Staff Reporter.
The British and Irish Lions prepared for their first Test against the Springboks with a 49-3 win over the Stormers on Saturday.
The Lions will go into next weekend’s first Test with just one blemish on their report card‚ the midweek defeat at the hands of South Africa A side.
The tourists came into this encounter with a clear plan: to play the Stormers off their feet by injecting pace into the game at every opportunity. They sped up play with quickly taken lineouts, quick tap penalties and intense counter attacking rugby from the back. Unfortunately for them, their efforts were met by a resistant Stormers outfit. Not only did the home side’s defense frustrate the visitors, they would go on to accumulate the first points of the game via the boot of Tim Swiel.
But towards the end of the half, the Stormers began to fall off their tackles and the Lions –all too readily – pounced. Following a long build-up in play, which started with Duhan van der Merwe down the left flank, Tadhg Furlong ran through the heart of the Stormers defence and from there, they picked away at the gainline, never allowing the Stormers defence to settle. The pressure was just too much and soon lock Adam Beard, who ran a beautiful line, scored the opening try unopposed.
Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jonny Hill were next to score, as the Lions slowly started to build some rhythm and momentum. What would have been pleasing to coach Warren Gatland, was the flawless goal-kicking of Lions debutant Marcus Smith, who split the uprights with all his conversion attempts.
The same pattern followed in the second half, with the Stormers offering some resistance but ultimately falling by the wayside.
Warren Gatland made several changes soon after the break, including the introduction Wyn Jones and that set the Stormers back. They failed to offer anything on attack and were forced to play defence for the duration of the half. But they conceded four more tries to a Lions side that looks a well-oiled machine on attack and will be brimming with confidence going into the Test series.
Scorers:
Stormers (3) 3
Penalty – Tim Swiel.
B & I Lions (21) 49
Tries: Adam Beard‚ Luke Cowan-Dickie‚ Jonny Hill‚ Jack Conan‚ Zander Fagerson‚ Louis Rees-Zammit‚ Sam Simmonds. Conversions: Marcus Smith (7).
Stormers:
15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Leon Lyons.
Replacements (from): 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Dian Bieuler 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko 19 Justin Basson, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Abner van Reenen, 23 Cornel Smit, 24 Niel Otto.
British & Irish Lions:
15 Stuart Hogg (c), 14 Josh Adams, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Marcus Smith 9 Ali Price; 8 Jack Conan, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Rory Sutherland
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Chris Harris 23 Louis Rees-Zammit.