2009 Lions Tour

Well, it's crunch time. Once again, I'm looking forward to it a lot. I just want the game to be competitive. I'll not be broken-hearted if the Lions lose, but I will have to put up with half of the family gloating :D

I think he's picked Jones ahead of the other two just because he's got a little extra over the other two physically. He's definitely stronger than O'Gara (who got run over twice on Tuesday) and with Burger on the pitch, they'll need someone who can handle put himself about.

It's a decent team they're putting forward and I can't say I'm too distressed at Fitzgerald getting in ahead of Monye. I know the Boks defended really well against him, but I can't help thinking that a more skilled finisher would have scored at least once last week.

Shaw will definitely take it the Boks in a hard way and he's got a lot of experience behind him. Considering how many times he's played for the Lions, it's nice to see him finally get a Test match. He will have to be really strong today. Rees will have to be spot on with the lineout - as earlier in the tour I thought he was a little suspect. We shall see. Adam Jones has handled himself really well and I saw an interview with him the other day and he just seemed like a thoroughly nice bloke - I hope he does well.

Disappointed about Byrne, but that's sport for you. I don't think Kearney will have the same impact, but he's an able replacement - he seems good under the high ball and there will be a lot of up-and-unders today. I learnt my rugby on the highveld and even in the juniors you could belt the ball miles - I imagine Kearney will feel like he's in The Blitz!

As for the Boks' international record at Loftus Versfeld, I seem to recall watching New Zealand stomp the Boks there a few years ago - I may be wrong, however.

In any case, 90 minutes to go, it's time for some rugby :D
 
Luw said:
Disappointed about Byrne, but that's sport for you. I don't think Kearney will have the same impact, but he's an able replacement - he seems good under the high ball and there will be a lot of up-and-unders today. I learnt my rugby on the highveld and even in the juniors you could belt the ball miles - I imagine Kearney will feel like he's in The Blitz!
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Kearney got an unbelievable boot and loves to run and attack He not as fast as Byrne but he just as capable as him. I pity the Boks




Diesel you troll Playing for the Lions is the biggest honor a player can have from Great Britain and Ireland.
 
nizzle said:
Vickery wasn't over powered. He was being illegally bored in by THE BEAST, as in the beast wasn't driving in straight so it makes him start to stand up. Sadly these southern hemisphere ref's dont worry about it much, but its frowned upon much more up this half. If you noticed, when driven into straight Phil more than held his own.
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Sorry bit that not quite true. Yes the beast was not driving in straight but Vickery does not have the technique to counter that. Jones is a far better scumer
 
Can someone explain to me why O'Gara was on the bench instead of Hook? Good game, but unfortunately the injuries did for us. Hope those palyers are fit for the 3rd test as we were far the better team before we lost them.
 
Absolutely pathetic that second half. So poor from the Lions. Four stand out players for me were Shaw, Kearney, Bowe and Jones. Towards the end after all the injuries they were the only ones who seemed to want to keep playing and actually win.
 
dante6491 said:
Absolutely pathetic that second half. So poor from the Lions. Four stand out players for me were Shaw, Kearney, Bowe and Jones. Towards the end after all the injuries they were the only ones who seemed to want to keep playing and actually win.
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Agreed. Thought O'Connell was particularly poor, never got out of first gear and made no effective carries or hit many rucks of note. Picking Shaw was inspired, keeping POC wasn't. I just pray Adam Jones will be fit for the 3rd test as he gave 'The Beast' a taste of his own medicine today.
 
With them going to uncontested scrums and brining AWJ on I thought great, three strong second rows, a bit of power. POC and AWJ were both no shows pretty much and without Nathan Hines suspended I would have loved to see in instead of either of them. A confrontation between Borta and Hines would have been epic.
 
Well done both sides, I think. I hoped for better for the Lions this weekend, and it really looked like it. Well done to the Boks for pulling it back in at the last minute.

Last match now could be nice, but sorry for the lads who deserved a triumph a few years now.

This match really showed the best (and sometimes the worst - very cantankerous at times) of both sides - coming down to the last minute, what a game!

Last match won't matter to a great number of people, but we'll be watching and I'm sure both sides'll do their best.
 
Absolutely gutted. I switched off the car radio with 20 minutes to go and thought they would be home and dry. Injuries definitely did it for the Lions in my book. The foul play by the south africans really gets up my nose and I hope that burger gets the just reward for his conduct. Typical Boks though. Hope the lads can get some pride back in the final test.
 
Burger banned for 8 weeks and Botha misses final test. Sadly though they've been found guilty, the punishment doesn't fit the crime as they still managed to play through that crucial second test and in Botha's case, seriously injured one of our star performers on the day and have put him out of the next test.

I know there are certain standards that professionals have to adhere to and citing officers, etc but I do miss the good old days a bit, when justice was meted out quickly and effectively by the wronged team themselves. Both players deserved a good slap.
 
I think the lions should just play s.africa at their own game in the final test and go out with a bang. Get a bit more violent and just rough them up a bit. As stated above i dont think any player in the 70's would have stood for any of their crap and would have just dished out their own justice.
 
Just heard on skysports news that the SA coach De Villiers has said that rugby is a contact sport...no **** sherlock and if you dont like it then go learn ballet:rolleyes:...what an utter knobber he is...seems like he thinks there was nothing wrong with that challenge and feels aggrieved that one of his players haas been banned for 8 weeks.
 
Lions 28 - 9 Springboks

I know it was effectively a dead rubber but was proud of the display from the Lions. No-one prepared to take a backward step and an amazing level of commitment. Man of the match for me was Mike Phillips, great defensive display from a scrumhalf and got under the Boks skin. Happy for Willaims and Monye to get the tries as well as both had difficult tours for differing reasons. What today did show though was that if you give Shane Williams a scoring opportunity he will take it. Thought Heaslip and Martin Williams were awesome in the forwards too. I still think O'Connell has been poor though. I've been shocked at how innefectual he's been with ball in hand.

And it's amazing to think that the series has only been lost because of 8 points over the first two games. Poor selections (especially on the bench) cost us dearly.
 
Great win by the boys today and thoroughly deserved.:)

Just a pity we couldn't have taken our chances in the previous two matches, or at least one of them, to take a series win.
 
why did they leave Hook sit on the bench all game? he has been great all tour, give him a cap for a couple of mins at least. when Flutey came off, he must have thought here we go but they brought Ellis on at 9 and moved Phillips to 12, if I were Hook I would have taken it as an insult ...

Good result though :D
 
Big Kev said:
Great win by the boys today and thoroughly deserved.:)

Just a pity we couldn't have taken our chances in the previous two matches, or at least one of them, to take a series win.
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Yup agreed...they played very well today and in a way i guess it was a bit of justice served out to SA for their dirty tactics in the last game.

At least they didnt get the whitewash they wanted:).
 
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