Lions lose 17-13 to South Africa A in 1st tour defeat
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) - A South Africa A team packed with 11 members of the World Cup-winning Springboks squad beat the British and Irish Lions 17-13 on Wednesday to hand the touring team their first defeat.
South Africa A led 17-3 after first-half tries by wing Sbu Nkosi and center and captain Lukhanyo Am.
The Lions closed to within four points after a try by prop Wyn Jones and eight points from the boot of Owen Farrell. That revival came early in the second half with the hosts down to 13 men after yellow cards for scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and flanker Marco van Staden, who went to the sin-bin within minutes of each other just before the break.
But the Lions couldn't get closer than those four points, although they went within inches of a late try by Louis Rees-Zammit.
Defeat was a setback for the Lions, who have beaten domestic teams by 40 points or more in their first three tour games.
Although the Lions weren't at full strength, and South Africa A wasn't quite a full Springboks team, the game had some of the intensity and physicality that's expected when the three-test series begins in Cape Town on July 24.
Tom Curry of the British & Irish Lions is taken to the ground during a rugby match between South Africa A and British and Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
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Elliot Daly of the British & Irish Lions misses the high ball during a rugby match between South Africa A and British and Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
The British and Irish Lion struggle against a driving maul during a rugby match between South Africa A and British and Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
Maro Itoje of the British & Irish Lions tries to get over Jasper Wiese of the South Africa 'A' team to the ball during a rugby match between South Africa A and British and Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
South Africa A team and British and Irish Lions get to grips during a rugby match held at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
