The Warm-ups
IN THIS MATCH
The Lions played in Scotland for the first time and extended their record of being unbeaten in their opening fixture to 13 tours (W12 D1). It wasn’t all good news as Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric suffered first-half injuries and didn’t travel with the squad to South Africa.
MAGIC MOMENT
Three of the four Lions tries were scored by players making their debuts for the team, with Tadhg Beirne’s early in the second half the pick of the bunch. The Irish back-row cut a great line to take Dan Biggar’s pass 30 metres out and sprint under the posts.
STAT ATTACK
While the Lions dominated on the scoreboard, Japan dominated many of the stats: 29 defenders beaten to
19, 269 passes completed to 151, 143 carries to 107, 542 metres made to 373 – with Kotaro Matsushima making 129.
WINNERS’ PODIUM
Fly-half Dan Biggar: “The second half was a bit of a slog. But we played some really good rugby in that first half-hour.”
AND THE LOSERS…
Captain Michael Leitch: “Being able to play the Lions will be a treasured moment in my rugby career.”
TEAM LINE-UPS
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS L Williams (A Watson 64); J Adams, R Henshaw, B Aki (O Farrell 54), D van der Merwe; D Biggar, C Murray (A Price 60); R Sutherland (W Jones 50), K Owens (J George 54), T Furlong (K Sinckler 50), I Henderson, AW Jones (capt, C Lawes 7), T Beirne, J Tipuric (T Faletau 21), J Conan. Tries (4): Adams 11, van der Merwe
IN THIS MATCH
Josh Adams became the 29th Lion to score four tries in a match as the 2021 tourists won their first game in SA, against the Jo’burg-based franchise of the same name. There were two Scottish try-scorers – Hamish Watson and Ali Price – for the first time since 1989 while Louis Rees-Zammit, aged 20 years and 240 days, became the Lions’ youngest try-scorer since Keith Jarrett in 1968.
MAGIC MOMENT
For all the tries, Stuart Hogg’s tackle on Sibusiso Sangweni in the 49th minute caught the eye. With the score 28-14, the South African back-row intercepted a
pass deep in his half and sprinted upfield. Hogg thrillingly gave chase and brought him down five metres from the line.
STAT ATTACK
The British & Irish Lions made 11 clean breaks to the hosts’ five – and Josh Adams made five of those. That’s the most since Shane Williams’s six in the third Test against South Africa in 2009.
WINNERS’ PODIUM
Wing Josh Adams: “A winger is like a striker in football — it’s my job to score tries like it is theirs to score goals. I didn’t have to do much for one or two, but that’s how it goes; you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time.”
AND THE LOSERS…
Coach Ivan van Rooyen: “It felt like their speed caught us offside. It’s not that they’re running quicker, it’s that they’re getting to rucks quicker, and then catching us on the next phase.”
TEAM LINE-UPS
LIONS EW Viljoen; J Ulengo, M Rass, B Odendaal (F Zeilinga 55), R Maxwane; J Hendrikse (D Kriel 66), D Smit (M van den Berg 38-41, 55); N McBeth (S Sithole 55), PJ Botha (J Visagie 55), R Dreyer (C Sadie 55), R Schoeman, R Nothnagel (E Tshituka 69), S Sangweni (R Straeuli 66), V Tshituka,
F Horn (capt). Tries (2): Tshituka 34, Maxwane 43. Cons: Hendrikse 2.
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS S Hogg (capt); L Rees-Zammit, C Harris (B Aki 69), O Farrell, J Adams; F Russell (E Daly 59), A Price (G Davies 60); W Jones (M Vunipola 55), J George (Luke Cowan-Dickie 69), K Sinckler (Z Fagerson 55), M Itoje (I Henderson 69), J Hill, C Lawes, H Watson, T Faletau (S Simmonds 55). Tries (8): Rees-Zammit 3, Watson 6, Price 32, Adams
41, 53, 67, 71, Davies 65. Cons: Farrell 8.
Referee: AJ Jacobs (SA)
Player of the Match: Hamish Watson
IN THIS MATCH
The Lions made eight changes to their 23 less than two hours before kick-off after nine players had to isolate due to Covid. The late changes meant Owen Farrell took the field with no number on his shirt and Louis Rees-Zammit wore ‘10’.
Despite the disruption, they won convincingly, with Duhan van der Merwe and Josh Adams scoring hat-tricks. The latter, who started the first three games, became the first Lion since Tom Grace in 1974 to score back-to-back hat-tricks.
