British and Irish Lions vs South Africa LIVE: First test result and reaction in Cape Town

The Lions need to start fast in this second 40 and that is a good start. South Africa concede a penalty soon after resumption and the Lions will have a lineout in the opposition’s 22.

The second half is underway.

It is hard to tell Warren Gatland’s expression behind the fancy initialled mask, but I doubt it’s a smile on the face of the Lions head coach.

South Africa are making a half-time change or two - three, in fact! As predicted, it’s that vaunted replacement front row introduced. Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe brought on; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Trevor Nyakane come off shift at the abattoir.

A ratheer damning description from Ronan O’Gara on Sky Sports on his perception of affairs so far: “You get the feeling there are people in red jerseys not convinced about what they’re trying to execute.”

He’s not wrong, but that’s pretty punchy from the La Rochelle head coach. Henshaw’s break was the one moment they have managed to work the ball into any sort of space whatsoever and there has been precious little invention, with Duhan van der Merwe anonymous and Elliot Daly struggling to make an impact. Daly’s most prominent moment was being the magician’s assistant as Lukhanyo Am sawed him in half early on, and the Lions never really settled down after that immediate defensive statement from the Springboks. It has been very, very impressive from South Africa, who will feel they have more to come.

The Lions, though, have managed to stay in it, and greater accuracy from the tee from Dan Biggar and an extra couple of Weetabix in Elliot Daly’s bowl this morning and they might have trailed by just three. Maro Itoje has been magnificent but otherwise the forward pack has failed to impose itself and we have seen precious little of any of the backs. Just the one linebreak, that one late on from Robbie Henshaw, in that half for Warren Gatland’s side.

It’s been physical and frantic in Cape Town with neither side settling into an attacking rhythm, but South Africa have had the better of things so far. They’ve blitzed the Lions and largely won the key collisions, and Handre Pollard’s right boot has propelled them to a nine-point lead.

Both sides have competed hard at the breakdown and both coaches will be keen for greater security in that area, but South Africa have looked largely untroubled otherwise. They have definitely had the physical edge - Pieter-Steph du Toit and Lukhanyo Am continue to lead that formidable defence superbly.

Lineout, maul is the option from South Africa, but after initial progress it is stalled by the Lions’ defensive consolidation behind it. Faf de Klerk has seen enough and follows the ball down the tunnel.

There is time enough left in the half for the scrum and we are deep into the red when it is eventually set after a couple of resets. Rory Sutherland is penalised for hinging on the engage, and that might do it for the first 40 minutes...

No! South Africa wish to play on! They kick the penalty straight over the touchline from deep in their 22 and on we will go.

Is that a crucial missed chance? For the first time the Lions make a telling break of the South African defensive line, Robbie Henshaw’s footwork taking him inside the widest defender and able to accelerate beyond Siya Kolisi.

There are teammates arriving in support but Henshaw forgets his basics, grasping the ball loosely in a single arm and thus vulnerable to a desperate strip tackle from a recovering Willie Le Roux, who spares Handre Pollard a pressure last-ditch tackle by jolting the ball free from Henshaw’s grip. Henshaw grits his teeth and shouts his frustration - if he’d got a pass away or powered through Pollard the line was all of 15 metres away.