The British and Irish Lions will meet the Springboks unbeaten after surviving the Southern Kings’ debut 20-8 on Tuesday in their last tour match before the Test series.
In a rugged encounter marked by bone-jarring tackles and frequent penalties, the Lions endured their toughest encounter to win their sixth straight match.
They will go into the first test against South Africa on Saturday in Durban with an unbeaten tour record for the first time since the 1989 tour of Australia, five tours ago.
Lions coach Ian McGeechan will name his Test lineup today, and only three or four from Tuesday’s match are expected to be contenders. But with half the side backing up from Saturday’s win over Western Province, he was proud of their composure in the face of unrelenting pressure from the invitation side at new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The Lions pulled it out from 3-3 at half-time with tries by winger Ugo Monye and a penalty try attributed to their dominant scrum, plus 10 points from the reliable Ronan O’Gara. The Southern Kings, who pickpocketed the Lions at breakdowns, put up the last points, a try for flanker Mpho Mbiyozo.
Frikkie Welsh and De Wet Barry in midfield and shifty fly-half Jaco van der Westhuyzen helped the Kings put up a magnificent defense. But Van der Westhuyzen went too far when a high tackle on Riki Flutey sent him to the sinbin for 10 minutes in the first half.
After a set-to between the packs to start the second half, O’Gara’s second penalty put the Lions in front for the first time, and for good. Then an O’Gara crosskick was mishandled by the Kings, and Monye was on hand to clean up.
While Southern Kings lock Ross Skeate was in the bin, the home pack crumpled twice in succession in defense of its tryline and Welsh referee Nigel Owens didn’t hesitate to award a 69th-minute penalty try, which incensed the 36,000-strong crowd.
But the home fans were given one last reason to cheer for the Kings, who are building up for Super rugby status, when Mbiyozo broke from an attacking scrum to touch down.
Scotland prop Euan Murray and Wales fly-half James Hook will both miss the opening Test through injuries sustained in Tuesday’s hard-fought win.
Murray sprained his right ankle, while Hook suffered bruising to his neck and head.
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