South Africa 9-28 Lions: As It Happened

by Brendan Cole

FULL-TIME: SOUTH AFRICA 9-28 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS

78 mins Boks throw to Matfield and then up and under where Olivier takes a super catch over his head above Kearney.

Lions then turnover and Bowe has a go down the right touchline.

Williams gets it then but is hit hard and lifted backwards.

Lions are in pick and go mode, eating the clock.

Penalty is eventually called as the hooter goes - just time fore the Boks to spin wide where Spies gets it but Heaslip strips him.

Stephen Jones then gets it and kicks to touch - a win for the Lions.

Great work, and no one can deny they deserved it.

77 mins Scrum is solid but not quite right. Clock is burning up.

Will the Lions have a cut?

No. Ellis takes it and chips down the line and into touch.

76 mins David Wallace is on.

Jones takes the lineout at the front. Little maul and Ellis then kicks. Steyn again charges back. Juan Smith is then fed but Mike Phillips hits him and the Boks seven knocks it on.

76 mins Did he flick the line with his toe?

Bryce Lawrence is the man who will decide.......

After much humming and hawing - it is very tight - and they decide on foot in touch!

Everything is going there way this week........

75 mins Boks kick the corner.

Spies bangs up the middle from ball to the tail.

Moved wide then to Ndungane and he gets over in the corner but was he in touch?

73 mins Alun-Wyn Jones takes a superb catch and the Lions work it down the short side, with Ellis getting a few yards. Kicked cross field then, where Steyn takes it.

Spies lines up a charge but is downed - moved right then and Kankowski makes some yards. Advantage to Boks is sshowing but they don't need it, with Steyn charging into the Lions 22.

Turned over there though.

Pen Boks is then given - seems to be for delaying at the ruck,

72 mins Lions will take a shot at goal.

Kick is good from near dead in front.

71 mins Lions take the restart and Jones kicks. Little follow through on him by Du Plessis and a penalty is given up by the 22 - where it landed.

South Africa 6-25 Lions

71 mins Bad call by the ref you have to say.

Jones knocks it over anyway.

69 mins O'Connell wins it really well and then makes yards on the deck. Pick and go is next with Ford starting them off. O'Connell then passes to Heaslip, who again makes a few yards. Martyn Williams then gets it but a pass goes astray.

Boks then try to pass but Phillips gets a hack on the pass - which was poor - and the Lions are charging after it. The Boks win the race and down the ball.

Full blown fight breaks out then. Spies and Phillips start it off and everyone gets involved pretty quickly.

Pushing and shoving ensues and the call is eventually against Brussow for putting Phillips on the deck.

68 mins Ndungane takes the restart but is tackled by Alun-Wyn Jones - superb tackle.

Worsley is off. Croft is in as well.

Steyn then kicks it but can't get it much beyond his own 22.

Lions lineout.

South Africa 9-22 Lions

65 mins Ndungane up and unders the drop out but Heaslip takes. Jones kicks and this time Steyn runs it back powerfully. At the rucik, a penalty agains the Lions is given on their own 10 metre line.

Morne Steyn will have a shot at goal from out on the left. The Blue Bull gets it to keep the Boks just about in touch.

64 mins Steyn kicks to the Lions 22 but the ball to the tail is called crooked.

Lions scrum and again it is a mess but they get it out and Jones kicks down the middle. Steyn lines up a huge drop at goal from inside his own half but he pulls it left and wide from about 60 metres or more.

62 mins Scrum is messy but Ellis tidies up. Static ball by the touchline and the Boks turn over a pick and go.

They run it with Olivier making yards and feeding Steyn, who rushes into the Lions half and charging over Monye.

Fourie and Nokwe then get it before Stephen Jones makes the hit. Penalty against the Lions is then given.

Spies is then brought on to the wing it seems.

60 mins Ball is a long one and Brussow takes. Boks move it wide but are contained. Moved back across but the Boks are up quickly and the Boks take contact, where Olivier is blown up for hanging on to the ball.

Just outside Jones' range but Rob Kearney is to have a shot from just inside his own half.

Just wide from Kearney but a good effort. Frans Steyn takes and kicks where Bowe fields and Phillips up and unders. Bit long.

Bowe then gets a return kick and chips. Heaslip then takes it and drives forward with Brussow limpet like on the ball.

Scrum Lions is called.

57 mins O'Connell takes and gives to Ellis who box kicks. Boks take it and move it across the backline to Nokwe. Ruan Pienaar then has a go down the short side but Stephen Jones just gets to him and puts him in touch.

Lions lineout and they maul it - very well.