MAGIC MOMENT
Following a scrum on halfway in the 26th minute, Owen Farrell stabbed a grubber kick behind the Sharks defence and Duhan van der Merwe showed his pace to beat Thaakir Abrahams to the ball and touch down for his second try.
STAT ATTACK
Against the Sharks, the Opta stats had Louis Rees-Zammit making 104 metres from just five carries. That average of 20.8m per carry was the best by any player to make three or more carries in
a Lions game since Brian O’Driscoll against the Sharks in 2009 (22.2m).
WINNERS’ PODIUM
Captain Iain Henderson: “It was a difficult day. There was a long list of excuses we could have used. But the guys dug in for each other to kept this tour on track.”
AND THE LOSERS…
Coach Sean Everitt: “We weren’t used to the intensity. The speed at which we allowed them to get ball hurt us.”
TEAM LINE-UPS
SHARKS M Libbok (A Volmink 62); W Kok, J Ward, M Louw, T Abrahams; C Bosch, J Hendrikse (G Williams 67); K Mona (N Mchunu 45), F Mbatha (K van Vuuren 55), K Mchunu (W Herbst 45), R van Heerden (JJ van der Mescht 61), H Andrews (R Hugo 8), J Venter, T Bholi (D Richardson 55), P Buthelezi (capt). Try: Venter 50. Con: Bosch.
Kok 20.
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS J Adams; L Rees-Zammit, E Daly, B Aki, D van der Merwe; O Farrell (F Russell 51), A Price; M Vunipola (R Sutherland 51), L Cowan-Dickie (K Owens 55), Z Fagerson (T Furlong 51), I Henderson (capt, M Itoje 67), A Beard, J Navidi (H Watson 71), T Curry (T Faletau 61), S Simmonds (J Conan 61). Tries (8):
Adams 2, 56, 77, van der Merwe 6, 25, 73, Aki 38, Rees-Zammit 60. Cons: Farrell 3, Russell 4. Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)
Player of the Match: Duhan van der Merwe
IN THIS MATCH
The Lions played back-to-back matches against the same opponent (outside the Tests) for the first time since 1910, when they faced Border twice in four days. The fixture change followed a Covid outbreak at the Bulls, their scheduled opponents.
Jamie George became the first English hooker to captain the Lions, while Jaden
Hendrikse became only the fifth person to be sent off playing against the Lions. The scrum-half was red-carded for an elbow to the head of Liam Williams.
MAGIC MOMENT
Thaakir Abrahams’s 14th-minute try saw the Lions trail for the first time in 2021 and showed that the SA side would be a different prospect from that faced in midweek (at least until the red card). He touched down a delicate grubber from Lionel Cronjé just inside the whitewash.
STAT ATTACK
The Lions beat more than three times as many defenders as the Sharks – 50 to 15 (wing Duhan van der Merwe beat 14!)
WINNERS’ PODIUM
Captain Jamie George: “The disruptions and stuff going on off the field really is bringing us tighter together as a group. We didn’t put it out there for a full 80 against the Sharks, but in terms of the rugby it feels like we’re building nicely.”
AND THE LOSERS…
Coach Sean Everitt: “Jaden is not a malicious character. He’s a youngster; I think his emotions got the better of him.”
TEAM LINE-UPS
SHARKS A Volmink; M Potgieter, W Kok, M Koster (R Jonker 65), T Abrahams; L Cronjé (B Chamberlain 59), J Hendrikse; N Mchunu (MJ Majola 51), K van Vuuren (D Jooste 59), W Herbst (L Adriaanse 53), LR Roets (J Labuschagne 49), R Hugo, D Richardson, C Gumede (C Wright 49), P Buthelezi (capt, T Bholi 59). Tries (5): Volmink 10, 35, Abrahams 14, Hendrikse 23, Kok 52. Cons: Cronjé 3.
Hendrikse 45.
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS L Williams; A Watson, E Daly, C Harris (B Aki 67), D van der Merwe; D Biggar, G Davies (C Murray 46); R Sutherland (W Jones 55), J George (capt, K Owens 55), T Furlong (K Sinckler 55), C Lawes (A Beard 65), J Hill, T Beirne, H Watson (T Curry 59), J Conan (S Simmonds 55). Tries (11): Harris 4, George 20, 54, van der Merwe 25, Beirne 38, 63, Conan 47, Daly 50, Watson 58, 79, Curry 66. Cons: Biggar 8. Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Player of the Match: Elliot Daly
IN THIS MATCH
The Lions suffered their first defeat of the 2021 tour in a match that was a Test in all but name. South Africa A had 552 caps and 11 World Cup winners in their starting XV, not to mention the Lions’ 2009 nemesis Morné Steyn at fly-half.
