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 6-10 Lions, 41 minutes
Two fumbles from our opening booted gambits in the second half - Jasper Wiese is able to regather his at the third attempt, but Josh Adams’ knock-on falls only on the bemused bonce of Bundee Aki, who flicks it on like a near-post runner at a corner and into touch. South Africa scrum.
South Africa 6-10 Lions
Right - the players are back out there. Where’s your money? Another draw? South Africa to kick the second half off as the smoke to welcome them back onto the Cape Town Stadium surface clears. 40 minutes - here we go!...
H/T: South Africa 6-10 Lions
How may the Lions rue that failure from Liam Williams to pass to Josh Adams outside of him? The wing had only an inviting lane of open grass in front of him but Williams’ dummy was the wrong option.
H/T: South Africa 6-10 Lions
Another proper Test match, and another narrow half-time margin. The Lions have produced their best first-half of the series, dominating possession (69%) and looking much more able to get to the outside of the South African defence, or challenge it in the tight. Finn Russell has added fizz and creativity, Ali Price tempo, and the forwards have so far had the better of things up front.
But it is only four points. South Africa have done very, very well to cling on and they will back themselves again as the game continues.
HALF TIME: SOUTH AFRICA 6-10 BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS
South Africa 6-10 Lions, 42 minutes
The clock is in the red and an unplayable maul seems to have ended the first half, but we need a chat with a curiously quiet Marius Jonker first, with the TMO called for to inspect the actions of Jasper Wiese. The number eight, who has that sort of thing in him, comes from a distance to try and shift a couple of fallen Lions bodies from the top of the ball just as Mathieu Raynal blows his whistle. There isn’t much wrong with it, really, as it wasn’t after the whistle and Wiese’s technique is absolutely fine - Raynal and Jonker eventually agree, and off for the half-time oranges it is!
South Africa 6-10 Lions, 40 minutes
Heroic from Siya Kolisi! Just as he did last week the South Africa skipper produces a magnificent last-ditch defensive moment in the shadow of his own posts, joined by Bongi Mbonambi as the pair limpet over the ball just as the Lions appeared to be gaining the momentum they needed to bash the door off of its hinges. A penalty to South Africa, and they will throw another lineout even with time expired, having shunned the opportunity to send us down the tunnel.
South Africa 6-10 Lions, 39 minutes
Ken Owens can’t quite find Alun Wyn Jones’ waiting hands though as South Africa contest well at the front, but it will be a Lions scrum feed as South Africa knock-on two phases later. The Springboks complain that Jones had knocked on in the air, apparently rightly judging by the replay, but the officials are unable to change that.
South Africa 6-10 Lions, 38 minutes
Fortune for the Lions, perhaps, as Tom Curry takes advantage of two teammates blatantly failing to roll away after a would-be maul is ruled a tackle, with Curry’s work over-the-ball nonetheless rewarded with a penalty. Which, again, is poked for the corner.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments