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Prop goes any hopes of final Test comeback

Any hopes the Lions had of a face-saving victory in the third and final Test against South Africa were dealt a huge blow when key props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones were ruled out of Saturday’s Johannesburg clash through injury.

The Welsh pairing formed a formidable front three with compatriot Matthew Rees in the second Test in Pretoria. The Lions pack looked a completely different animal as they roared back from their first-Test defeat in Durban to lead 18-6 at the break.

But sadly for the tourists, the pair were both already off the park when the Springboks hit back to claim a sensational 28-25 win, sealing the series with the last kick of the match.

Jenkins suffered a cracked cheekbone, while Jones dislocated his shoulder in a brutal contest, and both underwent surgery straight after the match.
The central pairing of Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Roberts were also taken to? hospital along with wing Tommy Bowe.

But head coach Ian McGeechan feels the Lions still have enough mental strength throughout the squad to cope with the loss of their key men ahead of the third Test.

He said: “There’s a lot of character in this group. People asked me the same question last week and I think they got their answer. It will be the same again. “They’re an incredible group of young men. Whatever happens with injuries, we’ll be ready to win the third Test.” Lions legend McGeechan was devastated for his players after they fell to a booming penalty kick from replacement Morn Steyn in injury time.

He said: “It’s certainly one of the biggest disappointments, because I think the players deserved more. Just to see their faces afterwards was very sad.
“We could be sat here with two Test victories. We haven’t had the rub of the green on the field. The efforts that has been put in by the players has been phenomenal.”

Jubilant Bok skipper John Smit was full of praise for replacement Steyn after the fly-half held his nerve to kick the winning points from a massive 54 yards out.

Steyn was heralded as one of the key men for the Bulls in their Super 14 title run this season. Eyebrows were raised when he missed out to Ruan Pienaar for the second Test, but the replacement stand-off showed nerves of steel as he booted over from distance with the scores tied after a late hit from Ronan O’Gara was penalised.

Front-row forward Smit knows all about nerves having guided the Boks to World Cup glory in 2007.

But even the experienced forward knew how serious a moment it was in Pretoria.

It was revenge for the last Lions tour in 1997, when a late Jeremy Guscott drop-goal sealed the series for the tourists. And Smit said: “It was a big kick. I’m pretty glad I get to scrum, not take these kicks. “Guys like this have a huge temperament. He did it in only his second game for the Springboks.”

Steyn played down his matchwinning efforts as he said: “I just went back to the basics of kicking. I knew I could make it, so I just went for it. It went well through the week and this was just so much better.

“The moment I connected I knew it had to be over. That final kick is something you will remember forever.”

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Categorized | Sports News

Tags : after-the-match, falcons, green, hopes-the-lions, image, lebanon, match, matchwinning, park, series, sport, springboks, tourists

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Prop goes any hopes of final Test comeback

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