The substitute fly-half clinched the win with a long-range kick in the final moments of an exhilarating match, mirroring a similar effort he made just 10 minutes earlier.
Frawley’s dramatic performance, in only his sixth cap, led Andy Farrell’s team to a memorable 25-24 triumph at Kings Park Stadium, resulting in a 1-1 series draw against the top-ranked rugby nation.
Reflecting on the moment, the 26-year-old told Sky Sports: “I just don’t know, to be honest. It’s mental. This place is a fortress and it’s so loud. The game was going back and forth, they got momentum there probably for most of the second half. But the boys dug in deep. We were in our own half and managed to get up and get the final points, so we’re delighted.”
The Six Nations champions seemed destined for a heartbreaking loss after a strong first half, featuring an early try from Conor Murray and a 16-6 lead, faded away.
Impeccable kicking from fly-half Handre Pollard, who scored eight penalties, shifted the momentum to the Springboks following their 27-20 victory in Pretoria the previous weekend.
However, Frawley’s incredible contribution, adding to the 14 points scored by Ireland’s number 10 Jack Crowley, clinched a landmark win in Farrell’s 50th Test as head coach.
The dramatic conclusion came during a chaotic second half, where stand-in captain Caelan Doris was sin-binned and the Springboks dominated.
"It's mental, I am DELIGHTED!" 🥲
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 13, 2024
Ireland's hero Ciaran Frawley reflects on his dramatic late dropkick to secure the win over South Africa 👇 pic.twitter.com/0sGX4qjg1e
Doris, who captained the team in place of the benched Peter O’Mahony, shared his excitement with Sky Sports: “There was pure elation seeing the ball sail over at the end there. It was back and forth, there were two points in it so we believed if we got territory we could score. We knew what an unbelievable test it was coming over here at the end of the season, playing against the double world champions. We’re definitely happy to finish it on a high.”
Murray’s 14th-minute try, resulting from seamless play between Jamie Osborne and Robbie Henshaw, stood as the only try in a gripping match.
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi acknowledged the growing rivalry between the teams, following his side’s World Cup victory last year despite a 13-8 pool-stage loss to Ireland in Paris.
“It definitely is because it was tight last week, it was tight this week and at the World Cup too,” he told Sky Sports. “Obviously at the moment, they have the upper hand. We’ll work hard, learn from this and I’m sure we’ll see them again.”
Hello reader, I'm Ben. I love to write and talk about sports and I am, unfortunately, hopeless at golf. Thanks for reading!
