THE British and Irish Lions were pipped in another defeat to South Africa as Morne Steyn’s late kick won the series for the world champions.
It had looked up after Ken Owens went over the line from a driving maul for the tourists, but a mad scramble saw Cheslin Kolbe run the ball into the corner for a try.
Then it came down to a series of penalties and Steyn kept his cool for the Springboks to slot over the crucial three points with just under 100 seconds left.
WILL WARREN RETURN?
Warren Gatland refused to rule out a sensational FIFTH Lions tour after losing the South Africa series in heart-breaking style, as JONNY FORDHAM reports from Cape Town.
It was deja vu for the boss who watched golden oldie Springbok Morne Steyn, 37, smash the winner with two minutes to go – just like he did in 2009.
Today (Sunday) Gatland flies back to New Zealand and will spend the next two weeks in isolation mulling over his future.
Leaving the door open ahead of Australia 2025, the Kiwi boss said: “In terms of the involvement, there is a lot of water under the bridge for four years time. I love my time with the Lions.
“It is something that I will reflect on, I am incredibly proud of my involvement, I am very fortunate, I am passionate about the Lions and fly back to New Zealand on Sunday.
“I have a long flight and 14 days of isolation in a hotel, which is going to be tough. It’s another challenging couple of weeks, and in that time, it is a good time to think about my next chapter in my life.
“I don’t plan too far ahead and other things will be on the horizon. Lions tours are so intense for everyone and everyone needs time to refresh and clear your minds.”
STAT ATTACK
Despite dominating both possession and territory the Lions could not turn that dominance into a win.
They’ll be left to rue missed chances – Liam Williams not passing to Josh Adams who had a clear run to the line, kicking for the corner instead of taking three points, Sam Curry’s obstruction that stopped a certain try and other small moments.
But what really matters is the final score, and that is 19-16 to South Africa.
SIYA SPEAKS
What an inspiration Siya Kolisi is in his message to children watching at home who dream to be like him:
“To be honest without the team I wouldn’t be where I am.
“Those are all team achievements, it’s not a personal thing.
“But what I would say to someone who comes from a similar background, similar situation, you’ve got to believe in your dreams [and] protect them no matter what.
“Your circumstances can change at any second as long as you work as hard as you can and fight for what you want.”
MORE FORM WARREN
And this is what Warren Gatland has to say on whether he’ll still be in the Lions hot-seat in four years time on the next tour:
“It’s a long time away so it’s a lot of water under the bridge.
“There’s been some great Lions who probably wore the jersey for the last time tonight.
“So hopefully they enjoy themselves, they reflect on that and the guys pass the baton on to players in another four years.
“So let’s look forward to that and get excited about two things – a World Cup in a couple of years and then start looking forward to the Lions.”
WARREN’S WORDS
Here are Warren Gatland’s lasting memories from the 2021 Lions tour:
“The lasting memory will be having no crowds I think.
“You know you kind of look back and go in a really tense, tight physical games you just sort of imagine the kind of atmosphere the crowds would have brought to those games.
“They were really tough, they were physical and fingers crossed in four years time when the Lions play in Australia that all those fans that have missed out on travelling to South Africa will get a chance to travel to Australia.”
PENALTY COUNT
Once again the team that conceded the least penalties comes out on top.
The discipline battle is always so important and it’s South Africa who edged the discipline battle, and the scoreline today.
The Lions will feel unlucky with some of the calls against them, especially from the scrum.
A penalty against Kyle Sinckler in front of the South Africa posts could be seen as a harsh call by some, but it’s irrelevant now.
South Africa come away with the series win.
And it’s been so evenly contested over the three games, except the second half last week, whichever side came out on top today were worthy winners.
SCENES FROM CAPE TOWN
The Sun’s Jonny Fordham watches on inside the Cape Town Stadium as South Africa celebrate their series win.
The Lions players watch on thinking what could have been, but always gracious in defeat.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Alun Wyn Jones gathers his troops at half time.
It may well be his last tour in a Lions shirt, but he knows the future is safe in the hands of the men around him.
The British & Irish Lions have done themselves proud and they will be back in four years time.
And it’s the Wallabies who are the next opponents, with a mouthwatering clash against Australia scheduled for four years time.
SUPER SIYA
South Africa talisman and captain Siya Kolisi raises the series trophy into the air after Morne Steyn’s last gasp penalty sealed a 2-1 series win for the Springboks.
SUB RATINGS
From The Sun’s Jonny Fordham in Cape Town:
Cowan-Dickie 6 (on for Owens, 54), Vunipola 7 (on for W.Jones, 44), Sinckler 7 (on for Furlong, 59), Beard 5 (on for AW Jones, 61), Simmonds 7 (on for Conan, 61), Murray 7 (on for Price, 59), Russell STAR MAN (on for Biggar, 11).
