O’Gara hoists a high ball and Lions series is lost

delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

Iconic Pictures: PART 44

Loftus Versveld prepares for second Test June 27, 2009

What’s happening here?

It’s June 27, 2009 and a packed Loftus Versveld is a frenzy of excitement as the Lions and Boks line up before the second Test, a game which many insist was the greatest international of modern times. The Red Army of Lions fans are mainly gathered in the East Stand which used to be completely uncovered but the contractors are beginning to put a roof on ahead of the FIFA the following year. The air temperature is dropping. Conditions are perfect. Let battle commence.

What’s the story behind the picture?

The Boks were the reigning world champions, just as they were back in 1997 on the last occasion the Lions toured . A week prior to this picture they had beaten the Lions 26-21 in the at Durban, a game they controlled for large swathes before a determined Lions rally put the result in doubt and definitely hinted at better.

Now it really was crunch time and everything seemed stacked in South Africa’s favour. The second Test was going to be at altitude in at their beloved Loftus. The Lions were venturing into the Afrikaner citadel, a venue where the rarefied air tore at your lungs and made life a torment. Except against the Lions that is.

Strangely the tourists had a very decent record at Loftus, possibly because the Lions are always at their best when they are underdogs. They won there in 1980 in the last Test of Bill Beaumont’s unlucky tour and they put the Boks to the sword in 1974 when Willie John McBride’s side were rampant. The Lions also won 9-6 at Loftus in 1955 during their epic drawn series.

What happened next?

A titanic, spectacular and controversial game which the Boks won 29-26 with the last kick of the game, a 53m penalty, from Morne Steyn.

The collisions were huge and the physicality off the Richter scale, some of it illegal. Boks flanker Schalk Burger should have been sent off in the first minute for an ugly gouge on wing Luke Ftizgerald but French referee Christophe Berdos bottled it, issuing only a yellow card. Burger was later very lucky to escape with just an eight-week ban.

Bakkies Botha broke Adam Jones’ collar bone with an illegal-looking clear-out that went unpunished at the time but which also earned a ban after the match. Meanwhile Brian O’Driscoll and Danie Rossouw were involved in a ferocious – legal – coming together that saw both parties depart the pitch soon after.

The story for much of the game was one of Lions domination and playing brilliant rugby without ever putting the Boks away. Giant lock Simon Shaw, making his Lions Test debut at the age of 35, enjoyed the game of his life right up there with anything produced by the likes of Willie John, Gordon Brown and Martin Johnson.

“Loftus Versveld has always been a place ready for tumultuous action”

Chances were squandered but still they led 18-5 on the verge of half-time, courtesy of a great Tommy Bowe try and the boot of Stephen Jones, when Morne Steyn landed a morale boosting 55m penalty for the Boks.

South Africa roared back in the second half but although the disruption of Jones’ injury and the departure of O’Driscoll and later Jamie Roberts didn’t help the Lions, they were still 22-18 up when Jaque Fourie scored a hotly-disputed try in the corner which Steyn converted from the touchline to make it 25-22. Stephen Jones landed a late penalty to make it 25-25 and seemingly keep the series open.

But more drama. Ronan O’Gara, on as a replacement for Roberts, fielded a high kick in the Lions 22 but instead of banging it into touch to secure the draw hoisted a high ball of his own.

Chasing hard he completely misjudged his challenge and launched into an ugly tackle on Fourie du Preez as the Springbok -half went up for the ball. Penalty, in fact probably a yellow card but O’Gara was spared that.

Steyn stepped forward for his 53m attempt at goal and the rest, as they say, was hysteria.

Why is the picture iconic?

Nevill Cardus once famously described Trent Bridge: “As a place where it is always afternoon and 360 for two wickets” and there is a whiff of that timeless imagery about this picture. Through the decades Loftus Versveld has always been a place bathed in crisp winter sun and ready for tumultuous action. At least that has always been my experience.

The fate of the 2021 Lions tour is currently being debated with Covid rearing its ugly head and one suggestion is that it be held in Britain where we might just be allowed some kind of crowd although frankly that is still very uncertain. Financially such a radical move might tick a box but this image sums up what Lions tours are about and you sacrifice that at your peril. This is what we would be sacrificing.

Footnote. A week later, with the series no longer at stake, the Lions marched to a defiant 28-9 win at Ellis Park, outscoring the Boks three tries to none to claim their first Test victory in eight years.

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