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Warren Gatland is said to be in favor of Saturday’s third decisive test between the British and Irish Lions and South Africa going into extra time in the event of a draw, avoiding a second straight series ending in a deadlock.
It is understood that the touring agreement states that the series will be tied if the third test is a draw and Gatland is aware of this stipulation. A tie therefore remains the expected result but as has already been demonstrated, changes can be made in the short term, with a second game against the Sharks arranged and Cape Town chosen as the venue for the three Tests at the 11th hour. Earlier in the tour, Rassie Erasmus also wanted the Lions to play South Africa A twice – a proposition which Gatland overlooked.
Four years ago, Owen Farrell’s 77th-minute penalty ensured a 15-15 draw in the third test against New Zealand, sparking scenes of full-time confusion with players on both sides unsure of the specific protocols and whether extensions would follow. The two captains, Kieran Read and Sam Warburton, were then pictured holding the trophy together.
In the aftermath, New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen described a draw as “kind of like kissing his sister” while Warburton said he was “gutted”. There were even suggestions that the All Blacks game against the Barbarians at Twickenham the following November could serve as an unofficial decision if the Lions players were available for the team by invitation, although that never materialized.
The 1955 series in South Africa also ended in a tie and asked if he would like to see extra time if the scores are even after 80 minutes on Saturday, Gatland said: “Maybe that’s something that someone can talk about over the next few days, whether we potentially go into overtime if it’s a draw, not a bad idea.
It’s likely that TV broadcasters would like the idea as well, given that both tests so far have run out of excitement, albeit very strained. In December, England edged France in the Fall Nations Cup final – a tournament that did not capture the imagination until overtime at Twickenham. The Springboks, however, highlighted the touring deal, which strongly suggests a tie, denying local audiences a potentially exciting end to what has been a turgid series.
Meanwhile, Sharks owner Marco Massoti has taken to Erasmus’s defense after World Rugby upheld disciplinary proceedings against South Africa’s rugby director for professional misconduct following his video rant last week. Massoti wrote on social media: “I have a team of New York lawyers ready to take care of Rassie and SA Rugby. Let’s put World Rugby to the test.
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Asked about his relationship with Erasmus, Gatland added: “I have met him several times and it has always been very friendly. We had a drink after the games and had a chat. I went to their locker room after the World Cup semi-final [lost by his Wales side] and congratulated them on a close game. I spoke to him several times on the phone. He obviously did what he did because he felt it would work for him. I don’t really want to get caught up in this.
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