STORY SO FAR

Here’s how the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa has played out.

There’s just one blot on the Lions copybook so far, the 17-13 loss to South Africa ‘A’ two weeks ago.

There’s just two games left to play now, and victory today will secure a historic Test series victory.

STAGE IS SET

The Cape Town Stadium once again plays host to the Lions against South Africa after being the venue for the first Test seven days ago.

And it will also host the third Test next week after the original plans to return to Johannesburg after the first Test were scrapped due to fears regarding the Coronavirus situation in the country.

DRESSING ROOM VIEW

A look inside the Lions dressing room at the crisp red shirts ready to see battle.

SHUFFLING THE PACK

Let’s take a closer look at Warren Gatland’s three changes to the Lions starting line-up.

Mako Vunipola comes in to start in the front row in the place of Rory Sutherland after a monster appearance off the bench last week.

Conor Murray is also called up to the starting side as he replaces Ali Price, despite Price impressing last week.

Murray will bring invaluable experience though and a brilliant kicking game that will aim to put the Springboks on the back foot.

And Chris Harris comes into the centres in place of Elliot Daly.

Last weeks game wasn’t Daly’s finest as conceded a couple of penalties that allowed Handre Pollard to kick the Boks into the lead.

Chris Harris is preferred at outside centre and brings more physicality to the side to match up the brutal South Africa centre pairing of Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am.

MISSING

South Africa danger man Cheslin Kolbe didn’t beat a single defender in the first Test last week.

Going into the game he had the best tackle evasion percentage of any Tier One non-half back in Test rugby since his debut, having evaded 49 of 89 attempted tackles (55%).

He’s certainly got some talent in his locker, which the England players will know all about after Kolbe crossed for the Springboks in their 32-12 World Cup final win over England.

Will we see a different Cheslin Kolbe today?

EVER PRESENT

Alun Wyn Jones wins his eleventh British & Irish Lions Test cap.

He becomes the outright fifth most capped player in Lions history, behind only Willie John McBride (17), Dickie Jeeps (13), Mike Gibson and Graham Price (both 12).

STRONG HISTORY

The British & Irish Lions have lost just two series after winning the first Test (W10, D1) – against New Zealand in 1930 and Australia in 2001.

That stat certainly bodes well for Warren Gatland’s tourists, but all history will be forgotten when the first whistle comes around.

ONE HOUR WARNING

Just an hour to go now until the second Test gets underway in Cape Town.

Will the Lions seal an historic series win against the World Champions to make it three series in a row unbeaten?

Or will the Springboks come back to level things up at 1-1 to take it to a deciding Test next week?

There’s not long to go now until we find out!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Rassie Erasmus dropped a Lions bombshell as the South Africa boss said he would QUIT ahead of the last two Tests, JONNY FORDHAM reports.

Under-pressure Erasmus posted a shock hour-long video this morning as he went nuclear.

During a sensational and damning slating of the referees for South Africa’s First Test defeat, the Springboks chief issued endless threats to step down.

Ranting Erasmus said: “I have previous encounters where I’ve made mistakes, saying things in public about referees and that normally comes back to bite you.

“But in this instance, the Lions only comes around every 12 years.

“And I think it should be fair that I’ll step away from these last two Test matches, but let the Springboks and the Lions have an equal chance on the field when it comes to laws, respect and the way that players get treated.”

SIYA SPEAKS

 And this is what Kolisi had to say when quizzed on how he’d been disrespected:

“Did you watch the video? Watch that and then we can chat afterwards.

“I don’t really want to get into it to be honest. I don’t want to get involved in that, I just didn’t feel I was given the same access to the referee.

“If you watch the game again you’ll definitely be able to see.

“But it’s already happened, I don’t want to speak too much about it, it’s not going to change anything.”

WAR OF WORDS

Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi was not happy with referee Nic Berry in the first Test last week.

The Boks had two tries disallowed by the TMO, with Kolisi claiming he didn’t feel respected by the referee.

He said: “I didn’t feel respected at all, I didn’t feel I was given a fair opportunity.

“But I’m looking forward to a new game and a new referee.

“I think Ben [O’Keeffe] will give a fair opportunity for both captains, and that’s all we’re asking.”

DISCIPLINE ISSUES

It’s fair to say South Africa’s second half discipline cost them last week.

The Box conceded eight penalties in the second half compared to the Lions just conceding one.

As well as that, six of those penalties were in their own half giving the Lions chances to put points on the board.

Whoever wins the discipline battle today is likely to come out on top at full time.

HISTORY AGAINST THEM

The British and Irish Lions won the opening match of this year’s series last week, but only twice since 1900 have the Lions won their opening two games of a Test series against the Springboks.

Wins in the opening two Tests against the Boks last came in 1974 and 1997.

