SOUTH AFRICA A overcame the British and Irish Lions in Cape Town 17-13 in a tight game which saw both sides produce moments of excellence.
- RESULT: South Africa A 17-13 British and Irish Lions
- Lions: Anthony Watson; Louis Rees-Zammit, Chris Harris, Bundee Aki, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Conor Murray (captain); Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Iain Henderson, Josh Navidi, Tom Curry, Taulupe Faletau.
- South Africa A: Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am (capt), Damian de Allende, S'bu Nkosi, Morne Steyn, Faf de Klerk; Steven Kitshoff, Joseph Dweba, Trevor Nyakane, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Marco van Staden, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese
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- Giacomo Pisa
STAT ATTACK
This is an interesting one.
The Lions missed the fewest tackles in a match they've played in since 2013 but still came out on the losing side tonight.
- Giacomo Pisa
GATLAND ANALYSES
Some more reaction from Warren Gatland:
"That was one that we needed and it will be good for us building in the next 10 days for the First Test.
"I'm proud of the boys to come from 17-3 down – it goes to show that these Test matches will be a real arm wrestle."
"They were very aggressive and direct with their running, but I thought we scrummed outstandingly well and defended their mauls well."
- Giacomo Pisa
MARO MULLS
And this is what man of the match Maro Itoje has to say on the game:
"To be honest I think this is brilliant for us.
"We've been wanting a proper test, this was definitely a proper test.
"And I think this is going to be immeasurably beneficial for us going forward."
- Giacomo Pisa
'THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T WIN THIS SERIES'
Those are the words of Warren Gatland's side according to the Lions head coach as he reacts to today's defeat:
"They came pretty hard at us in the first half and being down 17-3 I was really pleased with the way we got back into the game and how strong we looked in the second half that was the pleasing aspect.
"[We] had a couple of tries disallowed but we stayed in the battle so that was the pleasing thing.
"The guys are in the changing room saying there's no reason why we can't win this series.
"And credit to South Africa they were very physcial and very aggressive at the breakdown side of the game and we worked our way back into it.
"So lots of positives and lots of things for us to work on.
"We needed that game and we'll be a lot better for that."
- Giacomo Pisa
ATTACKING STATS
On paper the attacking stats suggest a dominant Lions performance.
And it was the Lions who had more possession and territory, made more carries and made more metres.
But it was South Africa A who were more clinical with their chances, coming out on top in what was a very closely fought game.
- Giacomo Pisa
NOTHING BUT RESPECT
The two sides showing their respect to each other after 80 minutes of hard fought, physical rugby.
Credit: Getty Credit: Getty - Giacomo Pisa
SKIPPER SPEAKS
Here are the full time thoughts of Lions skipper Conor Murray:
"I think it was the hit that we needed.
"I thought that we dug in there deep towards the second half especially.
"I thought we started slow, 17-3 down against the Boks at half time is a tough ask.
"I thought we remained patient at half time our chats were good [and] we came out and we executed most of what we wanted to do.
"We did have scoring chances in the second half, we'd liked to have taken a few more with the decisions that we made.
"Overall a really good hit out against a Boks side that were really strong and like I said we had opportunities to win it and we move forwards from here."
- Giacomo Pisa
THE VERDICT
From Jonny Fordham in Cape Town:
"It might have said South Africa 'A' on the team sheet – but this was the Springboks in everything but name.
"This unofficial Fourth Test, a game in which the Boks started 11 World Cup winners, finally breathed life to a tour affected by so many off-field problems.
"The World Cup winners are recovering from a whopping 26 cases of Covid in their squad.
"But it will take a hell of a lot more than to knock-out a country that is also on its knees from days of deadly riots and looting."
- Giacomo Pisa
FT: SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
So the Lions are on the losing side for the first time on the 2021 tour as they go down by four points to South Africa A.
On paper it's a loss against inferior opponents but the real story suggests. otherwise.
South Africa's A starting fifteen boasted 522 caps between them and that experience showed.
They limited the Lions to just one try when they had two less men on the field and gave the Lions a hint of things to come in the test series with some mammoth hits.
The Lions will be disappointed with the result but will be grateful for the challenge.
Eighty minutes of rugby at that level is far more useful for building towards the test series than a 30-40 point rout which has been the case in their last three games.
- Giacomo Pisa
PEEEEEEEEEEEP!
GAME OVER!
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS!
THE LIONS LOSE FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS TOUR!
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
80. It's a South Africa A scrum as the siren goes for the end of the 90 minutes.
If they secure their own put in here then it's game over.
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
80. KNOCK ON!
ZANDER FAGERSON KNOCKS IT FORWARD!
THAT WILL BE THAT!
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
80. LIONS PENALTY!
The green shirts are caught offside!
A chance now for the Lions as Farrell sends the ball into touch just inside the South Africa A twenty-two.
HERE. WE. GO.
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
78. Etzebeth once again collects the throw but the Lions have turned it over!
Right here we go.
The red shirts have to go from their own twenty-two to the South Africa A line.
A penalty isn't enough, they need a try!
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
77. South Africa A penalty!
That might be that for the game!
Maro Itoje is in from the side so Steyn has the chance to put the ball back into Lions territory.
It doesn't have loads of distance on it but it's into touch midway inside the Lions half.
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
76. Farrell stabs a kick forward looking for the lightning fast Rees-Zammit.
The youngster gets there first but the ball just doesn't bounce up for him so he's forced to hack it forward along the ground.
He can't keep it on the field though and sees his kick trickle off for a South Africa A lineout.
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
75. DROP KICK MISSED!
Steyn sends an effort wide left of the posts so the lead is still four points.
This is getting tense!
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
74. Morne Steyn is dropping into the pocket!
South Africa A want a drop goal!
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
74. Morne Steyn sends the penalty into touch.
It's out of play right on the Lions twenty-two metre line so the hosts have the visitors right where they want them.
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
73. The hosts are taking their time here with the Lions putting them under pressure in the last five minutes.
If the Lions can keep South Africa out from this penalty then they'll fancy their chances of a late score.
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
72. The hits are flying in here from both teams.
South Africa A have a penalty coming their way for a high tackle on Faf de Klerk.
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
70. Etzebeth gathers the lineout as the green shirts set up the maul.
It's not going anywhere though!
That is excellent defence by the Lions.
The red shirts hold the maul up and stop it from getting into the hands of de Klerk at the back so it will be a Lions scrum ten metres out from their own line.
Ten minutes left to play!
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
69. South Africa A penalty.
The Lions are penalised for coming in at the side from the maul that's set upfrom Malcolm Marx's throw.
Replacement Adam Beard is the guilty man.
Steyn turns down the three points to kick the ball into the corner.
- Giacomo Pisa
SOUTH AFRICA A 17-13 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
68. De Klerk stabs a kick into the Lions corner that puts Watson under real pressure.
He can't gather it cleanly in the Lions goal area but luckily for him Daly is there to clean up and hack into touch.
- Giacomo Pisa
REES-DAMMIT!
That's how close Louis Rees-Zammit was to putting the Lions ahead.
You can't come much closer than that.
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