British and Irish Lions
- Thread starter mattie
- Start date
Yep, I'm watching and yep, brutal and dreadful stuff
Where to start?
The huge Lions pack is being outplayed, out-fought and out manouvered. Thus, the breakdown is a mess and turnovers are commonplace. Only DOC can hold his head up.
Kicking from hand is poor. Add to that numerous handling errors and a lack of communication on blind side runs.
The only positives stem from negatives
confused...
Playing Hines at 6 - mistake
Worzel has proved he aint gonna make the test side.
Gethin Jenkins place is uncontested.
Ford cant throw - Mears a starter
None of the backs should start on saturday
The test team is picking itself.
Fatty Barnes is right in saying that the tour needed a game like this, 99 call anyone?
Shame for Hook though.......hope he recovers
Where to start?
The huge Lions pack is being outplayed, out-fought and out manouvered. Thus, the breakdown is a mess and turnovers are commonplace. Only DOC can hold his head up.
Kicking from hand is poor. Add to that numerous handling errors and a lack of communication on blind side runs.
The only positives stem from negatives
confused...Playing Hines at 6 - mistake
Worzel has proved he aint gonna make the test side.
Gethin Jenkins place is uncontested.
Ford cant throw - Mears a starter
None of the backs should start on saturday
The test team is picking itself.
Fatty Barnes is right in saying that the tour needed a game like this, 99 call anyone?
Shame for Hook though.......hope he recovers
Red Faction
Allez Les Rouges
i thought earls had a good game
i think o'gara, o'callaghan, and fitzgerald didnt have terrible games
it was just generally a bit clueless
jones at 10 might sort the backs out
the forwards- a complete overhaul is needed, thankfully i think thats what the coaches had intended
they'll employ some professionals for sunday's game
i think o'gara, o'callaghan, and fitzgerald didnt have terrible games
it was just generally a bit clueless
jones at 10 might sort the backs out
the forwards- a complete overhaul is needed, thankfully i think thats what the coaches had intended
they'll employ some professionals for sunday's game
Juice Terry
rama lama fa fa fa
Not really a surprising result when you pick a blindside at 7 and a second row at 6. Slaughtered at the breakdown all game. Tour party has always lacked another natural openside.
Yeah, I'd agree with you RF - Earls had a decent game. Shaw was everywhere in the second half and tackled his heart out but no one played themselves into the test side.
Despite the ragged nature of the match and the areas of (on going) concern at the breakdown and in penalties conceded I'm pleased that the 100% record remains.
Saturday looks more daunting than ever now.....
Here's hoping that the Bokke are underdone.........
Despite the ragged nature of the match and the areas of (on going) concern at the breakdown and in penalties conceded I'm pleased that the 100% record remains.
Saturday looks more daunting than ever now.....
Here's hoping that the Bokke are underdone.........
starfish
No dialogue. Just plot.
Bok 22 for saturday. Brussow in for Burger.
No real surprises elsewhere.
South Africa: Francois Steyn; JP Pietersen, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Heinrich Brussow, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies.
Replacements: Gurthro Steenkamp, Deon Carstens, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Ricky Januarie, Jaque Fourie, Morne Steyn.
Missed todays game, do they repeat streams?
No real surprises elsewhere.
South Africa: Francois Steyn; JP Pietersen, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Heinrich Brussow, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies.
Replacements: Gurthro Steenkamp, Deon Carstens, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Ricky Januarie, Jaque Fourie, Morne Steyn.
Missed todays game, do they repeat streams?
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Real shame for Hooky. I though he has looked as good as he has for some time on this tour, and his versatility would have freed up a lot of space on the bench. Hook can play in so many positions it would have provided far, far better cover. The bench, and therefore the team, look badly weakened as a result. I think this could well see the Wallace/Williams 6 and 7 partnership start with Croft on the bench to cover at 6 and in the backrow. It's what they do with the seventh slot that will be interesting. My original 'best' bench would have looked like this: Kearney, Hook, Ellis, Adam/Vickery, Ford/Rees, Hines, Wallace/Williams, with Croft starting
This now forces a big rejig. Possible bench: Kearney, Ellis, O'Gara, Adam/Vickery, Ford/Rees, Croft (to cover lock and 6), ? - possibly Powell or another back, maybe Fitzgerald. This would see Wallace and Williams starting together, and Hines denied a place.
This now forces a big rejig. Possible bench: Kearney, Ellis, O'Gara, Adam/Vickery, Ford/Rees, Croft (to cover lock and 6), ? - possibly Powell or another back, maybe Fitzgerald. This would see Wallace and Williams starting together, and Hines denied a place.
Red Faction
Allez Les Rouges
I'd love to see Keith Earls take to the field against the springboks
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Why on earth would you love that? He's been mediocre at best for the entire tour.
Ain't going to happen, anyways
mattie
missing in inaction
First Test team announced:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8106399.stm
No real shocks.
eta: never mind
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8106399.stm
No real shocks.
eta: never mind
waterloowelshy
Well-Known Member
suprised to see Hines out completely mind.
Juice Terry
rama lama fa fa fa
Its a pretty uninspiring bench all round really. There's a real drop off in quality in most positions once you go beyond the 1st XV. Injuries will cost us dear come tests 2 and 3.
I thought they'd go for Powell on the bench for some last quarter impact at least.
I think ours backs can match the boks, but up front we're going yet ripped apart.
