How they rated
British & Irish Lions
STUART HOGG
Aerially was awful under the high balls South Africa put up all night, which the Boks picked all their scraps off. Liam Williams must play the decider so the Lions can win the aerial battle.
Tackles 1 Runs 10 Metres 16
ANTHONY WATSON
Threw his only firsthalf carry out of play and poor in the air like the rest of the back three. Only touched the ball twice in the whole 80 minutes, the second of which was right at the end of the game.
Tackles 0 Runs 2 Metres 17
CHRIS HARRIS
Does the basics so well every time and hit Am brilliantly first-up to set the tone. He was far more solid than Daly was last week, so should stay for the third Test next week. Quiet but did his job.
Tackles 3Runs 1 Metres 0
ROBBIE HENSHAW
Should have scored first-half try but denied incredibly by Kolisi’s tackle. Tried to carry hard in the midfield with 27 metres made from six attempts. Completed 11 tackles without missing a single one. Tackles 11 Runs 6 Metres 27
DUHAN VAN DER MERWE
Silly yellow card for the trip on Kolbe in the firsthalf. The back-three was the Lions’ weakest point, where Gatland must make changes. Only touched the ball once. I would bring in Josh Adams for him.
Tackles 1 Runs 1 Metres 0
DAN BIGGAR
Array of kicks, high and low, had South Africa under pressure, executing the Lions’ gameplan. Missed one penalty which he’d usually get and which would have kept the pressure on South Africa.
Tackles 4 Runs 4 Metres 2
CONOR MURRAY
Did exactly what he was brought in to do – kick well, control the tempo. Nearly set up Henshaw try with a lovely chip. Needs to increase the tempo at times and vary the Lions’ attacking game.
Tackles 4 Runs 2 Metres 0
WARREN GATLAND
Not selecting Liam Williams in the 23-man squad was a mistake. The Lions lost the aerial battle. Gatland had nothing to fall back on the bench to win the game in the air. His game-plan had too much kicking, and was too slow.
MAKO VUNIPOLA
Solid in the scrum against Malherbe, and was the Lions’ main carrier to get them over the gainline on eight occasions, making inroads every time in the loose. Seven tackles and none missed in defence. Tackles 7 Runs 8 Metres 13
LUKE COWAN-DICKIE
Far better throwing in the lineout and nine physical carries, as we’ve come to expect from the Cornishman. The main focal point for the Lions’ forward carrying game in the first half with nine charges.
Tackles 9 Runs 9 Metres 4
TADHG FURLONG
Kept the scrum solid against Steven Kitshoff, until Sinckler came on before the hour mark. Defended well, making all six of his tackles. Sinckler struggled against Nyakane though.
Tackles 6 Runs 3 Metres 2
MARO ITOJE
The Lions’ talisman led from the front in every respect – exactly as he did last week. Two first-half lineout steals in the first half but struggled to make an impact against the Bok bench.
Tackles 4 Runs 4 Metres 1
ALUN WYN JONES
Nuisance all over the field, riling up the Boks, but like Itoje was overpowered when the ‘Bomb Squad’ came on to beat the Lions up. His leadership will be key this week for the decider.
Tackles 14 Runs 8 Metres 6
COURTNEY LAWES
Banged the Boks in defence and carried physically. He’s a great lineout option too but was quiet in the second-half like the rest of the Lions’ front-five as De Jager dominated off the bench. Tackles 9 Runs 5 Metres 8
TOM CURRY
Smashed South
Africans in defence in the first half, putting pressure on with quick line-speed. But the breakdown became a mess in the second half, which is a concern for the Lions.
Tackles 5 Runs 4 Metres 1
JACK CONAN
Needs to have more impact on a big Test match from No 8. He made just three metres from seven carries. I’d be tempted to go with the experience of Faletau in the third and final Test next Saturday. Tackles 5 Runs 7 Metres 3