James Ryan: I thought the kick didn't go over - and then the relief

For Ireland lock James Ryan, it was almost a surreal moment watching Ciarán Frawley's dropgoal go over to give Ireland victory over South Africa on Saturday.

The 25-24 win looked unlikely, if not impossible with just 15 minutes to play. However, Frawley was the hero of the hour. Two dropgoals in the final 13 minutes, and the second of those with the final kick of the game, saw Ireland stage an incredible comeback against the world champions, who had looked to be on course to whitewash Ireland in the series.

After the game, Ryan's thoughts went back to 2018 to Johnny Sexton's dropgoal some 45 metres out against France, a kick that gave the Irish a last-gasp victory, the first step on their way to completing a Six Nations grand slam.

"That's what I thought, that’s what it reminded me of, the big pile on, 2018 in Paris," Ryan said, when speaking to the media after Saturday's clash at Kings Park.

"I couldn’t believe that it (drop goal) went over. I said, 'nah,’ it didn’t go over when I was standing up and then I saw Frawls and Pete (O’Mahony) coming towards us. But then the ref kind of blows his whistle, my heart dropped, I thought he was checking something. I was going ‘oh, no.’ It’s funny, it’s amazing the difference it makes when the ball goes over the bar. It’s fine margins, we have been on both sides of it but the difference it makes to the mood.

Paying tribute to Frawley, the 27-year-old added: "It is serious going. The first one was probably more impressive. It was brilliant. I don’t think he gets fazed by much, which is the right way to be; balls of steel. Delighted for him."

Andy Farrell's side got off the good start in the second Test, leading 16-6 at the break, a marked contrast to the opening period a week earlier.