Leinster duo Jamie Heaslip and Rob Kearney put in strong performances for the Lions as they swept past South Africa 28-9 in the Third Test in Coca Cola Park, Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon…
The two teams traded early penalties through Stephen Jones (8 mins) and Morne Steyn (10) before Shane Williams took an outstanding Jamie Heaslip inside pass to score under the posts.
Then after 27 minutes Heaslip turned try saver when he expertly blocked a South African burst before Williams added his second try five minutes later when he took a wonderful tap down from Riki Flutey who had gathered his own chip and chase to sprint clear, which Jones converted.
With Simon Shaw in the sin bin after being adjudged to have followed through with his knees at a tackle, the Springboks applied the pressure, but the Lions held on to hold a nine-point half-time advantage after an injury time Steyn penalty.
The Lions started the second half strongly with Flutey and Rob Kearney a constat threat. But it was the recalled Ugo Monye who pushed the Lions lead ahead furhter with a wonderful intercept try where the Harlequins man raced clear from inside his own 22. Jones added the cimple conversion under the posts.
Steyn added a penalty for the hosts as they searched fruitlessly for a try scoring opportunity, but Jones replied with two penalties for the visitors as they held on to their lead.
South Africa (6) 9
Pens: M Steyn 3
Lions (15) 28
Tries: S Williams 2, Monye Cons: S Jones 2 Pens: S Jones 3
SOUTH AFRICA: Kirchner (Bulls); Ndungane (Sharks), Fourie (Lions), Olivier (Bulls), Nokwe (Cheetahs); M Steyn (Bulls), Du Preez (Bulls); Mtawarira (Sharks), Ralepelle (Bulls), Smit (Sharks) CAPTAIN, Muller (Sharks), Matfield (Bulls), Brussow (Cheetahs), Smith (Cheetahs), Kankowski (Sharks)
REPLACEMENTS: B du Plessis (Sharks), Steenkamp (Bulls), Carstens (Sharks), Sykes (Sharks), Spies (Bulls), R Pienaar (Sharks), F Steyn (Sharks)
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS:
15: Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)
14: Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England)
13: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland)
12: Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England)
11: Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales)
10: Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales)
9: Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales)
1: Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks/England)
2: Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales)
3: Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England)
4: Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England)
5: Paul O’Connell (Munster/Ireland) CAPTAIN
6: Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England)
7: Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
8: Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Ross Ford (Edinburgh/Scotland)
17: John Hayes (Munster/Ireland)
18: Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
19: David Wallace (Munster/Ireland)
20: Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England)
21: Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England)
22: James Hook (Ospreys/Wales)
