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:
Stormers 3-7 Lions, 30 minutes
The Stormers continue to play with plenty of zeal and vigour but the Lions are clinging on well. Hamish Watson bites the ankles of a carriers like an anxious terrier, allowing Luke Cowan-Dickie to jackal brilliantly and nick it.
TRY! Stormers 3-7 LIONS (Adam Beard, 29 minutes)
Adam Beard saunters over untouched!
The first moment of real attacking potency from the Lions, but they make it count. After Tadhg Furlong had made the initial break Beard is involved in getting the ball wide to Josh Adams, who is dragged down ten metres short of the line. The Stormers defence never resets, however, and Beard arrives on a nice angle to Ali Price’s swift pass from the base of the ruck, utilising his long strides to cover the short distance to the line for the score. Marcus Smith converts.
Stormers 3-0 Lions, 27 minutes
Bish bash bosh - Duhan van der Merwe gets on the rumble for a first time in the game and runs right over the top of Dan du Plessis. And where is Tadhg Furlong going? The tighthead sashays through a gap like a dancer in sequins, as is his wont, and the Lions break the line...
Stormers 3-0 Lions, 26 minutes
The Stormers are asking more consistent and intricate questions in attack than the Sharks did in their two meetings. Evan Roos is brought on the carry from a withdrawn midfield position of the lineout and there are plenty of moving parts to the second phase, too, but all that intricacy eventually proves troublesome, and a miscommunication allows the Lions to clear after a knock-on.
Stormers 3-0 Lions, 25 minutes
Another failed scrum, another whistle from Wayne Barnes - a full penalty against the Lions for causing early instability again. I think Rory Sutherland was the man picked up as he and Neethling Fouche went down on Barnes’ side. A shake of a head from the prop.
Stormers 3-0 Lions, 24 minutes
Another free-kick at the set-piece and Ali Price doesn’t hang around, Josh Adams arriving like a freight train but swiftly derailed by a superb low tackle, and knocking on, much to his apparent surprise.
Stormers 3-0 Lions, 22 minutes
Sergeal Petersen has had a very lively opening to this game, injecting himself regularly as a distributing option and showing the burst of speed that made him an accomplished track athlete in his youth. He takes a Marcus Smith high bomb brilliantly even as the Lions chase arrives, and Smith fumbles the return.
It goes backwards and Stuart Hogg sets off on a canter, making initial progress but rather blindly flinging a pass that goes like a frisbee away from Josh Adams out of play. The Stormers knock the lineout on, though - Lions scrum.
PENALTY! STORMERS 3-0 Lions (Tim Swiel penalty, 20 minutes)
Simple enough for the well-travelled fly-half. The Stormers take a lead they, on balance, probably just about deserve.
Stormers 0-0 Lions, 19 minutes
On this scoreless opening quarter goes and the Stormers bash on the Lions’ door for a first concerted period. Godlen Masimla is getting the ball away quickly and causing issues, while a couple of Lions have trouble with their footing, Hamish Watson slipping and then conceding a penalty soon after. Two goes at the ball at the breakdown is the call - perhaps a little harsh as the openside tried to steal it, but a penalty it is. Tim Swiel will have a shot at goal...
Stormers 0-0 Lions, 17 minutes
The Stormers will be reasonably pleased with their start. Their attack is settling in now, and Juan de Jongh arrives nicely on to Sergeal Petersen’s pass to make a half-break. The ball spills free but off a Lions hand and the Stormers regather momentum, but Robbie Henshaw intervenes well, pilfering the ball from a carrier with a rip in the tackle. The Lions clear, but not beyond their own 22.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments