Lions 2009 - Last-gasp Lions remain unbeaten

Eurosport - Sat, 13 Jun 22:16:00 2009

The British & Irish Lions needed a last gasp penalty from replacement James Hook to beat Western Province 26-23 in Cape Town and maintain their winning record on their tour of South Africa.

RUGBY Tommy Bowe of the British and Irish Lions - 0

Two outstanding first-half tries from the Lions seemingly put the tourists in charge at 18-9 but a spirited second half from the hosts got things back on level terms before Hook produced his winning penalty just four minutes from time.

The Lions struggled at times in testing conditions but wing Tommy Bowe (pictured) as good as nailed down his spot for the first Test against South Africa in Durban next weekend, scoring one try and setting up the other, while Ugo Monye also touched down to strengthen his calls for a starting berth.

Western Province started brightly with Willem De Waal landing the first of his five successful kicks when Harry Ellis was penalised for an infringement at the breakdown after just three minutes of play.

The Lions quickly hit back with two penalties in as many minutes from Stephen Jones as first Tiaan Liebenberg and then Wicus Blaauw found themselves on the wrong side of referee Mark Lawrence.

But Western Province seemed determined to take the fight to the Lions as they get back into opposition territory and re-fused to leave, scoring two drop goals, one from De Waal and one from Joe Pietersen, in the process.

It took genius in the shape of Bowe to break the kicking deadlock as the Ireland star, who received the ball from Rob Kearney, displayed impressive strength and speed to duck through one tackle and force his way over the line before flipping a final tackle that saw him end on his back.

Not content with simply scoring a try, however, Bowe was quickly back in the thick of the action as he burst through the Western Province line once again before putting up a perfectly timed pass that seemed to hover in the air and wait for the fast-approaching Monye.

For his part, the Harlequins' man used his speed well to collect the ball and went down early to ensure he could not be stopped as he skidded over the line on a very wet pitch.

Despite being outplayed for the second 20 minutes of the first half though, Western Province still refused to give up and were lifted by a De Waal penalty on the stroke of half-time.

The interval did nothing to halt the Western Province momentum as they also took the first score of the second half to reduce the deficit to just the three points, thanks again to the boot De Waal.

The Lions temporarily managed to stop the rot, with Martyn Williams doing much to improve his chances of starting the first Test when he forced his way over the line after a sustained period of pressure from the tourists.

But sheer determination from Western Province saw them stick with the Lions as De Waal first brought his side back within one-score range before also setting up fullback Pietersen for a cheeky try in the right-hand corner.

De Waal missed the touchline conversion but with Hook, a late replacement for Kearney who limped off after picking up a dead leg in the build-up to Pietersen's try, also missing a long range penalty, the scores remained tied at 23-23 to send match into a tense final 15 minutes.

Hook made no such mistake with his second chance to play the hero and he thumped a chance from similar distance, albeit it on the other side of the park right between the posts, to secure his side the victory.

The Lions Test squad is due to be announced on Tuesday evening, following the final warm-up clash against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth, ahead of the first Test with South Africa next Saturday.

Pippa Davis / Eurosport

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  1. willem_walters, does your mummy know youve been on her­ computer again saying silly things to strangers.

    From trufftastic, on Sun 14 Jun 9:24PM

  2. The SPRINGBOKS are going to slaughter the Lions. Watch­ out Brittan this can get very ugly but watch the game­ and learn.

    From WillemW, on Sun 14 Jun 6:25PM

  3. This would not be possible for a sport like football.­ Reading an article by willie john mcbride and he is­ still 35 years on friends with all the lions he played­ with. Geech knows how to build a team, Woodward let­ them have their own room and picked too big a squad­ full of form players. This year they are back to­ sharing rooms with players from opposite nations to­ help build team spirit, definetly working! Wish i was­ at the first test, would love to make friends and­ support the lions with guys from all nations, must be a­ hell of an experience. Come on BOYS!!!

