Warriors’ pair Duhan van der Merwe and Rory Sutherland helped the British and Irish Lions to a tense 22-17 win over South Africa in the first Test in Cape Town.
Loosehead prop Sutherland was initially named as a replacement but was promoted to the starting XV on the morning of the match after Wales’ Wyn Jones withdrew because of a shoulder injury sustained in training.
Sutherland joined his Scotland team-mate wing van der Merwe as a starter and the pair helped the Lions recover from being nine points down at the break to take control in the second half.
Both were replaced during the final quarter having helped the Lions to recover from a sluggish start to the match.
A try from hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie four minutes into the second half started the fightback although South Africa hit back with one of their own from Sale Sharks scrum-half Faf de Klerk.
Dan Biggar and Handre Pollard landed four penalties apiece but it was Pollard failure to convert de Klerk’s try followed by a missed penalty 15 minutes from time that proved costly. South Africa also had three ‘tries’ disallowed by TMO Marius Jonker.
England fly-half Owen Farrell sealed the win when he landed a 78th minute penalty with his first kick after he had replaced Biggar.