Brilliant Boks level series
The Springboks bring their A game, beat Lions convincingly
● The Springboks capped a week in which we ruefully had to remind ourselves this series required a 12-year wait, by delivering a performance in which their energy and drive got their point well across.
The Springboks at times bludgeoned the British & Irish Lions to level the three-Test series in which the decider will take place here next Saturday.
The victory came after a week of much off the field noise but the Boks did their talking on the field last night
“Obviously Rassie (Erasmus) had something on his heart. It is something we discussed. But that was off-the-field stuff. We as a team knew we had to focus on rugby,” said coach Jacques Nienaber.
Captain Siya Kolisi, relieved at the win, warned the Boks won’t slack off now. “Next week is most important,” said Kolisi.
Last night’s victory required blunt force but the Boks were also strategically savvy in playing away from the Lions’ strengths, which they helped accentuate last week.
In scenes reminiscent of the Rugby World Cup final the Bok forwards gradually got on top, in no small measure due to the impact of the Bomb Squad, and by the time the final quarter arrived that pulverising effect had the Lions well beaten.
This was a nerve jangler in the opening hour but the match started turning in the hosts’ favour when World Cup hero Makazole Mapimpi scored.
While it never lacked gladiatorial drama, the match was thoroughly bereft of flow.
For all the talk among rugby’s higher ups and lawmakers of speeding the game up and making it a spectacle, this match, if it is deemed to be a benchmark, fell short.
This was a stop-start affair, with interruption around every corner, most often for reviews by the television match official.
Things boiled over in the 25th minute when several players grabbed each other.
As predicted though, the match was high in attrition.
The Boks were dealt a blow when PieterSteph du Toit was forced off with an injury around the 20-minute mark. He got the blow much earlier but his vast physical capabilities were well impaired by the time he left.
His departure that early made their win all the more impressive.
The Lions were also dealt a blow, though entirely self-inflicted when Duhan van der Merwe was yellow-carded for tripping, or rather, kicking Cheslin Kolbe on the ankle.
Soon, however, Kolbe too was bin bound for upending the aerial Conor Murray.
The early exchanges were largely characterised by frenzied Springbok attack, but they were repelled by equally rugged bonerattling Lions’ defence.
The boot of Dan Biggar probed teasingly and the Bok sweepers had to be on guard.
The Lions’ maul disruption made an early impression, while they shaved the hosts in the scraps on the deck. What would have been more frustrating for the Bok coaches however was their inability to secure reliable lineout possession.
The Boks played with renewed resolve after the break.
Things improved markedly in the second half as the Springboks too applied a spoiling hand at the Lions’ feed. The odds on them securing decent possession lengthened with the introduction of Lood de Jager for Jasper Wiese after 50 minutes.
Mapimpi routinely rose to the occasion, while Eben Etzebeth was as in the Lions’ faces as was legally possible.
Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi, Lukhanyo Am and Damian de Allende got through a mountain of unglamorous work. The captain got slaps on the back when he operated in concert with Am to foil Robbie Henshaw’s attempt to get over the tryline in the first half.
Mapimpi scored a fine team try early in the second half after solid build-up work that had its roots in a scrum penalty.
Am scored, also after concerted Springbok pressure and Faf de Klerk’s wherewithal to chip the ball into the in goal area. It took an eternity before the officials were satisfied a try was scored.
The Springboks, who took residence on Cape Town's Foreshore for this series, must have felt in the build-up that they are between Devil’s Peak and the deep blue sea.
They would have slept easy last night. Scorers
Springboks (27) — Tries: Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am. Conversion: Handre Pollard. Penalties: Pollard (5).
B & I Lions (9) — Penalties: Dan Biggar (3).
The Bok forwards gradually got on top ... due to the impact of the Bomb Squad