Last update on.South Africa gained a huge advantage with Makazole Mapimpi’s attempt.South Africa v British & Irish Lions – second Test South Africa: (2006) 27 Tries Mapimpi Am Con: Pollard Pens Pollard 5 British & Irish Lions (9) 9 Pens Biggar 3After the Springboks won a fierce second Test 27-9 at Cape Town Stadium, the British and Irish Lions series with South Africa will be decided.After a tense first half, the Lions won. Dan Biggar's three penalties outweighed Handre Pollards two. A player from each team went to the sinbin.The world champions held a two-point advantage at halftime thanks to a Makazole Mapimpi attempt.The hosts continued to dominate, and Lukhanyo Am's score secured victory.Pollard added three penalties to help the Lions win the second Test 22-17.In what promises to be an exciting series decider, both sides will need to raise their levels once more.Referee O'Keeffe thrust into the limelightReferee Ben O'Keeffe spoke with both captains when tensions rose between themRassie Erasmus, South Africa's director of rugby, had become the center of attention by posting an unusual hour-long video monologue in which he critiqued referee Nic Berry's work during the Lions' first win.Erasmus's act also put Ben O'Keeffe in the spotlight, who was responsible for the second Test.Two emotionally charged sides put the New Zealander through their paces. The first-half of play took 62 minutes due to stoppages for officiating decisions.After just two minutes, tensions flared as Alun Wyn Jones & Eben Etzebeth looked at each other and played around one another.Biggar and Pollard exchanged penalties before a South Africa 10 uncharacteristic miss gave the Lions a 6-3 lead.The story was now about players who left the field, as well as those who were still playing. Pieter-Steph du Toit, the first 2019 world player of year, was injured in his shoulder and was replaced by Kwagga Smith.Duhan van der Merwe, a Cheslin Kolbe traveler, was given a yellow ticket for the Lions.Kolbe was there two minutes later, after Conor Murray had been taken out of the air. This caused players from both teams to pile into one another and resulted in a slap for O'Keeffe's captains. O'Keeffe promised more yellow cards if this behavior continued.Pollard won the match with a 54m kick. The Lions were unable to score as Siya Kolisi held it up while Robbie Henshaw attempted to take it to the ground.Biggar scored his third penalty to give the Lions an advantage of three points at the break.Tensions flared with players on both sides getting into scuffles.Resurgent South Africa claim victoryThe Lions were looking to be 2-0 up in a series, the first time the Lions have been up since 1997, the year South Africa's tourists won a series.Warren Gatland's team had converted a deficit of 12-3 into victory in the first Test, but the tables turned this time.The game-changing move was initiated by Pollard, who faked a long ball and then pulled back to chip the ball to Mapimpi. Mapimpi scored from the cover.Biggar had another chance to score, but Biggar's miss conversion was costly. However, the Lions 10's attempt hit the left post and rebounded.Biggar tried the Springboks' high balls, but they were ready for the challenge. Faf de Klerk sent some back, and it was the Lions that faltered.The Sale scrum-half smashed a ball through for Am, and O'Keeffe's grounding decision was perhaps O'Keeffe's most controversial.Am was able to grab the ball just in time and Marius Jonker, South African television match official, showed replays of Springbok touching it with his forearm.O'Keeffe considered it a controlled grounding. Any hope the Lions had to get back in the game was further shattered by Pollard's nine points.Alun Wyn Jones, Lions captain, gathered his players in a huddle at half-time for what was undoubtedly an inspiring speech. They now turn their attention towards a high-stakes decision.Makazole Mapimpi is the man of the matchWing Makazole Makimpi scored the try that pushed South Africa out of England's reach at the 2019 World Cup final. He did the same against the Lions, keeping his nerve and performing when it mattered.Line-upsBritish & Irish Lions: Hogg; A Watson, Harris, Henshaw, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Murray; Vunipola, Cowan-Dickie, Furlong, Itoje, AW Jones, Lawes, Curry, Conan.Alternatives: Owens and Sutherland, Sinckler. Beirne. Faletau. Price. Farrell. Daly.South Africa: Le Roux; Kolbe, Am, De Allende, Mapimpi; Pollard, De Klerk; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi, Du Toit, WieseReplacements: Marx, Nyakane, Koch, De Jager, Van Staden, Smith, H Jantjies, Willemse.Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZ)
