Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the British and Irish Lions’ meeting with South Africa A in Cape Town, and this is where it all ramps up for Warren Gatland’s squad.

The Lions have been asked very few questions since arriving in South Africa but there is a real expectation that that will change tonight, with the South Africa A starting XV containing no fewer than 11 World Cup winners.

And after a challenging few weeks off the pitch for both the Lions and the Springboks, this could be just what both teams need as they look to step up their preparations for the fast-approaching Test series.

We’ll have all the action as it happens in Cape Town, where kick-off this evening is at 7pm.

Not for the first time in this tour, we have some late team news to bring you, with the Lions making two changes to their starting XV. Owen Farrell replaces Dan Biggar at out-half, with the Wales player picking up what is described as “a minor ankle” sprain in training yesterday.

Elsewhere, Anthony Watson starts on the left wing instead of Josh Adams with Liam Williams coming into the team at full back. Adams misses out as he joins his partner via Zoom to witness the birth of his first child.

So, here’s how the Lions will now line up tonight:

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS: 15. Liam Williams; 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. Chris Harris, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Anthony Watson; 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Conor Murray (captain); 1. Wyn Jones, 2. Ken Owens, 3. Kyle Sinckler; 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Iain Henderson; 6. Josh Navidi, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Mako Vunipola, 18. Zander Fagerson, 19. Adam Beard, 20. Tadhg Beirne, 21. Sam Simmonds, 22. Gareth Davies, 23. Elliot Daly

Conor Murray captains the Lions tonight, here’s the Munster scrum-half with South Africa A captain Lukhanyo Am for the coin toss.

Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

It has been a disastrous Test series preparation for the Boks, whose planned Test against Georgia last Friday was cancelled. Hence, Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber – the latter of whom is still in isolation back in Johannesburg – have picked the strongest team available to them for this evening.

Erasmus’ open desperation for another South Africa A clash with the Lions this Saturday underlines their worries about being undercooked for the Test series. The tourists have had some disruption, of course, but their last few weeks have been smooth in comparison with the Boks’ drama.

You can find Murray Kinsella’s full match preview for tonight’s game here.

With Jacques Nienaber still self-isolating, Rassie Erasmus has been overlooking training with the Springbok squad this week, and will be calling the shots in Cape Town tonight.

Just 20 minutes until kick-off now, do let us know your match predictions in the comments section.

Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

More news coming from the Lions camp. Leinster hooker Ronan Kelleher is travelling out to South Africa to join the tour. Read the breaking news here.

The teams are out, and we’re almost ready to go. Here’s a quick reminder of how South Africa A line up.

💪 Lukhanyo Am will lead a strong SA 'A' team in Cape Town on Wednesday
🔗 Team announcement: https://t.co/auX33gg76h#CastleLionsSeries #StrongerTogether #StrongerForever pic.twitter.com/X87P8qrDFF

— Springboks (@Springboks) July 12, 2021

KICK-OFF

We are underway in Cape Town.

2mins

An early stoppage as Liam Williams gets some treatment after shipping a big hit from Eben Etzebeth. The Wales star will be OK to continue, but that may be an early indication of the physicality South Africa A will try bring tonight.

4mins

A lot of early kicking here. Willie Le Roux’s eyes light up as he chases a Faf de Klerk kick but the bounce beats him. South Africa A looking the brighter side in these early stages.

5mins

So close! South Africa A think they have an early try but Anthony Watson did well to get across and force S’busiso Nkosi’s foot out of touch. An early warning shot for the Lions, who were pretty easily stretched there. We’ll go back for a South Africa A penalty.

PENALTY – Steyn

South Africa A 3 British & Irish Lions 0

9mins

We have our first scrum of the evening, and referee Jaco Peyper isn’t happy with what he sees. After three attempts, the Lions get the penalty after the South Africa A scrum goes down. Owen Farrell kicks to the corner and the Lions go searching for an early try.

