British and Irish Lions in numbers
The British and Irish Lions look to take the tour series with victory in the second Test over South Africa in Cape Town. A brutal first Test saw Warren Gatland’s men emerge with a storming victory after rallying in the second-half.
And now the pressure is on the Springboks to respond, though there is great tension ahead of the second meeting after comments from Boks captain Siya Kolisi, who claimed he felt disrespected by referee Nic Berry: “I didn’t feel respected and I feel I wasn’t given a fair opportunity.”
Kolisi’s comments and those of Mzwandile Stick have fanned the flames before kick-off, with Lions centre Robbie Henshaw maintains the camp is anticipating a wounded South Africa to move the ball more in what promises to be an emotional encounter.
“It’s going to be a massive challenge for us again. They’re going to be emotionally driven,” Henshaw told reporters. “Backs to the wall, they’re a dangerous team. And we know that. They’re going to be well up for it. We just need to be ready to match their power and the fire they’re going to bring. They might want to play a bit more, have their dangerous men get more touches on the ball. We need to be ready for that. There could be some new trick plays, things we haven’t seen.”
Follow live updates from Cape Town in the second Test with South Africa in a must-win scenario and Gatland’s Lions one win away from greatness.
South Africa 11-9 Lions, 46 minutes
A long way to go yet, of course, and that won’t help the South Africans. An ominously quiet Jasper Wiese drops the restart and the Lions will have a scrum inside the Springboks’ 22.
Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2021 18:26
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 11-9 Lions (Makazole Mapimpi try, 45 minutes)
Brilliant from Handre Pollard! It’s that right boot again, swapping the rocket-launcher for a little pea-shooter as he spots Makazole Mapimpi surging into space on the left, eschewing any thought of a long pass as Mapimpi advances.
He weights it perfectly, allowing Mapimpi to gather in perfect stride, and shimmy past Stuart Hogg for a delightful score.
But Pollard misses the conversion! Simple enough by his standards, and that might, might, be crucial.
Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2021 18:25
South Africa 6-9 Lions, 44 minutes
South Africa maul initially and then play away. Nothing doing so Handre Pollard looks up – another high kick…
Won back by South Africa and Damian de Allende has it in the Lions’ 22…
Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2021 18:23
South Africa 6-9 Lions, 42 minutes
Penalty to South Africa. Tadhg Furlong slips his bind, falls to floor, and Steve Kitshoff takes the plaudits form his teammates as Ben O’Keeffe whistles his approval. The Springboks advance down the right via Handre Pollard’s boot.
Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2021 18:22
South Africa 6-9 Lions, 41 minutes
As you were – up goes a high kick from Faf de Klerk after the opening phase of the second 40 minutes. Stuart Hogg comes forward to claim it…and knocks on. A second loose moment in the air from the Scotland captain.
The front rows punch in their time cards at the abattoir for the first scrum of the second half.
Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2021 18:21
South Africa 6-9 Lions: Second half
Right – time for resumption. It is only half-time and already we have had more than enough action to fill these pages for the next week and beyond. What more fun awaits? Will we be done by the time the Third Test starts? The players are back out there and ready for the restart.
Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2021 18:18
South Africa 6-9 Lions: From a new competition with a foot in both camps…
Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2021 18:16
South Africa 6-9 Lions
Both defences are going well. Siya Kolisi’s intervention to somehow prevent Robbie Henshaw scoring could look more and more crucial as the game unfolds. I’d be surprised if we survive another 40 minutes without more disciplinary drama.
Lost, a little, in the chaos was the injury to Pieter-Steph du Toit – the blindside will be a huge miss, as will the impact that a fresh Kwagga Smith might have had in the final quarter. An already wobbly Springboks lineout will struggle, too.
Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2021 18:12
South Africa 6-9 Lions
Six penalties conceded by the Lions; nine by the Springboks. It has been a properly messy half in Cape Town, a yellow card apiece and plenty for Ben O’Keefe and his officiating team to deal with. The referee has managed a tough situation reasonably well. Both yellow cards were probably just about the right call, but the breakdown has been a little all over the place – like no man’s land, but with more barbed wire.
Referee Ben O’Keeffe shows a yellow card to Duhan van der Merwe of British & Irish Lions
(Getty)
Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2021 18:10