- Author, Andy Gray
- Role, BBC Sport NI journalist
“Just keep believing, there’s still time.”
That was the message from Ireland captain Caelan Doris to his team-mates in the closing stages against South Africa.
After a stunning first half from Ireland in Durban, the hosts hit back to lead by two points as the clock ticked towards 80 minutes.
Doris’ message certainly seemed unlikely when Ireland had a scrum on their own 22-metre line with 90 seconds remaining.
But up stepped Ciaran Frawley.
After winning the scrum, something Ireland had struggled with all evening, the replacement fly-half sent a perfect kick into Springbok territory and the onrushing Irish pack forced Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu into touch.
From the resulting line-out – another area Ireland had been below par – the ball was carried into contact and Frawley moved into position.
Once the ball came back to him there was only ever going to be one result.
Just as he had earlier in the game, on just his sixth cap, his long-range drop goal flew between the posts – this time to spark wild celebrations as Ireland won 25-24.
“It’s pure elation seeing the ball sail over at the end there,” Doris told Sky Sports.
“It was back and forth, there was two points in it. We believed if we got down there and got territory then we could score.”
Doris’ sentiment was something former Ireland wing Shane Horgan agreed with.
In fact, on Sky Sports, he went as far as saying: “I don’t think any other Irish team in history has quite had that.”
Rory Best felt South Africa’s similar mentality meant the rivalry between the sides would only grow.
“They put themselves in the perfect place to win and it took a moment of genius from Ireland to snatch it from them,” remarked the former Ireland skipper.
South Africa were well worth their victory in Pretoria the previous week, but in the in the build-up to the second Test, Irish head coach Andy Farrell said his side do not tend to lose two on the bounce.
That looked to be somewhat prophetic when Conor Murray’s try and three Jack Crowley penalties gave Ireland a 10-point lead at half-time.
But South Africa are back-to-back world champions for a reason as they responded superbly in the second of the two-match series.
They overawed Ireland at the start of the second half and, through the boot of the perfect Handre Pollard with eight penalties, the 10-point deficit became a two-point lead.
‘You have to celebrate it’
“South Africa don’t lose easy, they find a way. It’s so frustrating at times to play against,” Murray added.
“We believed in ourselves coming into South Africa’s backyard. It was always going to be a big challenge.”
Murray, with 118 caps of experience, said the defeat the previous week had “hurt the players”.
The Test match was the final game of a 13-month season, that started last August with dreams of winning the World Cup.
For Ireland those dreams would remain unfulfilled as South Africa retained the trophy.
There wasn’t any silverware up for grabs on Saturday, but Murray said the squad knew they had to put everything on the line for one final push.
“I think we can be really proud,” he added. “We had a really honest meeting on Wednesday about ourselves.
“We knew we were getting a break at the end of the week and the boys fronted up and committed to this week.”
The rivalry with South Africa has stewed and brewed since Ireland’s narrow win over them in Dublin in November 2022.
While they had bragging rights in the World Cup pool stages, it was the Springboks who had the last laugh as they lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in Paris.
The match in Durban was the latest chapter between the two best sides in the world.
The South African players and media, in particular, were keen to stoke the flames ahead of the Tests, but ultimately it was two breathless, brutal and brilliant sets of 80 minutes that will define the series.
Murray said the rivalry between the two rugby heavyweights it is “good for the game”.
“There is huge respect there, we have huge respect for them and it’s an honour to be able to go toe-to-toe with them,” he added.
“The nerves for me, and I’m sure a lot of lads would agree, were a lot this week but it’s nice when it pays off.
“You have to celebrate it. These are rare times and it’s such a tough thing to do.”