Official British & Irish Lions Tour Thread

[phoneJunky]

Well as we can see in the super 14 where the bulls won - Naas pointed out that the bulls also played with less ball in hand. Naas' point was that that amybe its better to play in the opposition's halve rather than ball in hand in your halve.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

It's only when we kept ball in hand that we scored though ...... there was WAY too much useless/aimless kicking yesterday.

 

[killadoob]

Well i think the running game is something we are good at but we seem to kick far too much for my liking.

We will soon see how this kicking crap will fail against the likes of AUS and NZ, i hope i eat my words though

 

[sand_man]

When you have a situation of uncontested scrums like we did in yesterdays test would it not be prudent to sub a prop for another loose forward? Just a thought...

 

[LancelotSA]

When you have a situation of uncontested scrums like we did in yesterdays test would it not be prudent to sub a prop for another loose forward? Just a thought...

This was mentioned in the commentary and Bob said that it would be something the coaches would be thinking about but he said the role the props play in the lineout needed to be considered and how this facet of play might be weakened if they do so.

 

[Sting]

After the Lions had emptied their bench and 15 minutes after the props left the field injured, I would have taken off a prop or the hooker (Bismarck) or Bakkies Botha (distracted into playing the man) and brought on Brussouw.

After 15 minutes in the blood bin, a player cannot return.

If Rossouw had not been injured, Brussouw might not have come on at all.

 

[Vrotappel]

I'm with you on this one Mephisto.

But further to this I am not really sure where all the credit that is due comes from! Steyn was on for Ruan from the 61st minute. In these 19 minutes of rugby the thing he did that was most memorable and credit deserving was the final penalty. Yes, it was huge. Yes, it was awesome. But should we all really be bowing and scraping as a result of one kick. Next week he could just as easily miss an important kick. Should we then discard him.

This appears to be Mephisto's point (if I may be so forward as to interpret his comments). Ruan was great last week and, perhaps (if kicking is the only criteria) not so great this week. If anyone is showing signs of provincialism it is the ones who constantly make calls for all the Bulls to be Bokke!

Based on form prior to the tests M. Steyn should have been in the starting line-up. PdV retard's decision to go with Pienaar nearly cost us the second test. Hopefully he learned from yesterday.

 

[LancelotSA]

Based on form prior to the tests M. Steyn should have been in the starting line-up. PdV retard's decision to go with Pienaar nearly cost us the second test. Hopefully he learned from yesterday.

As stated elsewhere, Super 14 form does not automatically result in Test match form. They are two different animals!

And based on Ruan's kicking form in the first test there was no reason for the coaching staff to think he'd be off form in the 2nd test.

 

[killadoob]

No lance that is like saying just because you play well for your soccer club you won't make the national team, if you play amazing at club level you should get a spot in the national team.

Lance how else do we find talent other than club games? Think about it how would we have found any of our great players without seeing them play in the super14 or currie cup?

 

[LancelotSA]

No lance that is like saying just because you play well for your soccer club you won't make the national team, if you play amazing at club level you should get a spot in the national team.

Lance how else do we find talent other than club games? Think about it how would we have found any of our great players without seeing them play in the super14 or currie cup?

Yes, Killa, and when those talented players are found they do not just get thrown into the Springbok starting lineup! Which is exactly what I said. I did not say they do not get given a chance. And besides the player in question really just had a few good (perhaps great?) games towards the end of a single season of Super 14!


And I'm sorry but I also totally disagree with someone playing well at club level getting into the national team! Club rugby is TOTALLY different to test rugby! If you play well at club rugby you get signed to a province. If you perform well there you get into their Super 14 team. If you perform well there, over a good number of games perhaps seasons, you might get into the Springbok squad... and the rest I covered above.


This is a strange argument coming from a nation that at one point was moaning about the fact that the value of the Springbok jersey was getting belittled by the number of players that were being brought into the team week after week a few years back.

 

[Kabraal]

Look the only problem I have with your posts is that you make it sound as if MS had a lucky couple of kicks and now we’re all calling for him to be bok flyhalf. Trying to throw the “value of the bok jersey” back into our faces isn’t going to cut it mate. He has paid his dues to SA rugby and he has been around for quite some time now and lets call spade a spade here, although Pienaar is a brilliant rubgy player he has yet to convince us that he’s our new answer to Butch James.

I have fully supported Div decision to go with his tried and tested Pienaar for the first tests. It makes sense. And Pienaar won that game in durbs for us no questions asked. But in pta the entire backline started moving better once MS came on. He slotted a penalty as well as a corner conversion. In durbs he showed his commitment with that tackle on the Lions’ 11. He is the top scoring in form flyhalf of the super 14.

So I’m not asking for MS to become our starting flyhalf because of that last 80th minute kick. I’m not asking him to become our preferred starting flyhalf because Pienaar sucks. Now that we have the test series 2-0 up I’m asking for him to get a proper run in the third test so that we can see what the guy can do. Maybe he falis… maybe he doesn’t. After his S14 performance and performance in the past two tests I find it insulting to be labelled a bulls fanboy for suggesting this.

But yeah… whatever…I apologise if I’ve stepped on the wrong toes…

 

[Devill]

Yes, Killa, and when those talented players are found they do not just get thrown into the Springbok starting lineup! Which is exactly what I said. I did not say they do not get given a chance. And besides the player in question really just had a few good (perhaps great?) games towards the end of a single season of Super 14!

As oppose to pienaars bad run this whole S14 season.

He then played well in the 1st tests against the lions but realy bad in the last test.

As stated elsewhere, Super 14 form does not automatically result in Test match form. They are two different animals!

