The British and Irish Lions restored their pride by thumping the Springboks 28-9
A sparkling Shane Williams double helped the Brit and Irish Lions claim a complete 28-9 victory in the third and last Test against S. A. At Ellis Park on Sat. The Springboks had already won the 1st 2 Tests, 26-21 and 28-25 in Durban and Pretoria respectively, for the overall series win to revenge their 1997 defeat to the Lions. But a much-changed home side lacked the cohesion and structure of the previous 2 weekends and were controlled in set-piece and open play, where Martyn Williams shone for the visitors.
Winger Ugo Monye scored a 3rd try for the Lions, also showing a re-jigged midfield and front-row thru injury, with Stephen Jones, who enjoyed a wonderful defensive game, saying 3 penalties and two conversions. Morne Steyn hit 3 penalties for the Springboks, who will without doubt still go into their Tri-Nations campaign with some confidence. An exciting start by the Lions, with the ball moving thru countless phases, saw a penalty chance fall to Jones in the 3rd minute but the Welshman dragged it wide of the posts. The Lions continued to make all the running, full back Rob Kearney scything thru the midfield defence on a mazy 40-metre run and then was hauled down. The 1st scrum in ninth minute saw a mental hurdle passed for Phil Vickery who was unceremoniously dumped after failing to deal with Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira in the 1st Test. Up popped Bok hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle and Jones hit the penalty for Steyn to get the homes side’s first points on the board merely a minute later after a Jamie Heaslip transgression. Tackles in fast succession by Mike Phillips, Joe Worsley and Matthew Rees on Jacque Fourie, John Smit and Jongi Nokwe all saved a certain try as the Boks attacked in front of the 58 000-plus crowd. The Lions scored the 1st five-pointer a minute later, Heaslip riding the challenge of Wynand Olivier and offloading to the fleet-footed Shane Williams who went in under the posts. Jones scuffed the conversion when the wind blew the ball over in his run-up. Heaslip was available to provide a try-saving intercept as Odwa Ndungane skipped thru Worsley’s tackle down the touchline and attempted to find Fourie du Preez on the inside.
Shane Williams then showed a clean pair of heels down his left wing but his clever cross-field kick was cleared by Steyn.
Williams scored his 2nd when Riki Flutey smoothly palmed off his very own chip into the the winger’s hands for a try Jones converted. With 3 mins of the half remaining, Simon Shaw was yellow carded for needlessly landing on Du Preez’ back with both knees. Kearney chopped a clearance kick and a Lions foul at an ensuing ruck saw Steyn hit his 2nd penalty to make it 15-6 at half-time. The second-half started with Ruan Pienaar on for Du Preez, and he brought an extra spark to the home attack, new cap Zane Kirchner just foiled in the corner by a good covering Tommy Bowe tackle. The Lions held firm and in the 55th minute Monye snatched on a hopeful pass from Olivier for an 85-metre intercept try converted by Jones.
Kearney saw a formidable 52-metre penalty attempt drift wide with twenty mins to play and Frans Steyn saw a similarly brazen drop-goal from well inside his very own half just miss. Morne Steyn hit his 3rd penalty to bring the score to 22-9 with twelve mins remaining. But Jones hit 2 fast penalties after ill-discipline from Heinrich Brussow and Bismarck du Plessis. Ndungane was denied a late consolation try after another great scrambling cover tackle by Bowe.
