11 Years on from Jaque Fourie and Morne Steyn's heroics

11 Years on from Jaque Fourie and Morne Steyn's heroics

11 Years to the day, the Springboks claimed a series victory over the British and Irish Lions with a 28-25 win in a classic Test match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

With tempers flaring from the opening minutes of the game, Springbok flanker Schalk Burger going to the sin-bin for eye-gouging debutant Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald. This set the tone for what would somewhat of a dog fight with both sides seeing players exit the pitch with injuries.

Both of the Lions' props and centres limped from the field while Springbok replacement Danie Rossouw was helped off after a massive collision with Brian O'Driscoll.

 

The game came to a fairytale ending for the hometown Loftus faithful with Bulls' talisman Morne Steyn coming off the bench to land a penalty as the clock ticked over the 80 minute mark to crush the hopes of the tourists and their army of travelling fans.


 

Steyn's kick followed a game of fantastic drama and fierce combat, in which the Lions had seized a 16-8 half-time lead thanks to a try from Rob Kearney. The Springboks scored tries of their own through JP Pietersen, Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie, but were kept honest by a majestic performance with the boot from Welsh fly-half Stephen Jones.


 

The fantastic try from Jaque Fourie would go on to be named as the try of the year.

 

The Line Ups on the day:

 

South Africa: Frans Steyn, JP Pietersen, Adi Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, John Smit (captain), Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Deon Carstens, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Heinrich Brüssow, Jaque Fourie, Morné Steyn

 

British & Irish Lions: Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Luke Fitzgerald, Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips, Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, Tom Croft, Paul O'Connell, Simon Shaw, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins 

 

Replacements: Ross Ford, Andrew Sheridan, Alun Wyn Jones, Martyn Williams, Harry Ellis, Ronan O'Gara, Shane Williams

 

 

Highlights from the clash:

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