Itoje and Lawes stole the show
LIONS 1. RORY SUTHERLAND
A late replacement for the injured Wyn Jones, conceded a first-half scrum penalty and more effective in the loose than tight. Rating: 6 2. LUKE COWAN-DICKIE
Lost two line-outs in the first-half, but helped turn the game with his try from a maul after the break. Rating: 6 3. TADHG FURLONG
Kept the Lions’ scrum upright at the point the Springboks were on top, made his tackles count. Rating: 7 4. MARO ITOJE
What more can be said? Kept the Lions in the match in the first-half with key turnovers, dominant after the break.
Rating: 9 5. ALUN WYN JONES (C)
The bionic man played as if it was the start of the season, got stuck into everything and his call to go for a line-out after the restart was key. Rating: 8 6. COURTNEY LAWES
Held back for this match and outstanding in every facet, the main line-out target, big tackler and metre-eating carrier. Rating: 9 7. TOM CURRY
Conceded the first two penalties, the second for a late nudge on his club mate de Klerk, but provided back row balance. Rating: 6 8. JACK CONAN
Likes to roam, but tailored his approach in a kicking duel to keep it close and simple. Rating: 7 9. ALI PRICE
Struggled in the first 40 minutes, but set the tone for the second by adding distance to his box-kicks, disorienting Smith and le Roux. Rating: 7 10. DAN BIGGAR
His restarts had just enough hang time and recovered his poise after missing a goalkick. Another concussion is a big worry. Rating: 7 11. DUHAN VAN DER MERWE
Helped turn the game with his kick chasing, prowled the field looking for the ball and eclipsed Kolbe. Rating: 8 12. ROBBIE HENSHAW
Made the hard metres behind, unfortunate to lose the ball in contact in the first-half with the line beckoning. Rating: 7
13. ELLIOT DALY
Very little space to work in, conceded two penalties for not releasing and fortunate Kolbe knocked on in the build-up to a try when he indulged in shirt tugging. Rating: 6 14. ANTHONY WATSON
Had to defend more than attack and de Klerk tailored his kicks according to where the wing was standing. Rating: 6 15. STUART HOGG
Strong in the air and alert to counterattacking opportunities, justified his selection.
Rating: 7 REPLACEMENTS 16. KEN OWENS
Hit his line-out targets, got stuck in and did not seem to feel anything when the ball was booted into his face. Rating: 7 17. MAKO VUNIPOLA
Left out originally, came off the bench to anchor the scrum and make an impact around the fringes.
Rating: 8
18. KYLE SINCKLER
Not a huge amount of time, but won a scrum penalty and said why he should have been an original pick in action rather than words.
Rating: 7 19. TADHG BEIRNE
Was never going to get many minutes with Lawes rampant, but won a line-out immediately.
Rating: 6 20. HAMISH WATSON
Fortunate his tackle on le Roux was not reviewed, seemed to try too hard to make an impact.
Rating: 6 21. CONOR MURRAY
Used his experience to help the Lions see out the game in the final quarter.
Rating: 7 22. OWEN FARRELL
No better player to have on the bench when a lead has to be nursed, underestimated despite his considerable achievements.
Rating: 7
23. LIAM WILLIAMS Brought on for the final knockings, an option for the second Test when South
Africa will surely change their kicking strategy.
Rating: 6 SOUTH AFRICA
1. OX NCHE
Surprised Furlong at the first scrum and South Africa’s preplanned replacement of the front row at the break backfired.
Rating: 7
2. BONGI MBONAMBI
Pinged for a high tackle on Alun Wyn Jones, was in the thick of it and merited more than 40 minutes.
Rating: 7 3. TREVOR NYAKANE
Won a turnover off Henshaw and was not the expected weak link in the scrum. Rating: 7 4. EBEN ETZEBETH
Started as if trying to win the game on his own, overshadowing Itoje briefly, but faded along with his team.
Rating: 6 5. FRANCO MOSTERT
Gave away the penalty from which the Lions took the lead for the first time, unable to impose himself with so few line-outs for his side.
Rating: 5
6. SIYA KOLISI (C)
Denied a first-half try by Itoje’s challenge, unable to rouse his side as their lack of Test fitness told.
Rating: 6
7. PIETER-STEPH DU TOIT Put himself about in defence and attack, one reason the Lions will assume nothing on Saturday, conceded the final penalty in desperation.
Rating: 8 8. KWAGGA SMITH
One of the stand-out players before the break, defused by the greater distance Price put on his box kicks.
Rating: 6
9. FAF DE KLERK
Scored his side’s try and bossed the game initially, but as the Lions took to the skies, his influence waned.
Rating: 6 10. HANDRE POLLARD
His rustiness showed and he missed five points from the tee, needs to spend more time on his restarts which failed to unsettle the Lions. Rating: 5
11. MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI
Involved in de Klerk’s try, but largely starved of the ball and was targeted with high kicks. Rating: 6 12. DAMIAN DE ALLENDE
Made some typically bullocking bursts and bruising tackles, but the change of tack by the Lions blunted South Africa’s three-quarters.
Rating: 6
13. LUKHANYO AM
Made an early thumping hit on Daly and then one on Hogg, but had so few chances in attack he threw an awful pass to Kolbe in desperation.
Rating: 6
14. CHESLIN KOLBE
What a waste. A finisher without compare reduced to chasing kicks or trying to catch them, even when South Africa were on top.
Rating: 6 15. WILLIE LE ROUX
Denied a try by a close decision out of the VAR manual on a mixed afternoon of brilliance and bloopers. Rating: 6 REPLACEMENTS
16. MALCOLM MARX Someone forget to attach the fuse to a key member of the World Cup bomb squad. Rating: 5 17. STEVEN KITSHOFF
Should have started and struggled to get into the game with the Lions taking control. Rating: 5 18. FRANS MALHERBE
Like his front row replacement colleagues, should have been used at the start rather than held back to counter the expected Lions’ bench boost.
Rating: 5 19. LOOD DE JAGER
Made the same impact as Mostert, unable to impose his will with the Lions in control. Rating: 5 20. RYNHARDT ELSTADT
Replaced a fading Smith, but South Africa missed their World Cup back row bench man Francois Louw. Rating: 4 21. HERSCHEL JANTJIES
Only had eight minutes, enough time to wonder why Cobus Reinach was not the scrum-half back-up.
Rating: 4 22. ELTON JANTJIES
Supplied the best restart of the match to give his side a late chance of victory but drowned by the Lions’ defensive wave.
Rating: 5 23. DAMIAN WILLEMSE
Came on for a groggy le Roux, but no chance to provide clarity. Rating: 5