Warren Gatland's most brutal match left Shaun Edwards 'screaming'

Warren Gatland has recalled the brutality of the British and Irish Lions' second Test against South Africa in 2009 and detailed a moment that left Shaun Edwards "screaming".

Four years earlier, the Lions were whitewashed by the All Blacks in arguably the worst ever tour by the iconic side. They were hammered in all three Tests and the credibility and sustainability of the Lions was brought into question.

Sir Ian McGeechan's 2009 side had the challenge of redeeming the Lions brand and matching up of the most physical Test match nations on the planet - the Springboks.

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Wales head coach Gatland was part of the coaching team on tour, along with former Wales coach Edwards. After the 'Boks had won the first Test 26-21 in Durban, a lot was hanging on the second match after the Lions were beasted in the scrum in their first outing - Gatland even admits they got selection wrong that day.

Writing in his Telegraph column, Gatland said it was the "most brutal match I have been involved with as a coach",

First of all, it was Schalk Burger who eye-gouged Luke Fitzgerald and escaped a red card, with Gatland branding it a definite red card, but Burger only received yellow. Then things kicked off between Brian O'Driscoll, Mike Phillips and Victor Matfield, "setting the tone" for the game, as Gatland explains. The game even had to go to uncontested scrums after Adam Jones was lost to a dislocated shoulder caused by a dangerous clear-out from Bakkies Botha.

The Test is widely regarded as one of the most physical matches in the history of professional rugby, and with tensions building on the pitch, things soon boiled over off it.

Gatland explained: "Still, we led 19-8 going into the last quarter when O’Driscoll launched himself at Danie Roussouw. The ferocious collision left both men dazed. From the uncontested scrum, I remember Shaun Edwards screaming because he saw Habana come off his left wing and surge into the midfield.

"He wanted our defence to focus on Habana, but he scored, and it put them back in the game. It was a critical moment. If we had held them out then, we probably would have won the game."

Gatland went on to explain that they very nearly shifted Mike Phillips into midfield after Tommy Bowe and Jamie Roberts sustained injuries, but instead opted for Stephen Jones moving over and bringing on Ireland legend Ronan O'Gara.

O'Gara would famously opt for a high ball kick instead of going through the phases and running down the clock, and the poorly-timed strike resulted in a penalty that Morne Steyn would ping over from 55 metres to snatch the series in a 28-25 victory.

The Lions would go on to win the third Test convincingly, and Gatland believes their performance in the second Test was crucial in holding up the standards of the jersey. He added: "We may have lost the series, despite a thumping win in the third Test, but I felt we had at least restored some pride in the Lions."

Ireland face the Springboks on their home patch this weekend, and there have been tensions building in the media, with many expecting a seriously ferocious encounter.