by Ben Ayuko
{image by Sportsfile}
Ireland met South Africa in the second round of their test match series looking for revenge after they lost their first round.
And they quickly flew applying pressure on the South Africa defensive line, pushing them back further and further into their own half. A collision left South Africa veteran Eben Etzebeth with a gash in his forehead meaning he had to be substituted in order to take care of it.
It was 13 minutes when Ireland got points on the board. Neat interplay between the Irish backs saw them break through South Africa’s defensive line. There was some decent ball juggling by fullback James Osborne and 2 offloads later, the ball was in the hands of scrumhalf, Conor Murray as he sailed over the South Africa try line for the first points of the game. Some traded penalties between Ireland’s Jack Crowley and South Africa’s Handre Pollard meant that the scores read 16-6 to Ireland going into the half-time break.
South Africa came out of the dressing room with fire in their belly like they had something to prove to their home crowd as they firmly took control of the game. An early offense by the Irish captain of the day, Caelan Doris, saw him sent to the sin bin which only aided South Africa’s efforts in asserting their dominance.
Some more traded penalties saw South Africa wrestle the lead from Ireland with the score at 24-19. Needing some inspiration off the bench, Ireland introduced Ciarán Frawley. And he did just that.
First, he received the ball off a 22-metre drop out by Pollard near the halfway line and wasted no time in returning the drop kick straight through the posts to bring the score to within 2 points.
Then, for his final trick, with just about the final kick of the game, he lined himself up for another drop goal attempt at around the same mark near the halfway line, this time to snatch back the lead for Ireland and win the game. A sensational recovery after being under pressure for majority of the second half and somewhat of a punch in the face for the World Champions after doing so well to wrestle back the command of the game.
What a moment from one of the next in line to take over from Retired Legend, Johnny Sexton.