The home side were expected to be a significant test for the tourists but they were simply outclassed as the Lions cut loose.
The Golden Lions suffered an early blow when Emerging Springboks full back Louis Ludik was stretchered off after colliding with Lions flanker David Wallace. After a lengthy injury break, the home side were still readjusting when the Lions suddenly pounced with lethal precision.
Jamie Roberts scored his first try of the tour after O’Drsicoll off-loaded a pop pass to his fellow centre to finish of a well worked team try. Stephen Jones added the conversion.
Within five minutes O’Driscoll latched onto a Tommy Bowe pass close to the Golden Lions try-line to stroll over for another converted try then Jones added a penalty for the Lions to race to a 17-0 lead after 13mins.
Having already turned down the chance of an easy three points, Springbok fly half André Pretorius stopped the rot with a simple penalty to put the Golden Lions on the scoreboard.
But the tourists continued to apply the pressure. Winger Ugo Monye burst clear to set up Roberts who was only denied by tenacious defence from burly Willem Alberts who got a hand to the ball as the Blues centre looked a dead cert to score. However it wasn’t long before the Lions added to their tally with another Jones penalty.
The red tide continued with Roberts the Bowe putting Monye clear and the Harlequins winger sped to the tryline to put the tourists firmly in control with a 25-3 lead after only 22mins.
Tom Croft showed a devastating burst of speed to leave winger Michael Killian embarrassed in defence as the Leicester flanker sped 24m to the tryline. Jones’s conversion took the score to 32-3 and the Golden Lions looked shell shocked.
Replacement full back Shandré Frolick gave the home fans something to shout about when he raced over three minutes from the break but the Lions had the last say after the halftime hooter had gone when Roberts touched down. With Jones adding the conversion the Lions were firmly in control at 39-10 at the break.
Bowe glided over seven minutes into the second half after Jones had manoeuvred the Irish winger free down the touchline with a sublime pass. Jones added the touchline conversion to give the Lions a 46-10 lead.
The home side finally got some ball but didn’t know what to do with it as Bowe plucked a pass out of thin air to canter 50m to the posts to take the Lions past the half century mark. Jones’s conversion took the score to 53-10.
Monye became the third player to score a brace after quick ball from a lineout saw Bowe slip a pass to his fellow winger and he had too much gas for the Golden Lions as he sped to the tryline.
James Hook then benefitted from another Golden Lions stuttering backline move when he intercepted and cantered 50m to score a converted try.
Replacement backrower Stephen Ferris put the icing on the cake when he picked up from a ruck and showed a clean pair of heals to run 55m to seal an impressive victory for the tourists.
Scorers: Golden Lions: Try: Frolick; Con – Pretorius; Pen: Pretorius.
Lions: Tries: Roberts (2), O’Driscoll, Monye (2), Croft, Bowe (2), Hook, Ferris; Cons: Jones (6), Hook (3); Pens: Jones (2)
