British & Irish Lions South Africa 2009

[gzagee]

First tour match is next Saturday 30 May. Should be an interesting tour.

Here's the fixture list:

Sat 30, May Royal XV v British & Irish Lions @ Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace
Wed 3, Jun Golden Lions v British & Irish Lions @ Coca-Cola Park
Sat 6 Jun, Cheetahs v British & Irish Lions @ Vodacom Park
Wed 10 Jun, Sharks v British & Irish Lions @ The ABSA Stadium
Sat 13 Jun, Western Province v British & Irish Lions @ Newlands
Tue 16 Jun, Southern Kings v British & Irish Lions @ Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Sat 20 Jun, South Africa v British & Irish Lions @ The ABSA Stadium
Tue 23 Jun, Emerging Springboks v British & Irish Lions @ Newlands
Sat 27 Jun, South Africa v British & Irish Lions @ Loftus Versfeld
Sat 4 Jul, South Africa v British & Irish Lions @ Coca-Cola Park

I'm glad they picked Paul O'Connell ahead of O'Driscoll as captain. Hardnosed b*stard, so he is.

[gzagee]

First game on now on Sky Sports 1.

[Libertine]

First game on now on Sky Sports 1.

I don't have Sky Sports.
I'd rather be watching the Lions game than the Cup Final.

[gzagee]

Is exactly what I'm doing. However, they're failing against supposedly the weakest team they'll play on the tour.
Half time: 18-10 Royal XV

Must do better.

[gzagee]

Lions are in a contest in Cape Town. 23-23 vs Western Province. Lions have controlled much of the match but haven't been able to put WP away. Ten mins to go...

[gzagee]

Lions team for the first test vs South Africa:

15 Lee Byrne (Wales)
14 Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
13 Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
12 Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11 Ugo Monye (England)
10 Steven Jones (Wales)
9 Mike Phillips (Wales)
8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
7 David Wallace (Ireland)
6 Tom Croft (England)
5 Paul O'Connell (Ireland, Capt)
4 Alan Wyn Jones (Wales)
3 Phil Vickery (England)
2 Lee Mears (England)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)

Reserves: Rees (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), O'Callaghan (Ireland), M Williams (Wales), Ellis (England), O'Gara (Ireland), Kearney (Ireland)

C'MON YOU LIONS!!!!!

[Libertine]

Really looking forward to the 1st Test.

I fancy Tom Croft to have a big game.

[gzagee]

I think he will. But the whole forward pack needs to have a good cohesive game. From the matches I've seen we're still disjointed at the breakdown. I think Wallace's inclusion ahead of Williams at 7 means they want to be more aggressive around the ruck areas.

Apparently SA have that Brousssow fella in their backrow, hence why Worsley isn't in the 22. Broussow gave Old Joe a torrid time the other week.

[Libertine]

And this is our best chance of winning a Test, as this is the only game not at altitude.

[gzagee]

And the fact that most of the SA team haven't played for a while.

[damo1583]

The pack issues can be resolvd very easily, The Hooker and Scrum half need to either come from the same club or country, it is a vital partnership and takes time to develop.........

[gzagee]

Do you think the scrummage needs to be tinkered? So far they've more than held their own against opposition.
From the games I've seen it's the rucks and quick ball that needs tightening. They need to recover the ball earlier so the option of spinning it out wide can be used more effectively.
I do think they've got it right at 9, 10 and 12. They play for Wales and all know eachother's game.

Oh, and what a mouthwatering clash we've got: Habana vs Monye!!

[damo1583]

I think the scrumage eeds a little work, the timming of the push seems a little out and we are not gaining ground in key areas, the rucks and quick ball will develop as the games go on, its just a matter of positioning. The Habana Monya clash is going to be unbelievable but for me the dangerman is Montgomery......

[Libertine]

but for me the dangerman is Montgomery......

I've always thought Percy Montgomery was an brilliant player, even in his dodgy 'tache days.
He's never really grabbed the headlines that much though.

[gzagee]

Thought as much, Monty's not in the squad cos he's retired.

South Africa

F Steyn (Sharks), JP Pietersen (Sharks), A Jacobs (Sharks), J de Villiers (Stormers), B Habana (Bulls), R Pienaar (Sharks), F du Preez (Bulls); T Mtawarira (Sharks), B du Plessis (Sharks), J Smit (Sharks), B Botha (Bulls), V Matfield (Bulls), H Brussow (Cheetahs), J Smith (Cheetahs), P Spies (Bulls).

Replacements: G Steenkamp (Bulls), D Carstens (Sharks), A Bekker (Stormers), D Rossouw (Bulls), E Januarie (Stormers), J Fourie (Lions), M Steyn (Bulls)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/ju ... ch-brussow