    From bmuirboy, on Sun 14 Jun 9:38AM

  4. As an American, I will just be happy to A) be able to­ see the game on some tape delay condensed version and­ B) to see a close game.

    From CycleDan, on Sun 14 Jun 2:37AM

  5. bmuirboy, Wouldnt argue with that selection much, lm­ pretty sure it will revolve around those players,­ players left out shouldnt be to concerned though as­ theres still plenty more rugby to be played. Watch some­ of the interviews and see how good the players are­ getting on with each other, players who come 6 Nations­ time again will be expected to knock lumps out of one­ another. They get along and forge great life long­ friendships on tour . We should do the same if we are­ true rugby supporters. Could you imagine football doing­ what the Lions do.

    From trufftastic, on Sun 14 Jun 12:46AM

  6. trufftastic, great point there about getting behind­ them no matter the nationality. I dunno about anyone­ else, but see once a try has been scored and you see­ all these players rom different nationalites smiling­ hugging and congradulating the player, honestly gives­ me the biggest smile. That is what the lions is about,­ thats how we will win, being a complete team of­ fantastic players. Rugby is one of the very few team­ sports where this sorta thing can happen, the same sort­ of bonding would never happen in a british football­ team. I'll be supporting who ever goes out on that­ field on saturday, as long as they have a red shirt on­ !!!
    15 Byrne/Kearney (too close to call)
    14 Bowe
    13­ O'driscoll
    12 Roberts
    11 Monye
    10 Jones
    9­ philips/ellis (depends on what type of game they want­ to play, but both good choices)
    8 Heaslip
    6 Croft (need­ his line out ability)
    7 Wallace ( if they croft for­ lineout they need wallace for power, there are several­ combinations they could use in the back row because­ williams definetly put his hand up today)
    4­ Hines/A.W.Jones (again depends on what sortoff game­ they wanna play)
    5 O'connal (he was picked as tour­ captain and regardless he has to start the 1 test)
    3­ Jenkins
    2 Mears (really impressed with him, didnt­ support him on beng picked before the plane left but­ played excellent)
    1 Murray

    16 Rees/Ford (ford is a­ btter scrummager and ball carrier, probably pick rees­ for his throwing though)
    17 Vickery
    18 Hines/Jones
    19­ Williams/Wallace
    20Philips/ ellis
    21 Hook
    22 Kearney/­ Byrne

    From bmuirboy, on Sat 13 Jun 10:59PM

  7. down to buissness now! I would have liked to have seen­ a vitual full strength side out there today to allow­ them to gel for the 1st test. I belive lions will be to­ strong for SA. we will know how it will pan out after­ 15 mins of the test. c'mon lions! (p.s. ive never­ met a nice south african!)

    From Andrew, on Sat 13 Jun 10:41PM

  8. What people are forgetting is that they may only be­ provincial sides but alot of the players are capable of­ international level, the abundance of talent over there­ is unbelievable. In South Africa its even more­ difficult to break through than here, face gotta fit­ too. When it comes to the test team l think we will up­ our game a level or three. Notice the lack of­ supporters at the fixtures, no atmosphere. That will­ change alot to. Lets get behind them which ever nation­ the come from, lets trust in them to go at them , l­ dont think they will back down or be a walk over . Look­ at France earlier. Northen hemesphere not weak you­ know.

    From trufftastic, on Sat 13 Jun 10:33PM

  9. Bmuirboy has picked the same team as me as well. Just­ hope the McGeechan can steer the selection with a bit­ more balance than has been obvious up to­ now,
    Awrabreast boys !!

    From Cumble, on Sat 13 Jun 10:31PM

  10. bmuirboy......spot on, totally agree, British Lions are­ doing well.I can't wait to see Lee Byrne against­ the boks he will up his game 10 notches...The best full­ back ever!! and I think J.P.R. was sublime untill now !

