An increase in tempo in the third Test could yet provide a memorable end to a rancorous tour of South Africa
It was not supposed to end like this. As recently as a few weeks ago the final Test of this
British &
Irish Lions series was still slated to take place up at altitude in the 90,000-capacity FNB Stadium in Soweto. Before that the possibility of a transplanted grand finale in
Dublin, Cardiff or Twickenham was mooted to no avail. A big game still awaits but spiritually there is definitely something missing.
In many ways it is remarkable that any sort of completed series has come to pass at all. The odds on reaching this final weekend without Covid being crowned the unanimous winner felt more than a touch remote early last month. The host union, which had hoped to generate almost £25m from this tour, has yet to do all its sums but will now have to settle for barely half a million pounds instead.