South Africa’s wing Makazole Mapimpi scores a try during the second rugby union Test match between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions at The Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town on July 31, 2021. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP) (Photo by RODGER BOSCH/AFP via Getty Images)
Springboks overpower the British and Irish Lions to level the series
The Springboks outplayed the British and Irish Lions in the second half to claim a 27-9 win and level the series in Cape Town.
South Africa’s wing Makazole Mapimpi scores a try during the second rugby union Test match between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions at The Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town on July 31, 2021. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP) (Photo by RODGER BOSCH/AFP via Getty Images)
The British and Irish Lions series against the Springboks will go down to the wire after a brilliant display from the hosts who claimed a 27-9 win in Cape Town
The Springboks put the British and Irish Lions under pressure early on and took a shot at goal in the fifth minute with Handre Pollard slotting the kick to make it 3-0.
Lions on the prowl
It was then the Lions turn to mount some offense and after Willie Le Roux spilt a high ball, they won a penalty, which Dan Biggar slotted to level the scores.
A string of penalties swung momentum in favour of the tourists and Biggar would put them in front in the 17th minute with a second penalty goal.
The Springboks were vigorous in contact after the restart and won a penalty about 43 metres out on the angle, but Pollard pulled his kick and let the Lions off the hook.
Duhan van der Merwe was sent to the sin-bin after he kicked out at Cheslin Kolbe’s leg in a blatant act of foul play.
Moments later it was Kolbe himself who was in trouble as he played Connot Murray in the air, after a long deliberation Ben O’Keefe showed the Springbok winger a yellow card.
The first half was a stop-start affair, and it took 50 minutes to play the 29 of the Test match.
Pollard levelled the scores as the game crept over the half-hour mark on the game clock.
The Lions responded and thought they had scored a try but with no clear grounding visible, it was taken back for a penalty to the visitors. Biggar slotted the kick to restore the Lions lead.
Half time arrived with the Lions leading 9-6.
Springboks gain control
Early in the second half, the Springboks turned down a long range penalty goal in favour of setting up play, and once advantage was gained, Pollard found Makazole Mapimpi out wide with a neat cross-kick, with the winger doing well to power through two defenders to score the game’s first try.
Soon after, Biggar had a chance to put the Lions back in front, but his kick from out wide struck the upright and rebounded away, with the Springboks able to gather and clear to touch.
As the Springboks started to get a foothold in the game they put the Lions under pressure with a massive rolling maul, which was stopped illegally, with advantage called a neat little grubber from Faf de Klerk, was chased by Lukhanyo Am who dotted down. Another lengthy review followed the score was awarded and Pollard added the extras to make it 18-9 in the Boks favour.
The Springboks maul became their primary weapon, helped by some silly infringements from the British and Irish Lions who surrendered the initiative they held in the first half.
With less than ten minutes left on the clock, Pollard goaled his third penalty of the night to secure a 21-9 advantage for the Springboks.
The Springboks got into their rythym and soon had another penalty which Pollard slotted to all-but clinch the contest with time running out.
Even with that advantage, the Springboks took no chances and Pollard kicked a late penalty to make the final score 27-9.