    From pajulu, on Sat 13 Jun 8:36PM

  11. murray mears jenkins hines o connell croft heaslip­ wallace/williams phillips jones bowe roberts o driscoll­ Fitzgerald/monye Byrne. Only an opinion what do ye­ think. Unbiased Irish man

    From d_luce_y, on Sat 13 Jun 8:33PM

  12. If the boks are to win next saturday it wiill be by the­ smallest of margins! Tommy Bowe is quite frankly world­ class and an absolute genius(im scottish so not being­ biass), and monye just behind him in skill. In recent­ years i have never seen a pair of wingers want the ball­ so much, and not just stand there but GO LOOKING for­ it. Both fantastic finishers and solid as rocks in­ defence, i honestly cant praise them enough. Saying the­ boks will trounce us is rubbish, we have not played a­ completely full strength team yet, and just you try and­ deal with the combination of roberts and o driscoll! As­ for the forwards, i hope we can get two scots in the­ pack, murray destroyed the front row when he came on­ and nathan hines adds another dimension with his­ offloading. Really think nathan has worked hard,­ personally i would like to see him partner with­ A.W.Jones as i dont think Paul has really showen­ anything amazing yet, but hes a big game player and im­ sure he shall rise to the challenge. Couldnt say who­ will play full back as they are both world class, 9 is­ between harry and mike P, tought ellis controlled the­ game excellently today, wheras mike is alot more­ physical, Blair has no chnace im afraid. 10 looks like­ jones with hooky on the bench, o'gara offeres­ nothing different and his defence is simply not good­ enough. Looks like a great game next saturday, dont­ expect a walk over SA!

    From bmuirboy, on Sat 13 Jun 8:14PM

  13. The Lions have won their matches admittedly, but not­ impressivly-bar The Golden Lions'- I feel theyre­ going to be outmuscled next Saturday, and ultimatly­ outplayed.

    From ray, on Sat 13 Jun 7:52PM

  14. Francis,...Llanelli should never have beaten the mighty­ All blacks in the 70s, rugby is a funny old game!

    From pajulu, on Sat 13 Jun 6:23PM

  15. Not a hope in the tests. Should be putting these­ provincial sides to the slaughter. Can't see them­ troubling a strong Springbok side.

    From FRANCIS H, on Sat 13 Jun 5:04PM

  16. LOL..I think you need to remember that the Lions have­ only been playing provincial teams which have none of­ the springbok players in them, im willing to bet my­ salary that the Lions are going to get a hiding next­ saturday but i wont take anything away from you guys­ for being patriot ! Bring on next weekend :)

    From paul, on Sat 13 Jun 4:44PM

  17. too many penaltys conceded by vickery and sheridan, i­ think they've played themselves out of selection.­ Kearney put up his hand today, solid as a rock in the­ worst conditions we've seen. Martin Williams has­ also given Geech something to think about. Looking like­ a strong team for the tests, i can't wait!

    From ptothej, on Sat 13 Jun 4:24PM

  18. a good performance. good collaboration between the­ backrow and the rest of the midfield.
    andy powell­ redeemed himself in this game, and the front row did­ themselves proud.
    im gradually coming round to the idea­ that Paul O'Connells place isnt as inked in as­ people claim it to be,
    dont get me worng, beginning of­ the year he was awesome, but his captaincy has left a­ lot to be desired, and Phil Vickery did a sterling job­ today (this is comin from a welshman, so dont call me­ biased)
    james hook and Rob Kearney have shown­ themselves to be ample cover for Jones and Byrne too
    a­ lot of work to be done, but theyve at leats got to a­ level now, where they will give the Boks a game. now to­ push to a level where we can challenge them across the­ board

    From moggie2727, on Sat 13 Jun 4:08PM

  19. Look out Boks. Just imagine what will happen to ya when­ the Lions bring out their first team.

    From FineLarry, on Sat 13 Jun 4:04PM
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