley landed a beautiful drop goal from 30 metres out to put Ireland just two points adrift with eight minutes remaining. Rugby is a fascinating game and when South Africa conceded a lineout the hungry Irish set up what proved to be the winning score.

South Africa: Willie le Roux; Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe; Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert; Siya Kolisi (capt), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kwagga Smith.

Replacements: Malcolm Marx (for Mbonambi, 45), Gerhard Steenekamp (for Nche, 57), Vincent Koch (for Malherbe, 44), Salmaan Moerat (for Etzebeth, 71), RG Snyman (for Etzebeth 6-16, blood) (for Mostert, 17), Marco van Staden (for Kolisi, 50), Grant Williams (for De Klerk, 44), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (for Le Roux, 2)

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Calvin Nash, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Conor Murray; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Rob Herring (for Kelleher, 65), Cian Healy (for Porter, 56), Finlay Bealham (for Furlong, 44), Ryan Baird (for Ryan, 56), Peter O’Mahony (for Van der Flier, 56), Caolin Blade (for Murray, 59), Ciarán Frawley (for Crowley, 59), Stuart McCloskey (for Nash, 61)

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)

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