JACQUES PREVIEW

And here’s what South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber had to say in his pre-match press conference before today’s game:

“This is a massive game for us; it is do or die in order to stay in the race to win the series.

“We selected a team that offers continuity in selection, but also that we thought would be the best suited to achieve the objectives we have set for this match.

“We need to be better in every area of the game this week, and the set pieces will be crucial in laying the foundations we need to execute our game plan effectively.

“We also spoke about our discipline and the aerial battle as a team, and we intend to work as hard as possible at training this week to correct the errors that cost us last week.”

WARREN’S WORDS

Here’s what Lions boss Warren Gatland had to say in his pre-match press conference ahead of today’s game:

 “As always, selection was incredibly tough. However, we’ve made the changes we think are the right calls for the weekend’s game.

“It’ll be another tight contest. We know the Springboks will be hurting and they’ll throw everything at us on Saturday, but I think there’s plenty more to come from us too.

“We feel we can go up another level from where we were in the first Test and I would expect us to improve. It’s the biggest game on the Tour and we have to embrace the expectation that comes with it.

“As players and coaches, these are the games you want to be involved in.

“We’re relishing the opportunity to face the Springboks again on Saturday and potentially seal a Series win.”

LIONS REPLACEMENTS

And here are the Lions subs.

Gatland has opted for a five-three split.

16. Ken Owens, 17. Rory Sutherland, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Tadhg Beirne, 20. Taulupe Faletau, 21. Ali Price, 22. Owen Farrell, 23. Elliot Daly

SPRINGBOK SUBS 

These are the options off the bench for the Boks as Jacques Nienaber opts for a six-two split.

16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Marco van Staden, 21. Kwagga Smith, 22. Herschel Jantjies, 23. Damian Willemse

LIONS STARTING XV

And here’s the starting side Warren Gatland has named for the second Test.

He also makes three changes to last weeks team, with Mako Vunipola, Chris Harris and Conor Murray coming in for Rory Sutherland, Elliot Daly and Ali Price.

15. Stuart Hogg, 14. Anthony Watson, 13. Chris Harris, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. Duhan van der Merwe, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Conor Murray

1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Alun Wyn Jones (c), 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Jack Conan

SOUTH AFRCIA STARTING XV

The Springboks make three changes from the first Test.

Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and Jasper Wiese are in for the World Champions with Kitshoff and Malherbe forming two-thirds a new-look front row.

15. Willie le Roux, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Handré Pollard, 9. Faf de Klerk 

1. Steven Kitshoff, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Frans Malherbe, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Franco Mostert, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Jasper Wiese

OWEN GOAL

Legendary former ref Nigel Owens has slammed Rassie Erasmus for bringing his complaints about the officials into the public domain.

He said: “This has always been going on, but what we are seeing for the first time is it’s now being done for everybody to see.

“This is not the way to do it. This is not the way for the integrity and core values of the game.

“As for the referee, it does put huge pressure on you but you’ve got to get out there and you’ve just got to referee what’s in front of you.

“That’s what I would have done. This wouldn’t have affected what my performance on the field would have been going into this test match.”

RASS TO THE BOTTOM

Here is the 26-clip video Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus posted to Twitter after the first test against the Lions.

Erasmus was fuming about referee Nic Berry’s performance last week.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

The British and Irish Lions are back in beautiful Cape Town for the second test against South Africa.

And that could prove to be a crucial advantage.

It was thought that the series would move on to high-altitude Pretoria and Johannesburg for the final two test, however Covid concerns mean the organisers have decided to keep it in one venue.

TAKE TWO

The British and Irish Lions and South Africa are locking horns once again in the second test of the Lions Tour.

And if it’s anything like the first we could be in for a treat.

The Lions looked down and out when they went into half time 12-3 behind last week, but Maro Itoje inspired the team to a 22-17 win as Luke Cowan-Dickie scored the crucial try.

That means the Lions can wrap up a series victory as early as today if they are victorious in this game.

The Springboks meanwhile will be looking for a bit more help from the officials this week after coach Rassie Erasmus said his team were hard done by last Saturday.

In an unprecedented hour-long video, he said: “Not saying the referee was a cheat at all, saying we just wanted clarity … which I personally am not very convinced we had from Nic Berry.

“I’ve had previous encounters saying things in public about referees and it normally comes back to bite you.

“The Lions only comes around every 12 years and I think it should be fair that I will step away from these last two Test matches.

“But let the two teams have an equal chance on the field when it comes to laws, respect, the way players are treated, what is said in the pre-match coaches’ meetings with referees, how they give feedback and are seen in the media.”

Players have been banned for less severe comments in the past and World Rugby said that it “notes the comments made by Rassie Erasmus” and will be raising them with SA Rugby.