Good afternoon and welcome to today’s liveblog as the Lions take on the Stormers in Cape Town. Murray Kinsella will be providing you with the match report from today’s game following the final whistle. But you can keep in touch with the action here and please give us your opinions in the comments section below as the game unfolds.
It is a particularly key day for a number of Irish players, not least Robbie Henshaw, who is returning to the team after a hamstring injury. Henshaw has been in superb form this season and seemed a shoo-in to start the Test series prior to his injury. A good display today will put him back in pole position. Kick off is just under 25 minutes away.
17 Jul 2021
4:36PM
Never mind what happens on the field, there is sure to be no shortage of drama off it, especially between Rassie Erasmus and Warren Gatland. The Lions coach is keeping the pot boiling.
Warren Gatland to @SkySports on Rassie Erasmus' tweets about Owen Farrell:
"It was a bit surprising going to Twitter but you've got to accept things.
"It adds to the occasion, atmosphere and tension building up the Test series.
5 minutes Finally the ball comes out; and finally we saw some rugby, a bit of phase-building from the Lions and then a box-kick. Average start to this game, it has to be said.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
17 Jul 2021
5:11PM
7 minutes – Josh Adams kicks ahead after a loose pass from Tim Swiel but the ball goes into touch. From the line-out, Robbie Henshaw shows some decent handling skills but off the following phase, the Lions concede a penalty. Stormers then lose possession; some kick tennis ensues before Jonny Hill gathers the ball in midfield. Marcus Smith kicks into space inside the Stormers 22; Sergeal Petersen clears, the Lions build some phases – Furlong, Hogg, Beirne, carry and the Lions lose it after eight phases.
17 Jul 2021
5:13PM
12 minutes Fine take by Jonny Hill at tail of the line-out. Penalty to the Lions, deep inside their own 22.
17 Jul 2021
5:14PM
13 minutes Hill gathers again from his second successive line-out; Jack Conan then wins a penalty for the Lions. Elliot Daly kicks it into the Stormers’ 22.
17 Jul 2021
5:17PM
15 minutes This time it is Beirne who collects from Cowan-Dickie’s throw. Stormers penalised for an offside; Smith kicks to the corner; Lions five metres from the line; this time it is Adam Beard who gathers the throw; Hill, Conan and Furlong make impacts; Lions win another penalty. They tap and go and concede a penalty for a double movement from Cowan-Dickie.
17 Jul 2021
5:19PM
17 minutes Tim Swiel finds a good touch from the penalty, bringing the Stormers to half-way; Rikus Pretorius and Sergeal Petersen make good carries but Henshaw then rips possession away.
17 Jul 2021
5:22PM
19 minutes PENALTY STORMERS (Swiel)
Controlled attacking from the Stormers results in a penalty – well within kickable distance. They aren’t pretty to watch but they are difficult to play against on the evidence so far. Swiel kicks the penalty and the Stormers lead 3-0
Stormers 3-0 Lions
17 Jul 2021
5:23PM
Wayne Barnes hot on the ball-carrier not going again after being tackled. #LionsRugby
The British and Irish Lions will really want to make a statement in the final game before the first Test next weekend 🦁
Stormers get us underway as Tim Swiel kicks off. A first touch for Marcus Smith who hoofs it into touch!
📺 Watch live on Sky Sports The Lions
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 17, 2021
17 Jul 2021
5:26PM
24 minutes Josh Adams charges at Stormers defence off an attacking scrum and coughs up possession. Kind of sums up the Lions performance so far.
17 Jul 2021
5:30PM
28 minutes TRY LIONS (Beard) After Hogg kicks to touch – poorly it must be said – the Stormers try to build up a few phases. They fail, Beirne with the turnover. Smith counter-attacks, Furlong then makes a line break, Beirne gets involved, then Adams and Adam Beard appears from nowhere to score. Finally, some decent rugby from the Lions.
17 Jul 2021
5:30PM
CONVERSION LIONS (SMITH) Stormers 3-7 Lions
17 Jul 2021
5:34PM
32 minutes – Lions win scrum penalty; Smith kicks to the corner.
Lions were patient there; the maul had been partly halted but Cowan-Dickie arrived to spin through a gap and power his way to the line; Smith converts, Lions are in control now after a slow start.
17 Jul 2021
5:39PM
38 minutes – Great kick from Henshaw after yet another Beirne steal. Play moves inside the Stormers 22.
17 Jul 2021
5:41PM
39 minutes – Lions nearly score a try there as Henshaw finds a gap in the Stormers 22 but his attempted pass to Conan is slightly off-target and the hosts avoid coughing up a third try.