FORWARDS MATCH RATINGS
Again courtesy of The Sun’s Jonny Fordham in Cape Town:
Wyn Jones: Absolutely buried himself after waiting two games for this memorable moment. Huge at the scrum and the breakdown. Shame to see him leave injured. 8
Ken Owens: Scored the first half driving maul try and should have had another if it wasn’t for Tom Curry just popping out of the side of the pack as they rattled to the try line. 7
Tadhg Furlong: Locked down the scrum and carried hard – had the edge in the early scrums and tighthead looked back to his carrying best also. 8
Maro Itoje: Set-up Owens’ try and punched holes in the Boks defence with some tasty line breaks. 8
Alun Wyn Jones (c): Twelve Tests and almost-certainly now out at the age of 35 as he became the first player to play all Tests in four consecutive tours. 6
Courtney Lawes: Ran himself into the ground after getting fit to start every single Test. Neat footwork to move the Boks close to the gainline. 7
Tom Curry: Played and started all three Tests on his first tour aged just 23. Who many more Lions tours ahead of him and he will be a series winner in 2025. 6
Jack Conan: Carried well, stuck his head in at the breakdown and hit hard – but dropped an easy ball under pressure to hand the Boks an attacking scrum in enemy territory. 6
BACKS MATCH RATINGS
Courtesy of The Sun’s Jonny Fordham in Cape Town:
Liam Williams: Finally started and put his money where his mouth was as he dominated in the air, but well-beaten by Kolbe for the try. 6
Josh Adams: Tour top scorer, made his Test debut and always looked to attack and show his need for speed, just needed the ball more. 5
Robbie Henshaw: Won a key turnover deep inside the Bok 22 to pile the pressure onto the world champions. Gave it his all and smashed anything that moved. 8
Bundee Aki: Another debutant alongside his best mate Henshaw and was loving it out there. Could hear his booming voice all over Cape Town as he bossed the defence. 7
Duhan van der Merwe: Kept his place and the big South African managed to get his head down and run at his compatriots a few times, best game, but still found it tough. 6
Dan Biggar: Missed a penalty and then went down injured after just 11 minutes with a knee problem. Though supersub Finn Russell, his replacement, was sensational on his Test debut. 5
Ali Price: Took his game to the next level with his mate Russell stepped off the bench. Ran, kicked, sniped – but also knocked-on to hand the Boks a dangerous scrum on the edge of the 22.
EMOTIONAL ALUN
Alun Wyn Jones is overcome with emotion and almost reduced to tears when asked how he will look back on this tour.
Remember he miraculously battled back from an initially tour ending dislocated shoulder to join up with the Lions late in South Africa, just EIGHTEEN days after picking up the injury.
TROPHY PRESENTATION
The Springboks are collecting their medals for winning the series and making their way onto the podium.
Skipper Siya Kolisi is handing out the medals to his troops.
He came off injured in the second half but returned to the fray after Jasper Wiese went off with a blood injury, and was absolutely magnificent.
He gets his hands on another trophy after lifting the World Cup with the Boks almost two years ago.
ALUN’S ANALYSIS
Here are the full time thoughts from Lions skipper Alun Wyn Jones:
“Obviously [I’m] hugely disappointed with the result but I think the endeavour and the turnaround was there from last week.
“You know we were in it to the death, [and] obviously had the opportunity at the end.
“I was very proud of this bunch and very conscious of what we represent and what it obviously means and obviously [I’m] hugely disappointed.”
OUR MAN IN THE GROUND
Here’s some immediate reaction to the Lions series defeat from The Sun’s Jonny Fordham in Cape Town:
The Lions suffered more Morne Steyn heartbreak – 12 years after he kicked South Africa to a series win.
Just like Pretoria in 2009, Cape Town 2021 was agony after ecstasy for Warren Gatland’s tourists.
Super-sub Steyn was yet again the man who smashed the winning kick, playing in his second series at the grand old age of 37.
The golden oldie nailed the historic winner with just two and a half minutes to go as the Lions threw away another lead against the world champs.
They were also punished by Cheslin Kolbe’s tricky feet after Ken Owens’ first-half score in boss Gatland and skipper Alun Wyn Jones’ last hurrah.
But forget 2009 for a while, everyone was thinking about 1997 when magician Finn Russell stepped off the bench for his first game in a month.
The Scotland star finally got the Lions playing the brand of rugby they pride themselves on with tricks and neat play to get you out of your seat.
Gregor Townsend, Russell’s international boss and current Lions attack coach was the playmaker that did the business in the 2-1 series win here 24 years ago
And Russell came so close to doing the same, only for veteran Steyn to shatter their hearts.
LIONS HEARTBREAK
Morne Steyn, in his first Test match in FIVE YEARS, wins the series for South Africa.
SOUTH AFRICA WIN THE SERIES
For the third Test match out of three the team leading at half time has lost the game.
The Lions look devastated.
Maro Itoje, who has been incredible this series, is absolutely gutted.
He doesn’t deserve to be on the losing side.
7TH AUG 2021, 19:08
FT: SOUTH AFRICA 19-16 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
Twelve years after kicking the Springboks to a series win over the Lions he does it again!
His kick with 90 seconds left of the game has decided the series!
South Africa come from 1-0 down in the Series to take it 2-1.
Heartbreak for the Lions!
SOUTH AFRICA 19-16 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
- Lions scrum!
The ball is held up on the deck but the Lions are going forward so they will put the ball into the scrum.
This is incredible drama.
Will it be a Finn Russell drop goal?
There’s TWO seconds left on the clock.
