British and Irish Lions Left To Lick Their Wounds

Rarely has the cruelty of sport at the highest level been so clear to see as on the faces of the British and Irish Lions players after the second Test in Pretoria. As Morne Steyn’s kick flew between the uprights, the hearts of four nations sank along with those of their battered warriors.

The Lions now head to Johannesburg for the third and final Test with only pride to play for; ruing the injustice of Schalk Burger’s inexcusably generous yellow card, a multitude of injuries in key positions, and their own inability to close out the game.

Yet for all their disappointment, their courage and bravery in the face of adversity must be admired.

At the end of a season spanning almost an entire year for these players, the task of beating the the World Champion Spingboks in their own backyard, was considered to be nearly impossible. A task made harder by the fact that they would have only five weeks to prepare.

And so it proved to be a bridge too far, but only just. The fact that they pushed the Boks to their limits is a success in itself, and although they will return with another series defeat, the class of 2009 has showed that the ethos of the Lions is well and truly alive.

South Africa too must be credited for its resilience and ability to handle pressure, as well as for their whole contribution to two of the most exciting test matches ever played.

For over an hour, everything was going according to plan for McGeechan’s men, as they went into the final quarter leading 19-8. However, two wonderfully crafted tries for Bryan Habana and Jacques Fourie brought the Boks back into contention, before Steyn’s last-gasp winner.

The drama began as early as the first minute, when Schalk Burger, making his 50th Test appearance for South Africa, was spotted eye gouging Luke Fitzgerald by Linesman Brys Lawrence. Lawrence’s recommendation to referee Christophe Berdos was “at least a yellow card,” but it is hard to fathom how the Frenchman did not produce a red.

Comments following the game by South African coach Peter de Villiers that Burger did not deserve even a yellow card have incensed the Lions, and justifiably so. There is unquestionably no place for eye-gouging in the game of rugby and to suggest otherwise is "mind boggling" in the opinion of Brian O’Driscoll.

Unfazed by the event, the Lions went about their business to stunning effect as the imperious Irish full-back Rob Kearney, who had a flawless match, crossed the whitewash in the seventh minute. But having conceded 10 points with Burger off the field, the Boks scored immediately upon his return.

Juan Smith won a line-out at the tail and scrum-half Du Preez released wing JP Pietersen, who picked a superb angle to ease past Fitzgerald and over to the right of the posts.

Stephen Jones and Francois Steyn traded penalties to leave the score at 16-8 at half-time.

The Second half did not begin well for the Lions, as they lost both props, Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones, to injury. Witnesses to the first test may have considered the idea of uncontested scrums against John Smit and "the Beast" to be a godsend, but the two Welshmen were dominating their opposite numbers and the Lions missed them badly for the last half an hour.

Worse was to come as the influential Jamie Roberts followed his centre partner Brian O’Driscoll off the field, forcing stand-off Stephen Jones to move to inside-centre, and wing Tommy Bowe to slot into the 13 channel.

Ronan O’Gara came on at Fly-half, but it was to prove a desperately disappointing cameo for the Irishman.

First, it was his missed tackle which allowed Jacques Fourie to squeeze in at the corner and give the Sprinkboks the lead for the first time in the match and secondly, with his head strapped and barely able to see out of one eye, he hoisted an up-and-under with the scores at 25-25 in the last play of the match, instead of looking for the safety of touch.

Chasing his own kick, he only succeeded in taking out South African scrum-half Fourie Du-Preez in the air, providing Steyn with the chance to write himself into the history books and exact revenge for 12 years of hurt.

For a man who has had such success throughout his career, guiding Munster to European glory and Ireland to a Grand-Slam triumph, to have made such a costly error in what was surely the biggest game of his career is a very heavy burden.

The anguish was clear to see on his battered face following the final whistle, and one could not help but feel desperately sorry for a man who had nowhere to hide, and who will struggle to ever forget the closing events of this compelling Test match.

Nobody epitomized the Lions’ spirit more than Simon Shaw, making his Test debut at the age of 35.

The Wasps second-row was everywhere, seemingly untouched by fatigue or pain as he repeatedly smashed into rucks and tackles, and he was deservedly awarded Man of the Match.

Yet, as he himself admitted, that is little consolation. A massive opportunity has been missed by these players and the harsh facts remain that this was a seventh straight Test defeat for the men from Britain and Ireland.

“No one actually thought we were going to be competitive," McGeechan noted. "But we have been more than that. In both games we have been winners in a lot of respects."

Maybe, but unfortunately for the Lions and their marvelous fans, not on the scoreboard.