Ellis then gets it and chips but Nokwe takes it and passes to Steyn, who kicks long. Kearney fumbles but doesn't knock on and bangs it back into the Boks half.-

57 mins Kirchner off for Frans Steyn - the Boks starting 15 has been awful.

First scrum for Hayes.....

He does well, making yards against 'Beast'.

Scrum falls apart a bit but the Lions win and go to pick and go.

Jones then chips but F Steyn reads it and kicks long into the Lions half.

56 mins Boks get the restart and are running it on the halfway line. Not making much ground and it ends when Matfield knocks it on.

55 mins Kirchner again at fault there, running a wide line too close to the Lions line.

John Hayes is on for Vickery and Harry Ellis has come on for Flutey, who is injured there. Phillips will play in the centre.......

South Africa 6-22 Lions

54 mins Huge turnaround there and Jones knocks the kick over this time.

52 mins Mtawirara won that one.

Kick to corner is the choice. Kankowski takes and the Boks try to maul but the Lions drive it back and it falls over.

Boks try some drives before moving it right left Monye makes the intercept!!!!!

Again, under the sticks.

50 mins Morne Streyn punts downfield.

Replay shows some choking by Du Plessis on Ford....not spotted.

Lineout is clever - short throw to the tail where Pienaar gets it and charges up the middle. From the ruck, it is swiftly moved right and Kirchner is almost over.

Bowe's tackle is good though and Kirchner's offload goes down and forward.

Penalty is called agains the Lions in the scrum though.

49 mins Boks win the lineout but the crashball man spills it. Lions run it back and make some good carries but Ford is eventually blown up, again for doing too much with his body on the deck.

48 mins Lineout is a trick one and Ford is fed by Phillips down the tramlines. Set up there and then moved right, where Heaslip crashes up the middle. Good stuff.

Next move is right again but the ball goes to deck. Kearney tidies up but it is blown up for a penalty - Kearney doing too much on the deck.

47 mins Lineout is poor and Phillips opt to chip a high floaty ball. Kirchner takes the pass and punts directly into touch - carried in to the 22 so it is all the way back.

45 mins Muller wins the lineout and Kankowskie is fed and charges. Pienaar then gets it and takes an age on the ball before feeding the number eight again.

Fourie then adds some go forward, Punching through the middle.

Ndungane then gets some space and almost makes it but is just hauled down.

Moved right then and O'Connell steps up, getting over the ball and getting a holding on call. Kicked into the Boks half.

42 mins Scrum is solid with the Lions maybe doing better. Olivier is the runner again - taking and inside line - but Flutey hits him. Settles into attritional stuff and the Lions turn it over through Sheridan and Vickery.

Moved right where Kearney feeds Monye on a cut. He is tackled and they move it right where Tommy Bowe gets through the middle! He stumbles nad is taken down but the Lions are in the Boks 22 and retaining the ball.

More pick and goes and hits and the Lions are under the Boks sticks, where Dickinson blows it up for holding on. Brussow again the man.

Boks punt to halfway.

41 mins Bismarck Du Plessis is on for Ralapelle and - big one - Ruan Pienaar is on for Fourie Du Preez - who is out of the game after getting a couple of knocks.

Lions kick out to the Boks 22. Steyn clears long and Kearney up and unders back.

Heaslip gets it on the deck, muscling some Boks out of the way.

The Lions then move it wide, offloading and taking hits without breaking through. Moved across the field with no breakthrough.

Eventually, Fourie turns it over on the deck and the Boks kick it long. Williams kicks it back - not great but the Boks let it bounce before Ndungane gets it.

Ruck forms but no sign of the ball and it is scrum Boks.

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Replays show that Boks first centre Wynand Olivier's has been at fault for both tries - letting Heaslip trample him, and giving up on chasing Shane Williams and Riki Flutey once they chipped him.

Pity they Lions have given up five points; for the conversion on which the ball fell, and the penalty arising out of Kearney's missed touch at the end.

From 6-15 the Lions have work to do.

HALF-TIME: SOUTH AFRICA 6-15 LIONS

40 mins Boks run it back through Du Preez and briefly look threatening.

Lions are then penalised for a rucking offence.

Steyn lines it up and puts it over for what may be a key score.

38 mins Free kick Boks is given and they tap and go.

From that ruck, Heaslip is pinged for taking Fourie Du Preez. The Boks tap again and Sheridan stops the man without retreating at all.

Close to the wind.

Boks turn down the shot at goal and kick the corner.

Nothing doing in the forwards and the it is moved to the right, where Flutey makes a superb hit on Olivier. From that, the Lions get a penalty under their own posts.

Kearney kicks but doesn't make touch.....

37 mins Boks kick to just on the Lions 22.

Kankowskie takes and the Boks attempt a maul. Heaslip takes Shaw's place and breaks it up.

