The historic first test between the British and Irish Lions and the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday 24 July started with a bang and big hits as the Springboks ended the first half on 12-3 and eventually ran out as losers to the British & Irish Lions 17-22.
6:00 pm on Saturday 24 July 2021 in Cape Town saw Dan Biggar start the first test of a three test series between the Springboks and British and Irish Lions.
From the start the Springboks placed immense pressure on the Lions who retaliated with many high kicks. Lukhanyo Am stamped his authority on the midfield followed by a massive scrum down win.
A Tom Curry infringement saw the Springboks score off of a penalty from Handre Pollard in the 13th minute.
Not satisfied with one infringement Tom Curry executed a late tackle on Faf de Klerk giving Pollard another easy penalty shot to take the Springboks to 6-0.
Two minutes later De Allende was caught off-side and Dan Biggar slotted the Lions penalty. 6-3.
Pollard made it to 9 points after Elliot Daly was penalised at the ruck. 3 pPenalties after 27 minutes.
After 30 minutes Pollard continued to rain the penalty pain down on the Lions with his 4th penalty taking the lead to 12-3.
After 32 minutes the Springboks had their first real test as the Lions earned a lineout in the red zone. Intense pressure from the Lions earned them a scrum penalty hooked away to the left as Dan Biggar misses.
With two minutes to go in the first half the SpringBok hooker Bongi Mbonambi was pinged for a high tackle on the halfway and Elliot Daly stepped up to have a shot at goal whichdropped just short.
In the dying minutes of the first half the Lions were almost in for a try as centre Robbie Henshaw burst through but he knocked the ball on in a great tackle by Willie le Roux with the tryline in sight.
Halftime score: Springboks 12 – 3 British and Irish Lions
Big changes in the second half as the Springboks change their entire front row as Malherbe, Marx and Kitshoff all start. Not happy news for the Springboks as they are sent on the back foot as the Lions get an early attacking chance.
Desperation saw a high tackle from Etzebeth allowing the Lions to set up a lineout 5 meters out.
3 Minutes in the second half saw the first try of the game from the Lions as Luke Cowan-Dickie barged over after a driving maul. The conversion by Dan Biggar was good taking the Lions to trailing the Springboks 12-10.
The Springboks replied immediately as Willie le Roux crashed over for a possible try after latching onto a kick-through. The on-field decision was a try but TMO Marius Jonker had to check for a possible forward pass – and if Le Roux was in front of Am who kicked.
Try DENIED on the forward pass.
Not taking the decision lying down Pieter-Steph Du Toit screamed off ona a magical run from inside his own half, off-loaded to Mapimpi who kicked through as De Klerk eventually dotted down. The on-field decision was a TRY.
CONFIRMED by the TMO and the try was awarded to Faf de Klerk. Conversion missed by Pollard.
A quick reply from the Lions saw Dan Biggar slot another easy penalty to reduce the deficit to 17-13.
With 55 minutes gone the Lions reduced the deficit to 1 point as Mapimpi was caught off-side and Dan Biggar slotted his third penalty.
After 62 Minutes te Lions finally moved into the lead after winning a penalty from a driving maul – slotted by Dan Biggar’s 4th penalty and the Springboks trailed by 2 points. SA 17-19 Lions.
After losing Dan Biggar to a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) and with 13 Minutes to go the Lions win a scrum penalty allowing Farrell to set up a lineout for the Lions as they revel in their momentum.
With 10 minutes to go Elton Jantjies came on at flyhalf for Handre Pollard.
Immense pressure from the Springboks saw the Lions make an awful hash of it in their own 22. Damian de Allende scooped up to score but the TMO had check for a few knock-ons earlier. The on-field decision was a TRY.
NO TRY! The try was cancelled as replays showed an earlier knock-on in the air from Kolbe.
Springboks have struggled under the high ball as the Lions drive them back time after time.
With 3 minutes to go the Lions score another kickable penalty and Owen Farrell lined it up to give more pain to the Springboks as the Lions extened their lead by 5 points. SA 17-22 Lions.
After the restart Damian Willemse led the charge back to the Lions 22.
But it was not to be as Elstadt lost possession and the Lions booted it out to end the game.
The Boks will rue conceding 14 penalties – compared to the Lions’ 8 – along with their struggles under the high ball.
Overall, the Lions bossed the possession (52%) and territory (55%) stakes, they made more metres on attack (256m-245m) and beat 19 defenders to South Africa’s 15.
The Boks will need to be more clinical and disciplined if they want to claim a comeback series win.
We’ll back back for the second Test next Saturday – again at Cape Town Stadium!
Run of Play:
13 Minutes: Penalty Handre Pollard, 3-0
16 Minutes: Handre Pollard, 6-0
19 Minutes: Dan Biggar penalty. 6-3
26 Minutes: Penalty Handre Pollard, 9-3
30 Minutes: Penalty Handre Pollard, 12-3
43 Minutes; Try Luke Cowan-Dickie, 12-8
44 Minutes: Dan Biggar Conversion, 12-10
49 Minutes: Faf de Klerk Try, 17-10
52 Minutes: Dan Biggar penalty, 13-13
55 Minutes: Dan Biggar penalty, 17-16
62 Minutes: Dan Biggar penalty, 17-19
78 Minutes: Owen Farrel penalty, 17-22
SCORERS:
SA 17 (12): Penalties: Handre Pollard (4)
Lions 22 (3): Try: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Conversion: Dan Biggar, Penalty: Dan Biggar (4), Owen Farrel
Teams:
Springboks: Nche Ox, Mbonambi Bongi, Nyakane Trevor, Etzebeth Eben, Mostert Franco, Kolisi Siya (Captain), du Toit Pieter-Steph, Smith Kwagga, de Klerk Faf, Pollard Handre
Mapimpi Makazole, de Allende Damian, Am Lukhanyo, Kolbe Cheslin, Le Roux Willie
Reserves: Marx Malcolm, Kitshoff Steven,Malherbe Frans, Jager Lood De, Elstadt Rynhardt, Jantjies Herschel, Jantjies Elton, Willemse Damian
British & Irish Lions: Sutherland Rory, Cowan-Dickie Luke, Furlong Tadhg, Itoje Maro, Jones Alun Wyn, Lawes Courtney, Curry Tom, Conan Jack, Price Ali, Biggar Dan, Watson Anthony, van der Merwe Duhan, Henshaw Robbie, Daly Elliot, Hogg Stuart
Reserves: Owens Ken, Sinckler Kyle, Beirne Tadhg, Watson Hamish, Murray Conor, Farrell Owen, Williams Liam, Vunipola Mako
