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.”
South Africa 27-9 Lions
The Lions were braced for a Bok-lash but that was an emphatic response by South Africa. 21 unanswered points in a second-half masterclass of muscle and might, winning by brain, by boot and by, above all, brawn to completely shut down the Lions. That is a properly impressive performance, and you’d say those Test match legs and lungs are back after so long away.
FULL TIME! SOUTH AFRICA 27-9 BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS
PENALTY! SOUTH AFRICA 27-9 Lions (Handre Pollard penalty, 80 minutes)
A last exclamation point - on to next week.
South Africa 24-9 Lions, 79 minutes
High fives and hugs in the South African coaches’ box - a penalty their team’s way, and Pollard will take us into the red with one final shot at the posts.
South Africa 24-9 Lions, 78 minutes
Another maul to waste some seconds by South Africa, but eventually the Lions bring it down for little territorial gain. Lood De Jager knocks on, and Maro Itoje tears away.
What can the Lions muster from deep in their own territory? It’s a Saracens routine, Owen Farrell chipping for Elliot Daly, but a Munster-man (of sorts) is fastest to it - Damian de Allende collects.
South Africa 24-9 Lions, 77 minutes
No, it isn’t - that’s a perfect shot from Franco Mostert, on the upper arm of Owen Farrell.
One more check - Elliot Daly slips and Lukhanyo Am has made contact in the general neck area. That’s fine, too - penalty to South Africa! Alun Wyn Jones shakes his head, ear and nose pouring with blood, war wounds from a battle his side are going to lose. South Africa kick to inside the Lions 22.
South Africa 24-9 Lions, 77 minutes
The Lions will try to take something more with them, and they play on, but struggle as South Africa’s linespeed continues to intoxicate. But is that a shoulder charge from Franco Mostert? A penalty to the Springboks for holding on at the moment.
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