Summary

  • Second Test: South Africa beat Lions 27-9 at Cape Town Stadium

  • Springboks level series at 1-1 to set up deciding Test next Saturday

  • Lions led 9-6 at half-time - but failed to score in second half

  • Makazole Mapimpi goes over at start of second half as tide turned

  • Lukhanyo Am try confirmed after TMO review as hosts dominated

  1. Goodbye!published at 20:09 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    Full-time: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    That is all from us this evening but I don't think we could have taken any more action. What a Test match!

    An amazing win for the Springboks, particularly in that dominant second half, has set up the series for a decider next week.

    If you want to re-live all the game, there is plenty to digest, give Becky Grey's report a read here.

    Thank you for joining us and we will see you next week!

  2. Gatland: 'We have a few things to tidy up'published at 20:05 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    FT: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    Warren Gatland says his players are disappointed to not have wrapped up the Test series in today's match.

    He said: "The players are very disappointed but next Saturday is a cup final and that is how we will prepare.

    "We have a few things to tidy up but it's 1-1 and they put a huge amount of emotion into that game. We have that chance next week to hopefully win the series."

    Alun Wyn jones and Maro Itoje dejected after second TestImage source, Getty Images
  3. 'Gatland could bring in a lot of Welsh players'published at 20:02 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    Full-time: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It's win or lose on the booze with Gats. It is important for the players to have the 24 hour decompression and for the enormity of what they need to do next week to smack them in the face.

    A third Test of a Lions tour is won by who is standing, physically and mentally.

    Who are the players who can take it on? Who are the players who can get the game back and win it?

    I wouldn't be surprised if he [Gatland] doesn't go down the Welsh line.

  4. 'We didn't get anything'published at 19:58 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    Full-time: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has highlighted his side's lack of momentum in the second half.

    The Lions led 9-6 at half-time and went on to lose 27-9.

    Gatland said: "The second half we just didn't get anything. No momentum or opportunities to play. Nothing at all from any kick returns and we gave away some penalties. They [South Africa] scrummaged pretty well and got some reward for that.

    "We were happy with the first half and we felt going into half-time we had carried well and got forward momentum, but we just didn’t achieve anything like that in the second half."

  5. Farrell to start?published at 19:55 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    Full-time: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    James Hook
    Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Talking of changes Owen Farrell will come back in somewhere. I don't think Harris did anything wrong but I think Henshaw will move to 13.

  6. 'Van der Merwe struggled'published at 19:53 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    Full-time: south Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    Ugo Monye
    2009 Lions winger Ugo Monye

    I'd make a change in the back three. Van der Merwe struggled. He is brilliant with ball in hand, that's his game. His game isn't diffusing aerial battles.

    Liam Williams is one of the best in game at that.

  7. 'South Africa to win'published at 19:50 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    Full-time: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    Bobby Skinstad
    Former South Africa captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

    This week I gave South Africa seven point but they managed more.

    South Africa by three points next week.

  8. Postpublished at 19:48 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    Former England player Will Carling on the result

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  9. 'I don't think any coach should be able to put out a full presentation'published at 19:43 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    Full-time: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I don't think any coach should be able to put out a full presentation as it then puts pressure on the officials.

    I don't mind officials taking their time on it. I wouldn't be surprised if there are consultant and psychologists involved to say this is the story this week.

    They have influence and they have the ear of the media. We do have to be careful that it doesn't turn into who has the better strategy this week, which distracts from the game itself.

  10. South Africa were fighting for more than a winpublished at 19:39 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    Full-time: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    Ugo Monye
    2009 Lions winger Ugo Monye

    The only message that matters is the one in the changing room. I'll tell you what, in elite sport winning, just winning isn't enough anymore. At the World Cup they were fighting to unify a nation.

    This time they were fighting for something more.

  11. Postpublished at 19:37 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    Rugby statistician Russ Petty reveals how bad the second half was.

