WITH A FEW steadying pints already on board, Ciarán Frawley’s heart rate has started to come down.
But the ecstasy of being the game-winner is still oozing out of him.
There are few wins as thrilling as those earned by drop goals with the last kick of the game. It takes such a collective effort to get into position but right in that split second, it’s down to the individual who drops the ball in front of themselves and looks to strike just as it hops up off the ground.
Drop kicks are a difficult art but Ciarán Frawley was an artist, not once but twice.
His first long-range effort put Ireland within touching distance of the Springboks at the end of an enthralling Test. His second from 42 metres out won the game as the final hooter blasted around Kings Park Stadium.
It was all the more impressive given that he had heartbreak so recently when his last-gasp attempt to win the Champions Cup final for Leinster against Toulouse slipped wide.
“The strike was probably the ugliest drop goal I’ve ever hit in my life,” says Frawley of his winning effort in Durban.
“The one in Tottenham was way better, which is funny. It worked out, which is key.
“Bladey [Caolin Blade] pulled the trigger at the right time. They were probably expecting us to pick and go a little bit more and get better field position.
“I felt there was no pressure on me when I went for the drop goal.
“I hit it so ugly that it was on the left post, so I knew it would come back to the right. I was more just telling it to go, get over! The ref was looking at it as well.
Frawley was key to putting Ireland in position for the winning drop goal, his brave grubber kick up the left-hand side allowing James Lowe to bundle Cheslin Kolbe into touch, giving Ireland one last platform.
“It was probably the 79th minute when we put the grubber kick through,” says Frawley. “It was an unbelievable kick chase by Lowey, he puts him out, we get the chance for a drop goal.
“There was a lot of little things around it but I’d say there were a load of Irish fans holding their breath when the grubber kick went through, ‘What’s he doing kicking it away?’ but we’re delighted it came off and the bounce of the ball went in our favour and we were delighted.”
And so, Ireland had one last lineout platform from which to launch their bid for a last-gasp victory.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was brave in sending Frawley and scrum-half Caolin Blade on with a quarter of the game still left.
“I think Andy made very good decisions with his bench, bringing the forwards on as well gave a lot of energy to the team,” says Frawley.
“The momentum swung when we got the yellow card [against Caelan Doris] so decisions had to be made. When I came on, I felt like the vibe was good among the group and they dug in well. There was a lot of lads on there for 80 minutes and they put in a massive shift to get us that win.”
And so, with Kolbe driven into touch by Lowe, the halfbacks put their heads together.
Frawley, winning his sixth Test cap, and Blade, earning just his third, found the solution.
“The clock was actually hard to find in the ground so myself and Caolin Blade were having a bit of a discussion,” said Frawley.
“There was something going on before the lineout so Bladey actually saw the clock was close to being in the red and we put our heads together and said this lineout we’d work it, so a lot of credit to him for using the head.”
Frawley has no doubt that this was the best moment of his career.
“Yeah, definitely, definitely. Especially after Tottenham against Toulouse. I was delighted to see it go between the posts.”
He was able to block that memory out of his thoughts.
“No, it’s not on your mind,” says Frawley. “You’re focusing on the game but when you reflect on it immediately after, you’re kind like, ‘Why didn’t it happen as well as month ago?’ or whatever it was. But look, I’m delighted it came off.”
It says a lot about Frawley that he was already thinking that this season could have brought even more success.
In some ways, it has felt like Frawley has been waiting his whole career for a moment like this one in Durban.
“Look, it’s the way the game goes sometimes, you get injuries along the way and little setbacks. I’ve been jumping around positions and stuff like that, but I’ve been training a lot at 10 and training a lot at 15 and 12, but stepping in there isn’t alien to me.
“I felt confident when I came on, I felt the lads around me gave me a great buzz. It’s just executing off the back of it which felt quite instinctual.”
Whatever lies ahead for the Skerries man can wait.
Tonight is for celebrating.
“To come down here to play against the world champions and beat them in their own backyard is unbelievable. It’s not just an individual thing, I put over the drop goal, but the whole squad…the first half was unbelievable.
“It was probably one of the best halves of rugby you’d see from an Irish team and the way we dug in the second half was a credit to the lads.
“It was just my role on the night to put over the drop goal. It’s not an individual thing, it’s definitely a team performance.”
Unreal by Frawley. So delighted for him. I think he didn’t play as much at 10 for Leinster mainly due to Keenan’s injury issues. Ringrose being missing for most of the season meant Osborne didn’t get a look at 15 either. I think the Byrnes have been backed til the cows come home so it’s time to give Frawley a proper run at 10 for his club. Simply has to happen.
@Carmine Lorenzo: why unreal? He said it himself that was the ugliest drop goal kick he has taken, yet it went over. And in HC it was one of the sweetest kicks he took and he missed. It appears it’s all a bit of pot luck when one kicks a drop goal by the sound of it
@WqM9AAv3: The comment of a person who has never taken a drop kick… as Gary Player would say “he is a very lucky player, but the more he practices, the luckier he gets”
I was calling for this guy years ago to take the no 10. Injury prevented it and Crowley got his opportunity and took it. I still believe that Frawley can be 1st choice for Ireland. He’s been v good at inside centre and has the steel to deliver at 10. Leo wake up or concede FAZ has the crystal ball!
