The Rugby Thread

[PeteC]

I've forgotten to mention last weekend's 3rd match between Australia and France, which Australia won 33-30 to take the series. Great match to watch, and Australia played and won it with only 14 men for about 60 minutes.

[pharvey]

I've forgotten to mention last weekend's 3rd match between Australia and France, which Australia won 33-30 to take the series. Great match to watch, and Australia played and won it with only 14 men for about 60 minutes.

Indeed, a very good game to watch - although I missed the first quarter plus. A far better team selection for Australia, the forwards (especially the backrow) playing out of their skins. A huge win for Australia down to 14, despite being against a weakened French side.

[pharvey]

South Africa name their side for the 1st Test this coming Saturday. Are they playing a few mind-games by naming the side early in the week...? Can't see Gatland and co. making any changes due to it though.

My own team selection may change 3 or 4 times before then though,,,,

SA Team to Face B&I Lions : -

Le Roux; Kolbe, Am, De Allende, Mapimpi; Pollard, De Klerk; Nche, Mbonambi, Nyakane, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Smith

Replacements: Marx, Kitshoff, Malherbe, De Jager, Elstadt, H Jantjies, E Jantjies, Willemse

[pharvey]

British & Irish Lions name side early.....

Well, a little confused at one or two of those selections (and those missing) TBH.....
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Lions-1st.png (25.72 KiB) Viewed 380 times

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57914574

[dtaai-maai]

In the starting XV I'm only really surprised by Hogg, and then only a bit. And maybe VDM. At no. 8... CONAN??? I'd forgotten he was part of the squad!
Owens and Sutherland are a bit of a surprise among the replacements. Not sure Williams is necessary there (though perhaps he should be starting) as there are a couple of alternative fullbacks among the starting XV.

We shall see...

[pharvey]

In the starting XV I'm only really surprised by Hogg, and then only a bit. And maybe VDM. At no. 8... CONAN??? I'd forgotten he was part of the squad!
Owens and Sutherland are a bit of a surprise among the replacements. Not sure Williams is necessary there (though perhaps he should be starting) as there are a couple of alternative fullbacks among the starting XV.

We shall see...

VDM was always going to be there really, but no Adams?! Top try scorer and best defensively out of the 4 wingers on tour IMO..... Not even in the 23!! Remember also Williams can cover all the back three, plus Scrumhalf at a push (probably better than Murray on current form!).

Farrell, well.... he's obviously there as cover for 10/12/13, but a concern based on current form IMO.

Agree with regards to Conan - neither Faletau or Simmonds even in the 23..... Quite surprised but happy with Lawes at 6.

Think I'm going to have to look into a SKY Sports pass for the month - can't rely on streams for the Tests... then again, I could risk the wrath of the LHG and watch it at the local!

[dtaai-maai]

... then again, I could risk the wrath of the LHG and watch it at the local!

Oh, the suffering we go through for the sake of our sport!

[pharvey]

[pharvey]

So on field coaching from Rassie "The Waterboy" Erasmus to a homegrown TMO..... Conspiracies galore!!


"The British and Irish Lions have been left furious at the decision to have a South African as the Television Match Official for the first Test against the Springboks in Cape Town.

Marius Jonker was chosen after New Zealander Brendon Pickerill was unable to travel because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lions sources added they were only informed about the switch on Wednesday.

Kick-off at Cape Town Stadium is 17:00 BST on Saturday.

The tourists believe there should have been a contingency plan in place for an alternative, neutral official.

Jonker, who was the TMO for the recent match between the Lions and South Africa A, will be the TMO for the entire Lions series against the Springboks."

Full Story @ https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/57937313

[dtaai-maai]

I read what the pundits say with interest, but I draw my own conclusions from what I see on the pitch. I've mentioned before my concern that the Lions might be overly focused with taking on the Boks up front, and I have to agree with this comment from Ugo Monye:

The gameplan

With the brutality of the Springbok pack taken as a given, Monye believes it is essential that the Lions enforce their own authority on the game.

The Lions have a backline to challenge the hosts with the cool head of fly-half Dan Biggar, a versatile centre partnership in Elliot Daly and Robbie Henshaw and the pace of scrum-half Ali Price.

But Monye says "South Africa spook teams into thinking you have to be different".

"What you have to do is get your detail right on who you are going to be," he adds.

"We have to take them on and not get massively distracted by what South Africa are going to do, and really nail the detail of what we are going to bring."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57933334

[pharvey]

I see what you're saying DM, but IMO the side is picked to compete with the physicality of the Boks - tactics will dictate how they are taken on. The front 5 need to be solid and the backrow quick to the breakdown - the Lions have picked a forwards pack to do so IMO and a decent frontrow on the bench to come on in the second half. I've said before, I would have prefered Faletau at 8 with Simmonds coming in off the bench as the explosive player he is - against tired SA legs..... But hey

My concern is the defence in the back 3 - Watson I don't have a huge issue with, but Hogg and VDM both suspect under the high ball (expect the Boks to kick... a lot) and VDM being big and heavy does not like the ball being put behind him - Cheslin Kolbe could well extract the urine, though I hope VDM's physicality in attack will outweigh his defensive frailties...

The "Bookies" certainly can't split the sides - can't say I've ever seen odds like this for a rugby international! GAME ON!!
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Lions-Odds.png

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[pharvey]

You've not commented on the Lions much Pete - will you be watching?

If not able to follow live (you can try buffstreams.tv), there'll be highlights on the Lions official site later. We won't mention the score!!

[PeteC]

No, nothing live here. I'll have to try to pick it up as you say on some streaming service or highlights.

To be honest, I picked SA in this opener.

[pharvey]

To be honest, I picked SA in this opener.

DAMN YOU!!

[dtaai-maai]

We won't mention the score!!

That could call for a hell of a lot of self-restraint if the Lions win...
Besides, PeteC picked SA to win!