Less than a minute had passed since the opening whistle of Wednesday’s clash between the Lions and the Springboks – under the guise of South Africa A – when it became clear how the hosts would compete across the Test series.
Owen Farrell kicked off and, after a bit of juggling, Faf de Klerk hooked a box-kick into the Lions’ half. Liam Williams lined it up, leaped, and as soon as he touched back down with the ball in his arms, the sentient oak tree that is Eben Etzebeth clattered the Welshman.
Replays have revealed that the Springbok lock may have committed an offence and could yet be cited...