DURBAN, South Africa (Reuters) – Ciaran Frawley has discovered the agony and the ecstasy of professional rugby in a matter of weeks after his drop-goal for Ireland with the final play of the game snatched a 25-24 victory over world champions South Africa on Saturday.
Ireland trailed by five points going into the final 10 minutes at King’s Park, but Frawley kicked the first of two drop-goals to bring the visitors to within striking distance, before adding another with the last kick to seal a famous win.
Leinster’s Frawley had watched in disappointment as a last-minute drop-goal drifted wide in May’s Champions Cup final against Toulouse as his side were dragged into extra time and lost 31-22.
“This is only my sixth cap and I am just delighted to be getting games,” replacement flyhalf Frawley said. “I had a bit of disappointment with Leinster at the end of the season against Toulouse.
“There the drop-goal went to the left, so it was good to see this one go through the posts.”
Frawley admits drop-goals were part of the plan for Ireland if the game was tight and it was a case of practice makes perfect this time round.
“It was just instinctive, it felt right at the time and I am happy it came off,” he said. “We had practiced during the week because we knew it was going to be a tight game. We are delighted with how things finished up.”
Ireland were superb in the first half and deservedly led 16-6 at halftime, but were faced with a resurgent home team in the second period before they rallied late on in a brutally physical seesaw contest.
“The lads were out on their feet but they stuck at it,” Frawley said. “We were in our own half but managed to get up into the right area and get into position for the drop-goal.
“But it is credit to the boys who dug deep, the lads who were out there for 80 minutes in a proper test match like that, to the forwards who were able to set up for the win.”
South Africa won the first test in Pretoria 27-20 leaving the two-match series shared at 1-1.
(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Toby Davis)
