British and Irish Lions vs South Africa LIVE: Second test result and reaction in Cape Town
Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am scored tries to turn the tide after a 9-6 deficit at half-time
South Africa’s backs Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am scored second half tries as the Springboks beat the British & Irish Lions 27-9 to win Saturday’s second test at the Cape Town Stadium and level the series.
Handre Pollard added five penalties and a conversion for a 17-point contribution while the Lions points all came off the boot of Dan Biggar in a niggly and ill-tempered contest that again was one for the purists rather than the enthusiast.
The result sets up a decider next Saturday after the Lions had won an attritional first test 22-17.
The Lions were 9-6 up at halftime but the Springboks bounced back with a dominant second half performance that turned the tide of the game.
“Momentum swings both ways,” Robbie Henshaw said on Sky Sports. “South Africa came out in the second half and got a bit of an edge on us in an arm-wrestle game. But a positive is that in the final Test next week, it is all to play for, which makes it exciting.
“We have to pick ourselves up next week and come back stronger. It is all to play for next week. It is finals rugby and at the top level. Everyone is going to be up for it, so it is going to be an exciting week.”
TRY? We will check South Africa 11-9 Lions
Show! Of! Force! Or is it? We will check...
It’s a kick through from Faf de Klerk that Lukhanyo Am chases, and appears on first view to have got the ball down just short of the dead-ball line. But has he knocked it on? It’s mighty tight.
South Africa 11-9 Lions, 60 minutes
Anthony Watson is the man doing the chasing on this occasion as the Lions go kick-for-kick. Both sides have clearly been enjoying the taekwondo.
Watson contacts Handre Pollard marginally early in the air. Penalty to South Africa.
Taulupe Faletau is introduced for Jack Conan, and Rory Sutherland and Kyle Sinckler have joined proceedings, too, in the front row. Looks like South Africa have brought on their replacement props as well - Vincent Koch on the tighthead and Trevor Nyakane in shirt number 17.
South Africa 11-9 Lions, 58 minutes
Stolen by Lood de Jager! There are few bigger than the Sale second row and he is thrown up to steal the throw of Ken Owens, also on.
South Africa kick high...and Stuart Hogg gathers cleanly! He’s engulfed by a group of South Africans like a foreign substance in phagocytosis, but as it is from a kick, it will be a Lions scrum as the maul collapses legally.
South Africa 11-9 Lions, 57 minutes
Also sent for soon after is Malcolm Marx, whose first job is a familiar one - to throw a lineout. He hits his jumper.
Another high kick and Duhan van der Merwe can’t take it! The Lions are very, very lucky the ball hops over the touchline and not into waiting South African hands. Owen Farrell comes on for Dan Biggar; Ali Price on for Conor Murray as the Lions switch their half-backs.
South Africa 11-9 Lions, 55 minutes
And even that is given the mortarboard treatment as it is tossed skywards by Dan Biggar, Robbie Henshaw chasing brilliantly (again), but unable to cleanly gather once more.
South Africa clear out of play. Lood de Jager is coming on - for Jasper Wiese. Interesting. Franco Mostert to the blindside, Kwagga Smith to number eight, you’d say. Intriguing change, though not one uncalled for given the game situation.
South Africa 11-9 Lions, 54 minutes
Relief for both sides, if not for those with pressing early dinner engagements, as everyone takes a pause to take on some fluids and strap everything back on before the scrum.
South Africa begin to get a rumble on as Steven Kitshoff marches Tadhg Furlong back, but “use it!” is the call from Ben O’Keeffe, and when they fail to do so, it’ll be a free kick to the Lions.
South Africa 11-9 Lions, 53 minutes
Down goes Alun Wyn Jones! It’s the moustachioed Jasper Wiese delivering his typical punishment to the Lions captain, thumping him back with a perfect tackle.
To the air once more go the Lions, and Robbie Henshaw gets up above of Wiese well, but his attempted tap back strays forward.
MISSED PENALTY! South Africa 11-9 Lions, 52 minutes
Clang! Against the post! On small margins games can be decided and Biggar’s kick looks good all the way, but it just draws a tiny bit at the last moment to collide with the inside of the upright and out into play.
Franco Mostert does superbly to scoop it up and pass to Faf de Klerk, who combines with Makazole Mapimpi to clear.
South Africa 11-9 Lions, 50 minutes
A free kick now and Conor Murray is bored of the set-piece action, tapping and playing quickly. The Lions are well-managed and stood up in a tackle on the right, but a knee just about grazes the fibres of this struggling surface, and when the Springboks then rip the ball way a tackle had been called by the referee.
A penalty the Lions’ way and Dan Biggar will line up his toughest penalty of the evening so far...
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