Official British & Irish Lions Tour Thread

[CHURCHILL]

I think a congratulations and a well done is in order from my side for the Springboks.

WELL DONE BOKKE.

That being said, after the second try by the Boks in the second half that took the score to 25-7, i honestly thought a hammering was on the cards.

From a Lions perspective, to cross the line 3 times and not touchdown and miss 2 "easy kicks at post from the likes of Steven Jones was where the lions lost the game.

On the UK forums, alot of people are blaming Phil Vickery for all those penalties given away, my opinion is no matter who you are, scrumming against BEEAAAAST will be a nightmare.

if the Lions can sort out there scrum/discipline and PDV does not sub to early, the last 2 tests are going to be crackers.

 

[Devill]

The boks played well for the first 60 minutes, then lost their way after that!

It looked like there was more lions supporters than Boks supporters? Has anybody noticed this? It was red all over!
I believe that +- 40000 British Lions supporters are in the country.
They could easily afford the ticket prices. "R1140-00" a ticket.
I believe the attendance at Absa Stadium was 48000 people.
48000 x R1140-00 = R54720000-00. Even if you take 40000 x R1140-00
= R45600000-00. SA Rugby made a killing!!! I wonder who 's putting some
money in their own pockets?

Yeah SARU is making a killing I highly doubt that all 40 000 of the lions "tour fans" were there though Silly how they make the tickets so expensive when they are complaining that the sport is not transforming enough and that it is not accessible enough to non-white people

At the least they could have given away the empty seats to some people who could never afford it in the townships etc etc...

Well you have to remember, natal is the last british outpost (from a flag I saw in a Durbs shop window ages ago)

Lol

 

[sand_man]

I must say he admitted he screwed up by bringing on the whole bench in about 10 mins... So at least he knows he screwed up

While I appreciate we lost all momentum once the subs were made is it not more an indictment on the quality and commitment of the players coming on, then the coaches decision to bring them on?

Surely at 26-7 up PDV would have been thinking let's finish the Lions off with some fresh legs. Bringing subs on is meant to give the team an edge and an advantage. Instead all it did was potentially hand the game to them on a platter but quite frankly that for me was more about the lack of motivation/enthusiasm/commitment from the subs.

Ticket prices are exorbitant and I find the asking prices insulting to say the least!!! Wonder what Mallet has to say on the issue??!!!

 

[Sneeky]

At least one of the flankers needs to be a dedicated fetcher, ie Brussouw or Burger.
Rossouw and for that matter, Spies, are more ball carriers than fetchers, providing solid defence at the loose and driving opposition back.

PdV has acknowledged his fuax paux in the subs.
Still though, the calibre of the players coming on as replacements really should not have caused the whole team to take the foot of the peddle.

Brussouw was superb in everything he did and was not intimidated by the task at hand or the spectacle of the Lions test.
Was awesome to see the Sharks front row, on their home turf, with solid support from their locks, giving the Lions a lesson in scrummaging.
Tendai gets a special mention, take a bow man, brilliant.

My mate was at the game, reckons the Bok supporters were outnumbered 10 to 1, red everywhere.
Tickets prices always a big problem for these tests for the locals.

The bounce of the ball went our way for a long time as a result of the pressure we exerted on the Lions, the minute we slacked off and gave them room to run they looked dangerous, beware next week.

 

[sand_man]

beware next week.

I was expecting the Boks to be ring rusty and flat footed in the 1st 40-50 minutes of that 1st test. They hit the ground running which was amazing to see. I reckon they'll be better prepared at Loftus, beware the Lions!!!

 

[Sneeky]

Hope you are right, but we need to close them down for 80, not 50 or 60min, no matter what the sequence.

 

[Albereth]

What gave me heart was seeing that fat, useless people can be Springboks. :woot: Hope for me yet - if Januarie can make it then so can I.

Think about the almost tries. That game was way too close.

 

[Sneeky]

On Saturday we play to win the series while the Lions play for survival, who wants it more???

Can't wait!

 

[Devill]

What gave me heart was seeing that fat, useless people can be Springboks. :woot: Hope for me yet - if Januarie can make it then so can I.

Think about the almost tries. That game was way too close.

Yeah he was kicked from his provinces starting team!!?!?!?!

WTF is he doing in the Bok sq?

Anyone know what time today the Bok sqaud for saturday is going to be announced? (or is it the Upcoming Boks that are announced today?)

