South Africa vs Ireland LIVE rugby: Result after Ciaran Frawley kick stuns Springboks in brutal battle
South Africa 24-25 Ireland: Ciaran Frawley’s remarkable final-minute drop goal secured a famous win in Durban
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Your support makes all the difference.Ireland secured a remarkable victory against South Africa as Ciaran Frawley’s last-minute drop goal secured a one-point win in Durban.
Frawley dropped into the pocket to send the tourists into wild celebrations having survived a brutal second Test. An extraordinary encounter was settled by a moment of majesty from the replacement Ireland fly half, Frawley knocking over his second drop goal of the match to pip the Springboks.
It secured a draw for the tourists in a two-Test series that delivered on its lofty billing. South Africa had won the first Test in Pretoria thanks to the impact of their bench and appeared to again be taking control at the Shark Tank, with Handre Pollard’s accuracy from the tee putting them on the brink of victory.
The fly half’s eighth penalty had appeared to put the hosts out of reach until Frawley stepped up to slot three points with the clock expiring and snatch a famous win for Andy Farrell’s side.
Re-live all of the action from South Africa vs Ireland below:
South Africa vs Ireland talking points
Ireland have not lost two Test matches in a row since defeat to Wales and France at the start of the 2021 Six Nations.
Since then, Farrell’s men have played 38 games and won 33, losing only to New Zealand (twice), France, England and the Springboks. Ireland will be determined to maintain that impressive record as they move towards autumn fixtures against the All Blacks, Argentina, Fiji and Australia.
The four November fixtures will be the final outings before Farrell temporarily departs to take charge of next year’s British and Irish Lions tour against the Wallabies.
South Africa vs Ireland talking points: Can the Springboks settle the debate?
South Africa have the opportunity to cement their current status as rugby’s top-ranked nation after ending a seven-year wait for a win over their closest challengers.
Despite the Springboks overcoming a pool-stage loss to Ireland at last year’s World Cup to retain the Webb Ellis Cup, some pundits have continued to suggest Andy Farrell’s back-to-back Six Nations champions are Test rugby’s best team.
The hosts are heavy favourites to secure a series win. Doing so would surely settle the ongoing debate – for the time being at least.
South Africa vs Ireland talking points: Officials in the spotlight
The Springboks benefited from a couple of tight TMO calls during the opening Test. Ireland wing James Lowe thought he had levelled the contest at 13-13 in the second half with a breakaway score.
But the effort was disallowed on review due to Kelleher illegally hooking the ball backwards during the Irish turnover. Lowe was then adjudged to have successfully prevented a South Africa penalty kick going into touch as he inadvertently gifted a try to Cheslin Kolbe.
Farrell was “dubious” about some of the marginal calls in that match but former international referee Jaco Peyper, who is now part of South Africa’s staff, backed those decisions.
Rassie Erasmus expecting tough test
South Africa have named an unchanged matchday 23 for Saturday’s second Test against Ireland in Durban.
The world champions lead the two-match series 1-0 following last weekend’s 27-20 victory in Pretoria.
Rassie Erasmus’ starting XV - captained by flanker Siya Kolisi - is the most experienced in Springboks history with 990 caps combined, three more than the total won by the team which began last year’s 12-11 Rugby World Cup final win over New Zealand.
“It’s always tough facing Ireland,” said head coach Erasmus.
“They are a quality team, they are ranked second in the world and, as we saw last week, they never stop fighting, so we know the magnitude of the challenge that awaits us.
“We have no doubt they’ll come out even stronger this week but we also identified the areas of the game that we need to improve on and it’s vital for us to build on our performance in our quest to win both matches.
“This is going to be another physically gruelling match and, just like us, they will be determined to correct the wrongs of last week.”
Andy Farrell impressed by captain Peter O’Mahony’s response to being dropped
Ireland boss Andy Farrell feels captain Peter O’Mahony has shown “proper leadership” in his response to being dropped for Saturday’s second Test against world champions South Africa.
Caelan Doris will skipper the tourists in Durban after O’Mahony was demoted to the bench as part of four personnel changes.
Andy Farrell impressed by captain Peter O’Mahony’s response to being dropped
Caelan Doris will skipper the Six Nations champions against South Africa on Saturday.
Caelan Doris to captain Ireland against South Africa while Bundee Aki misses out
Caelan Doris will captain an Ireland team missing influential centre Bundee Aki for the second Test against world champions South Africa in Durban.
Aki sustained a shoulder issue during last weekend’s 27-20 loss in Pretoria but looked set to feature in the series finale after Andy Farrell’s full 35-man squad trained on Wednesday.
Caelan Doris to captain Ireland against South Africa while Bundee Aki misses out
Head coach Andy Farrell has made four personnel changes following the first-Test defeat.
South Africa vs Ireland
Good afternoon all, and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the second Test between South Africa and Ireland in Durban.
Last week’s encounter more than lived up to the lofty biling, a brutal, bruising affair settled, in the end, by an almighty shove from the replacement Springboks scrum. Can a wounded Ireland bite back?
Kick-off is at 4pm BST.
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