On the deck, the Lions almost win it but it is blown up for a scrum to the Boks, just inside the Lions 22.

36 mins Matthew Rees is forced off - looks dazed - and Ross Ford is on.

Lineout ball is scrappy and Du Preez goes back and takes it on the deck, where Simon Shaw's knees bang into his back. Hard.

Yellow card for Shaw is the call - linesman came in. Hard to disagree with that.

34 mins Williams takes a box kick and then gets a bit of room down the middle - Martyn Williams then supports and the Lions set it up through O'Connell.

Bowe gets it then and chips and charges in the middle but can't quite take it.

Lions then move it left where they ruck but Heaslip is blown for an illegal hit at the ruck.

Boks punt to inside the Lions half.

33 mins Drop is long and Phillips return. Du Preez' punt back is also too long and Kearney marks it. He kicks to inside the Boks half.

Joe Worsley was off there for Croft but he is back.

South Africa 3-15 Lions

31 mins Throw is called crooked.

Scrum Boks is taken. Goes down first time and Dickinson is again taking an interest.

Sheridan/Smit side is the focus this time - both too low in the hit.

Boks are shoved back this time but Du Preez gets it away. Lions turn it over and move it right to Riki Flutey who executes a phenomenal play to give Shane Williams his second try!

Flutey chips the winger and gets to the ball first where he flicks it over his shoulder to Williams who does really well to catch it and again score under the posts.

Conversion is won this time.

29 mins Lineout is won and Bowe gets it from off the top ball and makes good yards.

Moved right next and Flutey sets it up in midfield.

Bowe and Kearney show good hands in a tight space to spring Williams who cross kicks. Nobody there for it and Steyn punts it to inside the Lions half from inside his own in goal.

Lions lineout.

28 mins Lions need a good one from Vickery.

Penalty Lions is given this time - against 'Beast' again for an illegal hit.

Kearney punts the penalty downfield.

27 mins Boks break down the left - good scrum by them - and Du Preez feeds Ndungane brilliantly with a flicked pass. Maybe forward but not given.

He makes ground down the right touchline and then tries to float a pass back infield but Heaslips stretches and catches on the second go, and sets up the ruck instead of going into touch.

Scrum is given to the Lions.

Frans Steyn is off for Fourie.

25 mins Boks take the short restart - Du Preez getting it I think.

He then gets out of the ruck and up and unders. This time, Kearney can't take it and knocks on high in the air.

Fourie may be back as it is for blood.

Scrum Boks

South Africa 3-8 Lions

23 mins Frans Steyn is on for Jaque Fourie.

Lions turn another linout and Bowe makes ground down the right.

Heaslip gets it next and hp clear - bashing into a tackle and getting up - not held - he then passes to Shane Williams who scores under the sticks!

Little block from Shaw helped a lot......

The ball falls off the kicking tee and Jones scrambled attempt at a drop goal is wide.

22 mins Lions scrum is strong but the Boks move it and get a numbers mismatch - Fourie gets through briefly.

Moved right then and the Lions are scrambling. Worsley makes a big hit and on the next move, it needs auperb tackle by Rees stops Ndungane from scoring a try - though Kearney might just have had him covered.

The Lions then turn it over and Phillips boots it clear.

21 mins The Boks try to maul but Simon Shaw battles his way through the middle and takes the back man down - great stuff!

Boks try a chip and it bounces in front of Kearney and he can't take it and knocks it on. Scrum Boks just inside the Lions 10 metre line.

18 mins Scrum is tough. 'Stay straight' is Dickinson's advice to the 'Beast'.

Next two scrums drop and again, Mtawirara looks troubled.

'Straight' says Dickinson again. Free kick Lions is given.

Damn you Bryce Lawrence!

Lions tap and go. Flutey again makes yards and Worlsey gets it next but is stripped of the ball by the tackler.

Steyn puts it high and Kearney takes it and is hit by Smith. Lions win the ruck and Jones kicks. The Boks run this one and Bowe gets up to charge Kirchner's kick - lineout just inside the Boks half to them.

17 mins Steyn punts to just outside the Lions 22.

Smith claims and it is again moved wide off the top but the ball goes to ground. Nokwe then gets it on the wing and knocks it on.

16 mins Lions win the lineout and Flutey gets the ball in the middle and beats a man. Phillps then takes it on but Brussow forces the holding on call.

15 mins Boks attempt a maul but the Lions knock it over - by driving hard so it is legit.

Du Preez kicks high but too long and Kearney marks.

He kicks it back into touch in the Boks half.

11 mins Jones kicks off high down the middle. Kirchner fields and is taken down. Kearney gets it and puts up an up and under which he then takes over Kirchner - brilliant!

