Photo Credit - Gallo Images
It all came down to the last eighty minutes of a month-long tour that decided the fate of the 2021 Castle Lager Lions Series. Morné Steyn's penalty with 1 minute to go sealed the test for the Springboks with 19-16.
A very even test with the B&I Lions maybe a tad unlucky to have lost this test. This is rugby.
11:20 Handré Pollard converted the Springboks first penalty for an early lead (03-00).
15:54 Finn Russell converted the Lions first penalty to level scores (03-03).
18:29 Ken Owens score the Lions first try from the back of a 5m lineout maul (03-10).
20:00 The momentum with the Lions at this stage as they are clearly intent on upping the tempo on the game.
35:55 Handré Pollard converted a second penalty for the Springboks (06-10).
40:00 The series decider is still up for grabs with the Springboks clawing their way back into contention. The Lions started to dominate with several stupid mistakes being made by the Springboks, however, at the end of the half, the Springboks did look a lot better.
56:08 Cheslin Kolbe scored the Springboks first try after horrible defence by the Lions (13-10).
60:00 The momentum has shifted in favour of the Springboks at this stage, however still anybody's game.
62:33 Finn Russell level the scores with a converted penalty (13-13).
66:14 Morné Steyn converted his first penalty (16-13).
74:34 Finn Russell level the scores again (16-16).
78:48 Morné Steyn converted his second penalty (19-16).
Scorers:
Springboks: Try: Cheslin Kolbe. Conversion: Handré Pollard. Penalties: Handré Pollard, Morné Steyn (2).
B&I Lions: Try: Ken Owens. Conversion: Finn Russell. Penalties: Finn Russell (3).
Springboks: 15. Willie le Roux, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Handré Pollard, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Jasper Wiese, 7. Franco Mostert, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 5. Lood de Jager, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16. Malcolm Marx , 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Marco van Staden, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Herschel Jantjies, 22. Morné Steyn, 23. Damian Willemse.
The British & Irish Lions: 15. Liam Williams, 14. Josh Adams, 13. Robbie Henshaw, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Duhan van der Merwe, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Ali Price, 8. Jack Conan, 7. Tom Curry, 6. Courtney Lawes, 5. Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4. Maro Itoje, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 2. Ken Owens, 1. Wyn Jones. Replacements: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Mako Vunipola, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Adam Beard, 20. Sam Simmonds, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Finn Russell, 23. Elliot Daly.