Some fortunate calls there and lucky not to have a yellow card, but great game to watch, especially the 2nd half. Saffers probably should have got at least a warning for all the penalties. Really does set up the series brilliantly & a bit pissed off that the Massive game is a 5.30 kick-off! 🦁
3 changes for Saturday's 2nd test, 30/7/21 .. I think these changes strengthen the side .. the three replaced players are all on the bench .. good, consistent selection policy by Warren Gatland
British & Irish Lions: Hogg; A Watson, Harris, Henshaw, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Murray; Vunipola, Cowan-Dickie, Furlong, Itoje, AW Jones, Lawes, Curry, Conan.
Definitely got the rub of the green today. Lawes was an absolute monster.
As were Itoje, Wyn Jones, Cowan -Dickie, in fact all the Lions who took the field. BUT the Lions m o m is surely the South African 'emergency' replay referee who disallowed the S A 'potential tries' .. he bent over so far backwards to be beyond criticism that he must have dislocated his spine .. I reckon an Aussie or Kiwi would have recommended at least one disallowed effort should have stood. All in all an understandably tight game, and we now know why the game is Rugby FOOTBALL, the ball spent a LONG time in the air put their by the boot. Erasmus the Springbok coach/manager made a major mistake at half time in taking off the very mobile and influential all black (not the Kiwi lol) front row and bringing on the three 'fearsome' white replacements who all looked as though they had spent lockdown scoffing sweets, cheeseburgers and chocolate as well as downing gallons of booze, they were absolutely rubbish in both tight and loose, they ran out of puff after about ten minutes. THAT to my mind was the turning point. S A lost their edge in the set piece, lost their go forward in the loose and that cost them the game, bad management decisions. Whatever, the Lions after their one drive over try (straight from the Exeter Chiefs playbook), never came close to scoring another and of course relied on the unflappable Biggar and Farrell for their points.
The 'crucial' second test will probably be just as taut and nervous as the first and I can't wait for it
3 changes for Saturday's 2nd test, 30/7/21 .. I think these changes strengthen the side .. the three replaced players are all on the bench .. good, consistent selection policy by Warren Gatland
British & Irish Lions: Hogg; A Watson, Harris, Henshaw, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Murray; Vunipola, Cowan-Dickie, Furlong, Itoje, AW Jones, Lawes, Curry, Conan.
That first half went on an age. There’s a few things I really didn’t like from the SA players but if you watch that try saving tackle from Kalisi he puts his hand under Henshaws head to break the contact with the ground. Huge respect even if he is the only one on that side to demonstrate some sportsmanship.
Probably the lack of fans in the stadium but I have found both games quite dull. Both teams so organised defensively that nobody is willing to risk anything to try and make a break.
Lions are mullered and I can't see any other result next week other than a S A win. I mentioned in a post re the first test that Erasmus (SA Director of Rugby etc) made an error in changing his front row at half time. This time the Lions (Gatland) made a similar error. Firstly, Vunipola is great around the park, brave in the tackle, BUT in his primary role as a set scrummager he is poor and the Lions suffered because of this. He started this game and that was an error. Like it or not, for all the sexy throwing the ball around and 90 metre scores, international rugby is about the set piece, lose your set scrums and line outs and 9/10 you lose the game.
Modern coaches seem to have a set formula, after 50/60 minutes change the front row, then after 65/70 minutes change the half backs and back row. I can understand this, IF the players are either having a bad game or look to be worn out and physically spent. The hooker Cowan-Dickie was replaced early in the second half. Was he injured or tired ?, he didn't look it. Owens replaced him and had a nightmare. Sinckler also came on at tight head, why not Fagerson ? .. unless the Scot was injured he should have been the replacement, a better scrummager than Sinckler and that was what was required, not another prop who is 'good handler'. Anyway I think despite who was and was not brought on, SA would still have won. Etzebeth has been one of the best forwards in the world for the past nearly ten years, Mostert his mate is another superb and underrated lock. The SA half backs, de Klerk and Pollard were superb behind a dominant pack and the backs given some ball were penetrative and dangerous at last. The Lions backs behind a beaten pack, never had any worthwhile ball to run with. No disgrace for the Lions to be beaten by a better team and this SA side is a good one. Lack of preparation told and physically, the best that Britain and Ireland can produce were not up to handling the determined and. on this occasion, better coached Boks.