Williams chips down the right wing but Flutey is pinged for offside. Boks run the penalty through Du Preez and get to halfway, where Juan Smith is hit hard.

Moved right and Matfield drops it and the Lions start running it back with Sheridan andf Vickery both make good ground and the Lions offload and penetrate but are eventually turned over.

Steyn punts it long and Kearney has to scramble back. His return doesn't make touch and Du Preez runs back.

Steyn then has a drop goal shot but is way short and Monye clears it.

South Africa 3-3 Lions

10 mins Boks win at the tail and put Olivier up the middle. Moved left then and Heaslip is pinged for killing the ball - not releasing the tackled player.

Morne Steyn bangs it over.

9 mins Restart is long. Williams takes - bobbles it a bit - and kicks poorly to the 22.

South Africa 0-3 Lions

8 mins Another hectic series there, and both sides pause for breath.

First scrum.....Lions gets the drive on and Vickery pops Mtawirara out of the scrum - brilliant for him - and gets given the penalty.

Total reverse of the first Test!

Lions will have a shot again, this time from just outside the 22 and dead in front.

Jones slots it easily.

5 mins O'Connell just takes the lineout and Rees has to tidy up. Phillips then has a go but is turned over. Kirchner punts a long one downfield. Kearney takes and hits an up and under.

Boks claim and run Brussow up the middle before kicking through Steyn. Again, the Lions touched it and the Boks get a hack on it.

Kearney tidies it up and then beats two men before making a good 50 yards.

Lions work the ball up to the Boks 22 where Bowe knocks on trying an offload.

4 min Shaw claims a high dropout but again, the Boks are in among them. Kankowski then gives away another pen for going at Phillips without the ball. Jones punts the penalty into the Boks 22.

1-4 min Heaslip did well there - hanging on to the ball to win the pen.

Ball is off the top to Phillips, who smacks into John Smit. Matthew Rees goes next but is turned over. Untidy though, and Williams gets a hack through. Boks return a kick to WIlliams. Ball touched in flight and the Boks are all onside.

They turn it over and kick again.

Lions then get in the corner - Kearney taking and countering. Martyn Williams is there again and breaks through before feeding O'Connell.

Lions made good ground out of their 22 and Williams is running the show. Long sequence ends with a pen to the Lions for more illegal rucking. Penalty from not too far out is taken and Jones puts it wide.

1 mins Morne Steyn kicks off - high and his men get under it. They get the ball too, but are penalised for killing the ball by going off their feet in the ruck.

Jones punts it downfield to the Lions 10 metre line.

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2.02pm 'Justice' is written on the armbands and they wore them before to complain about contracts and the likes....this time, it's to protest about Bakkies Botha's two-week ban

No mention of Schalk........

2pm Boks are all wearing white armbands (will try to find out why). Camera picks up Jaque Fourie - one of the tour's big questions: how did Adi Jacobs get near that team with Fourie available?

Anthem time.......

2pm Kick-off in a couple of minutes - Ellis ('Coca Cola') Park not full by any means but plenty of Lions fans are there. Make your way down there if you're nearby......

Paul O'Connell leads his men out. Shane Williams is - a habit for him - last man out. Do they have enough leaders to back him up?

Boks are next. John Smit leads them out - big roar for the Boks; they look pretty stoked.....

1.45pm Can the Lions avoid the whitewash? There's a strange feeling around this Test with both sides feeling vastly different teams from last week:

South Africa v The Lions, Saturday, 2pm

South Africa: 15-Z Kirchner, 14-O Ndungane, 13-J Fourie, 12-W Olivier, 11- J Nokwe; 10-M Steyn, 9-F du Preez); 1-T Mtawarira, 2-C Ralepelle, 3-J Smit, 4-J Muller, 5-V Matfield, 6-H Brussow, 7-J Smith, 8-R Kankowski

Replacements: 16-B du Plessis, 17-G Steenkamp, 18-D Carstens, 19-S Sykes, 20-P Spies, 21-R Pienaar, 22-F Steyn.

Lions: 15-Rob Kearney, 14-Ugo Monye, 13-Tommy Bowe, 12-Riki Flutey, 11-Shane Williams, 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Mike Phillips, 8-Jamie Heaslip, 7-Martyn Williams, 6-Joe Worsley, 5-Paul O'Connell (captain), 4-Simon Shaw, 3-Phil Vickery, 2-Matthew Rees, 1-Andrew Sheridan.

Replacements: 16-Ross Ford, 17-John Hayes, 18-Alun-Wyn Jones, 19-David Wallace, 20-Tom Croft, 21-Harry Ellis, 22-James Hook.

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