While the Lions were much improved in the second half, they were helped by some key refereeing decisions. "I thought the impact of our bench was probably more significant than their bench was." Key decisions go the Lions' way "The players all put in a really big shift and then the bench did really well," said Gatland. While the Lions' replacements added to their efforts, Gatland said the South African bench had less impact. Props Mako Vunipola and Kyle Sinckler were introduced off the bench, while the experienced Farrell and Conor Murray pulled the strings from behind.
Speaking in the week, Gatland said the impact of the bench would be critical in deciding which way the game went, and the New Zealander had the better options. "It was a really tight Test match and, thankfully, we have come from behind and finished really strongly." Changes impact the game In the second half we got stronger and stronger and got ourselves back into the game. "We knew we had to keep our patience and we would get chances. We had given away a few soft penalties and allowed them opportunities," said Gatland. "The message at half-time was that we were still in the arm-wrestle. The Springboks showed resilience, and Willie le Roux's try was chalked off before De Klerk dotted down, but Lions head coach Warren Gatland said his side got "stronger and stronger" as the game wore on. Their scrum was dominant and Cowan-Dickie's line-out wavered under pressure from Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert.īut Cowan-Dickie kickstarted the resurgence after the break when he gathered the ball from his own throw at the back of a rolling maul to score the first try of the three-match series. The Springboks had 57% possession and made 36 carries, compared to the Lions' 29, in the opening 40 minutes.
World champions South Africa are renowned for their physicality and set-piece power and made a bright start in Cape Town. "The Boks will be better after that but they will be stewing that they lost a nine-point lead." 'We finished really strongly' "It's game on now," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Sa vs british lions score series#
The Lions were punished for their ill-discipline in the first half as Handre Pollard kicked four penalties. "We couldn't fire a shot and the Boks couldn't do a thing wrong, and then it turned around." "I couldn't believe what I was watching," O'Driscoll told BBC Sport.
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