17 Jul 2021
5:44PM
Half-time Stormers 3-19 British and Irish Lions
(TRY, Lions HILL)
17 Jul 2021
5:46PM
HALF-TIME Stormers 3-21 Lions
Correction to my earlier post; it is 21-3 at half-time rather than 19-3, following Smith’s conversion.
Good third try by the Lions, Hill finishes it after some decent play by Price and Beard; the Stormers cannot cope with the Lions tempo once they get up a head of steam. Beard’s handling was good in the run-up to the Hill try, as was Hogg’s.
17 Jul 2021
5:49PM
So a poor opening quarter preceded a much better performance from the Lions thereafter; three tries, Adam Beard and Jonny Hill – the two locks – getting one each, Luke Cowan Dickie scoring the other one, gives the Lions a healthy half-time lead.
Robbie Henshaw has certainly done his Test prospects no harm while Tadhgs (Furlong and Beirne) have to be starters at this stage. For what it is worth, Jack Conan has to be contention as well. He has had a good tour so far. Other big winners from that first half are Cowan-Dickie and scrum-half, Ali Price.
It’s hard to see how the Stormers will get back into this; it’s now a case of who will get into Gatland’s Test team.
17 Jul 2021
5:50PM
Ali Price very good in the last few minutes.
Really nice scoot there before putting Conan into space.
The Lions have their second as Luke Cowan-Dickie breaks from a lineout drive - the space opened up for him and the hooker had a clear run to the line. Smith converts again 👏
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 17, 2021
17 Jul 2021
5:59PM
So, second half gets underway and the Lions have a 21-3 lead.
17 Jul 2021
6:01PM
41 minutes Sergeal Petersen makes a half-break; but the Lions win possession back; Furlong and Conan show good hands, Hamish Watson carries but then Smith kicks poorly and the pressure eases.
17 Jul 2021
6:02PM
Have to say, Cowan-Dickie and Hill are impressive operators. While few expect Hill to make it into the starting XV next week, he is an outside chance for a place in the squad. Cowan-Dickie or Jamie George? Let us know who you think should start.
17 Jul 2021
6:05PM
44 minutes Some awful play there; Daly’s kick was aimless; Sergeal Petersen passes straight into touch.
17 Jul 2021
6:07PM
47 minutes Penalty to the Stormers after a Lions offside. They are going to the corner
17 Jul 2021
6:08PM
Free kick given to the Lions – fine work by Beirne; good movement, good jump results in JJ Kotze, the Stormers hooker, panicking.
17 Jul 2021
6:10PM
49 minutes – Yet more good work from Tadhg Beirne; a fine carry and good hands from the Munster and Ireland player. Gatland has to chalk his name beside that six slot for next week.
17 Jul 2021
6:10PM
TRY LIONS (JACK CONAN) 51 MINUTES
17 Jul 2021
6:12PM
51 minutes Stormers 3-28 Lions
Jack Conan made a lovely break for the line there – showing pace as well as intelligence to exploit the gap. Could he be on Gatland’s radar for next weekend? He must be in with a shout.
17 Jul 2021
6:12PM
52 minutes Alun Wyn Jones is about to enter the fray, three weeks after dislocating his shoulder.
17 Jul 2021
6:14PM
54 minutes Furlong heads off to be replaced by Zander Fagerson. AWJ is also on for Adam Beard.
17 Jul 2021
6:16PM
Right, I’m chalking in Furlong, Henderson, Beirne, Murray and Henshaw into the starting XV for next week. Wouldn’t be surprised if Conan and Aki sneak in as well but for now, we’re going Henshaw at 12, Harris at 13. Conan has been brilliant but competition for the No8 shirt is serious.
The TMO will check if there was a forward pass from Hogg.
17 Jul 2021
6:27PM
Try chalked off for a forward pass – no try for Beirne this time – but that move was excellent, the best of the match; some decent width from the Lions, then the interchange of passes from forwards to backs reminded you of the ’97 Lions. It was van der Merwe, rather than Hogg, who delivered the forward pass.
Great play from the Lions; Mako Vunipola makes a break; Smith gets involved, likewise van der Merwe and Jamie George; line-out goes to the Stormers, Adams steals it as the ball is thrown over the top.
Lions then go on the charge and Zander Fagerson gets over from close range.
17 Jul 2021
6:33PM
69 minutes (CONVERSION LIONS, Smith)
Stormers 3-35 Lions
Five tries from five forwards; five conversions from Smith.
