Ireland player ratings against South Africa: Ciarán Frawley writes his name in the history books

It was a Jonny Wilkinson-type World Cup-winning drop-goal performance from the Leinster out-half.

HISTORY MAKER: Ciarán Frawley celebrates with teammates Conor Murray, Bundee Aki and Craig Casey. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

15 – Jamie Osborne

No nerves, no anxiety, a high-end display, the occasional slip apart. Osborne once again showed that he has the mettle to thrive in the big time, fielding high balls and adding value in attack as shown by great line for Murray’s try. 8

14 – Calvin Nash

Far more involved, far more tricky and threatening. Nash was a quiet figure last week but here the ball found its way to him with great frequency and the wing danced and darted to good effect, chasing well too. 7

13 – Garry Ringrose

A tough chance not taken but on the ball for the most part. Ringrose has had to bide his time and was a stalwart in defence. Will rue the ball that he fluffed on the stroke of half-time, knocking on with players outside. 6

12 – Robbie Henshaw

The hit man. Henshaw was as thunderous in the tackle as anyone on the field, setting the tone for Ireland as they upped their physicality levels. On the ball in attack, too, feeding well for the first try. 8

11 – James Lowe

A handful even on quiet days. Lowe always manages to get himself involved even if the play doesn’t come his way, latching on to a snappy pass from Osborne to kick and chase hard, almost leading to a try. 8

10 – Jack Crowley

In the eye of the storm. Crowley had to keep a clear head despite the mayhem all around. There was the odd glitch – a kick out on the full, walloped by Pieter-Steph du Toit – but there was plenty of fine, measured play too. 7

9 – Conor Murray

Age has not dulled him. Murray has spent a lot of time kicking his heels on the bench but managed the step-up from the bench so well. His reading of play is second-to-none and he was in the right place at the right time for the opening try. 8

1 – Andrew Porter

One of many bloodied figures on the field that spoke of a brutal encounter, no-one willing to cede an inch of turf. Porter was the strong man charged with stemming the ‘Bok surge, an almost impossible task. 6

2 – Ronan Kelleher

Busy, busy, busy. Kelleher was prominent, all too aware of filling the all-action role of the injured Dan Sheehan. The hooker was in the thick of it from first whistle, charging upfield and alert to everything. 7

3 – Tadhg Furlong

A torrid experience. Under pressure throughout. The Ireland scrum had to cope with the enormous task of dealing with Ox Nche and his monster mates. Furlong did what he could to hold the fort but too many penalties were conceded. 5

4 – Joe McCarthy

Up for the fight. McCarthy had to do the grunt work, stemming the assault up-front and he did that well, somehow winning a crucial turnover from a five metre Springbok lineout, a scraggy-haired interloper. 7

5 – James Ryan

Took his opportunity. Ryan knew that he had to make a mark and he did that notably at the start of the second half when stealing consecutive South African throws at the lineout. 7

6 – Tadhg Beirne

Conspicuous. Beirne’s blue headguard was to be seen at most points of contact, the blindside flanker adding to the lineout options and getting stuck into the physical engagements. 7

7 – Josh van der Flier

It was a day for the heavyweights and sturdy and heartfelt as van der Flier was, he was not able to bring his own fast-paced skills to bear in his customary manner. 6

8 – Caelan Doris (captain)

A yellow card blob on his copybook but immense. A leader for today as well as for the future. Doris was in the thick of everything, within inches of a try interacting with referee Karl Dickson but unable to avoid the sin-bin for croc roll. 8

Ireland's Ciaran Frawley kicks a drop goal. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Replacements

What value a Ciaran Frawley in your ranks, a Jonny Wilkinson-type World Cup-winning drop-goal performance with the Leinster out-half knocking over one belting effort ten minutes from time and then writing his name in the history books with his series-equalising effort on the stroke of full-time.

It was a masterclass, reminiscent too of those plucked-from-nowhere winners that was the hallmark of Johnny Sexton. It was a clutch kick and it landed.

The Springbok Bomb Squad did not have the same collective arrival impact and Ireland initially struggled to match their opponents’ intensity and effectiveness, and certainly had no-one to rival the irrepressible early Springbok sub, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Caolin Blade and Ciaran Frawley gave a glimpse of a future half-back combo with Frawley hitting a magnificent long-range drop-goal to raise Irish hopes. And then came the coup de grace. 9