South Africa A beats the British and Irish Lions

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.

South Africa A won 17-13.

BBC Sports reports tries from Sbu Nkosi and Lukhanyo Am gave the hosts a 14-point lead after a powerful first-half display.

The Lions made inroads when Wyn Jones scored with South Africa A down to 13 men after two yellow cards.

But South Africa A regained control and ran down the clock to see out the win.

Louis Rees-Zammit came closest to snatching victory from the hosts, but the Wales wing could not quite stretch enough to dot down after stepping inside scrum-half, Faf de Klerk.

The Lions will take heart, however, from their improvement in the second half.

The series winner may be the side who can find their find their feet fastest, with the Springboks having played only one match in the last 18 months and Covid potentially causing more disruption before the first Test on 24 July.

[Source: BBC]