British and Irish Lions vs Stormers LIVE: Result and reaction from South Africa tour match
Follow live reaction from the tourists’ final warm-up before the Test series begins next weekend
Follow live reaction after the British and Irish Lions beat the Stormers in the tourists’ final warm-up before the Test series.
Scrumhalf Ali Price impressed as the visitors scored seven tries in a comfortable 49-3 victory on Saturday. It was another slow start for the Lions in the opening 20 minutes but once they found their groove they were far too strong for the hosts, who battled with the tourists’ impenetrable wall of defence and quick ball at the breakdown.
Price allowed them to play with that high tempo in the opening hour and he must now be putting pressure on tour captain Conor Murray for a starting place in the first test against the world champion Springboks at the same venue next weekend.
Loose-forward Hamish Watson was an aggressive runner with ball in hand as was excellent hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, while more good news for coach Warren Gatland was the return of lock Alun Wyn Jones who got 30 minutes under his belt after dislocating his shoulder three weeks ago. Follow all the reaction:
TRY! Stormers 3-28 LIONS (Jack Conan try, 51 minutes)
A lovely score from the Lions!
It’s a second phase try from the lineout, Marcus Smith fading to the left and the openside on Ali Price’s pass but stepping off his left boot back towards the ruck. Elliot Daly’s angled run is attacking the space beside it and the outside centre (who has had relatively free rein to patrol as he pleases in attack in the last twenty minutes or so) bursts through the gap.
He’s tackled well, but Jack Conan again runs a fine support line, and Daly is surer of hand than his centre partner was in the first half. Conan sprints over, Marcus Smith converts, and the Lions have their fourth seven-pointer.
Stormers 3-21 Lions, 49 minutes
Luke Cowan-Dickie’s day is done - you would hope it is just precautionary after a strong afternoon but the hooker is receiving some attention and strapping having departed the field. Jamie George replaces him. Mako Vunipola is on for Rory Sutherland, too.
Stormers 3-21 Lions, 48 minutes
Free kick to the Lions. They look to compete at this lineout, and JJ Kotze is so wary of Tadhg Beirne readying his spring that he dummies a throw to draw him out, bemused as Wayne Barnes whistles him for it. His eventual throw didn’t travel too much further than the dummy - a chance missed for the Stormers as Elliot Daly’s big left boot is utilised for the Lions’ clearance.
Stormers 3-21 Lions, 46 minutes
This time the Lions get their maul defence spot on, so Edwill van der Merwe is invited to have a run straight at Marcus Smith, who stands up well to the physical challenge from the similarly sized wing. But the Lions have a stray paw or two in front of the offside line - another penalty, another poke for the five-metre line and another lineout.
Stormers 3-21 Lions, 45 minutes
The Stormers then win a penalty and direct themselves towards the corner, taking the lineout down nicely and setting a drive. They draw another penalty advantage for Jack Conan’s incorrect entry into that maul.
Back to the corner for some more structured shoving.
Stormers 3-21 Lions, 44 minutes
The Lions win a scrum penalty but tap quickly, but fail to find much progress, Luke Cowan-Dickie met in a forthright fashion and buffetted backwards by a pair of Stormers forwards.
Stormers 3-21 Lions 43 minutes
Nearly an uncomfortable moment for Stuart Hogg as he is befuddled by a bobbling ball and almost crashed into by a retreating Duhan van der Merwe, Hogg just able to flop upon it before Leolin Zas is able to pounce upon his indecision.
Sergeal Petersen is more decisive in his movements, charging forward and springing high into the air to try and claim a high kick but misjudging the flight and knocking on.
Stormers 3-21 Lions, 42 minutes
A variation at the lineout from the Lions with Luke Cowan-Dickie zipping a long throw for a charging Josh Adams, who wins his collision to again get over the gainline. But Adam Beard is soon forced to raise a hand of apology - he knocks on, a basic error from a man usually sure of hand. Stormers scrum 15 metres inside their own half.
Stormers 3-21 Lions, 41 minutes
As you were - a turnover won by Luke Cowan-Dickie from the Stormers’ opening second-half foray. Tadhg Furlong is afforded another rumble on the back of it before Marcus Smith jabs a little kick to force the Stormers to escape their own corner. They do, but the Lions will attack again.
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