Gatland will make a lot of changes next week, let's see what happens
Lions line up for 3rd and final test .. six changes, mostly (4) in the backs to my mind making them more competitive .. two changes in the pack, Owens is selected ahead of Cowan-Dickie which is ridiculous, but I guess as Owens is near retirement this is a going away present, and Wyn Jones at loosehead prop where he has been sorely missed. The back five forwards are unchanged which is odd as they were eclipsed by the Boks in the last game. Still, there is not a great deal of choice in that area t b h, though I thought Hill of Exeter might have got the gig in the second row/lock with Itoje moving to number 6 and Lawes to No 8
British and Irish Lions: Williams; Adams, Henshaw, Aki, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Price; Jones, Owens, Furlong, Itoje, A Wyn Jones (c), Lawes, Curry, Conan
The inclusion of Owens is a joke. Glad Williams is in at FB - I feel much more comfortable with him in there. Wyn Jones starting is also a massive plus.
I don't understand the selection at hooker. The replacement on Saturday made a huge difference - instead of turning over lineouts the Lions starting losing their own and the scrums too.
I don't understand the selection at hooker. The replacement on Saturday made a huge difference - instead of turning over lineouts the Lions starting losing their own and the scrums too.
Gatland favours Welsh players too often still
he certainly does .. 6 English in the winning (just) side game 1 .. now down to 3 .. although, Adams and Williams are probably worth a place, but if so, why so late .. and Wyn Jones is the best set scrum specialist on the loose head .. Alun Wyn Jones is lucky he's the captain and an untouchable 'icon', otherwise he would surely be out .. pleased to see Price get another go as s/half, he was OK in the first test and Murray now seems to be showing his age and the wear n tear is telling
I don't understand the selection at hooker. The replacement on Saturday made a huge difference - instead of turning over lineouts the Lions starting losing their own and the scrums too.
Gatland favours Welsh players too often still
he certainly does .. 6 English in the winning (just) side game 1 .. now down to 3 .. although, Adams and Williams are probably worth a place, but if so, why so late .. and Wyn Jones is the best set scrum specialist on the loose head .. Alun Wyn Jones is lucky he's the captain and an untouchable 'icon', otherwise he would surely be out .. pleased to see Price get another go as s/half, he was OK in the first test and Murray now seems to be showing his age and the wear n tear is telling
Faf de Klerk is injured and misses the game .. his replacement is Cobus Reinach and anyone who's watched Northampton Saints over the past 3/4 years (he's now playing in France) will know that he is a very dangerous runner as well as a more than decent box kicker
Faf de Klerk is injured and misses the game .. his replacement is Cobus Reinach and anyone who's watched Northampton Saints over the past 3/4 years (he's now playing in France) will know that he is a very dangerous runner as well as a more than decent box kicker
Hopefully not as good. Or nearly as flippin' annoying!
Faf de Klerk is injured and misses the game .. his replacement is Cobus Reinach and anyone who's watched Northampton Saints over the past 3/4 years (he's now playing in France) will know that he is a very dangerous runner as well as a more than decent box kicker
Hopefully not as good. Or nearly as flippin' annoying!
Faf de Klerk is injured and misses the game .. his replacement is Cobus Reinach and anyone who's watched Northampton Saints over the past 3/4 years (he's now playing in France) will know that he is a very dangerous runner as well as a more than decent box kicker
Hopefully not as good. Or nearly as flippin' annoying!
Faf de Klerk is injured and misses the game .. his replacement is Cobus Reinach and anyone who's watched Northampton Saints over the past 3/4 years (he's now playing in France) will know that he is a very dangerous runner as well as a more than decent box kicker
Hopefully not as good. Or nearly as flippin' annoying!
