Springboks vs British and Irish Lions Live scores

Nigel Owens. Photo by EJ Langner/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Springboks beat British and Irish Lions to take the series 2-1

Springboks vs British and Irish Lions live scores: The series comes down to a decider in the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday 7 August.

by James Richardson

07-08-2021 18:12

in British & Irish Lions Tour

Nigel Owens. Photo by EJ Langner/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Morné Steyn kicked a match-winning penalty goal two minutes from time to earn the Springboks a 19-16 win over the British & Irish Lions in their third and final Test at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

Springboks vs British and Irish Lions: Scores

Springboks vs British and Irish Lions: Report

Steyn’s kick ensured a 2-1 win in the Lions Series for the Springboks.

The Springboks were trailing 10-6 at the break and a much improved second half effort eventually saw them home. It needed a surgical intervention from Cheslin Kolbe, whose brilliance ensured the Springboks seized control in the second half.

The Lions traded three more penalties with the Boks, after that, every time to draw level, but with three minutes left, the tourists conceded the penalty that would split the two sides over a three-Test battle that was fought until the bitter end.

The Springboks had a great opportunity to score six minutes into the Test. A good attack down the left saw Lukanyo Am being tackled five meters short, but the next pass was dropped. Advantage was played by referee Mathieu Raynal and the Boks were awarded a penalty for offside play by the red team. Pollard slotted and the Boks were 3-0 up.

Biggar cried off injured just ten minutes into the game and Finn Russell took his place.

Russell was was quickly into action with a penalty goal four minutes later. The Bok scrum was penalised just outside of their red zone and the Scotsman kicked his first points of the series to draw scores level.

That soon became a lead to the Lions as Ken Owens was driven over from short range. The Boks were penalised for a high tackle and Russell kicked to the corner. The Boks seemed to check the first Lions drive, but a second shove saw no resistance and Owens scored. Russell’s conversion was spot-on for a 10-3 lead after 20 minutes.

The Springboks would have been happy to go into the break trailing by just four with the Lions failing to make pressure pay.

The Springboks had more intent, but there was not enough thrust in their attacking efforts. When Kolbe was taken high by Russell, the next opportunity for points, 52 minutes in, Pollard missed again and the Boks were still chasing the game

Kolbe then worked his magic of making defenders look silly and when Pollard kicked the conversion, and the Boks held a three-point advantage

The second half was turning into a nailbiter. Russell kicked a 46-meter effort after Jasper Wiese was ruled offside and Steyn, who just replaced Pollard at flyhalf, got a first look at the sticks a minute later. He slotted the penalty goal and after 65 minutes the Boks had the lead again.

The Lions had a penalty right in front of the Springbok poles after 70 minutes but instead of levelling the scores opted for a line-out drive. That was stopped as the Lions were held up over the line. From the resulting scrum, South Africa was awarded the penalty that allowed Steyn to clear the danger.

A turn-over as the Boc tried to maul into the Lions half gave the the tourists another penalty and this time Russell slotted to draw scores even again at 16-16.

Herschel Jantjies chased one high in the night sky, and from the resulting melee, the Boks found themselves on the right side of the penalty. Steyn then slotted the series-winning penalty.

Result of third and series-deciding Test between South Africa and British and Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday:

South Africa 19 British and Irish Lions 16

H-t: 6-10

Series: South Africa win 2-1

Scorers

South Africa: Try – Cheslin Kolbe. Conversion – Handre Pollard. Penalties – Pollard (2), Morne Steyn (2)

Lions: Try – Ken Owens. Conversion – Finn Russell. Penalties – Russell (3)

Springboks vs British and Irish Lions – Teams

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 (captain), 5. Lood de Jager, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 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

British & Irish Lions

15. Liam Williams (Wales), 14. Josh Adams (Wales), 13. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), 12. Bundee Aki (Ireland), 11. Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), 10. Dan Biggar (Wales), 9. Ali Price (Scotland), 8. Jack Conan (Ireland), 7. Tom Curry (England), 6. Courtney Lawes (England), 5. Alun Wyn Jones (captain – Wales), 4. Maro Itoje (England), 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 2. Ken Owens (Wales), 1. Wyn Jones (Wales)

Substitutes: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), 17. Mako Vunipola (England), 18. *Kyle Sinckler (England) – subject to outcome of disciplinary hearing, 19. Adam Beard (Wales), 20. Sam Simmonds (England), 21. Conor Murray (Ireland), 22. Finn Russell (Scotland), 23. Elliot Daly (England)