@Noel Lynn: I’ve been reluctant to call Cullen a spoofer but the evidence is beginning to stack up that he might be. Frawley is a fantastic 10 and so is Crowley. Ireland are lucky to have both. The difference is Crowley has been backed by Rowntree and Cullen has decided Frawley is not even his 2nd choice(although benches die to his versatility). I think Cullen deserves his P45 if I’m being honest
@Noel Lynn: correct!
Ban ray ridge on this app. Negativety awful takes and being a turncoat. We are no. 1.
@Gary Galligan: I guess we are the best team in the world now again. Now that’s positivity for you!!
@Gary Galligan: are we? Maybe we should be a bit respectful to the Boks who won the WC and bet us last weekend. It’s close at the top and we pulled off a great win. Let’s leave it there
On a side note……. RFU need a shaking. The refereeing on this tour was shocking. It’s unacceptable and shameful. Pearce again today trying to interfere in the outcome. Dorris yellow was a complete joke. Can’t remember him ever being cautioned before. What a farce of officiating in both tests. We’re just a fly in the elute’s ointment
@Noel Lynn: makes the win even better
@Noel Lynn: There were two blatant bad decisions which I thought would cost us. Beirne has his hands on the ball for a perfect turn over but Dixon ignored it.Then he penalised big Joe for off side from a knock on from an Irish player even though it was a SA hand which knocked it on.
@Noel Lynn: The yellow was fair. World Rugby banned the croc roll in the law changes which came in on 1st July.
@Tom Reilly: Agree totally. Really rubbish officiating, even with the win’
@Tom Reilly: Totally agree.
@Noel Lynn: It was a yellow card offence… you cannot target the hips and then roll onto the leg. An ACL injury can have a player out for a year or end their career completely. The IRFU, WRU & SRU are not producing referees at the level required, so we cannot complain about the standard of English referees. Even SARU are struggling to produce referees right now. This is more of a World Rugby issue than an RFU issue.
@Tom Reilly: Agreed – on both decisions. No referee will ever get it 100% though. He probably felt that Beirne won the ball and no SA player holding on to the ball, so no penalty. That’s a 50:50 call. Beirne was actually turned over himself subsequently by a player on his feet. The knock on / not a knock on… I felt just like you that it was back off a SA hand, but I haven’t watched it back. There was something similar the play before Irelands try. The ball was back from a SA hand and should have been a 5m scrum rather than goal line drop. That decision went against Ire but worked out better for us in the end. Rugby is not played in laboratory conditions. If we asked a SA supporter right now, I bet they could point to 2 or 3 decisions that went against them too.
@Tom Reilly: that penalty was for obstruction not Joe catching the knock on which as you say wasn’t.
@Noel Lynn: it was a yellow unfortunately caution wasn’t need as it’s seen as a dangerous tackle per the rules.
Good to see depth building at full back – South Africa won the World Cup and fair play but on game v game , we’re ahead at the moment – that must rankle with them – good game today and fair result go tour overall but pity the tour didn’t blood a few more up and coming players – selection this week made a difference in impetus early on – the lads can take a well earned rest now – thanks for the entertainment and endeavours all year
@Laup Ekrub: And we’ll probably be ahead of them until the autumn of 2027. You see, therein lies the problem.
@Ray Ridge: plz? Go back on the soccer app. It’s more suited to ur iq
@Ray Ridge: ah Jasus Ray , give it a rest
@Laup Ekrub: ah ray at it again, I have him blocked. I presume he’s saying Ireland were lucky and england were unlucky.
@Noel Lynn: haha
As an Irish man I am proud, as a Leinster man I am fuming. This guy is so talented and has some bottle, just imagine if he was backed as Johnnys number two a few years ago, absolutely no chance we’d have lost three finals and semi finals in a row. Leo Cullen is a major clog that needs pulling in Irish rugby
@Eoin H: However, I am not sure that Leo got the memo. What are the bets that one of the Byrnes starts the European games? I am so effin fed up with this nonsense. Frawley at 10 and have done with it!
p.s. forgive any mis-types… it is the mix of Guinness and champagne. And there is more waiting.
@Steadman Reede: I think there will be boos at the Aviva next year if that happens. May have to get the banners out in the stadium to let him know it’s time to pack up and leave
@Eoin H: I think Leo is a problem for Irish rugby. He’s a very ooor selector and needs to be moved into a back room role where he has no role in selection IMHO
@Michael Corkery: I’d add when he was Leinster forwards coach they, mainly Irish pack at the time, got pushed around by both Ulster and Munster that season
Frawley has shown that he has the kahunas for the big games, a vital attribute in a 10. I hope that his career pushes on from here. Crowley has it as well. Game on!
Delighted for Frawley! Bets are open on first choice 10 at Leinster at the end of next season
@Petter Sellberg: let’s hope for start of Next??
Day are still world
@Alan Moloney: galway??