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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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:
PENALTY! SOUTH AFRICA 9-16 Ireland (Handre Pollard, 45 minutes)
Handre Pollard puts through three more.
South Africa 6-16 Ireland, 44 minutes
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is fizzing. He looked a bit shellshocked at times in the first half having been thrown into the deep end at the Shark Tank after Willie le Roux’s injury in the opening minutes, but since returning for this second 40 minutes he’s already left six Irish defenders on their rumps with dazzling footwork.
Ireland are penalised within Handre Pollard’s range.
South Africa 6-16 Ireland, 42 minutes
A wretched decision from Faf de Klerk! The scrum half isn’t having his best afternoon, men waiting away to the left but dropping ball to toe. Ireland block and flop upon it, releasing a deep sigh of relief before sucking in a few big ones to regather their lungs. How many chances will South Africa waste today?!?
South Africa 6-16 Ireland, 41 minutes
Joe McCarthy gets up to disrupt a South Africa lineout, but Ireland’s joy proves short lived, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu creating something spectacular on the counter-attack. Cheslin Kolbe is just about kept out by James Lowe over on the right touchline but here come the heavy mob...
HT: South Africa 6-16 Ireland
A ten-point advantage then for Ireland, but it could have been more if not for that remarkable bit of strength from Pieter-Steph du Toit at the end of the half. Still, Andy Farrell will be mightily pleased with how his side have fronted up physically in a brutal first half, the Springboks shorn of two key figures in Franco Mostert and Willie le Roux and wasteful at times in the tourists’ 22.
Loads more to come, though, in what feels a battle of attrition. This beautifully worked Conor Murray try is the highlight so far.
HALF TIME: South Africa 6-16 Ireland
PENALTY! South Africa 6-16 IRELAND (Jack Crowley, 42 minutes)
Over it goes.
South Africa 6-13 Ireland, 42 minutes
And Ireland won’t dare giving up points to chase a try. Jack Crowley’s third penalty will be the final kick of the first half.
South Africa 6-13 Ireland, 41 minutes
What a tackle from Pieter-Steph du Toit! It appears that Caelan Doris has wrestled free of the blindside’s clutches but those long limbs have somehow remained locked around the Ireland captain, hauling him back!
Ireland plough on and earn a penalty but that was a try-saver for certain.
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