Springboks' second-half surge falls short as Frawley seals dramatic Irish win

An early injury to Willie le Roux saw Feinberg-Mngomezulu immediately into the action, and moments later an offside penalty gave Jack Crowley an easy shot at goal as Ireland drew first blood.

It took about 10 minutes for the first real Bok attack inside Ireland's half but it was quickly snuffed out after an errant chip-kick from Pollard.

Not long after, a lost Springbok line-out put Ireland on the offensive, but while the home side managed to survive the first assault, a poor kick restart put the Irish right back on the attack. They didn't need a second invitation, as some smart passing from the Irish backs allowed Conor Murray to go over for a well-deserved try. The kick was converted as the Boks found themselves 10 points down.

With 19 minutes gone, South Africa finally got on the scoreboard after a trademark scrum penalty was well-converted by Pollard.

Most of the play continued to come from the visitors, however, with the Boks forced into all-out defence for phase after phase until an Irish error finally brought some relief.

When it looked like the Boks might score a breakaway try after a charge-down, Ireland's defence just about managed to hold them out with the try-line beckoning. Moments later, the Boks had another golden opportunity inside the Irish 22, but again they let the visitors off the hook when De Klerk knocked the ball on behind the ruck. And when a penalty against Ireland allowed the Boks to kick for the corner, they couldn't control the possession when attempting the drive, an Irish player somehow coming away with the ball to let the visitors off the hook again.

Another penalty followed not long after, and with the Boks not looking very confident in possession, it was left to Pollard's boot to cut three more points off Ireland's lead.

The points were given back almost immediately, however, after the Boks obstructed an Irish high ball chase, handing Crowley another easy kick.

When another bad mistake from the Boks put the Irish on the attack five metres out with the first-half clock in the red, some great defence from Pieter-Steph du Toit saved a certain Ireland try, but they had the penalty advantage and it was another easy three-pointer for Crowley as the visitors took a deserved 16-6 lead into the break.

The Boks needed a spark to start the second half and got it through a superb break from Feinberg-Mngomezulu that finally gave the fans something to cheer about, but a poor kick from De Klerk right on the Irish try-line turned possession over.

An error from Ireland handed Pollard another shot at goal, however, and the Boks gratefully accepted to bring them back to within seven.

Moments later, there was more trouble for Ireland as a TMO check spotted foul play from captain Caelan Doris, who got a yellow card for his troubles. Pollard was given another shot at goal and duly slotted it to reduce the deficit once more.

With the arrival of the 'Bomb Squad', the Boks' depth began to tell, leading to more solid possession inside Irish territory and another penalty, Pollard making no mistake to make it a one-point ball game.

Another wave of attack from the South Africans saw RG Snyman pop a pass inside for fellow Bomb Squad member Malcolm Marx, taking the Boks back into Irish territory. The result was another penalty kick for Pollard, as the Springboks took the lead for the first time in the match.

Unfortunately, a mistake from Smith at the breakdown just when the Boks didn't need it allowed Ireland to take the lead straight back, as Crowley converted from the kicking tee. Thankfully, Ireland were making unnecessary mistakes too and Pollard retook the lead for the Boks within moments of the restart.

When the Boks won another penalty at scrum time, the Boks pointed to the posts, and Pollard converted one of his trickier kicks on the night to stretch the home side's lead to five.

All the momentum seemed to be with the Boks, but there was another twist to come, as Irish substitute Ciaran Frawley lined up a drop goal from the restart and slotted an absolute pearler of a kick to make it a two-point game once again.

The match was going down to the wire, and when Ireland were given some solid field possession to mount a rare attack, a wayward pass from Robbie Henshaw saw the ball turned over with five minutes to play and the Boks still leading by two.

Moments later, it was the Boks' turn to give up some great field possession to give Ireland another crack - a mistake that would prove fatal. A great kick down the touchline forced Feinberg-Mngomezulu to carry the ball into touch and hand Ireland the lineout. With time running out, the ball was thrown to Frawley, who nailed another drop goal as impressive as the first to snatch a famous win.

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