Emerging Springboks 13 Lions 13:Terrible conditions conspired against the Lions hopefuls as they were held to a draw by the Emerging Springboks in Cape Town. A number of players hoped to press their case for inclusion ahead of the second Test but precious little rugby was played at Newlands.
With driving rain and a howling wind to contend with, chances to impress the selectors were few and far between. As such, the likes of Luke Fitzgerald, Martyn Williams, Ronan O’Gara and Shane Williams were afforded little opportunity to catch the eye.
Instead, the story of the night belonged to the home side who levelled matters with a converted try in the last play of the game.
Substitute Willem de Waal kept his nerve as the rain sluiced down beneath Table Mountain, landing a magnificent touchline conversion of substitute Danwel Demas’ try with the game’s final kick.
It was no more than the Boks’ second string deserved. Demas, who scored for the Cheetahs against the Lions 17 days ago, finished with a flourish from arguably the game’s most flowing move.
The elements did their utmost to blow both teams off course — combining rain, hail and gale-force winds.
But a first-half try by fullback Keith Earls — plus a penalty and conversion from captain O’Gara — ensured that as in New Zealand four years ago, the Lions’ midweek XV remained unbeaten.
Wing Luke Fitzgerald shone in most areas, while number eight Andy Powell displayed a healthy appetite for battle and substitute James Hook — on for O’Gara just after half-time — made some assured touches, including slotting a late penalty.
The Lions, though, experienced a testing finale.
They were unable to put daylight between themselves and well-organised opponents - and they ultimately paid the price. It was not the result they would have wanted just four days before facing a Test series salvage mission against South Africa.
The conditions had an effect on the Lions inside four minutes when O’Gara produced a howler with his first kick, missing from 20 metres out after failing to correctly gauge conditions.
He made amends four minutes later, punishing the Emerging Springboks’ technical indiscipline, before a blunder by home fullback Zane Kirchner put his team in trouble.
Wing Shane Williams charged down his attempted clearance, freeing impressive centre Riki Flutey, and quickly recycled possession allowed Earls to finish impressively.
It was further evidence of Earls’ transformation following a miserable tour debut against the Royal XV in Rustenburg last month, his confidence continuing to rise.
O’Gara added the extras for a 10-0 lead, before a hailstorm blew across the ground — making conditions nigh on impossible for flyhalf Earl Rose’s opening penalty strike that predictably sailed way off course.
Despite testing conditions, some of the Lions’ close-quarter work was impressive — especially with ball in hand.
Fitzgerald, eager to put pressure on Test wing Ugo Monye, showed a healthy appetite for work — defending well and also roaming into midfield seeking opportunities.
Flankers Joe Worsley and Martyn Williams were also prominent — and although Rose reduced the arrears through a penalty four minutes before the break, the Lions were good value for their 10-3 interval advantage.
O’Gara made way for Hook just five minutes into the second period, suggesting the Lions management wanted to closely monitor the Welshman before their second Test selection.
There were also signs of an increasingly fractious forward battle, Lions lock Nathan Hines twice getting to grips with opposition players.
It prompted Irish referee Alain Rolland to issue a general warning, before Rose’s second successful penalty made it 10-6 and reminded the Lions they still had a lot of work to do.
A slippery surface and squally showers made conditions for handling the ball treacherous, and the Lions needed another score to give them breathing space.
The Emerging Springboks continued to make life difficult, pressing deep inside the Lions’ half, but Rose missed another penalty as a fresh downpour battered both teams.
The Lions appeared set to close the game out, helped by a raft of changes during the final quarter that included an appearance for prop Phil Vickery three days after Springboks prop Tendai ‘The Beast’ Matawarira gave him such a torrid time in the first Test.
But the Emerging Springboks launched one final assault, and Demas dived over to hand de Waal the stage for his moment of glory.
Emerging Springboks: 15-Zane Kirchner, 14-Luzoko Vulindlu, 13-Deon van Rensburg (21-Willem de Waal 53), 12-Morgan Newman, 11-Bjorn Basson (22-Danwel Demas 74), 10-Earl Rose, 9-Jano Vermaak (20-Heini Adams 64), 8-Duane Vermeulen, 7-Jean Deysel (19-Jacques Botes 64), 6-Duwald Potgieter, 5-Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4-Steven Sykes (18-Franco van der Merwe 64), 3-Werner Kruger, 2-Bandise Maku (16-Tiaan Liebenberg 53), 1-Wian du Preez (17-Pat Cilliers 64).
British and Irish Lions: 15-Keith Earls, 14-Shane Williams, 13-Riki Flutey, 12-Gordon D'Arcy, 11-Luke Fitzgerald (22-Ugo Monye 65), 10-Ronan O'Gara (21-James Hook 48), 9-Harry Ellis, 8-Andy Powell (19-David Wallace 68), 7-Martyn Williams, 6-Joe Worsley, 5-Nathan Hines (18-Simon Shaw 58), 4-Donncha O'Callaghan, 3-John Hayes (17-Phil Vickery 67), 2-Ross Ford (16-Lee Mears 75), 1-Tim Payne.
Replacement not used: 20-Mike Blair
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
