Four-try Josh Adams helps rampant British and Irish Lions open tour with big win
Josh Adams plundered four tries as the British and Irish Lions opened their tour on South African soil with a rampant 56-14 victory over the Sigma Lions.
The hosts were rabbits caught in the headlights as they leaked early tries to Louis Rees-Zammit and Hamish Watson, but an impressive uprising followed that troubled the Lions’ defence for a spell.
Once that had been subdued, Warren Gatland’s men ran riot with Adams helping himself to four second-half tries against the weakest of the provincial sides they will face over the coming weeks.
Adams lifted his total to five touch downs in two starts after also getting on the scoresheet against Japan, placing him in pole position to secure one of the wing slots against the Springboks on July 24.
Scrum-halves Ali Price and Gareth Davies also unpicked the outclassed Sigma Lions before empty stands at Emirates Airline Park, while Owen Farrell completed all eight conversions.
The jury is still out on the 10-12 partnership between Farrell and Finn Russell, but Scotland’s maverick playmaker provided thrilling moments of skill to enhance his own Test prospects.
Although Adams ended up with four tries, it was Russell’s Scotland team-mate Watson who was named official man of the match after he delivered an all-action display at openside.
And after the cruel misfortune of losing Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric to injuries in the curtain-raiser against Japan a week earlier, the Lions were relieved to see no obvious casualties go down in Johannesburg.
Russell took early control and the tourists benefited by crossing in the fourth minute, the Scotland fly-half acting as ringmaster until compatriot Chris Harris chipped ahead for Rees-Zammit to produce a classy finish on his debut.
The hosts were sent hurtling backwards by muscular carries from Courtney Lawes, Watson and Kyle Sinckler and the pressure was too much as Watson burst over the whitewash.
Watson’s explosive start continued as he flattened Burger Odendaal with a ferocious tackle, but for the first time the Lions were in reverse as the South African province made headway through pick and goes, forcing a series of penalties.
Only committed defence, spearheaded by Watson, kept the try-line intact until the danger passed and an attritional phase followed during which the tourists were turned over and an attack broke down amid confusion between Farrell and Ali Price.
The disjointed theme continued until the Lions sprung into action as their opponents dithered at a 33rd-minute line-out, a long throw finding Farrell who spun and teed-up Price running at pace for a try under the posts.
But it then became the tourists’ turn to switch off as their frail blindside defence was cleverly exploited and with the red wall not scrambling in time, flanker Vincent Tshituka powered over.
A neck roll by Lawes saw a try by Wyn Jones chalked off but 47 seconds into the second half Adams crossed using sharp footwork after Watson and Price combined at a line-out to create the space.
Immediately the Lions’ defence were out-thought on the short side to give wing Rabz Maxwane an easy run in, but Russell’s pinpoint chip to the wing gave Adams an easy second that put Gatland’s men back in command.
The bench had arrived and two of the replacements were involved in the next try as Elliot Daly jinked a way through the white shirts before slipping a pass for Davies to score.
Jonny Hill sent Adams over for his third – the Wales wing will score few easier tries – and it was another simple run in for his fourth after he gathered Daly’s long pass to cross unopposed.
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
12 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
5 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments