Boks down Lions

DURBAN – World champions South Africa survived a stirring late fightback by the British and Irish Lions to win a pulsating first test 26-21 at Kings Park on Saturday.

Tries by captain John Smit and flanker Heinrich Brussow together with some accurate goal kicking put South Africa 26-7 ahead early in the second half and seemingly in control.
The Lions fought back superbly, though, as flanker Tom Croft added a second try to his first-half effort and scrumhalf Mike Phillips scampered over to set up a thrilling finale.
Only once before, against Australia in 1989, have the Lions lost the first test and come back to win the series. The second test is in Pretoria next Saturday with the third in Johannesburg on July 4.
The burning issue of whether the Springboks would be rusty after not playing a test since November and resting their players from the provincial games was answered inside the first five minutes.
After Stephen Jones missed a second-minute penalty attempt Juan Smith stole a lineout and the Boks moved the ball sweetly across the line for Smit to charge over.
The Lions thought they had hit back with their own try almost immediately but the TV official ruled that Jean de Villiers had prevented Ugo Monye touching down
They did cross the line after 22 minutes when centres Jamie Roberts and Brian O’Driscoll combined well to send Croft over but it proved a rare highlight for the visitors as South Africa took control.
Their dominance emanated from the scrum, where Phil Vickery was having a torrid time and was repeatedly penalised.
Twelve years ago the Springboks lost the decisive second test at Kings Park thanks to their awful goal kicking and the accuracy of Lions fullback Neil Jenkins. This time the Welshman, here as Lions kicking coach, could only watch helpless from the sidelines as Ruan Pienaar and Steyn landed four penalties between them to put their side 19-7 ahead at the break.
That lead was stretched by another seven points within four minutes of the restart as virtually the whole Springbok team created an unstoppable rolling maul, with Brussow, winning his second cap in place of the injured Schalk Burger, doing the honours at the bottom of it all.
The Lions recovered well and eventually began to build some momentum but timely interventions by lock Bakkies Botha and replacement Morné Steyn twice dislodged the ball as Mike Phillips and Monye were both about to score.
They did get it down after 68 minutes when Croft, left out of the original tour party but drafted in to replace suspended Alan Quinlan, broke through.
Scrumhalf Mike Phillips then sneaked through for a third Lions try to cut the lead to five with five minutes remaining and ramp up the noise rolling down from the stands.
However, just as when they won the World Cup in 2007, South Africa’s defence held firm in the face of the tourists’ last desperate assault.
They now prepare for two tests at altitude and revenge for 1997 looks on the cards.
– Nampa-Reuters