British and Irish Lions vs South Africa LIVE: Result, final score and reaction from third Test in Cape Town
Follow all the fallout from the third Test in Cape Town
Morne Steyn stepped off the bench to break British and Irish Lions hearts for a second time by landing a late penalty to clinch a dramatic series victory for South Africa
Steyn hit the target with a minute left to snatch a 19-16 victory for the Springboks in an unbearably tense third and final Test at Cape Town Stadium. In a cruel twist of fate, the 37-year-old also sealed the fate of the 2009 Lions when he booted another late penalty that gave South Africa an unassailable 2-0 lead in a 28-25 win in the second Test.
Inspired by Finn Russell who had replaced the injured Dan Biggar, the Lions produced their best rugby of the series in a first-half they lit up with off-loads, tempo and ambition. The only concern was that Ken Owens’ 19th-minute try as part of a 10-6 interval lead was a disappointing return given the time spent in the opposition 22 and so it proved in a tense third quarter dominated by the Springboks.
Cheslin Kolbe struck with a brilliant finish to propel South Africa back in front and set-up a nerve-shredding climax to the series as Russell, Handre Pollard and then Steyn took over from the kicking tee. But trailing 16-13, the Lions rolled the dice by opting for touch instead of another three points and the gamble backfired when a scrum won after they had been held up over the line saw the Springboks win a penalty to relieve the pressure.
They did not make the same mistake twice, however, with Russell completing a long-range attempt to level the score with five minutes left, but there was still time for Steyn to strike.
Relive the deciding third Test in Cape Town:
South Africa 13-13 Lions, 66 minutes
And would you believe it? He’s got an immediate shot at goal! Five years since he last played Test rugby for South Africa and Steyn will call for the tee after a South African maul is felled illegally on the right-hand side...
South Africa 13-13 Lions, 64 minutes
The two sides trade penalties from the kick-off at the breakdown as the South Africans first mistime their involvement, then get it spot on to force the Lions to hold on. And that signals it is time for their closer - Morne Steyn on into a Lions Test series twelve years on since a decisive role in 2009. Handre Pollard is replaced.
PENALTY! South Africa 13-13 LIONS (Finn Russell penalty, 63 minutes)
Popped over very nicely by Finn Russell from 42 metres or so and centre-field. The scores are level.
Siya Kolisi may yet finish the game on the pitch. Wiese’s wound is sufficiently bothersome that it may require some stitching, so while he is patched up, Kolisi will return.
South Africa 13-10 Lions, 62 minutes
I mentioned earlier that Jasper Wiese has a moment of questionable discipline or two in him, and that’s mighty foolish from the number eight. He bundles into the back of Finn Russell after the Scot has delivered a pass to concede a soft penalty within Russell’s kicking range. Wiese has a nasty cut by his right eye, too, while Franco Mostert’s wounds have also been reopened.
South Africa 13-10 Lions, 60 minutes
A punch of the air from Jack Conan - Kyle Sinckler wins a penalty in his first action since arriving! It appears to be the Lions’ tighthead who goes down first but it is due to hinging from a fatiguing Steven Kitshoff, who concedes the penalty. He’ll be replaced - Trevor Nyakane takes over.
And Alun Wyn Jones is also going off! Neither captain will see through the full 80 minutes as Jones gives some final instructions to his charges. Adam Beard on in the second row.
South Africa 13-10 Lions, 59 minutes
Momentum just beginning to shift the way of the hosts now. Another high kick is dropped forward from Lions hands, so Liam Williams is all too grateful to claim a mark as he takes the next one inside his 22.
Not so for Ali Price - he has to deal with a horrible grubber through that leaps up into his arms like an over-eager labrador puppy, and Price can’t quite handle it. A knock-on at the edge of his 22, and with that, the scrum-half is replaced. Tadhg Furlong follows him off with Conor Murray and Kyle Sinckler introduced.
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 13-10 Lions (Cheslin Kolbe try, 57 minutes)
It didn’t! Referee Mathieu Raynal and TMO Marius Jonker say it went backwards! This will count and South Africa lead.
Alun Wyn Jones protests but, in the words of Raynal: “It is not a debate.”
It’s a superb finish. Lukhanyo Am pounces on the ball after it tumbled from a posse of contesting players, tipping it on to Willie Le Roux. Le Roux finds Cheslin Kolbe, who devastates Liam Williams with a vicious right-foot step, fending off Luke Cowan-Dickie’s desperate last-ditch tackle attempt to finally inject himself into this series in an attacking sense with what could be a decisive try. Pure dynamite.
Handre Pollard converts! 13-10!
Is that a knock-on? Jasper Wiese leaps highest but spills the ball more up than anything, hitting his hands, then his shoulder, and then spilling free. It is then knocked on by the Lions into the hands of Lukhanyo Am, and from there South Africa brilliantly capitalise to score.
But did it go forward from Wiese? Mathieu Raynal doesn’t seem to think so...
TRY? This could be a brilliant score from South Africa!
But was there a knock-on in the air from a Springbok hand first?...
South Africa 6-10 Lions, 55 minutes
But here come the “Bomb Squad”, as South Africa go to their forward replacements. A little surprisingly it is at this point that captain Siya Kolisi takes leave, with Marco van Staden replacing him, while Vincent Koch and Malcolm Marx are also on. Luke Cowan-Dickie comes on for the Lions.
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