A game of two halves ended with the British and Irish Lions clinching a memorable victory in their first Test against South Africa.

The Springboks looked to be en route to the win after leading by nine points at the break, but Luke Cowan-Dickie's try early in the second half helped turn the tide.

South Africa scrum-half Faf de Klerk responded with a try of his own to go along with four Handre Pollard penalties, but the reigning world champions were ultimately left wanting.

England fly-half Owen Farrell was a controversial omission from the starting line-up but came on to convert a critical kick late on at Cape Town Stadium.

Read on to see how the opening Test action unfolded, with the Lions now only 80 minutes away from potentially winning the series.

Dan Biggar made a vital contribution with his four penalties and a conversion (
Image:
REUTERS)

South Africa: Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe; Handre Pollard, Faf De Klerk; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane; Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert; Siya Kolisi (capt), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kwagga Smith.

Reps: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Lood de Jager, Rynhardt Elstadt, Herschel Jantjies, Elton Jantjies, Damian Willemse

Lions: Stuart Hogg; Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly, Robbie Henshaw, Duhan van der Merwe; Dan Biggar, Ali Price; Wyn Jones, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones (capt); Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.

Reps: Ken Owens, Rory Sutherland, Kyle Sinckler, Tadhg Beirne, Hamish Watson, Conor Murray, Owen Farrell, Liam Williams

Full Time—South Africa 17-22 Lions

And that's that!

The Lions get their dream start in Cape Town, a fate that seemed beyond them if we were to judge things based on the first-half performance.

The travelling continent readjusted at the break and took the fight to their hosts, although they needed two TMO calls to go in their favour to do so.

Credit to South Africa, however, who played just their second Test since the 2019 Rugby World Cup final today and still went toe-to-toe with Gatland's elite.

Springboks threatening

South Africa reclaim possession from the restart and are swinging the ball from left to right as they probe the Lions' defence.

They're on the edge of the guests' 22-metre line, but the Lions are holding firm so far.

Only a try will do for the hosts if they want to win..

South Africa 17-22 Lions (Farrell penalty)

We said Farrell would come on to have an impact in Cape Town, and it may end up being the definitive one as his conversion from the right side forces South Africa into a desperate position with two minutes remaining.

Game of two halves

The Lions fell victim to their opponents' superior planning in the first half, but Gatland's half-time adjustments have helped put the guests within reach of a huge first Test win.

The Lions have been awarded a penalty just outside the South Africa 22', and Owen Farrell will take his time lining this chance up..

More substitutions

Courtney Lawes has been among the Lions' best performers today, but Tadhg Beirne is no mean replacement as the former comes off the latter at blindside.

The Boks have rung changes of their own, with Damian Willemse replacing Le Roux at full-back, while Jantjies brothers Elton and Herschel come on for Pollard and try-scorer De Klerk, respectively.

Disallowed try (South Africa)

The Lions get the rub of the green once again as Damian de Allende crosses the whitewash with ball in tow, only for the ball to be brought back for an earlier knock-on.

Replays show Chelsin Kolbe bungled the ball forward in the build-up, but Jacques Nienaber's side are refusing to go away..

Mega Mako

Rory Sutherland performed admirably as a late replacement for the injured Wyn Jones, but a word of praise for Mako Vunipola, who is looking every bit a seasoned Lion since he came on.

It's not his first time coming up against Springbok tighthead Frans Malherbe, and he's making the head-to-head look pretty routine so far.

South Africa changes

A few notable changes for South Africa in recent minutes, with Lood de Jager replacing Franco Mostert at lock and Kwagga Smith off at No. 8 in place of Rynhardt Elstadt.

Biggar head injury

Dan Biggar has been a key source of points for the Lions, but their fly-half is off for a head injury assessment following a clash.

That leaves replacement Owen Farrell in the No. 10 role, while Henshaw moves back to 12 and Elliot Daly comes back on at outside centre.

Conor Murray is also on at scrum-half in place of Ali Price, while Liam Williams has replaced Van der Merwe on the left wing.

Lucky escape for Watson

Lions fans took a deep inhale after substitute Hamish Watson just appeared to tip target Willie le Roux mid-tackle.

Commentators agree the Scot is fortunate not to be sin-binned.

Even better for Watson, Pollard misses the resulting penalty, and the Lions retain a slim lead.

