Big calls.

Following the elation, after their first Test win last week, the British and Irish Lions came crashing down back to reality yesterday when they were soundly beaten by the Springboks in Test two.

The reigning world champions scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to run out comfortable 27-9 winners, leaving things all square ahead of the third and final Test next weekend.

Many of the Lions’ big-game players simply did not show up yesterday and they will be reeling given the manner of their defeat. Captain Alun Wyn Jones spoke to the players in a team huddle after the game and it sounds like it was pretty brutal.

The Welsh lock made it clear that changes were likely coming given how poorly the team played.

“Alun Wyn Jones spoke in the team huddle at the end and said that Warren Gatland has got some big calls to make this week about what he does with the team for the decider,” Lions outhalf Dan Biggar revealed in his Mail on Sunday column.

“He said he may well make changes and it’s now about a squad effort to get this over the line. Next week is a cup final for us. We’re lucky that we’ve got another shot to create history.

“If you’re winning all the time, selection takes care of itself. If you get a disappointing performance like that then everyone’s going to be on edge a little, naturally.

“It was pretty quiet dressing room after the game. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see that we came off second best and didn’t fire any shots.”

No doubt Gatland will make changes ahead of Saturday with very few players likely to be completely safe.