South Africa 26 British & Irish Lions 21

South Africa took a massive stride towards a redemptive series victory over The British & Irish Lions with a dramatic 26-21 victory over the tourists in Durban on Saturday afternoon.

The Springboks bossed the game for nearly an hour and took the lead with an early try through captain John Smit.

Ruan Pienaar and Francois Steyn then added penalties before the somewhat shell-shocked visitors finally got off the mark midway through the first half when Jamie Roberts and Brian O’Driscoll combined for a try for Tom Croft.

Pienaar responded with two penalties for South Africa, though, and the reigning world champions went in 12 points clear at the break.

The Springboks underlined their superiority with a second try from Heinrich Brussow just six minutes after the interval but The Lions then launched a valiant late bid to salvage the game.

First, Croft crossed for the second time in the game before Mike Phillips sniped over with just over five minutes remaining to draw the tourists to within five points of parity.

Springbok nerves started to fray but they survived a spirited late onslaught from The Lions to claim a significant early advantage in what looks to have the makings of an epic Test series.

The importance of winning the first meeting between the two sides was clear to everyone, though. The Springboks had not played together in seven months and most of their players had been inactive for nearly four weeks. That the game was at sea level was also thought key. The Lions needed to strike first.

However, their hopes of a strong start were left in tatters after just four minutes, Smit barging his way over the whitewash after an incessant spell of pressure from The Boks. It was a stunning early statement of intent from the hosts, from the skipper. The Lions had been put in their place.

The tourists needed an immediate response and they almost got one but Jean de Villiers expertly denied Ugo Monye when the England winger looked to have crossed in the corner.

As it was, Pienaar and Steyn kept the scoreboard ticking over before The Lions finally got off the mark, with Croft touching down after a line-out steal from O’Connell created some time and space for midfield duo Roberts and O’Driscoll to work their magic.

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Nster.com