And based on Ruan's kicking form in the first test there was no reason for the coaching staff to think he'd be off form in the 2nd test.

Yes but now Steyn showed he was the better flyhalf. He got the line straightened and he kicked the big kicks.

Raun pienaar failed on saturday, his tactical kicking as well as his kicks for goal was horrid and he never inspired fear when he spread the ball.....

For the last "dead" game ill give MS a full game and put Ruan on the bench. Then we can see what he can do, if he fails so be it but he should get a game or two because of his good form atm.

 

[killadoob]

Yup devil my thoughts exactly, they need to give him a run in the team this week and possibly the first few games of the tri-nations, if he does not work out then drop him and say fine ruan you are the man for the job.

Give Sten the chance though i say!!!!!

 

[APoc184]

Zane Krichner a Bok

EDIT: English article

According to this article Zane Kirchner will be in the starting 15 for Saturday's 3rd and final test.

Zane gaan speel,” het De Villiers gesê toe hy oor die teenwoordigheid van Kirchner by die oefening gepols is

If the article is anything to go by, the squad will look like this.

1. Beast the Beast
2. Chilliboy
3. Cappie Smit
4. Johan Muller (Enforcer Bakkies if his appeal is successful)
5. Goldilocks Matfield
6. Poacher Brussow
7. Yster Smith
8. Concussion Kankowski
9. Du Preez
10. Drop-kick Steyn
11. Flying Nokwe
12. Meisiekind Olivier
13. Jakkals Fourie
14. Brother Ndungane
15. Bossiekop Kirchner

Sorry, I haven't had my coffee yet.

 

[Devill]

Zane Krichner a Bok

EDIT: English article

According to this article Zane Kirchner will be in the starting 15 for Saturday's 3rd and final test.



If the article is anything to go by, the squad will look like this.

1. Beast the Beast
2. Chilliboy
3. Cappie Smit
4. Johan Muller (Enforcer Bakkies if his appeal is successful)
5. Goldilocks Matfield
6. Poacher Brussow
7. Yster Smith
8. Concussion Kankowski
9. Generaal Du Preez
10. Drop-kick Steyn
11. Flying Nokwe
12. Meisiekind Olivier
13. Jakkals Fourie
14. Brother Ndungane
15. Bossiekop Kirchner

Sorry, I haven't had my coffee yet.

Fixed it for you

that is not a bad team seeing as we might make upto 9 changes to the starting lineup of last week

 

[rbarryza]

Jeez, hope changing more than half the team doesn't backfire. We need to shut the Pommy press up completely. After this weekend they must just be able to write about how wrong they were to ever think they Lions are good enough to beat the Boks.

 

[Bizkit87]

Look the only problem I have with your posts is that you make it sound as if MS had a lucky couple of kicks and now we’re all calling for him to be bok flyhalf. Trying to throw the “value of the bok jersey” back into our faces isn’t going to cut it mate. He has paid his dues to SA rugby and he has been around for quite some time now and lets call spade a spade here, although Pienaar is a brilliant rubgy player he has yet to convince us that he’s our new answer to Butch James.

I have fully supported Div decision to go with his tried and tested Pienaar for the first tests. It makes sense. And Pienaar won that game in durbs for us no questions asked. But in pta the entire backline started moving better once MS came on. He slotted a penalty as well as a corner conversion. In durbs he showed his commitment with that tackle on the Lions’ 11. He is the top scoring in form flyhalf of the super 14.

So I’m not asking for MS to become our starting flyhalf because of that last 80th minute kick. I’m not asking him to become our preferred starting flyhalf because Pienaar sucks. Now that we have the test series 2-0 up I’m asking for him to get a proper run in the third test so that we can see what the guy can do. Maybe he falis… maybe he doesn’t. After his S14 performance and performance in the past two tests I find it insulting to be labelled a bulls fanboy for suggesting this.
But yeah… whatever…I apologise if I’ve stepped on the wrong toes…

+1, nailed it on the head

for the last 2 seasons Morne did alot more that just "that kick'', and last week he had a try saving tackle, so he isn't just a kicker.... he's a good fly-half

well said kabraal

 

[APoc184]

Fixed it for you

Haha. Thanks
I really didn't know what to put there.

Jeez, hope changing more than half the team doesn't backfire. We need to shut the Pommy press up completely. After this weekend they must just be able to write about how wrong they were to ever think they Lions are good enough to beat the Boks.

I don't think it will backfire. I am actually very confident in our centre pairing and if they can create some space for Nokwe on the wing we are going to see another hat-trick of tries from JetShoes Nokwe. I still remember how he scored 2 of those 4 tries right infront of us.

Kankowski and Kirchner will try to prove a point and will not disappoint.

And Brussow. NO COMMENT.

Actually looks like the Lions' whole game plan will revolve around neutralizing him. That should leave Kankowski, Smith and BEAST to play more loose and run more with the ball.

Only inclusion I am not sure about, is Ndungane. Pietersen is back to his best and Ndungane will have to perform miracles to unseat him.

Just my 2c

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Nokwe out and Zane, Odwa, JP as the back three ....... now that I would like to see.

 

[APoc184]

Nokwe out and Zane, Odwa, JP as the back three ....... now that I would like to see.

That's a good back three. But Odwa does not have the pace of Pietersen, Nokwe or Habana.

Altough Nokwe comes short on defense he really offers so much more on attack. You can not afford to give him even an inch of space on the outside.

If our centre pairing was any different than Jacque/Wynand I would not have chosen Nokwe. But these 2 are probably our best defensive centres and they will cover for Nokwe's lack of it.

Ellispark seems to be Nokwe's playground.