Dan Biggar kicked 14 points as the British & Irish Lions managed to get off to the perfect start in the Castle three-match test series after turning around a nine-point deficit in the first half to come out victorious 22-17 in Cape Town. Victory in the first test has proved vital for the Lions as the last time they won a series after going behind was back in 1989 versus Australia.
Indiscipline cost Warren Gatland’s men dearly in the opening half which South Africa punished with four penalties from Montpellier’s Handré Pollard. Welshman Biggar responded with one of his own to get the Lions on the scoreboard. The scoreline could have been a lot closer heading in at the break had Biggar and Elliot Daly not missed penalty opportunities, Biggar’s being one you would expect him to convert without issue.
Whatever the Kiwi and his coaches said at half-time had an immediate impact as the Lions powered over through Luke Cowan-Dickie, who time and time again does the same thing for his club side Exeter Chiefs. South Africa were able to respond immediately to a disallowed try for full-back Willie Le Roux with enigmatic scrum-half Faf de Klerk crossing to once again stretch their lead back to seven points. Three more Biggar penalties allowed the Lions to go-ahead for the first time in the game.
Dan Biggar failed his head injury assessment (HIA) which meant that Englishman Owen Farrell had to kick the final penalty to seal a brilliant comeback for the Lions and set up an exciting series.
Putting more emphasis on territory alongside the offloading game proved a positive change for the Lions as they were able to assert dominance over the Springboks. A combination of the Boks’ lack of rugby since the World Cup in Japan two years ago as well as the Lions’ superior bench strength told in the final 20 minutes.
Courtney Lawes & Maro Itoje both put in herculean performances as they both got through a mountain of work in the loose and defensively, making 13 carries and 17 tackles between them. The latter winning man of the match for his efforts.
Cape Town , South Africa – 24 July 2021; Courtney Lawes of British and Irish Lions during the first test of the British and Irish Lions tour match between South Africa and British and Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo By Ashley Vlotman/Sportsfile via Getty Images) 
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 14: Maro Itoje of the British and Irish Lions shouts instructions during the match between South Africa A and the British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium on July 14, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
As the Boks quickly established their lead, thoughts will have no doubt gone back to the first test in 2009 where South Africa raced into a 13 point lead after 20 minutes and the Lions mounted their comeback but came up short, this time they were able to rally themselves and emerge victorious.
Attention will now turn to next Saturday where there will be a definite backlash from the Springboks so this series is a long way from being won yet. But as Jim Telfer said back in 1997 winning a series with the Lions is like climbing Everest and in this instance they have started their ascent up the mountain.
