How they rated

STUART HOGG

Turned over while counterattacking after taking an up and under, leading to Pollard’s second penalty. Just too many mistakes, not least in the aerial battle.

ANTHONY WATSON

Very under-used. Didn’t get a chance to run until just before the half-hour mark and suffered more than any Lions player because of the scrappy arm-wrestle nature of the encounter.

CHRIS HARRIS

Thunderous hit on Lukhanyo Am in the opening exchanges and played his part in ensuring the Bok midfield made very little headway.

ROBBIE HENSHAW

Denied a first-half try by an incredible piece of defensive work by Siya Kolisi. Always a willing runner but was stymied by the stop-start fare.

DUHAN V DER MERWE

Yellow-carded for a daft trip on Cheslin Kolbe, harassed under the high ball and couldn’t make the yards he has previously achieved.

DAN BIGGAR

Mixed up his kicking well first half. Missed penalty to touch at the end of the first half and then hit the post with an effort at goal in the 50th minute.

CONOR MURRAY

Slow to the breakdown on a couple of occasions. Didn’t occupy the Bok back row enough and his style may now be a bit predictable.

STAR MAN: TADHG FURLONG

Once again showed he could match the power the Boks threw his way and more. Had the measure of Steven Kitshoff in the scrum, even though referee Ben O’Keeffe didn’t always see it that way.

REPLACEMENTS

Ken Owens 3; Rory Sutherland 3; Kyle Sinckler 5; Tadhg Beirne 5; Taulupe Faletau 4; Ali Price 4; Owen Farrell 4; Elliot Daly 5.

SOUTH AFRICA

Le Roux; Kolbe, Am, de Allende, Mapimpi; Pollard, de Klerk; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi, Wiese, P du Toit, Replacements: Marx, Nyakane, Koch, De Jager, van Staden, Smith, H. Jantjies, Willemse.

REFEREE

Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand).

MAKO VUNIPOLA

Got over the gainline in contact and brought power in the loose. Clung on in the scrum at times. Run out of steam by time he was subbed in the 57th minute.

LUKE COWAN-DICKIE

Showed great understanding with Itoje in the line-out and hit his targets well first half. Questionable whether he has the all-court game needed in this series.

MARO ITOJE

Two brilliant line-out steals before half-time. Took no nonsense off Eben Etzebeth in the first half, but found himself outgunned as the game wore on.

ALUN WYN JONES

Skipper set the tone by manhandling Bongi Mbonambi and eyeballing Etzebeth in the third minute, but like so many colleagues he tired as the game reached the final quarter.

COURTNEY LAWES

Lack of expertise at the breakdown was exposed at times by a Bok eight that targeted this area. Tired in the second half.

TOM CURRY

Couldn’t make his presence felt at the breakdown in the way the Lions need their openside to do. Long 80-minute shift but was obliterated by the end.

JACK CONAN

Relished the ball-carrying duties despite relative lack of bulk. Anchored well at the base of a scrum, but the Lions require more ferocity at No.8.