Alun Wyn Jones laments 'a couple of disappointing calls'

Devastated Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones laments ‘a couple of disappointing calls’ and the pace of the game being ‘too slow’ in deciding loss to South Africa but ‘feels huge pride’ in the team

• Alun Wyn Jones was left dejected following the Lions’ defeat to South Africa
• Jones was disappointed with some decisions and bemoaned pace of the game
• However, the Lions captain stated that he still feels proud of his team’s effort

Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones has expressed his disappointment after his side were beaten by South Africa in the series decider.

South Africa prevailed with a 19-16 victory, with Morne Steyn scoring a penalty late on. 

Jones was left frustrated at a couple of refereeing decisions, while he also admitted that the pace of the game was ‘too slow’.

Alun Wyn Jones was left dejected following the Lions’ 19-16 defeat against South Africa

Jones told Sky Sports: ‘Obviously really disappointed. We had a chance at the end. Really proud of the boys. We wanted to come out in the second half doing more of the same, then one of the penalties broke up the game as we’ve seen earlier in the series. Yeah, I think it (the game) was too slow.’

Despite the defeat, Wyn Jones stressed that he still  feels proud of the team for the effort they put in.

He said: ‘Huge pride in what the guys put out there, but to fall short after a couple of calls is disappointing. This one (tour) in particular, I had to work the second time to get out here.’

Jones was disappointed with some of the refereeing decisions and also the pace of the game

Former Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan felt that Warren Gatland’s team deserved more from the game.

He said: ‘You see how much it meant to Alun Wyn. I think the Lions were much the better side, missed their opportunities in that first half. They could have been 10, 12 points clear.

‘The quality of the rugby was so different to what we’d seen before and South Africa were left wondering what they were doing. Finn Russell had a huge part to play (today). I never thought I would see the same circumstances again, two tours in South Africa.’

Maggie Alphonsi feels the players who are involved in the next tour will have extra motivation

Maggie Alphonsi believes it will take the Lions players a considerable amount of time to get over this ‘heartbreaking’ defeat.

However, she believes that those who are involved in the next tour will have an extra sense of motivation.

She said: ‘I think it lingers for a long time. You see the players’ body language. There were so many missed opportunities. Six, nine points left behind. 

‘You see the winners collect the trophy and it’s heartbreaking. You bottle this feeling and it drives you on. The guys who do their second tour next time will be driven.’

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