17 Jul 2021
6:36PM
71 minutes Mako Vunipola making a fine impact since he came on. TMO and Wayne Barnes now examining Cornel Smit’s tackle on the England and Saracens prop.
17 Jul 2021
6:37PM
No action taken.
17 Jul 2021
6:38PM
Marcus Smith just played a bit of GAA there; nice sidestep and sideways kick pass.
17 Jul 2021
6:39PM
73 minutes REES LIGHTNING
TRY LIONS (Louis Rees Zammit)
17 Jul 2021
6:41PM
74 minutesStormers 3-42 Lions
That try was all about Marcus Smith; the kid is class. His goosestep saw him sneak away from the Stormers defence inside his own 22 – and just as he gets to half-way he senses Rees-Zammit outside him. The pass is perfect, so is the finish. Smith then converts.
17 Jul 2021
6:42PM
TRY! 🦁 Stormers 3-35 Lions
Zander Fagerson powers over to score for the Lions! Smith converts 🔥
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 17, 2021
17 Jul 2021
6:43PM
77 minutes TRY LIONS (Simmonds)
17 Jul 2021
6:44PM
79 minutes – Stormers 3-49 Lions
Beirne was the creator; then Stuart Hogg, van der Merwe also contributed. Simmonds finished it off. Smith converts.
17 Jul 2021
6:46PM
FULL-TIME: Stormers 3-49 British and Irish Lions
17 Jul 2021
6:49PM
Results versus provincial sides on this tour
Sigma Lions 14-56 British and Irish Lions
Sharks 7-54 British and Irish Lions
Sharks 31-71 British and Irish Lions
Stormers 3-49 British and Irish Lions
You don’t even need to comment. Those scorelines are damning.
17 Jul 2021
6:52PM
Stormers 3-49 British and Irish Lions
So, after a sluggish opening, the Lions took off, scoring seven converted tries. All the Irish players had great games, especially Tadhg Beirne who is set to start next week. Jack Conan is also in contention to do so, as is Bundee Aki, but if you were a betting person, you would be reluctant to make any call on the 12 or 8 jerseys at this stage.
Nonetheless, it would be no surprise to see five Irishmen in the team for next Saturday’s opening test. The bottom line is they have found form on this tour; you can’t say that about everyone else. The contest between Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie will be a fascinating one as well.
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As it happened: British and Irish Lions storm past the Stormers
Good afternoon and welcome to today’s liveblog as the Lions take on the Stormers in Cape Town. Murray Kinsella will be providing you with the match report from today’s game following the final whistle. But you can keep in touch with the action here and please give us your opinions in the comments section below as the game unfolds.
It is a particularly key day for a number of Irish players, not least Robbie Henshaw, who is returning to the team after a hamstring injury. Henshaw has been in superb form this season and seemed a shoo-in to start the Test series prior to his injury. A good display today will put him back in pole position. Kick off is just under 25 minutes away.
Never mind what happens on the field, there is sure to be no shortage of drama off it, especially between Rassie Erasmus and Warren Gatland. The Lions coach is keeping the pot boiling.
Here are the teams for today’s game.
Stormers (v Lions):
15. Sergeal Petersen
14. Seabelo Senatla
13. Rikus Pretorius
12. Dan du Plessis
11. Edwill van der Merwe
10. Tim Swiel
9. Godlen Masimla
1. Leon Lyons
2. JJ Kotze
3. Neethling Fouche
4. Ernst van Rhyn (captain)
5. JD Schickerling
6. Nama Xaba
7. Johan du Toit
8. Evan Roos
Replacements from:
16. Andre-Hugo Venter
17. Kwenzo Blose
18. Sazi Sandi
19. Justin Basson
20. Marcel Theunissen
21. Thomas Bursey
22. Abner van Reenen
23. Juan de Jongh
24. Lee-Marvin Mazibuko
25. Niel Otto
26. Leolin Zas
27. Cornel Smit.
Lions (v Stormers):
15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter, Scotland) (captain)
14. Josh Adams (Cardiff, Wales)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster, Ireland)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester, Scotland)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, England)
9. Ali Price (Glasgow, Scotland)
1. Rory Sutherland (Worcester, Scotland)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter, England)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster, Ireland)
4. Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales)
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter, England)
6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster, Ireland)
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh, Scotland)
8. Jack Conan (Leinster, Ireland)
Replacements:
16. Jamie George (Saracens, England)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England)
18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow, Scotland)
19. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, Wales)
20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter, England)
21. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales)
22. Chris Harris (Gloucester, Scotland)
23. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester, Wales)
Looking for a little bit of reading prior to the game beginning?