TRY – Nkosi

South Africa A 8 B&I Lions 0

14mins

South Africa A 10 B&I Lions 0

Warren Gatland will not have enjoyed that. Owen Farrell sees a kick blocked down by Etzebeth and Damian de Allende is on hand to scoop up possession. De Allende makes the break before playing in S’busiso Nkosi, who has the gas to burst down the wing before a neat bit of footwork helps him finish in the corner. Steyn converts, and this is a very strong start by South Africa A. 

19mins

Liam Williams has been replaced by Elliot Daly for a HIA.

PENALTY – Farrell

South Africa A 10 B&I Lions 3

28mins

South Africa A 10 B&I Lions 3

With almost half an hour played, the Lions are finally on the scoreboard thanks to a Farrell penalty. They’ve been put under serious pressure by the hosts so far here. South Africa A are winning all the collisions, and if anything, it’s the Lions who look a little rusty. 

TRY – Lukhanyo Am

South Africa A 15 B&I Lions 3 

34mins

South Africa A 17 B&I Lions 3

The Lions kick to Cheslin Kolbe, and as we’ve seen so often from the superstar wing, he makes something happen out of nothing, slicing through the smallest of gaps between Rees-Zammit and Chris Harris before a superb offload to Am, who gets over for South Africa A’s second try. A brilliant score, which was all about Kolbe. He’s just a joy to watch. The Lions are under serious pressure here.

YELLOW CARD – Faf de Klerk

38mins

South Africa scrum-half Faf de Klerk is sent to the bin for a shoulder charge with no wrap. Two minutes to play in the second half as the Lions pound at the South Africa A line.

YELLOW CARD – Marco Van Staden

40mins

Wyn Jones thinks he has a try but after a TMO check, the decision is no try due to a double-movement.

HALF-TIME

South Africa A 17 B&I Lions 3

Wow. What a half of rugby. Despite the disruption to their preparations, South Africa A clearly have the edge here, and their physicality in defence has been just ferocious. The Lions need a big second half if they’re going to turn this one around. At the moment, they look a little shell-shocked.

We’ll be back with all the second-half action shortly.

The second-half is underway.

41mins

One change for South Africa A at half time, with Vincent Koch coming in for Trevor Nyakane. The home side still down to 13 men.

TRY – Wyn Jones

South Africa A 17 B&I Lions 8

45mins

South Africa A 17 B&I Lions 10

Wyn Jones has the power to get over the line from a pick-and-go, after a good line from Anthony Watson initially got the Lions up the pitch. Farrell converts and it’s game on in Cape Town. 

PENALTY – Farrell

South Africa A 17 B&I Lions 13

53mins

Farrell’s sweetly-struck long-range penalty makes it a four-point game. The Lions are managing this game much better now, moving the ball around instead of crashing into that South Africa defence. South Africa A are back to their full complement of 15, but you feel there could be more cards to come. South Africa A have been pinged for 13 penalties so far.

60mins

After 13 phases, the Lions move the ball wide to Louis Rees-Zammit and the Wales wing shows good footwork to step inside and attack the tryline. On first viewing he seems to be held up just short, and on second viewing it’s confirmed that that is exactly what happened, with a double movement thrown in for good measure. No try, and once again, superb defence from South Africa A.

63mins

Morne Steyn drags a long-range penalty wide and it remains a four-point game as we enter the final 20 minutes of play.

74mins

Steyn goes for the drop-goal but is off target. Adam Beard producing some big moments in defence for the Lions.

78mins

Into the last two minutes now. The Lions steal a lineout and go searching for a game-winning score.

80mins

Zander Fagerson knocks-on and we’ll have a South Africa A scrum. That might have been the Lions last chance.

FULL-TIME 

South Africa A 17 South Africa A 13

So the Lions fall to their first defeat of the tour, in what was surely their most valuable outing yet. We’ll have a full report and reaction on The42 shortly.

Thanks for joining our liveblog this evening.