Click photo to enlarge
British Lions's Shane Williams, left, runs in to score a
try as South Africa's Jaque Fourie, right, chases. (AP
Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Shane Williams scored two tries as the British and Irish
Lions beat South Africa 28-9 to tie their best victory on
Springboks turf and avoid losing the series 3-0.
The world champion Springboks won the series 2-1 after
victories in Durban and Pretoria, beating the Lions for the
first time since 1980.
But the Lions go home with the consolation of a victory at
Ellis Park, which is a Springboks stronghold and, although
they lost their third series in a row after defeats in
Australia in 2001 and New Zealand in '05, they ended a run of
seven test losses.
"It was very satisfying. It's been a tough week for everyone
and we had to dig deep," said Lions captain Paul O'Connell,
who pointed out his team had won the game without some top
stars such as Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts because of
injuries.
"It was tough going into the game without them but everyone
stepped in and was counted and everyone backed up and put in
a big performance not just for the Lions jersey but for the
kind of atmosphere we had created for the group ourselves."
Williams and Ugo Monye both crossed the South Africans' line
and Stephen Jones kicked 13 points at Ellis Park as the Lions
tied their record score over the Boks in Pretoria in 1974.
The Springboks' only points came with three penalties and
they had a late try by Odwa Ndungane disallowed.
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers said his team had been
beaten by a brilliant Lions side.
"We are grateful that we won the series," said De Villiers,
who shook hands with rival Ian McGeechan after a series in
which the Lions criticized the Springboks coach for condoning
illegal play, notably by Boks flanker Schalk Burger last
week. "International rugby is like this. (The Lions) were
very good on the day. I always said they were a brilliant
Lions team."
Springboks captain John Smit said the loss detracted from the
series win.
"I have mixed emotions," he said. "We have got the series win
behind our names and if you had asked this group the day
after the World Cup victory if they had taken a 2-1 series
victory I am sure they would have taken it," the prop forward
said.
"We did enjoy the series win but I think today we have to be
quite frank and admit the Lions were all over us in every
department. All credit to them, we never had a chance today."
The Springboks went into the game with only five starters
from the side that clinched the series a week ago with a 28-5
victory at Loftus Versfeld, while the Lions' had been forced
into seven changes because of injuries.
After Jones and Steyn had both kicked penalties within a
minute of each other, the Lions opened up the Boks defense to
score the first try.
Jamie Heaslip broke from a maul and burst 20 meters before
offloading to the supporting Williams who was unchallenged in
his run to the line. Jones went to kick the conversion from
just in front of the posts but the ball rolled off the tee
and, as he tried to pick it up for a drop goal, he was
tackled before he could kick.
After Springboks winger Ndungane had been halted just short
of the Lions line, Williams struck again in the 33rd minute.
