Play ball.

British and Irish Lions flanker Courtney Lawes has taken aim at the Springboks ahead of the third and final Test between the two sides at the weekend.

The series is currently level at 1-1 with the Lions drawing first blood in the opening Tes, before the Boks leveled things up next week with a comprehensive win, leaving it all to play for tomorrow evening.

Both games have drawn a lot of criticism for the style of play adopted by both teams but Lawes has laid the blame on the reigning world champions for slowing it down with handbag stuff that he feels stopped the Lions from playing.

“They can throw their handbags around as much as they like,” he said.

“As long as we can get the ball out and play some rugby. We can’t get too caught up in the niggle of stuff, scrapping,”

“It just slows down the game and it doesn’t help us. We like a high-tempo game.

“They came with a clear game plan last game and that was to slow the game down. We’re a really fit team and we want to move the ball.

“It’s obviously going to be tough and it will be a conscious effort to stay out of that dogfight because I imagine that’s what they’re going to bring again.”

Lions assistant coach Gregor Townsend echoed Lawes’ sentiment, adding that the tourists need to create more opportunities on Saturday.

“If you create opportunities, you have more chance of winning the game,” Townsend continued.

“You may create more through pressure. We know we have to control the game more by moving South Africa around, draining them of energy whenever we can.”