The best of the best have been rewarded with places in our combined Team of the British & Irish Lions series, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.
With the tourists having triumphed 22-17 in the opening encounter and the Springboks bouncing back with a 27-9 win in the second, the gripping three-Test series contested in Cape Town went down to the wire at the weekend, with the world champions clinching a heart-stopping 19-16 victory to take the spoils.
A dozen Springboks bulk up our team, with a trio of British & Irish Lions completing our line-up.
15: Willie le Roux (South Africa)
It was a tough old time for the fullbacks with the aerial battle forming such a big part of the war. The accuracy of both teams made it inevitable that some bombs would land and it was Le Roux who emerged as the last man standing after three courageous outings. Few opportunities but made the right decision for a crucial try-assist for Cheslin Kolbe and his left boot came in hand.
14: Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)
The diminutive dynamo didn’t give an inch in his David versus Goliath head-to-head battle against supersized South African-born Scotland wing Duane van der Merwe, chasing and competing in the air exceptionally well. Picked himself up and dusted himself off time and time again in what was a bruising second Test for him and came to the fore in the decider, scoring a cracking and crucial try (watch below) in a Man of the Match performance.
13: Lukhanyo Am (South Africa)
A strong candidate for Player of the Series honours. A team man through and through, but in taking centre stage in such commanding fashion, he also proved he’s undoubtedly the best No.13 in the world. Fired the first big shot when he smashed Elliot Daly two minutes into the opening Test and scored a clutch try in the second. A mastermind in midfield and magnificent throughout.
12: Damian de Allende (South Africa)
Consistently colossal. Cemented himself as the best inside centre in the game today, continuing where he left off in the World Cup. An irresistible force on attack and an immovable object on defence. One-dimensional De Allende’s long gone as he underlined he has brains and brawn. Celebrated his 50th Test cap with a win in the decider and is only getting better. Among the top contenders for the Player of the Series crown.
11: Makazole Mapimpi (South Africa)
Like his fellow flyer, Mapimpi took his one opportunity with both hands, literally, as he caught Handré Pollard’s pinpoint chip out of the air, swerved inside and smashed through Stuart Hogg to score the opening try of the second Test (watch below), which paved the way for the win and helped earn him the Man of the Match award. Reliable and hard-working throughout, even winning a turnover at the breakdown.
10: Handré Pollard (South Africa)
Missed a few kicks at goal but was a key figure nonetheless. A cool, calming presence who pulled the strings along with his halfback partners. Clinical with his tactical kicking, particularly his attacking up-and-unders while on the flip side, he took on the added responsibility of fielding counter high balls in a sweeping capacity and did a sterling job.
9: Faf de Klerk (South Africa)
The series once again shone a spotlight on De Klerk’s importance to the Springboks. The key cog in the Green and Gold machine dictated terms in the first half of the opening Test and was on point in the second, using his tactical prowess and experience to steer the ship and sparked one of the tries of the tour with a majestic grubber. A shame he missed the decider due to injury.
8: Jack Conan (British & Irish Lions)
A surprise selection for the first Test who more than repaid Warren Gatland’s faith in him after making the No.8 jersey his own by series end. Mainly, the Irishman carried strongly and made a few significant breaks, including an opportunistic surge that pressured the Springboks into conceding a penalty, which led to Ken Owens’ try at the weekend.
7: Franco Mostert (South Africa)
Another strong Player of the Series contender, Mostert went a mile-a-minute straight out of the shoot and maintained his superhuman work rate and intensity throughout with his monstrous motor, first in the second row and then at No.7 in place of the injured Pieter-Steph du Toit.
6: Siya Kolisi (South Africa)
When the chips were down, it was the Springbok captain who stood up and led the charge. The glue that helped keep the ship intact, he turned in a talismanic performance in the second Test, arguably the best of his career, to correct the course which ultimately led to series glory. Strong from start to finish and made two massive plays – a try-saving intervention in the second Test and winning a breakdown penalty on his 5m line just before half-time in the decider (watch below).
5: Alun Wyn Jones (British & Irish Lions)
An icon of the game, the record-setting Welsh warhorse added another layer to his legacy. His presence alone elevated the tourists to another level after he made an extraordinary comeback less than a month after he dislocated his shoulder against Japan. Poured his heart and soul into the series, sacrificing his body and spilling his blood for the cause. The stuff of legend.
4: Eben Etzebeth (South Africa) – Player of the Series
Maro Itoje stood tall with a Man of the Match performance in the series-opening win, but it proved to be his peak. Etzebeth was not only consistently excellent but grew in stature every week. Played every minute, punched a hole in the tourists’ tank with his controlled aggression and was colossal in the decider. That Kolisi called him “the leader of the pack” in his post-match interview at the weekend and revealed the enforcer was the one who fired up the hosts for that decisive final scrum says it all.
3: Frans Malherbe (South Africa)
The rock of the Springbok scrum. Steadied the ship when the British & Irish Lions pack stepped on the gas and turned into a tormentor as business picked up. Saved his best for last, delivering a dominant display in the set-piece in the decider to win two penalties, the first earning the Springboks three points and the second ending Wyn Jones’ evening after 43 minutes (watch below).
2: Luke Cowan-Dickie (British & Irish Lions)
Bongi Mbonambi showed he’s human after all as he wasn’t his usual clinical self and was particularly off his game in the decider. It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for Cowan-Dickie, but after a nervous start to the opening Test and he came on strong and scored the first try of the series. Prominent in the second Test as well, particularly as the tourists’ top ball-carrier.
1: Trevor Nyakane (South Africa)
This was Nyakane’s World Cup. The veteran was at the 2019 showcase but suffered a tournament-ending injury in the opening game. His hunger to excel on a special stage was clear when he kick-started the series with a beastly display as starting tighthead in the first Test, which he followed up with two titanic showings off the bench at loosehead, where he cemented his place in series lore by winning crucial scrum penalties and with his instant classic celebration of one such mauling in the second Test (watch below).
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