A Test-strength South Africa A inflicted the 2021 British and Irish Lions' first defeat to serve up a sobering reminder of what awaits when the series starts later this month.
Below we take a look at who was rated the three best and three worst performers from the disappointing loss.
BEST PLAYERS:
#3. Wyn Jones
Off The Ball (7.5): Jones scored the only try for the tourists against one of the most dogged defences in World Rugby. That alone is impressive, however his string carries were used well all over the park, and he also made the biggest impact on defence out of the starting front rowers.
Rugby Pass (8): "Won an early penalty off the Springboks in their first major scrum tussle and was into Trevor Nyakane after that. Got over for his first Lions’ try after three attempts."
#2. Tom Curry
Telegraph (8): "The performance he needed to challenge Hamish Watson. Tied together eye-catching attacks with athleticism and offloads. Charging down clubmate Faf De Klerk will have felt good."
Off The Ball (8): "Curry was the best Lion by far in the first half, with a number of strong carries, as well as being his usual nuisance self at the breakdown"
Rugby Pass (8): "An impressive burst up the pitch in the opening minutes set the tone for the Sharks’ flanker. Was the Lions’ most effective ball carrier, even if he looked a little too eager at times to force the offload."
#1. Maro Itoje
Off The Ball (8.5): Itoje showed the form that he was in in the World Cup, back when he was heavily touted as a Lions captain. He was incredibly impactful on a leadership basis, making his presence known physically and lifting the players in the second half. His defending at the lineout and the base of the ruck in particular were outstanding.
Rugby Pass (8): "Was all over the opposition lineout and was a persistent nuisance in the tight. Had no less than four turnovers to his name after 80 minutes."
Wales Online (9): "Anyone wanting an example of how to play in adversity need look no further than this effort from Itjoe. The England international did all he could to pull the Lions back into the contest."
WORST PLAYERS:
#3. Iain Henderson
Telegraph (6): "Part of a pack that was overwhelmed by South Africa’s opening blast."
Wales Online (5): "South Africa A were relentlessly physical and Henderson wasn’t overly conspicuous, with just one metre made from five carries and only two tackles. The cavalry is arriving in the shape of Alun Wyn Jones, though."
Pundit Arena (6): "The Ulsterman had a quiet evening in Cape Town, and with the return of Alun Wyn Jones, a starting test place may now be out of Henderson’s reach."
Off The Ball (6): "After a great game in his last outing to being almost anonymous in this one, he will be worried about his place in the starting XV for the tests, particularly with the return of Alun Wyn Jones."
#2. Conor Murray
Rugby Pass (5): "His box kicking was all over the shop in the first half and he was thoroughly outplayed by Faf de Klerk, who seemed to be operating on 1.5x speed when compared with the Munsterman"
Joe (5): "His captaincy was bold, at times, as he went for tries instead of penalties. But made an error not opting for a quick tap to go out wide - or a scrum when the hosts were down to 13 men."
Wales Online (5): "Not the greatest first half for Murray, either as a scrum-half or as a captain. Kicking wasn’t great and he should have chosen the scrum option rather than repeated pick-and-goes against 13-man opponents just before the break."
Telegraph (6): "The decision to tap a penalty with South Africa A reduced to 13 stung the Lions. One effective chip and chase but frantic moments as well."
#1. Owen Farrell
Wales Online (5/10): "Shocker of an opening saw Farrell miss a tackle, miss touch from a penalty and have a kick charged down as Nkosi raced clear for a try."
Telegraph (5): "Costly errors included a charge-down, an overcooked punt to touch and a misdirected cross-kick. Improved later but Test prospects will have been seriously damaged."
Rugby Pass (5): "It wasn’t all bad for Farrell but he looks like a player that’s lost his self-confidence and it’s affecting his execution."
Joe (6): "His lazy kick was charged down by Etzebeth then De Allende punked him with a blocking run for the Nkosi try."
Planet Rugby (5): "Kicked poorly out of hand in the early stages and was charged down by Eben Etzebeth for the opening try on a night when he took several big hits, but kept going."
Pundit Arena (5): "The Englishman’s blocked kick led to the South African’s first try, and while he did some good stuff, Farrell struggled to find gaps in an admittedly impressive opposition defence."
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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