By George Davis
A late Ciaran Frawley drop goal secured a memorable win in South Africa for Ireland to draw the series for Andy Farrell’s side. And the game lived up to its hype, a massively physical opening 15 minutes felt a bit like a biggest hits compilation.
The likes of Eben Etzebeth screaming up out of the line, before a cut to his head brought his proceedings to a temporary halt. The rest of the Springboks XV kept the big hits coming, inspiring a raucous Pretoria crowd but it was Jack Crowley who had the first say on the match.
The fly-half kicked three points through the noise of the home crowd and gave the visitors an
early lead. The blitz from the Boks was soon unlocked though, Jamie Osborne picking a great inside line to beat the defence before passing back to Robbie Henshaw.
Henshaw then found a supporting Connor Murrary who went over for his second try in the
series. The traditional South African physicality continued to be both the reason they were in the game and the reason they were losing, a monstrous scrum gave Handre Pollard a guilt edged opportunity to get the home team on the board.
After a few missed opportunities in the Irish red-zone, the home team, another strong scrum
gave the Springboks a chance to double their points. Crowley then slotted a penalty of his own before Andy Farrell’s side somehow didn’t score in the South African 22, Karl Dickson going back for a penalty to spare the Irish blushes, Crowley then scored another penalty.
Rassie’s side came back fighting in the second half, fueled by their Pretoria crowd, Pollard
slotting his first of many penalties in the second half to get them under way. A croc roll on Malcolm Marx caused some controversy, Caelan Doris punished by going to the bin despite James Ryan doing most of the damage.
Pollard then slotted a number of penalties in what became a common theme of the second half. Crowley then traded penalties and also the lead with Pollard before the South African slotted two more penalties, punishing the men in green for their ill-discipline. Ciaran Frawley, then slotted an impressive drop goal before doing the unthinkable.
Ireland, down by two going the length of the field before Frawley slotted another drop goal,
channelled his inner Johnny Sexton and won Ireland the game. A 1-1 draw overall in the series, what a set of games it’s been.
South Africa Vs Ireland
SOUTH AFRICA: 24
Tries: 0
Conversions: 0
Penalties: 8 (Handre Pollard 18’, 34’, 44’, 48’, 53’, 56’, 60’, 65’)
Yellows:
1. Ox Nche, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Frans Malherbe, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Franco
Mostert, 6. Siya Kolisi (C) 7. Pieter-Steph Du Toit, 8. Kwagga Smith 9. Faf De Klerk, 10. Handre
Pollard, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12. Damian De Allende, 13. Jesse Kriel, 14. Cheslin
Kolbe, 15. Willie Le Roux.
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Salmaan Moerat, 20. RG Snyman, 21. Marco Van Staden, 22. Grant Williams, 23. Sacha Feinburg-Mngomezulu
IRELAND: 25
Tries: 1 (Connor Murray 13’)
Conversions: 1 (Jack Crowley 14’)
Penalties: 3 (Jack Crowley 6’, 37, 59’)
Yellows: 1 (Caelan Doris 48’)
Drop goal: 1 Ciaran Frawley 70’, 80’)
1. Andrew Porter, 2. Ronan Kelleher, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Tadhg Beirne, 7.Josh Van Der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris, 9. Connor Murray, 10. Jack Crowley, 11. James Lowe, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 13. Garry Ringrose, 14. Calvin Nash, 15. Jamie Osbourne.
REPLACEMENTS: 16.Rob Herring, 17. Cian Healey, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. Ryan Baird, 20. Peter O’Mahony, 21. Caolin Blade, 22. Ciaran Frawley, 23. Stuart McCloskey