Well, here is an interview with Billy Stickland, Ireland’s best sports photographer, who is snapping away in Cape Town this afternoon. This is his eighth Lions tour.
Here is Murray Kinsella’s big match preview.
And here are the reports from the games earlier today, as Australia saw off France and the Bulls defeated South Africa A.
We are off and running.
Early touch for Marcus Smith. He finds touch.
1 minute – Untidy start. First scrum of the day coming up.
3 minutes – First scrum collapses; reset ordered by ref, Wayne Barnes. After a second shove, Barnes awards a free kick to the Stormers.
5 minutes Finally the ball comes out; and finally we saw some rugby, a bit of phase-building from the Lions and then a box-kick. Average start to this game, it has to be said.
7 minutes – Josh Adams kicks ahead after a loose pass from Tim Swiel but the ball goes into touch. From the line-out, Robbie Henshaw shows some decent handling skills but off the following phase, the Lions concede a penalty. Stormers then lose possession; some kick tennis ensues before Jonny Hill gathers the ball in midfield. Marcus Smith kicks into space inside the Stormers 22; Sergeal Petersen clears, the Lions build some phases – Furlong, Hogg, Beirne, carry and the Lions lose it after eight phases.
12 minutes Fine take by Jonny Hill at tail of the line-out. Penalty to the Lions, deep inside their own 22.
13 minutes Hill gathers again from his second successive line-out; Jack Conan then wins a penalty for the Lions. Elliot Daly kicks it into the Stormers’ 22.
15 minutes This time it is Beirne who collects from Cowan-Dickie’s throw. Stormers penalised for an offside; Smith kicks to the corner; Lions five metres from the line; this time it is Adam Beard who gathers the throw; Hill, Conan and Furlong make impacts; Lions win another penalty. They tap and go and concede a penalty for a double movement from Cowan-Dickie.
17 minutes Tim Swiel finds a good touch from the penalty, bringing the Stormers to half-way; Rikus Pretorius and Sergeal Petersen make good carries but Henshaw then rips possession away.
19 minutes PENALTY STORMERS (Swiel)
Controlled attacking from the Stormers results in a penalty – well within kickable distance. They aren’t pretty to watch but they are difficult to play against on the evidence so far. Swiel kicks the penalty and the Stormers lead 3-0
Stormers 3-0 Lions
24 minutes Josh Adams charges at Stormers defence off an attacking scrum and coughs up possession. Kind of sums up the Lions performance so far.
28 minutes TRY LIONS (Beard) After Hogg kicks to touch – poorly it must be said – the Stormers try to build up a few phases. They fail, Beirne with the turnover. Smith counter-attacks, Furlong then makes a line break, Beirne gets involved, then Adams and Adam Beard appears from nowhere to score. Finally, some decent rugby from the Lions.
CONVERSION LIONS (SMITH) Stormers 3-7 Lions
32 minutes – Lions win scrum penalty; Smith kicks to the corner.
34 minutes TRY LIONS (Cowan-Dickie)
34 minutes – Stormers 3-14 Lions
Lions were patient there; the maul had been partly halted but Cowan-Dickie arrived to spin through a gap and power his way to the line; Smith converts, Lions are in control now after a slow start.
38 minutes – Great kick from Henshaw after yet another Beirne steal. Play moves inside the Stormers 22.
39 minutes – Lions nearly score a try there as Henshaw finds a gap in the Stormers 22 but his attempted pass to Conan is slightly off-target and the hosts avoid coughing up a third try.
Half-time Stormers 3-19 British and Irish Lions
(TRY, Lions HILL)
HALF-TIME Stormers 3-21 Lions
Correction to my earlier post; it is 21-3 at half-time rather than 19-3, following Smith’s conversion.
Good third try by the Lions, Hill finishes it after some decent play by Price and Beard; the Stormers cannot cope with the Lions tempo once they get up a head of steam. Beard’s handling was good in the run-up to the Hill try, as was Hogg’s.
So a poor opening quarter preceded a much better performance from the Lions thereafter; three tries, Adam Beard and Jonny Hill – the two locks – getting one each, Luke Cowan Dickie scoring the other one, gives the Lions a healthy half-time lead.
Robbie Henshaw has certainly done his Test prospects no harm while Tadhgs (Furlong and Beirne) have to be starters at this stage. For what it is worth, Jack Conan has to be contention as well. He has had a good tour so far. Other big winners from that first half are Cowan-Dickie and scrum-half, Ali Price.
It’s hard to see how the Stormers will get back into this; it’s now a case of who will get into Gatland’s Test team.