Nobody could be as annoying as that little twat.
he's all that and more .. but I'd LOVE him if he played for England
hour to kick off .. saw NZ v Aus this morning, second half mostly .. NZ well in front and won despite letting Aus back into the game late In the second half I counted that NZ kicked the ball 3 times and Aus 5 in the second half (barring penalties and conversions of course).. terrific all action game .. you can bet we'll see more than 8 kicks in the first 1/4 hour in Cape Town.
Comments
What a fantastic 2nd half !
Shame that the 3rd match is when we're playing Sheff Weds .....Could be the decider.
Oh, and doesn't Faf have a face you'd like to punch !
British & Irish Lions: Hogg; A Watson, Harris, Henshaw, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Murray; Vunipola, Cowan-Dickie, Furlong, Itoje, AW Jones, Lawes, Curry, Conan.
Replacements:Owens, Sutherland, Sinckler, Beirne, Faletau, Price, Farrell, Daly.
BUT the Lions m o m is surely the South African 'emergency' replay referee who disallowed the S A 'potential tries' .. he bent over so far backwards to be beyond criticism that he must have dislocated his spine .. I reckon an Aussie or Kiwi would have recommended at least one disallowed effort should have stood.
All in all an understandably tight game, and we now know why the game is Rugby FOOTBALL, the ball spent a LONG time in the air put their by the boot.
Erasmus the Springbok coach/manager made a major mistake at half time in taking off the very mobile and influential all black (not the Kiwi lol) front row and bringing on the three 'fearsome' white replacements who all looked as though they had spent lockdown scoffing sweets, cheeseburgers and chocolate as well as downing gallons of booze, they were absolutely rubbish in both tight and loose, they ran out of puff after about ten minutes. THAT to my mind was the turning point. S A lost their edge in the set piece, lost their go forward in the loose and that cost them the game, bad management decisions. Whatever, the Lions after their one drive over try (straight from the Exeter Chiefs playbook), never came close to scoring another and of course relied on the unflappable Biggar and Farrell for their points.
The 'crucial' second test will probably be just as taut and nervous as the first and I can't wait for it
Lions 9-6 up at h/t.
But looked dubious
Modern coaches seem to have a set formula, after 50/60 minutes change the front row, then after 65/70 minutes change the half backs and back row. I can understand this, IF the players are either having a bad game or look to be worn out and physically spent. The hooker Cowan-Dickie was replaced early in the second half. Was he injured or tired ?, he didn't look it. Owens replaced him and had a nightmare. Sinckler also came on at tight head, why not Fagerson ? .. unless the Scot was injured he should have been the replacement, a better scrummager than Sinckler and that was what was required, not another prop who is 'good handler'.
Anyway I think despite who was and was not brought on, SA would still have won. Etzebeth has been one of the best forwards in the world for the past nearly ten years, Mostert his mate is another superb and underrated lock. The SA half backs, de Klerk and Pollard were superb behind a dominant pack and the backs given some ball were penetrative and dangerous at last. The Lions backs behind a beaten pack, never had any worthwhile ball to run with.
No disgrace for the Lions to be beaten by a better team and this SA side is a good one. Lack of preparation told and physically, the best that Britain and Ireland can produce were not up to handling the determined and. on this occasion, better coached Boks.
Gatland will make a lot of changes next week, let's see what happens
The back five forwards are unchanged which is odd as they were eclipsed by the Boks in the last game. Still, there is not a great deal of choice in that area t b h, though I thought Hill of Exeter might have got the gig in the second row/lock with Itoje moving to number 6 and Lawes to No 8
British and Irish Lions: Williams; Adams, Henshaw, Aki, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Price; Jones, Owens, Furlong, Itoje, A Wyn Jones (c), Lawes, Curry, Conan
Gatland favours Welsh players too often still
I counted that NZ kicked the ball 3 times and Aus 5 in the second half (barring penalties and conversions of course).. terrific all action game .. you can bet we'll see more than 8 kicks in the first 1/4 hour in Cape Town.
Lions 10
58:08.