EXACTLY 50 YEARS ago to the day, Willie John McBride made the famous ’99′ call on the Lions tour of South Africa. Its spirit was invoked today. While there were no flying fists here in Durban, there was blood spilled in a game of unrelenting physicality and absorbing drama.
And like that day in 1974 when McBride was the victor, the Irishmen who toiled on the turf of a feral, raucous Kings Park Stadium were the winners. It was a sensational pair of drop goals from Ciarán Frawley which earned the victory for Ireland, the Leinster man nailing the winner with the last kick of the game to send Irish fans into raptures. It was a stunning finish to a stunning game of rugby.
Ireland have just their second-ever win on South African soil and share the series 1-1 with the back-to-back world champion Boks. Ireland made a blistering start to stun the South Africans and deservedly lead 16-6 at half time, thanks in large part to a brilliant set-piece try finished by Conor Murray. The wounded Boks had early second-half dominance and a yellow card for captain Caelan Doris, punished for a croc roll at the breakdown, made Ireland’s lives all the more difficult.
Rassie Erasmus’ men still had to empty themselves to overhaul Andy Farrell’s side, relying on the faultless boot of Handré Pollard who kicked all 24 of their points off the tee. But those two late drop goals from Frawley – sent on with Caolin Blade in place of starting halfbacks Murray and Jack Crowley for the final quart.