Conor Murray became the first scrum-half to lead the Lions since 1983. Josh Adams missed the game to attend the birth of his first child via Zoom.
MAGIC MOMENT
Collecting a loose kick and given space to run after half an hour, Cheslin Kolbe ghosted between two defenders. Then, when tackled by Elliot Daly, he popped the ball into the hands of Lukhanyo Am, who went over for the hosts’ second try.
STAT ATTACK
Louis Rees-Zammit beat more defenders (seven) than the entire South Africa A team combined. The Lions missed just five tackles – the fewest since 2013.
WINNERS’ PODIUM
Winger Cheslin Kolbe: “Once you put on that jersey it’s character and heart. We had to show what it means to us.”
AND THE LOSERS…
Captain Conor Murray: “The first half was a shock to the system in terms of the physicality. We addressed a few things at half-time and saw the results.”
TEAM LINE-UPS
SOUTH AFRICA A W le Roux (J Kriel 54); C Kolbe, L Am (capt), D de Allende (D Willemse 52), S Nkosi; M Steyn, F de Klerk; S Kitshoff (C Oosthuizen 63), J Dweba (M Marx 38), T Nyakane (V Koch h-t), E Etzebeth, F Mostert, M van Staden (N Janse van Rensburg 64), PS du Toit (R Elstadt 42), J Wiese (H Jantjies 72). Tries (2): Nkosi 12, Am 31. Cons: Steyn 2. Pen: Steyn.
De Klerk 38, van Staden 39.
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS L Williams (E Daly 14); A Watson, C Harris, B Aki, L Rees-Zammit; O Farrell, C Murray (capt, G Davies 75); W Jones (M Vunipola 45), K Owens (L Cowan-Dickie 50), K Sinckler (Z Fagerson 62), M Itoje, I Henderson (A Beard 63), J Navidi (T Beirne 69), T Curry, T Faletau (S Simmonds 47). Try: Jones.
Con: Farrell. Pens: Farrell 2.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)
Player of the Match: Cheslin Kolbe
IN THIS MATCH
Marcus Smith became only the second Harlequins fly-half to start at ten for the Lions – after Basil Nicholson in 1938. And Smith lined up opposite Tim Swiel, who he’d played alongside at Quins.
Alun Wyn Jones also made his return having previously been ruled out of the tour. He’d made a remarkable recovery from a shoulder injury suffered against Japan and came off the Lions bench midway through the second half.
MAGIC MOMENT
We didn’t see Marcus Smith’s goosestep until the 73rd minute, but it was worth the wait. He launched an attack five metres from the Lions line, pulled out his trademark trick and burst through two Stormers defenders before finding Louis Rees-Zammit on the outside. The winger ran in the Lions’ sixth try from halfway.
STAT ATTACK
From 11 carries, Duhan van der Merwe made 146 metres – the only player to hit three figures. After so many previous tries by the back three, six different forwards scored for the Lions here.
WINNERS’ PODIUM
Coach Warren Gatland: “He (Alun Wyn Jones) was desperate to make the Lions. In 2017, he probably wasn’t at his best but he’s been exceptional in the way he has prepared for this tour. It was a shame he picked up the injury but it’s great to have him back.”
AND THE LOSERS…
Coach John Dobson: “As we got more tired, we slowed down our line speed and we kicked poorly, whether it was a contestable or distance kick, and against that back three it’s really hard to defend.”
TEAM LINE-UPS
STORMERS S Petersen; L Zas (T Bursey 61), J de Jongh, D du Plessis (C Smit 65), E van der Merwe; T Swiel (A van Reenen 48), G Masimla; L Lyons (D Bleuler 65), JJ Kotze (AH Venter 48), N Fouche (LM Mazibuko 66), E van Rhyn (capt), JD Schickerling, N Xaba (M Theunissen 61), J du Toit, E Roos (J Basson 65). Pen: Swiel.
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS S Hogg (capt); J Adams (L Rees-Zammit 57), E Daly, R Henshaw (C Harris 57), D van der Merwe; M Smith, A Price (G Davies 57); R Sutherland (M Vunipola 48), L Cowan-Dickie (J George 48), T Furlong (Z Fagerson 53), A Beard (AW Jones 53), J Hill, T Beirne, H Watson, J
Conan (S Simmonds 57). Tries (7): Beard 27, Cowan-Dickie 33, Hill 40, Conan 49, Fagerson 67, Rees-Zammit 73, Simmonds 78. Cons: Smith 7. Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Player of the Match: Luke Cowan-Dickie