Springboks v British & Irish Lions – Key Battles

Who will seize the day in the winner-takes-all series finale between the Springboks and the British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, asks Quintin van Jaarsveld.

It doesn’t get any bigger than this. Tied after two brutal battles, these two teams are on the doorstep of immortality, the best of their generation having a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to etch their names in history. It’s the first series in the professional era to go down to the wire and the first with silverware as the cherry on top of a triumph 12 years in the making.  

The coaches have put their cards on the table, Springbok mentor Jacques Nienaber making three changes to his starting line-up and his British & Irish Lions counterpart Warren Gatland a full six alterations to his run-on side – some forced and some tactical. 

These are the key battles within the war to settle the score:

Lood de Jager v Alun Wyn Jones

De Jager looms large as one of the changes to the Springbok starting XV. He was one of the “Bomb Squad” members who made the biggest impact off the bench in last weekend’s series-levelling win, taking control and restoring one of the Springboks’ best weapons, namely the lineout, after it had begun misfiring following the injury to Pieter-Steph du Toit, which threw the balance of South Africa’s set-piece off.

De Jager started the World Cup final and would’ve retained the No.5 jersey had a bad run of injuries not made him doubtful for the series and left him rusty. He was a towering figure off the bench last weekend, not only as lineout general but in the rucks, mauls and general play as well. 

However, British & Irish Lions fans will be quick to point out his prominence came when the tourists were tired out. Some would even go as far as saying that’s the only reason why the bearded Springbok lock stood as tall as he did, a notion Springbok supporters would scoff at. 

Jones has been colossal as captain, giving every ounce of himself and wearing the wounds of wars in a second successive stellar showing last weekend. The class, heart and guts of the Welsh warhorse is legendary. He’ll never quit, but at 35, the most-capped international in the history of the game and playing every minute of the brutal back-to-back Tests, what does he have left to give? It’s a question that can be asked of all the tourists, but none more so than their talismanic skipper.

Franco Mostert v Courtney Lawes

Du Toit’s injury-enforced absence also brought about Mostert’s switch from the second row to No.7. A workhorse of the highest calibre, he’s looked like a fourth loose forward all series and now he officially is one. It’s not a completely foreign role for “Sous” but he hasn’t played much Test rugby in the back row, so he would’ve drilled blindside lines in training this week. 

That he goes up against another retread lock in Lawes levels the playing field, although, the England skyscraper’s been fully immersed in the position since the Northern Hemisphere all-stars came together. One of the stars of the series, you’d think Lawes has a head start in this race of human muscle cars, but you can bet on it being a photo finish over the line.

Cobus Reinach v Ali Price

Throughout his highly successful career, Gatland’s been steadfast in his selections. Therefore, it’s notable how troubling settling on a scrumhalf has been for him on this tour, despite having two top options, in particular, in Price and Conor Murray. The former hit South African soil running, was rewarded with the No.9 jersey for the first Test and was flawless.

Despite playing a big role in the win with his accurate box kicking, he was dropped for the second and has been recalled for the decider after Irish veteran Murray’s indifferent display. Now the Scottish scrumhalf has the opportunity to finish a sublime individual tour on the ultimate high. 

It’s a taller task for Reinach. Even though he’s Faf de Klerk’s equal as opposed to his understudy, which is often the case, he hasn’t played any rugby since being all but the lone shining light in the South Africa ‘A’ side’s loss to the Bulls on 17 July, with Herschel Jantjies coming off the bench in the two Test matches. 

Thus, being called upon to steer the ship in place of the injured De Klerk at nine, where nothing but pinpoint precision is required in the Springboks’ style of play, is a big ask of a somewhat rusty player. At the same time, it’s the opportunity Reinach’s been waiting for. He’s pure class – as well-rounded as they come – and the world champions couldn’t have asked for anyone better to step up and deliver.

Damian de Allende v Bundee Aki

A light heavyweight slugfest in midfield. Both are bruising ball carriers renowned for their size and physicality and revered for their ability to relentlessly and consistently bash over the gain line to give their team all-important momentum. One’s red-hot and the other’s idling. 

De Allende has been a standout, picking up where he left off in the World Cup in terms of international form. He’ll be more motivated than ever as he brings up his Test half-ton, making Aki’s job that much more challenging. The New Zealand-born Irish international has been roped in for his first British & Irish Lions Test and it doesn’t get more daunting than being thrown straight into the deep-end that is a series decider. 

As if that’s not a great-enough gut check for Aki, it comes in a head-to-head battle against arguably the best inside centre in the world and the man who owned him the last time they squared off. De Allende dominated the tilt of the 12s to help power South Africa ‘A’ to victory over the tourists and if Aki can’t put up more of a fight this time around, the result will likely be the same.

Willie le Roux v Liam Williams

Josh Adams sets up a tantalising battle of try-scoring machines against Makazole Mapimpi as he replaces Anthony Watson, but with “key” being the operative word, the more crucial positional face-off is that of the fullbacks. After having won the sky scrap in the series opener, Gatland’s men were blown away by the Springboks’ aerial bombardment last weekend and Stuart Hogg was the main liability. Welshman Williams duly takes over with the primary responsibility of defusing those bombs, which is one of his biggest strengths. 

Le Roux will be pleased with the change of opponent after the Scotland captain seemingly bit him in the heat of battle last weekend. Le Roux is as cool as they come and vastly experienced, however, he hasn’t been as rock-solid under the high ball as the hosts hoped, mainly because of clinical play from the men in Red and White. With series supremacy up for grabs, the fullback with the safest hands will likely be on the right side of history.

Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.