Lions tour of SA - thoughts & speculation

Sport
1401

:smiley:

Its been acknowledged by anyone who watched that game Bando that it was POC that pulled the other guys over the finish line.

1402

Its been acknowledged by anyone who watched that game Bando that it was POC that pulled the other guys over the finish line.[/QUOTE]

I would have put more emphasis on Lee Byrne’s try immediately after they scored. If Britain hadn’t responded straight away then I’m not sure they would have got the next try too. Yes, it was Byrne’s individual skill and dynamism that won the day.

1403

Where does this Britain fella play? Can’t say I know him?

1404

every interview I read with these Springboks players the more scared I get for the Lions…a new savage pops up in a different position…some lad called Bismarck something was interviewed in Sunday Times yesterday…sounds like a right animal…add him to Matfield,Botha,the lad MBB mentioned who can who bench presses 164 kg,…the cunts seem like fcukin monsters to a man…I’ll be watching saturday’s match from behind the couch…:eek:

1405

Remember scumpot, the bigger they are, etc.

1406

HangBlaa’s Test 22.

  1. Gethin Jenkins – Superb player around the field and can hold his own in the scrum.

  2. Lee Mears – Set piece ball is vital against Botha and Matfield. Mears has been solid, and has also shown some great aggression in the loose

  3. Phil Vickery – Edges out Vickery for me, as he is an awesome scrummager, can do what Paull Wallces did in '97 – Murray injured Vickery in

  4. Alun Wyn-Jones – Dynamic in the loose, but may struggle physcially.

  5. Paul O’Connel – Captain, leader, legend.

  6. Tom Croft – Ferris’ loss is massive, croft lack slightly in the physical departmetn but can make up for it with pace and lineout ability

  7. David Wallace – His physical Edge will be needed in the contact areas, massive game from him needed to keep Spies and Burger on the back foot

  8. Jamie Heaslip – Enjoying great form, his ball carrying will be vital.

  9. Mike Philips – Obvious choice, like an extra back row in defence, needs to box kick well.

  10. Ronan O’Gara – Tehy have talked about picking winners, ROG is a winner, and will releish the challenge, has been very good defensicely on this tour

  11. Jamie Roberts – Perfect foil for BOD. Will create holes.

  12. BOD – Back to his brilliant best, genuinely feared by the boks.

  13. Luke Fitzgerald – Has the defence for Habana that Monye doesnt. Good footballer and kicker also.

  14. Tommy Bowe – Player of the tour so far and watch him match up with JP Pieterson on cross-field kicks.

  15. Lee Byrne – Great player. Will be a great kicking battle with Steyn.

  16. Matthew Rees – His throwing has let him down on this tour, but good player to come after 60

  17. Sheridan – can do damage form 60mins onwards

  18. Donnacha O’Callaghan – If Wyn-Jones is struggling physically, this is the man to call on

  19. Martyn Williams – If the game opens up late on Williams could have a big impact

  20. Harry Ellis – He is fit so will get a jersey

  21. Jones

  22. Rob Kearney – Again versatility, as opposed ot Monye or Williams.

1407

[quote=“HangBlaa”]HangBlaa’s Test 22.

  1. Gethin Jenkins – Superb player around the field and can hold his own in the scrum.

  2. Lee Mears – Set piece ball is vital against Botha and Matfield. Mears has been solid, and has also shown some great aggression in the loose

  3. Euan Murray – Edges out Vickery for me, as he is an awesome scrummager, can do what Paull Wallces did in '97

  4. Alun Wyn-Jones – Dynamic in the loose, but may struggle physcially.

  5. Paul O’Connel – Captain, leader, legend.

  6. Tom Croft – Ferris’ loss is massive, croft lack slightly in the physical departmetn but can make up for it with pace and lineout ability

  7. David Wallace – His physical Edge will be needed in the contact areas, massive game from him needed to keep Spies and Burger on the back foot

  8. Jamie Heaslip – Enjoying great form, his ball carrying will be vital.

  9. Mike Philips – Obvious choice, like an extra back row in defence, needs to box kick well.

  10. Ronan O’Gara – Tehy have talked about picking winners, ROG is a winner, and will releish the challenge, has been very good defensicely on this tour

  11. Jamie Roberts – Perfect foil for BOD. Will create holes.

  12. BOD – Back to his brilliant best, genuinely feared by the boks.

  13. Luke Fitzgerald – Has the defence for Habana that Monye doesnt. Good footballer and kicker also.

  14. Tommy Bowe – Player of the tour so far and watch him match up with JP Pieterson on cross-field kicks.

  15. Lee Byrne – Great player. Will be a great kicking battle with Steyn.

  16. Matthew Rees – His throwing has let him down on this tour, but good player to come after 60

  17. Phil Vickery – Another leader, and playinmg great rugby, 50-50 call with him and Murray, but again can do damage form 60mins onwards

  18. Donnacha O’Callaghan – If Wyn-Jones is struggling physically, this is the man to call on

  19. Martyn Williams – If the game opens up late on Williams could have a big impact

  20. Harry Ellis – He is fit so will get a jersey

  21. James Hook – Offers more cover than Jones

  22. Rob Kearney – Again versatility, as opposed ot Monye or Williams.[/QUOTE]

Wouldn’t really disagree with much/any of that but I think I’d go Wallace and Williams to start and I think the back row will have enough to do without covering O’Gara so I expect Jones to start with O’Gara on the bench.

