HARD HITTING VIEW

The tension and pressure of a “winner takes all” third test of a Lions series always adds spice to the occasion and yesterday in Cape Town was no different.

Coming off the back of a thumping in the second test, the Lions had their backs against the wall and had to demonstrate they had a ‘Plan B’ that could upset their hosts.

For the first 10 minutes of the game, it was hard to see any difference from the previous two tests in terms of tactics.

But then Dan Biggar had to leave the field with a leg injury which allowed Finn Russell to take the field for the first time for about a month and the gameplan changed from the turgid rugby of the previous two weekends.

Russell plays so flat to the gain-line he negates a rush defence, which is the Springboks hallmark.

Suddenly the Lions had an attacking threat and they began to dominate

– yet frustratingly they were unable to turn that territorial pressure and possession into dominance on the scoreboard.

A try came from a catch-and-drive at a lineout but despite that, the Springboks were able to chip away at the lead as the Lions conceded penalties and the points differential narrowed.

And although Finn Russell showed what a talented attacking fly-half he was, it was his kicking that kept the Lions in contention, to the point that the game was level with only a few minutes to go.

Yet as he did 12 years ago, Morne Steyn kicked a penalty with a couple of minutes left on the clock to take the hosts into a three-point lead and the World Champions were able to close out the match and win the series by the slimmest of margins.

It was heartbreak for the Lions, but the Springbok joy was unbounded as relief ran through their ranks.

As a spectacle, the three matches were a poor exhibit of the modern game. The games were dominated by a barrage of kicking from both sides, which was strange from the Lions.

You know what you are going to get when you play South Africa, but Warren Gatland and his coaching team could have been so much more creative than they were.

Coupled with the bizarre offfield shenanigans, it wasn’t a great advertisement for the game.

Yet the Scots who were selected to tour with the Lions did much to enhance their reputations.

Scotland’s two most-recent Grand Slams came in the year following a Lions tour with strong Scottish representation.

The experiences of the players will only serve them well for the coming season and they will come back better players for their time as Lions and who knows, perhaps a Six Nations championship beckons for Scotland next year.

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It wasn’t a great advertisement for the game