South Africa 17-19 Lions (Biggar penalty)

The Lions lead!

For the first time in this match, Gatland's men are ahead of their hosts.

Biggar converts a far-from-straightforward penalty from the left, and the Lions continue to look like the superior side in the second half.

Tadhg Furlong is all of us

So close yet so far for Duhan

A dream Lions Test debut score looked to be in reach for Duhan van der Merwe, who broke down the left wing in the South Africa 22' only for play to be called back.

The replays showed it's an extremely light touch from Henshaw that gave the South Africa-born winger possession, but the right call all the same..

Lions replacements

It's been highlighted that the strength of the respective benches will play a major factor in these Tests, and Gatland has made his first changes just before the hour mark.

Mako Vunipola is on for Rory Sutherland, Hamish Watson replaces Tom Curry and try-scorer Cowan-Dickie comes off for 'The Sheriff' Ken Owens.

South Africa 17-16 Lions (Biggar penalty)

Biggar is closing on Pollard's tally of four converted penalties, and all of a sudden we're back to a one-point game..

South Africa 17-13 Lions (Biggar penalty)

But that seven-point lead lasts only a minute or two before Biggar is back in front of the posts down the opposite end, slotting three points from dead centre.

Missed conversion

Faf de Klerk will have a big part to play for the hosts (
Image:
David Rogers/Getty Images)

Pollard misses the extra two, but South Africa are nevertheless a full score outside the opposition's grasp as things stand.

To explain what happened there (or an attempt to), there was suspicions Pieter-Steph du Toit had knocked the ball on going to collect a kick through, but replays show he's clear.

Makazole Mapimpi then juggles the ball before it falls to De Klerk, who needs only to fall over the line to collect another five points..

South Africa 17-10 Lions (De Klerk try)

Another lengthy review from the TMO and South Africa benefit to the tune of five points...

Boks' fast start

(
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)

We always knew the big hits would be flying in from the hosts, but we're sure to look back on that early Lukhanyo Am tackle on Elliot Daly as a pace-setter.

The Springboks are yet to really look second best in any collision, and it took less than three minutes for Am to show his opposite number his intentions for the evening..

No try

And the Toyota Verblitz full-back has been denied his score after it's adjudged he had strayed in front of the kicker before winning the foot race.

The Lions have been let off for the time being, but it's only a hair's difference that's saved them from conceding another five points (or more)..

Try under review

The TMO is currently reviewing a Willie le Roux try following a kick-and-chase from 40 metres out..

South Africa 12-10 Lions (Cowan-Dickie try)

And it pays off!

The Lions use their advantage to kick to touch, and a driving maul off the ensuing line-out sees Luke Cowan-Dickie dot down on his Lions Test debut.

Biggar sneaks the conversion inside the right post. Game on.

Not new but improved

Gatland has kept the faith in his starting line-up, and the Lions immediately look a better team returning for this second half.

New-look front row

South Africa are first to blink as far as changes are concerned, with an entirely new front row coming out for the restart.

Hooker Malcom Marx comes on alongside props Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe.

Second half—South Africa 12-3 Lions

Handre Pollard hoists the ball high to get play restarted in Cape Town.

Non-stop action

As hard as it is to believe, we have only five more halves of Test rugby remaining on this tour.

That first half flew by, and South Africa will be by far the happier team so far.

Second-half restart coming up soon..

Lions lacking pride

Gatland and his players will surely feel discontent following that first 40 minutes, with momentum running very much in favour of the hosts during the first half.

Four instances of ill discipline for the guests, and four occasions in which the Springboks (specifically Handre Pollard) have made them pay.

The Lions could do with a few more players getting on Itoje's wavelength.

Halftime—South Africa 12-3 Lions

The stage is set for the Lions to take on South Africa in Cape Town (
Image:
Ashley Vlotman/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

No tries to speak of in the first half, but South Africa are nevertheless firmly in the driving seat.

Gatland is sure to encourage Henshaw to make a few more of those runs through the centre channel after the restart if he spots a gap, although those have been few and far between so far..

Big Boks call

We're three minutes past the 40-minute mark when South Africa get a penalty in their own half. But rather than settle for half-time, Pollard kicks to touch as the hosts look to get another score before the break.

It amounts to nothing in the end, but you have to admire the spirit..

A thrilling first 40