So, second half gets underway and the Lions have a 21-3 lead.
41 minutes Sergeal Petersen makes a half-break; but the Lions win possession back; Furlong and Conan show good hands, Hamish Watson carries but then Smith kicks poorly and the pressure eases.
Have to say, Cowan-Dickie and Hill are impressive operators. While few expect Hill to make it into the starting XV next week, he is an outside chance for a place in the squad. Cowan-Dickie or Jamie George? Let us know who you think should start.
44 minutes Some awful play there; Daly’s kick was aimless; Sergeal Petersen passes straight into touch.
47 minutes Penalty to the Stormers after a Lions offside. They are going to the corner
Free kick given to the Lions – fine work by Beirne; good movement, good jump results in JJ Kotze, the Stormers hooker, panicking.
49 minutes – Yet more good work from Tadhg Beirne; a fine carry and good hands from the Munster and Ireland player. Gatland has to chalk his name beside that six slot for next week.
TRY LIONS (JACK CONAN) 51 MINUTES
51 minutes Stormers 3-28 Lions
Jack Conan made a lovely break for the line there – showing pace as well as intelligence to exploit the gap. Could he be on Gatland’s radar for next weekend? He must be in with a shout.
52 minutes Alun Wyn Jones is about to enter the fray, three weeks after dislocating his shoulder.
54 minutes Furlong heads off to be replaced by Zander Fagerson. AWJ is also on for Adam Beard.
Right, I’m chalking in Furlong, Henderson, Beirne, Murray and Henshaw into the starting XV for next week. Wouldn’t be surprised if Conan and Aki sneak in as well but for now, we’re going Henshaw at 12, Harris at 13. Conan has been brilliant but competition for the No8 shirt is serious.
58 minutes – Evan Roos and Josh Adams exchange pleasantries. Henshaw subbed off; he still has to start next week.
Josh Adams has also gone off to be replaced by Louis Rees Zammit.
59 minutes – Beirne nearly scores; held up just shy of the line.
62 minutes TRY LIONS (Beirne)
The TMO will check if there was a forward pass from Hogg.
Try chalked off for a forward pass – no try for Beirne this time – but that move was excellent, the best of the match; some decent width from the Lions, then the interchange of passes from forwards to backs reminded you of the ’97 Lions. It was van der Merwe, rather than Hogg, who delivered the forward pass.
68minutes TRY LIONS (Fagerson)
Great play from the Lions; Mako Vunipola makes a break; Smith gets involved, likewise van der Merwe and Jamie George; line-out goes to the Stormers, Adams steals it as the ball is thrown over the top.
Lions then go on the charge and Zander Fagerson gets over from close range.
69 minutes (CONVERSION LIONS, Smith)
Stormers 3-35 Lions
Five tries from five forwards; five conversions from Smith.
71 minutes Mako Vunipola making a fine impact since he came on. TMO and Wayne Barnes now examining Cornel Smit’s tackle on the England and Saracens prop.
No action taken.
Marcus Smith just played a bit of GAA there; nice sidestep and sideways kick pass.
73 minutes REES LIGHTNING
TRY LIONS (Louis Rees Zammit)
74 minutes Stormers 3-42 Lions
That try was all about Marcus Smith; the kid is class. His goosestep saw him sneak away from the Stormers defence inside his own 22 – and just as he gets to half-way he senses Rees-Zammit outside him. The pass is perfect, so is the finish. Smith then converts.
77 minutes TRY LIONS (Simmonds)
79 minutes – Stormers 3-49 Lions
Beirne was the creator; then Stuart Hogg, van der Merwe also contributed. Simmonds finished it off. Smith converts.
FULL-TIME: Stormers 3-49 British and Irish Lions
Results versus provincial sides on this tour
Sigma Lions 14-56 British and Irish Lions
Sharks 7-54 British and Irish Lions
Sharks 31-71 British and Irish Lions
Stormers 3-49 British and Irish Lions
You don’t even need to comment. Those scorelines are damning.
Stormers 3-49 British and Irish Lions
So, after a sluggish opening, the Lions took off, scoring seven converted tries. All the Irish players had great games, especially Tadhg Beirne who is set to start next week. Jack Conan is also in contention to do so, as is Bundee Aki, but if you were a betting person, you would be reluctant to make any call on the 12 or 8 jerseys at this stage.
Nonetheless, it would be no surprise to see five Irishmen in the team for next Saturday’s opening test. The bottom line is they have found form on this tour; you can’t say that about everyone else. The contest between Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie will be a fascinating one as well.
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British and Irish Lions Minute-by-Minute Stormers