CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The British and Irish Lions have the need, the need for speed.

They used their meeting with the match officials this week to stress their desire for an up-tempo test series-decider with South Africa on Saturday at Cape Town Stadium.

Coach Warren Gatland blamed the Springboks for the constant stoppages that caused the second test last weekend to be dragged out for an extra 37 minutes, almost another half that was not a bonus.

But it takes two to tango, and the Lions weren’t blameless in a match which was on an emotional knife edge and well controlled — and well explained — by referee Ben O’Keeffe. The frequency of injuries, set-pieces, and incidents needing a review from officials bruised by heavy criticism after the first test turned the game into a trek.

The Lions were frustrated, the Springboks were content. The slow game was to their advantage after their fitness was handicapped by coronavirus lockdowns.

The Lions blew a great chance to clinch a fifth series in the republic while the Springboks were regaining their match fitness, and the way they dominated the second half 21-0 and finished strong 27-9 winners suggested their fitness was no longer a concern.

Neither was their ability to emotionally rise to the occasion again, coach Jacques Nienaber promised after a massive investment of passion to level the series. He cited the 2019 Rugby World Cup knockout stage as proof.

Despite Gatland wanting more flow this weekend, neither team is expected to change tactics. Kicking has dominated the games, for territory, for pressure, and for points. Defence has limited the Springboks to three tries from kicks (two more ruled out) and the Lions to one try (and one held up).

The tactics have worked for both: The Lions finished the first test in charge, and the Springboks finished the second test in charge, setting up a first series decider in South Africa since 1955.

Gatland is hoping to have addressed the struggles on attack against the Springboks’ rush defense by picking noted bomb defuser Liam Williams, his leading try-scorer Josh Adams on one wing, and Bundee Aki in a third new midfield. The backline hasn’t fired a shot and Gatland has reverted to the backline from the pre-tour match against Japan.

By contrast, the pack has hardly changed, with the back row, both locks and tighthead Tadhg Furlong starting every test. Only the front row is changed again, with Wyn Jones, the loosehead Gatland wanted from the start, finally available after a shoulder issue, and Ken Owens picked at hooker ahead of the untried Jamie George. They up the quota of starters from the Welsh Six Nations champions from two to six.

The Springboks have surprisingly ditched their effective “Bomb Squad” ploy of six forward reserves that served them well last weekend, to make room for Morne Steyn, who kicked the winning points for the South Africans on the Lions’ previous tour in 2009.

They are also without two kingpins in flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, both injured. Into the side have come lock Lood de Jager, impressive off the bench last weekend, and scrumhalf Cobus Reinach from the cold.

The lack of imagination in the series has been widely panned — “a hard watch” for former Lions coach Graham Henry, “a painful watch” for former Lion Lawrence Dallaglio — but Springboks assistant coach Deon Davids defends the displays.

“It’s a spectacle. I think it’s fantastic,” Davids said. “Rugby has always been about a physical battle on-field, but also a battle where opponents try to outsmart each other.

“The competitiveness and talent shown by both teams, it’s good for world rugby. And if we can continue being competitive at this level and aspire to be better, then rugby in South Africa will just get better.”

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Lineups:

South Africa: Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach; Jasper Wiese, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi (captain), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff. Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Koch, Marco van Staden, Kwagga Smith, Herschel Jantjies, Morné Steyn, Damian Willemse.

British and Irish Lions: Liam Williams, Josh Adams, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe, Danny Biggar, Ali Price; Jack Conan, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes, Alun Wyn Jones (captain), Maro Itoje, Tadhg Furlong, Ken Owens, Wyn Jones. Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Kyle Sinckler, Adam Beard, Sam Simmonds, Conor Murray, Finn Russell, Elliot Daly.

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