Emerging Springboks 13 v 13  British & Irish Lions 2009

Out of Africa they came on a cold winter's night and nullified the Lions Roar.  The Fans turned out and sat through the most awful weather and some might say match.  At first their spirits were not dampened until  very late on in the proceedings.

 British & Irish Lions Keith Earls scores the opening try of the game. All pictures by Empics

Lions full-back Earls first-half try gave the Lions a 13-6 lead, but two long passes by de Waal split their defense in the final minute and replacement winger Danwel Demas went over for a try in the corner.    De Waal then tied the scores with the conversion    And quite rightly The Emerging Springboks were delighted with their draw and danced around in jubilation.

Not much more to say about this match other than we have the first citing of the tour.  Nathan Hines faces a disciplinary hearing on Thursday after being cited for alleged foul play. The Scottish international was unpunished by Referee Alain Rolland but the match citing commissioner has now made a complaint.

The Emerging Springboks celebrate their draw against the British and Irish lions

But as usual  McGeechan is now down he said!

 "It was a potential banana skin we got through. It was a game we had to get out of,"

"I feel sorry for the players, it was very difficult for them, basically a kicking game in a monsoon. Not a lot of rugby was played there."

 British and Irish Lions captain Ronan OGara lead his team through the guard of honour formed by the Emerging Sprinboks after the final whistle

Emerging Springboks (3) 13
Try: Demas Con: De Waal Pens: Rose 2
Lions (10) 13
Try: Earls Con: O'Gara Pens: O'Gara, Hook

Emerging Springboks: Zane Kirchner, Luzuko Vulindlu, Deon van Rensburg, Morgan Newman, Bjorn Basson, Earl Rose, Jano Vermaak; Wian du Preez, Bandise Maku, Werner Kruger, Steven Sykes, Wilheim Steenkamp, Dewald, Potgieter (capt), Jean Deysel, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Tiaan Liebenberg (for Maku, 52), Pat Cilliers (for Du Preez, 64), Franco van der Merwe (for Sykes, 64), Jacques Botes (for Deysel, 64), Heini Adams (for Vermaak, 64), Willem de Waal (for Van Rensbug, 52), Danwel Demas for Basson, 73).

Lions: Keith Earls, Shane Williams, Riki Flutey, Gordon D'Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Ronan O'Gara (capt), Harry Ellis; Tim Payne, Ross Ford, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan, Nathan Hines, Joe Worsley, Martyn Williams, Andy Powell.

Replacements: Lee Mears (for Ford, 75), Phil Vickery (for Hayes, 67), Simon Shaw (for Hines, 57), David Wallace (for Powell, 68), James Hook (for O'Gara, 45), Ugo Monye (for Fitzgerald, 65). Not used: Mike Blair

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

Attendance: 39,418

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