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  12. South Africa have learned how to fight backpublished at 19:36 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    Full-time: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    Bobby Skinstad
    Former South Africa captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

    The Lions will genuinely cling onto the fact they were more organised. They were a much better physical side in the first half. Gatland always has a card up his sleeve.

    I think over the years South Africa have been pummelled into a corner that they have had to fight a way out.

    You have these reference points where you can say 'South Africa had no chance but they came back and won'. Then you can put up posters and say 'oh we can be like these guys'.

    South AfricaImage source, Getty Images
  13. 'It was a much better performance'published at 19:32 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    Full-time: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    Bobby Skinstad
    Former South Africa captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It was a much better performance. the Boks will be pleased that they put something on the table to keep them in the series.

    I think the one thing I have to say if we look back at last week the Lions won the strategy and the second half. The Boks turned that around this week.

  14. Where do Lions go from here?published at 19:29 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    FT: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Whatever game plan you have there is an element of pig-headedness that you go through under pressure, that you are going to do it until it works. The top players will know pretty quickly if you are getting any change from the strategy.

    South Africa started playing some rugby. You'd like to think the Lions players will think we have to play. We have to go through phases, 20-25 phases. It's going to be hard but we have to go through this to break up the game.

    Alun Wyn JonesImage source, Getty Images
  15. 'Limp, wasn't it?'published at 19:28 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    FT: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Limp wasn't it? Uncharacteristic of a Warren Gatland side and I'm still trying to come to terms as to why the Lions didn't play any rugby?

    The Lions didn't fire a shot. Nothing. They didn't look like scoring a try. I can't get my head around why. One of the weaknesses of the South African team is their fitness. Last week they got exposed in the last 20 minutes as they don't have match fitness and the Lions didn't test it.

    You should be running the South Africans ragged. It's easy to say from the sidelines, but under the cauldron of pressure, I was expecting more strategy from the experienced team.

    Lions and SpringboksImage source, Getty Images
  16. Tune in!published at 19:25 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    FT: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    You can head over to BBC Radio 5 Live now to hear the thoughts of Matt Dawson, Bob Skinstad and James Hook.

    Or click on the link at the top of this page (UK only).

  17. Tale of the gamepublished at 19:21 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    FT: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    The first half was full of action with two yellow cards dished out, one for Van der Merwe and the other to Kolbe. It wasn't as busy on the scoring front, just five penalty kicks successful, to put the Lions 9-6 ahead.

    South Africa's captain Siya Kolisi came through for his team with a huge try-saving tackle.

    The second half started with ferocious pace as Mapimpi charged over the line for the first try. Pollard didn't add the conversion to keep the Lions in the game.

    Biggar's kick at 50 minutes bounced off the posts to keep the Springboks in the lead.

    The second try of the game also went South Africa's way as Am collected a kick-through. It did go to the TMO but Ben O'Keeffe stayed with his decision to give the Boks a nine-point lead with 19 minutes to go...

    South Africa continued their dominance and closed out the game with a 27-9 victory. Their must-win match going perfectly for them to push the series to a third Test decider.

    Kolisi stopped a try in the first halfImage source, Getty Images
    Mapimipi scores the first tryImage source, Getty Images
    Biggar kicks a penaltyImage source, Getty Images
    Am scores the second tryImage source, Getty Images
  18. O'Keeffe was excellentpublished at 19:18 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    FT: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

    Ugo Monye
    2009 Lions winger Ugo Monye

    I thought Ben O'Keeffe was excellent today. I think he handled the pressure better than any of the players.

    No-one jubilant on the full-time whistle. Both of these teams are here for business and nothing less than a series win will suffice.

    Ben O'KeeffeImage source, Getty Images
  19. 'Deserved winners'published at 19:16 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    FT: South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lions

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  20. Full-time - South Africa 27-9 British and Irish Lionspublished at 19:16 British Summer Time 31 July 2021

    The Springboks have come back with aplomb.

    The series is level and all eyes will now turn to the decider next Saturday.