 

[Gothan]

Ey!!!!! You racist scum, Pdiddy warned you racist elements.

Januarie is the foundation of that team and the way he "fills" that jersey, far beyond the legal stretching limit is an inspiration to us all

 

[Sneeky]

Frans Steyn dropped the ball, so did Ruan, maybe they should be dropped as well

 

[Devill]

Frans Steyn dropped the ball, so did Ruan, maybe they should be dropped as well

Januarie is fat and his service to his flyhalf was poor.... He also does not even start for his province, and the scrummie that does is not in the Boks group.

It has nothing to do with him dropping the ball.

 

[Gothan]

Frans Steyn dropped the ball, so did Ruan, maybe they should be dropped as well

Well actually both those players were on the field for 60 minutes plus, and they dropped the ball, januarie, was on the field for 5 minutes, and in one ballet move, dropped the ball, and knocked it on right infront of our line, one would think that he was rushed like the others, but uhm nope, wide open space all around him, that is where the problem lies, if he fumbles when he is not even under fire, hell he might go score points for them if pushed to hard.

Give Adams a chance, he atleast played some decent games in the super 14

 

[Sneeky]

Actually DuPreez is slower, how often have you seen him phaffing around with the ball available when we are on attack, instead of getting it out wide? He is by far our best scrummy, but he takes his time and then some on occasion.
As for service to the backline, the whole backline was out of synch and passes were going behind players rather than letting them run onto the ball. Rusty for sure, but that should vastly improve in the next match.
The stick Ricky has got is not warranted based on his time on the field.
I agree with PdV.

 

[davemc]

Gothan .. love you dude. The Springbok coach sure can be a bit ... erm ... um ... well ... whateva.

 

[Sneeky]

Well actually both those players were on the field for 60 minutes plus, and they dropped the ball, januarie, was on the field for 5 minutes, and in one ballet move, dropped the ball, and knocked it on right infront of our line, one would think that he was rushed like the others, but uhm nope, wide open space all around him, that is where the problem lies, if he fumbles when he is not even under fire, hell he might go score points for them if pushed to hard.

Give Adams a chance, he atleast played some decent games in the super 14

Anyone can drop the ball Gothan, it happens to the very best of players in all situations.
Just be happy we have so many good players to choose from, and support those that are chosen.

 

[Devill]

Actually DuPreez is slower, how often have you seen him phaffing around with the ball available when we are on attack, instead of getting it out wide? He is by far our best scrummy, but he takes his time and then some on occasion.
As for service to the backline, the whole backline was out of synch and passes were going behind players rather than letting them run onto the ball. Rusty for sure, but that should vastly improve in the next match.
The stick Ricky has got is not warranted based on his time on the field.
I agree with PdV.

There are 3 other scrummies that I feel are better than Januarie.

Ps Fourie is the best scrummie in the world atm... Also he takes his time because then he makes something happen after taking an extra 2-3 secs. Januarie is just plain slow....

But o well he is in the sqaud thus I will support him whole heartedly

 

[Gothan]

Anyone can drop the ball Gothan, it happens to the very best of players in all situations.
Just be happy we have so many good players to choose from, and support those that are chosen.

Exactly, and seeing that we have some awesome talent, why do we need to hammer on one, that is currently not in form? As stated before, there are 3-4 scrummies waiting to be picked, and I am pretty sure, they can drop the ball just as often, but they can also help control the game.

You mention Fourie as being slow, how many times do you see Januarie in the defence line? How many times do you see januarie trying to break the line? NEVER. That is why Fourie starts and januarie does not

 

[Sneeky]

Gothan, Januarie is a very effective runner from the loose and he spoils well, give the guy an oppertunity, all the venom for him has swelled up at selection prior to the game, and based on a few minutes on the field when the team had already gone to sleep.
A bit targetted don't you think.
What you say above is that Januarie can't defend, can't break the line, and can't control the game at all???
A bit pathetic when you look at his pedigree.

Devill I agree, sure, Fourie is our best and probably the best in the world, my point is that even so he does really dawdle sometimes at the base and a fast ball would be for sure a better option. This is often discussed in post game analysis. Even the best players make bad decisions at times.

We are blessed with the pool of players to select from, more so than any other rugby playing nation so debate around team selection will always be vigorous in SA.

 

[Gothan]

Well we'll agree to disagree, I feel there are scrummies out there that worked a lot harder than januarie and deserve a chance, but to each his own