I thought they'd go for Powell on the bench for some last quarter impact at least.
I think ours backs can match the boks, but up front we're going yet ripped apart.
Strength in depth has been really hit, especially in the pack. In the backs we really need Hook and Williams fit and on form for 2 and 3.Its a pretty uninspiring bench all round really. There's a real drop off in quality in most positions once you go beyond the 1st XV. Injuries will cost us dear come tests 2 and 3.
I thought they'd go for Powell on the bench for some last quarter impact at least.
I think ours backs can match the boks, but up front we're going yet ripped apart.
Mr Retro
Beware hedgehogs
I think our half backs are weak and thats where we'll lose the game. Phillips is brilliant arounf the fringes but his pass is just way too slow.
Jones is just average and the best of a bad crop of out halves in the NH at the moment.
Compared to the Boks we're a bit light weight in the second row too.
Jones is just average and the best of a bad crop of out halves in the NH at the moment.
Compared to the Boks we're a bit light weight in the second row too.
Mr Retro
Beware hedgehogs
Why Williams? Thats one area where there plenty of cover and options. Williams hasn't been on form for a season
travellerlife
Well-Known Member
The boks team on paper looks good, although ring rustiness might be a problem for Pienaar, de villiers and Adi Jacobs. I am happy about Brossouw making the squad, he thoroughly deserved it for consistently playing out of his skin in an under performing Cheetahs squad. Although he is certainly not in the usual bok player mould, a double helping of HUGE with some extra speed on the side.
Frans Steyn has the potential to become an excellent full back, been advocating this change for years, he reminds me a lot of Andre Joubert.
Otherwise this is a pretty settled bok squad, which if they get the tactics right, will be a handful for the lions.
I watch the first lions/Bok test from 97 on ESPN classics the other night. What an excellent game of rugby, the boks had the measure of the lions for 80 percent of that game, but two moments decided that first test, one being a disallowed try to the boks at around 55 minutes, a beaut of a move that in the last pass was forward and the second being the dummy Dawson sold James Small on the blindside leading to a try.
Once the Lions got that try, the entire game changed. The boks started chasing the game and came undone. Was good to see Keith Woods, Neil Jenkins, Dayglo, Johnson, Mark Andrews, Os Durant and Henry Honniball playing in their prime. A seriously enjoyable match to watch, even if I did know the outcome.
Frans Steyn has the potential to become an excellent full back, been advocating this change for years, he reminds me a lot of Andre Joubert.
Otherwise this is a pretty settled bok squad, which if they get the tactics right, will be a handful for the lions.
I watch the first lions/Bok test from 97 on ESPN classics the other night. What an excellent game of rugby, the boks had the measure of the lions for 80 percent of that game, but two moments decided that first test, one being a disallowed try to the boks at around 55 minutes, a beaut of a move that in the last pass was forward and the second being the dummy Dawson sold James Small on the blindside leading to a try.
Once the Lions got that try, the entire game changed. The boks started chasing the game and came undone. Was good to see Keith Woods, Neil Jenkins, Dayglo, Johnson, Mark Andrews, Os Durant and Henry Honniball playing in their prime. A seriously enjoyable match to watch, even if I did know the outcome.
Juice Terry
rama lama fa fa fa
Comparing the two teams its shirt numbers 4 to 10 where the boks have superiority, real class players a cut above their lions counterparts in all those positions. Burger to come back from injury as well.
Just got to hope we catch them cold in the first test and put in a full on bodies on the line team performance. Thinking of 97 when everyone thought we were weak at scrum half with a relatively unknown Dawson replacing Howley and he stepped up and scored a match winning try. We need someone to do that this time.
Just got to hope we catch them cold in the first test and put in a full on bodies on the line team performance. Thinking of 97 when everyone thought we were weak at scrum half with a relatively unknown Dawson replacing Howley and he stepped up and scored a match winning try. We need someone to do that this time.
Yes, outdated and wishful thinking, perhaps. I can dream.
DaRealSpoon
Do not try and bend the spoon...
I think it's a pretty unsuprising selection really.
Only suprise is that M Williams is on the bench, not starting. Other than that I think it's pretty bang on.
We will miss Hook badly on the bench.
And for me, forget all the bigger name peformances BOD, POC, Byrne etc. I reckon it's Crofts performance that is going to be vital to whether we win or lose.
I could be way off like, but I really have a feeling he could be a key to unlocking SA.
Only suprise is that M Williams is on the bench, not starting. Other than that I think it's pretty bang on.
We will miss Hook badly on the bench.
And for me, forget all the bigger name peformances BOD, POC, Byrne etc. I reckon it's Crofts performance that is going to be vital to whether we win or lose.
I could be way off like, but I really have a feeling he could be a key to unlocking SA.
1927
Funnier than he thinks he is.
That bench looks very unispiring with no real impact players for the last 20. If Hooky had been fit he would have added a certain sparkle to the subs, and as poorly as he has played I would have stuck ickle in there because he can atleast give you a gazza like magic moment and turn a game, havning said that with the absence of Hook who could have covered so many positions the subs bench was always going to be a tricky selection.
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Seriously.
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Old two-times grand slam winner and now four time Lions test starter; Stephen 'average' Jones.
He's the fourth best o/h in the world. Obviously not good enough.
Threshers_Flail
Well-Known Member
We're fucked.
