Ireland grabbed a dramatic one-point victory over the Springboks in Durban on Saturday evening to not only level the two-Test Series, but also hand the Rugby World Cup champions their first defeat since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup last year.
Ireland complete dominated the first game, the Springboks came out and fought back excellently in the second half to take the lead with mere seconds remaining.
But replacement flyhalf Ciaran Frawley came up clutch as he slotted a perfect drop goal with the clock in the red to give Ireland a remarkable stoppage-time win.
What makes Frawley’s cameo performance even more exceptional, is the fact that it was his second drop goal of the game, having executed one earlier in the game to get his team within touching distance of the Springboks on the scoreboard.
FRAWLEY’S HEROICS STEER IRELAND PAST STUNNED SPRINGBOKS
Watch Frawley’s match-winning and series-defining drop goal below.
SPRINGBOKS VS IRELAND SCORERS AND TEAMS
Springboks 24 (6) – Penalty goals: Handre Pollard (8).
Ireland 25 (16) – Try: Conor Murray. Conversion: Jack Crowley. Penalty goals: Crowley (4). Drop goals: Ciaran Frawley (2).
Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Ireland – 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Subs: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ryan Baird, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Stuart McCloskey.
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