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.”
MISSED PENALTY! South Africa 12-3 Lions, 39 minutes
It doesn’t get there! It’s all of 55 metres on the angle and we are at sea level, but it’s a little bit of surprise as, despite a forceful thrust through it from Elliot Daly’s left boot, the ball tumbles into the arms of Faf de Klerk shielding beneath the crossbar. A metre or so short.
South Africa 12-3 Lions, 38 minutes
Or not! TMO Marius Jonker has called down to Nic Berry having spotted a high tackle by Bongi Mbonambi on Alun Wyn Jones a few moments earlier, and the Lions will retreat 20 metres to the mark on halfway. Elliot Daly has a big boot, and you’d suggest this is within range - what’s the call going to be here?
Yep. Dan Biggar has a brief look at the corner but Daly trots over to take the Gilbert from him, perching it upon a high tee at the direction of captain Jones.
South Africa 12-3 Lions, 37 minutes
Another nervous moment under the high ball from Cheslin Kolbe as he lets Ali Price’s box kick tumble from his chest, but Damian De Allende reacts well to gather despite receiving a lariat across his chest as he does.
De Allende is again forced to cleanup in aisle two as a leaping Handre Pollard misjudges one - it looked like it went backwards as Pollard twisted in the air but is ruled to have travelled forwards, and the Lions will have a scrum.
MISSED PENALTY! South Africa 12-3 Lions, 36 minutes
By his standards that is a very poor miss. Biggar approaches the ball slowly about twenty yards in from the left touchline, but pulls across it, and drags his kick left of the posts. The Lions could have done with that.
South Africa 12-3 Lions, 34 minutes
There it is! Tadhg Furlong gets the nudge on Ox Nche, standing up the loosehead and hooker Bongi Mbonambi as he angles slightly inwards, but is rewarded nonethless by referee Nic Berry.
Alun Wyn Jones has a chat with Dan Biggar and the fly-half beckons for the tee.
South Africa 12-3 Lions, 34 minutes
Another Lions lineout nearly goes awry but a South African hand just knocks the ball forwards before it is nicked back their way. Scrum to the Lions, who need a foothold.
PENALTY! SOUTH AFRICA 12-3 Lions (Handre Pollard penalty, 31 minutes)
This South African defence is really starting to settle into their work. Pieter-Steph du Toit cuts down a carrier and teammates busy the breakdown to earn another penalty.
This is the toughest of the four penalties that Handre Pollard has sized up so far, but he’s in the groove, and that’s another fine strike, this time from the right. South Africa are beginning to really assert themselves on this contest.
South Africa 9-3 Lions, 28 minutes
The Lions have been rattled a little by South Africa’s contesting at the lineout. There’s misdirection at this set-piece as Maro Itoje mimes to be communicating at the back while Luke Cowan-Dickie darts one to Rory Sutherland at the front of the line, but he throws the ball off-kilter. Scrum to South Africa.
South Africa 9-3 Lions, 28 minutes
The Lions have been rattled a little by South Africa’s contesting at the lineout. There’s misdirection at this set-piece as Maro Itoje mimes to be communicating at the back while Luke Cowan-Dickie darts one to Rory Sutherland at the front of the line, but he throws the ball off-kilter. Scrum to South Africa.
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