I think the bench is noticeably weak. Vickery can make an impact. Rees is shite. Shouldn’t be near the team, it’s just the comical ineptitude of Ford that has him second in line. O’Callaghan is reasonable enough but hardly going to change the game. Croft or Williams, well either one offers something I’d say.

In the backs well, Ellis is shite, I expect Jones or O’Gara to be on the bench (probably the latter) and only to be introduced if the other is having a nightmare. Not many winning teams change their 10 during the game. Kearney is versatile and may get the bench on that basis but it’s a while since he showed real form, did well at the weekend but more of a steadying influence than anything.

It’s still a reasonable XV and I’m not sure they won’t win but I think there’s a real lack of depth there. Ferris, Flannery, Shanklin would have added an awful lot of competition and a far better bench.

1408

Luke is starting tomorrow’s match so it doesn’t look to good for his chances…O callaghan captains the team, Earls is at full back…

1409

The squad to face Southern Kings

Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland); Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales), Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster/Ireland), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster/Ireland); James Hook (Ospreys/Wales), Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland); Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England), Nathan Hines (Perpignan/Scotland), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster/Ireland) captain, Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England), Euan Murray (Northampton/Scotland), Ross Ford (Edinburgh/Scotland), Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks/England)

Replacements

Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales), Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England), David Wallace (Munster/Ireland), Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England), Ronan O’Gara (Munster/Ireland), Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England)

Surprised at Fitzgerald - still think he has a chance if he plays well but he’s probably not in the side as things stand. Murray starting as well. Fairly shit team isn’t it.

1410

Still has a chance ok… himself and Monye could get a half each to see who starts on Saturday.

1411

That looks very bad for Luke. I cant imagine any player starting there would be seriously in the shake up for a test spot on Saturday.

I believe the Lions will name their team immediately after tomorrows game.

Hines at 6, that team doesnt look too healthy alright. Nice to see Dorsh get away from holding tackle bags at least.

1412

Luke’s only had one start on the wing so far - his other start was in the centre alongside Earls. I reckon he still has a very good chance of getting the nod and it makes sense that the coaching staff want to give him another game on the wing. They might be planning on giving him a chance to stake his claim and they can always take him off after 40-50 minutes if he has a stormer in order for him to conserve energy for the weekend.

1413

As usual with your rugby posts Bandage I find myself nodding in agreement. I’m not totally surprised to see Fitzgerald selected on the wing, he’s getting a second chance at the left wing slot, the same way every other leading contender for a test spot has played twice in their preferred position. Monye is on the bench so there wasn’t really an opportunity to completely rest either of them. I think it’s still up for grabs for Luke but I’d say there aren’t too many more slots up for debate.

1414

[quote=“myboyblue”]That looks very bad for Luke. I cant imagine any player starting there would be seriously in the shake up for a test spot on Saturday.

I believe the Lions will name their team immediately after tomorrows game.

Hines at 6, that team doesnt look too healthy alright. Nice to see Dorsh get away from holding tackle bags at least.[/QUOTE]

McGeehan has said that the final selection for the Test XV won’t be made until after the match on Tuesday, so playing on Tuesday doesn’t rule anyone out.

1415

Of course it doesnt rule them out, but it doesn’t bode all too well either imo. Its a pity Lukey didnt get to hit the ground running, or get half the chances that waster Williams got.

1416

Disappointed to see no one has seen fit to mention the captain for todays game.

Well done Donncha O Callaghan, quite the honour.

1417

Its all up for grabs now…

England wing Ugo Monye has been drafted into the British and Irish Lions starting line-up for today’s game against the Southern Kings.

Monye, a strong candidate to feature in the first Test against South Africa next Saturday, replaces Wales international Shane Williams.

Williams was heading to Port Elizabeth this morning after remaining in Cape Town yesterday due to a stomach bug.

But instead of starting, the World Player of the Year will now be among the Lions’ replacements.

The tourists are seeking their sixth successive tour victory after beating the Royal XV, Golden Lions, Cheetahs, Sharks and Western Province.

Head coach Ian McGeechan will consider his Test line-up tomorrow before announcing it on Thursday, with Monye and Ireland Grand Slam winner Tommy Bowe favourites for the wing positions.

1418

Williams is awful.
He would be killed by the Boks.
He makes too many throwing mistakes, he makes alot of darting runs that go nowehere and ends up losing posession.
His own welsh fans don’t even rate him and I certainly don’t.
He might have had a good/lucky year in 2008 but out of the 21 tries scored he got none and started on all but 1 game. He is a non starter for me.
As for Luke, if he plays well, gets no injuries then he might start on Saturday. I think there are a few certainties like POC BOD Bowe Byrne Roberts Philips Vickery etc but there is still time for people to play themselves into the 15, never mind the 22.

Yours etc,
GSH.

1419

There’s a few more certainties than that:

  1. Jenkins
  2. Mears
  3. O’Connell
  4. Heaslip
  5. Phillips
  6. Roberts
  7. O’Driscoll
  8. Bowe
  9. Byrne

are all certainties. Even at that out half won’t be decided today and neiter will the two flanker positions so don’t really think they’re up for grabs.

The second row has already been decided probably. The only people who can really influence today are:

Hines
Murray
Fitzgerald and
Monye

Certainly Fitzgerald won’t be unhappy that Monye is starting I’d say.

1420

For a professional back row player theses days thats good, but its not frieghtening or anything. Those stats MBB put up could be seen around the world in many rugby gyms. The most impressive thing about him was his speed results, and continuous running stats.