In the third match for the tourists, the Lions resisted a powerful Cheetahs fight back to nick the win. We take a look at the players individually and assess who played well, and who poorly. Normally I try and watch the match twice before writing any analysis, but I haven't had a chance today, so please forgive any errant thoughts!

1. Andrew Sheridan - 7
Decent game with excellent scrummaging and a number of good carries. He isn't a truly dynamic prop though and he would do well to add more dynamism to his game. The front row is becoming an area of real dominance at scrum time - definitely a positive.

2. Ross Ford - 6
The lineout is such a massive part of the game, particularly in South Africa, and Ford didn't have a great day with his throwing in. Only missed a couple, but this is a higher level and with Mears pretty much throwing to anyone, anywhere, I'm not sure what more the Scot offers. Admittedly this game was a much more closely contested affair, but I've yet to see him pop up in the loose as much as Mears either.

3. Euan Murray - 7
Looked pretty good today with a great performance at the set piece. However, much like Sheridan, he just doesn't seem to appear in open play as much as I'd like. In the modern game a prop can't afford to simply be a set-piece machine, and against the Boks the Lions will need 15 players comfortable and willing to play all facets of the game.

4. Donncha O'Callaghan - 6
Decent enough game from the irishman, particularly at the lineout, but like many of his forward colleagues today, he didn't do enough outside the set-piece. It's a work rate issue basically, there's a gulf appearing between those who bring real intensity to the game and those who simply play well.

5. Paul O'Connell - 7
The captain had another good but not phenomenal game, but he looked more like a man who knows how to lead when the chips are down today. Great ruthless decision making in the early stages regarding shots at goal and then later when the going got tough he did the simple things well and quite literally lead from the front. He's not the most dynamic lock in world rugby, but neither was John Eales or Martin Johnson. At lineout time he was great, particularly in terms of disruption - he just needs to try and get the balance right between disrupting and knocking on.

6. Stephen Ferris - 9
The best forward by some margin. Cleaned up a bobbling ball early in the fast half before putting on the burners and racing away from the opposition. Ferris Gump from now on I'd say. His intensity in all facets of the game was excellent and he looked like the only man willing to really compete with Heinrich Brussow. His sin-binning was pretty harsh given the early stage of the game and the lack of warning from ref to captain.

7. Joe Worsley - 5
Tackled hard, but he looked a little out of his depth. Gave away a string of penalties and while his defense was excellent as usual he needs to offer much more in a Lions jersey. Left a high ball to bounce and nearly gifted the Cheetahs a try with the indecision. Didn't have anything like a good enough game at the breakdown.

8. Andy Powell - 6
Showed a few decent offloads, particularly when pinned to the touchline, but simply played far too one-dimensional rugby - offloads were the exception rather than the rule. Powell sought contact far too often, and while a lock carrying ball into contact can be excused somewhat, as an 8 he needs to offload far more. Knocked on deep in Cheetahs territory which summarised his high work rate but somewhat limited threat.

9. Harry Ellis - 8
A decent game under tough circumstances, though a few errors marred his copybook. Didn't have the presentation that Phillips had on Wednesday but his service was decent and he was an absolute menace in defence. As a disrupting scrum-half he is the best on tour. He kicked well also and looked comfortable on his first start. A bit too eager at the base on occasions, including wrapping up the Cheetahs 8 while the ball was quite clearly still in the scrum.

10. James Hook - 8
A relatively uninspired game from the ten but he did a lot right and is very dependable under massive pressure. The relative inexperience of Fitzgerald outside him at 12 may have had a part to play in his inability to split the defensive line, but he produced a sublime chip into space to put Earls in for the first try. Kicking under pressure he's a banker. The Lions have missed something like one kick in three games so far and Hook keeps up the outstanding record with the boot. Couple of mistakes including out on the full at the restart cost the Lions field position but the late arrival played well in general.

11. Shane Williams - 4
The Welsh magician looks like a man playing far too hard for a test jersey. Not a good game. Running laterally is acceptable if it results in a line break or a try, but too often he looked like he was searching for a gap that wasn't there. He needs to learn the difference between ball that's on and ball that isn't. Today he tried to turn nearly everything into 'on' ball when often the right decision was the more conservative option. Not the biggest in defence, his selection is all the more difficult to justify when he's not scoring tries. Threw a dreadful interception pass when the Lions were looking like putting the Cheetahs away to setup a tense finish. Trying to force his test shirt and it's hurting the team performance.

12. Luke Fitzgerald - 7
The irishman never looked like a Lions 12. He was solid and dependable, but he's better employed on the wing. He did cut some decent lines though and worked hard throughout. Will definitely want another start soon playing in the more familiar wing channel as his distribution wasn't really up to scratch at 12.

13. Keith Earls - 8
Hugely improved game from the youngster who did very little wrong. Took his try brilliantly, vindicating his somewhat wildcard selection. With two men to beat he was barely touched and showed pace and swerve to match the best. Relatively solid in the midfield, and while the 13 test jersey is already occupied, he offers a lot nonetheless. Given a more robust inside centre he could do some serious damage.

14. Leigh Halfpenny - 6
The first cap showed his nerves once or twice - possibly for the first time in his short rugby career. Never really given the ball or the space to show what he could do and had a fairly non-descript game in all areas. Was pulled out of position once or twice and ended up heading the ball while falling over when he should have been clearing up. Couple of times he produced half breaks, but his performance wasn't of the standard that he'll have set himself.

15. Lee Byrne - 8
Another excellent display from the fullback. Mostly very solid under the high ball and when he kicks it's rarely the wasted possession that's so common in the modern game.
His chips didn't come off for him like they did in the tour opener, but nonetheless he gave the Cheetahs defence another route to defend. Uncharacteristic drop late in the game that nearly handed the opposition a winning position - and looked to have damaged a finger in the process - but despite this it was a strong performance from the full back under difficult circumstances.


Replacements

16. Matthew Rees - 6
A slightly better performance from the hooker, but not glittering by any means. His throwing was wayward at times, much like Ford and he's not as brutal as is required at this level. In my view the luckiest man to be on tour.

17. Adam Jones - 7
Much like Sheridan in many ways but hits ruck and maul harder. Looked like a player keen for more work today and his scrummaging is strong too. His work in the loose makes him a useful selection.

18. Simon Shaw - Unused

19. Nathan Hines - 8
Played out of position in the back-row, but wholeheartedly threw himself into the game. At the breakdown he's no pretender and he's playing his way toward the test side. Brings the right energy and fervour to the game. At Lions level I'm looking for a certain rabidity and Hines brings that.

20. Gordon D'Arcy - 7
Brought a much needed directness to the midfield and while he didn't set the game alight he showed the same sort of ferocity exhibited in last weekends BaBa's game. A start awaits - it'll be interesting to see how he goes.

21. Ronan O'Gara - Unused

22. Mike Blair - Unused