British and Irish Lions vs South Africa LIVE: First test result and reaction in Cape Town
The Lions overcame a 12-3 deficit against the Springboks with a strong second-half display
Dan Biggar’s boot proved the difference as the British & Irish Lions came from behind to beat South Africa 22-17 in an attritional first test in Cape Town on Saturday.
Biggar kicked four penalties and a conversion for a 14-point personal tally to take the Lions to victory after they were 12-3 down at halftime but came back strongly in the second half.
Luke Cowan-Dickie scored the Lions‘ only try with Owen Farrell adding a key late penalty while the Springboks’ points came from a Faf de Klerk try and four first-half penalties from Handre Pollard.
The two teams meet again next Saturday in the second test, also at the Cape Town Stadium.
Maro Itoje won the Player of the Match, telling Sky Sports: “These moments don’t come that often in your career. It’s a real privilege to where this jersey and to win as well is special.
“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. We want to come out and do the business next week. We had to tidy up our discipline. We did in the second half and we had the mental fortitude to see it through.”
South Africa 12-3 Lions, 41 minutes
The Lions need to start fast in this second 40 and that is a good start. South Africa concede a penalty soon after resumption and the Lions will have a lineout in the opposition’s 22.
South Africa 12-3 Lions
It is hard to tell Warren Gatland’s expression behind the fancy initialled mask, but I doubt it’s a smile on the face of the Lions head coach.
South Africa are making a half-time change or two - three, in fact! As predicted, it’s that vaunted replacement front row introduced. Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe brought on; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Trevor Nyakane come off shift at the abattoir.
HT: South Africa 12-3 Lions
A ratheer damning description from Ronan O’Gara on Sky Sports on his perception of affairs so far: “You get the feeling there are people in red jerseys not convinced about what they’re trying to execute.”
He’s not wrong, but that’s pretty punchy from the La Rochelle head coach. Henshaw’s break was the one moment they have managed to work the ball into any sort of space whatsoever and there has been precious little invention, with Duhan van der Merwe anonymous and Elliot Daly struggling to make an impact. Daly’s most prominent moment was being the magician’s assistant as Lukhanyo Am sawed him in half early on, and the Lions never really settled down after that immediate defensive statement from the Springboks. It has been very, very impressive from South Africa, who will feel they have more to come.
HT: South Africa 12-3 Lions
The Lions, though, have managed to stay in it, and greater accuracy from the tee from Dan Biggar and an extra couple of Weetabix in Elliot Daly’s bowl this morning and they might have trailed by just three. Maro Itoje has been magnificent but otherwise the forward pack has failed to impose itself and we have seen precious little of any of the backs. Just the one linebreak, that one late on from Robbie Henshaw, in that half for Warren Gatland’s side.
HT: South Africa 12-3 Lions
It’s been physical and frantic in Cape Town with neither side settling into an attacking rhythm, but South Africa have had the better of things so far. They’ve blitzed the Lions and largely won the key collisions, and Handre Pollard’s right boot has propelled them to a nine-point lead.
Both sides have competed hard at the breakdown and both coaches will be keen for greater security in that area, but South Africa have looked largely untroubled otherwise. They have definitely had the physical edge - Pieter-Steph du Toit and Lukhanyo Am continue to lead that formidable defence superbly.
South Africa 12-3 Lions, 44 minutes
Lineout, maul is the option from South Africa, but after initial progress it is stalled by the Lions’ defensive consolidation behind it. Faf de Klerk has seen enough and follows the ball down the tunnel.
South Africa 12-3 Lions, 43 minutes
There is time enough left in the half for the scrum and we are deep into the red when it is eventually set after a couple of resets. Rory Sutherland is penalised for hinging on the engage, and that might do it for the first 40 minutes...
No! South Africa wish to play on! They kick the penalty straight over the touchline from deep in their 22 and on we will go.
South Africa 12-3 Lions, 40 minutes
Is that a crucial missed chance? For the first time the Lions make a telling break of the South African defensive line, Robbie Henshaw’s footwork taking him inside the widest defender and able to accelerate beyond Siya Kolisi.
There are teammates arriving in support but Henshaw forgets his basics, grasping the ball loosely in a single arm and thus vulnerable to a desperate strip tackle from a recovering Willie Le Roux, who spares Handre Pollard a pressure last-ditch tackle by jolting the ball free from Henshaw’s grip. Henshaw grits his teeth and shouts his frustration - if he’d got a pass away or powered through Pollard the line was all of 15 metres away.
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