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 6-3 Lions, 25 minutes
Like a pinball off the bumpers Cheslin Kolbe is fired into the Lions from his blindside wing, crashing over the top of Ali Price, but felled in the process by the tumbling scrum-half. Still, it’s another penalty against the Lions as Elliot Daly leaves his hands in the cookie jar with a guilty look - he’s off his feet, on his elbows before he gets to the ball and rightly penalised. Another one for Handre Pollard.
South Africa 6-3 Lions, 24 minutes
The Lions misfire the lineout, though, and South Africa will attack again. A knock-on the left will South Africa an intriguing attacking scrum position with an entire openside with which to work.
South Africa 6-3 Lions, 22 minutes
What a moment from Maro Itoje! South Africa part the red sea at the lineout, driving right through the Lions and Siya Kolisi bursts away, dragging a would-be tackler with him.
Eventually he is dragged down but South Africa isolate themselves, and while Tom Curry is emphatically cleared out, Itoje gets his jackal technique spot on to win a crucial turnover.
South Africa 6-3 Lions, 21 minutes
“Tackle!” is the shout from referee Nic Berry but Elliot Daly fails to heed his call, ripping the ball from a grounded Handre Pollard after the tackle had been completed and conceding a penalty. He’s bemused by the decision but the call was clear. South Africa kick to within a yard or so of the Lions’ 22.
PENALTY! South Africa 6-3 LIONS (Dan Biggar penalty, 20 minutes)
Over it goes. A simple enough starter for Dan Biggar from dead in front, a handsome flight from 40 metres or so to get the Lions underway.
South Africa 6-0 Lions, 19 minutes
Some felt that South Africa were a little lucky to get away with their intense linespeed at times during the 2019 World Cup, but they do tend to time their blitz brilliantly. Not so on this occassion, Damian De Allende the guilty party as he gets in the face of Robbie Henshaw after a Lions lineout. Offside the call, and Alun Wyn Jones fancies a shot at goal, too...
PENALTY! SOUTH AFRICA 6-0 Lions (Handre Pollard penalty, 18 minutes)
This one is on the 22-metre line and slightly further to the left, but Pollard has found his range. Down the middle of the fairway and bisecting the posts once more to double the South African advantage.
South Africa 3-0 Lions, 17 minutes
Now then. A first sign of ill-discipline from the Lions as Tom Curry catches up with Sale teammate Faf de Klerk after the scrum-half had released a long box-kick, and after a call from Marius Jonker (involved for the first time after a controversial appointment to the game), Nic Berry awards a penalty for the late hit.
And that’ll be from the spot where the ball landed deep in the Lions’ half! Another kickable penalty for Handre Pollard to size up...
South Africa 3-0 Lions, 15 minutes
Maro Itoje runs straight at Eben Etzebeth, like King Kong into Godzilla and finding his second row opposite equally monstrous. Itoje is stood up and the arrival of Franco Mostert ensures that he will not be able to get down to the floor, so it will be a South Africa scrum for the failed maul.
PENALTY! SOUTH AFRICA 3-0 Lions (Handre Pollard penalty, 14 minutes)
He’ll strike them cleaner than that but the distance is no issue for Pollard, who swipes across the top of the tee from about 40 metres out and sends the ball on a reasonably pleasant journey between the uprights from just left of centre. South Africa on the board first.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments