Lions downed by South Africa 'A' in bruising wake-up call
The British and Irish Lions fell to the first defeat of their tour as South Africa ‘A’ landed a psychological blow ahead of the Test series by registering a 17-13 victory at Cape Town Stadium.
A match billed as an unofficial fourth Test due to Rassie Erasmus picking a shadow Springbok side containing seven starters from the 2019 World Cup final and 522 caps, delivered on expectations.
Despite the disruption caused by their Covid outbreak that forced the entire squad to self-isolate, South Africa were dominant in a first-half they finished 17-3 ahead with Sbu Nkosi and Lukhanyo Am scoring tries.
But the Lions, helped when Faf de Klerk and Marco van Staden were sent to the sin-bin, rallied impressively through a Wyn Jones try and Owen Farrell’s boot as they faced their first meaningful test of the tour.
After moving into the ascendency for the third quarter, Warren Gatland’s team were unable to unpick the green wall again in a full-blooded meeting that signposts a ferocious Test series to come.
Inevitably on a tour where upheaval has been the norm, the Lions were forced into a late adjustment to their starting XV when Dan Biggar failed a fitness test for a minor sprained ankle and Josh Adams withdrew to join his partner via video link to witness the birth of his first child.
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Biggar’s place at fly-half was taken by Farrell and Liam Williams plugged the void in the back three created by Adams’ absence. Williams’ appearance was short-lived, however, as he failed a head injury assessment in the 15th minute.
There was no sign of rustiness as South Africa made an early impact at the breakdown and Nkosi almost crossed in the left corner but Anthony Watson arrived just in time to push his foot into touch.
The Lions mastered a series of scrums but the sense of victory was brief as Eben Etzebeth charged down a kick by Farrell and Damian de Allende quickly threaded the ball to Nkosi who struck from long range.
Williams departed for an HIA and Farrell’s shaky start continued when he sent a kick for touch dead, handing the ball straight back to the hosts.
And they used it well as the Lions were driven backwards at successive mauls but as South Africa looked to turn the screw, the tourists were rescued by their impressive scrum.
It ignited the Lions’ best spell of the first half hour and they finally registered their first points through a Farrell penalty.
But their good work was undone when Elliot Daly, who had come on for Williams, kicked the ball straight to Kolbe and the wing somehow forced an opening between Chris Harris and Louis Rees-Zammit before offloading for Am to score.
The Lions fought back with a forward-led assault on the line that saw de Klerk punished with a yellow card for a desperate no-arms tackle and then openside Marco van Staden follow him into the sin-bin for dangerous play.
Yet despite their extra numbers, Gatland’s side could not breach the whitewash and after waves of pick-and-goes, they conceded a penalty for a double movement.
Finally they crossed four minutes after the interval when Jones burrowed over from close range as South Africa’s 13 men were stretched to breaking point. Unfortunately for Jones, he then departed with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.
De Klerk and Van Staden returned to a different game as the Lions poured forward at every opportunity and trailed just 17-13 heading into the final quarter.
Morne Steyn missed a penalty and drop-goal and a cagey finished ended with the Lions attempting a late salvage operation that fell short.
Comments on RugbyPass
The side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
4 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
4 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
4 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
4 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to comments