South Africa – Ireland 24-25: “Ciaran Frawley’s redemption is at the heart of famous victory”

July 14, 2024

Image description, Ciaran Frawley was the hero as Ireland celebrated at the end of a brutal test match in Durban

Author, Matt Gault
Role, Senior Journalist at BBC Sport NI
29 minutes ago

When he entered the raucous Shark Tank action in Durban, joining an Irish team still reeling from severe setbacks and the relentless pressure of a resurgent South Africa, Ciaran Frawley was unprepared to relive past traumas.

With a pass from Jamison Gibson-Park, Frawley fired a long-range shot with a few seconds left, and his pain grew as he saw the ball drift to the left.

While Toulouse celebrated, Frawley looked as dejected as any other player in blue, having also missed a shot that would have given Leinster new hope in extra time.

Such a spectacular and costly failure would be reason enough for many players to give up one of the dying sports of rugby.

But not Frawley. After substituting Jack Crowley with 20 minutes left in another brutal edition of the still-ongoing heavyweight rugby rivalry, Frawley decided he deserved a headline or two.

With Ireland on the ropes with their mistakes and facing two consecutive defeats for the first time since 2021, Frawley snatched a famous Irish triumph with not one, but two masterful swings of his right boot.

Image source, Getty Images

Image description, Frawley was unconcerned about the pain of his missed drop goal attempt for Leinster in this year’s Investec Champions Cup final against Toulouse

The first goal came with just over 10 minutes left on the clock. South Africa led 24-19 and had forced a complete turnaround after an impressive first half from the tourists when Frawley collected a pass from substitute scrum-half Caolin Blade.

Frawley glanced at the posts, adjusted the ball in his hands and fired a shot between the posts to bring Ireland within two points.

Ireland survived the next ten minutes and Blade once again threw the ball to Frawley. As time ran into the red, another missile sailed between the posts from the number 22’s right boot.

Having already executed a superb kick through a sea of South African bodies to give Ireland the line-out that led to his buzzer beater, this capped a highly effective cameo from Frawley in his sixth international match.

As referee Karl Dickson blew his whistle, Frawley turned in celebration and his ecstatic teammates joined him as this heavyweight classic ended with the fighters in green toasting a victory for the ages.

It was Ireland’s second win on South African soil in 12 attempts, and for Frawley – who later revealed Ireland had prepared for the drop goal scenario – it was redemption at its finest.

“I was a bit disappointed with Leinster at the end of the season against Toulouse,” said Frawley, who is still processing the greatest moment of his career.

“The drop goal went to the left, so it was nice to see it go through the posts.”

Image description, Frawley hopes to compete with Jack Crowley (right) for the Irish number 10 spot

As the smile spread across Frawley’s face, one couldn’t help but think of the great Johnny Sexton, arms outstretched, silencing the Stade de France with a glorious drop goal in the 2018 Six Nations.

And while it may not have matched Ronan O’Gara’s Grand Slam-deciding mania against Wales in 2009, it is still one of the most memorable moments by an Irish player in the 15 years since.

When Sexton retired from Test football following Ireland’s World Cup exit from the All Blacks, it left a significant gap in the Irish attack.

Jack Crowley, who served as Sexton’s apprentice at the World Cup, has been entrusted with the No. 10 jersey and while the Munster man has performed solidly in the Six Nations, Frawley has staked his claim for a starting position.

Since making his debut for Leinster in 2018, he has been deployed at full-back and in the centre, with Sexton among those denying the Sydney-born defender a run at number ten.

When Andy Farrell put the 26-year-old in Ireland’s starting line-up for the first time, it was actually the 15th match against Wales in this year’s Six Nations.

However, the chances of a future Test career there appear slim given the consistency of Hugo Keenan and the emergence of Jamie Osborne, who put in a hugely impressive performance on Saturday.

And although Frawley has not started for Ireland since the game against Wales, his time may still come when the All Blacks visit Dublin on November 8.

But now, at the end of a grueling season of ups and downs for club and country, Frawley can enjoy the plaudits after becoming Ireland’s latest drop-goal hero.

The most exciting moments in sport often revolve around redemption, and this was no different.