Lions Maul The Springboks - It's Now Or Never!

It's the afternoon after the night before.

Like a lot of Springbok fans, I'm trying to figure out what stage of grief I might just be in after the memorable loss to a remarkably resilient British and Irish Lions in the first Test in Cape Town. If I'm in the final stage - acceptance - it's permeated by annoyance and regret at what might have been. The only other time I've ever felt like this was in the aftermath of South Africa's loss to Australia in THAT controversial quarterfinal of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The less said about that one, the better.

Siya Kolisi is tackled by Anthony Watson © African News Agency

Look, the Boks were thoroughly rinsed by the visitors in the second half after what was a promising first one. Blame is flying in every direction as I type this, but the bottom line is that the Lions were full value for their win, considering how I did not expect a Warren Gatland-led outfit to pull a seemingly lost cause out of the fire. However, this is a man who turned what was an easy-beat Wales side into one of the best teams on earth, so we can't claim to not have seen it coming! He is now one Test victory away from completing successive unbeaten Test series against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Some achievement that would be.

Maro Itoje was a clutch performer for the visitors © Gallo Images

I've been at loggerheads with some Bok fans since even before the game, and the acrimony only increased as the game wore on. From throwing proverbial hands with a mate of mine for his insistence that referee Nic Berry had it in for the Boks - still love you, Phil - to bickering with another about the balance of the loose trio - the podcast will be lit, Will - it has not been a peaceful reaction to the loss. I've tentatively taken a gander in the press and on social media, and matters are as aflame as I'd thought they'd be! For good measure, I can't get even get the "Oh, Maro Itoje!" song out of my head (sung to the tune of 'Oh, Robin Van Persie!) such was his almost traumatic effect on us after his magnificent, man-of-the-match performance.

Strangely, I find it curious how many pro-Bok pundits and fans unwillingly but confidently called a Lions win. In fact, some even believe it was all that was needed for an undercooked Bok team to finally get into full rhythm for the now-critical second Test, which they believe the home team will secure on the way to sealing a 2-1 series win. Wowee! That is highly presumptuous and supremely confident, though from a spectacle point of view, an away win in the first match does increase the stakes for dramatic effect. If so, Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus will have to get their sh*t together because they were outmanoeuvred by Lions management in the second half from the get-go. It was game mismanagement of the lowest order from two very sharp minds, such as the perplexingly unnecessary substitutions of an impressive front row, to the belated introduction of backline game-breakers from the bench when it was obvious that they should have been subbed on much earlier. The inclusion of Kwagga Smith as a starter, rather than as a substitute, is also a head scratcher, and not even in hindsight does it seem like a good decision to begin with.

Out-thought by the Lions, Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber have it all to do. © Gallo Images 

The lingering glory of the world cup win in Japan has now officially dissipated after a significant defeat, with the threat of a series loss looming large over what should be a tense week on the South African landscape. The do-over second Test can be be viewed as something of a world cup semifinal... so if omens are to be believed in, the Boks DID commit a false start against New Zealand in Yokohama, before course-correcting on the way to victory.

It's now... or never. For another 12 years!