Don't like the line-up. Why don't they give the start to Coles and Ardie? I get they're playing at altitude, but it seems a better strategy to score as many points as possible in the first half to create a buffer, and then hope not to concede too many points in the 2nd. This line-up seems to suggest they want to keep some fire-power for the 2nd half, but how well will that work if the rest of the squad is tired? Maybe it will work, but I'm not too confident.

Tiatia is too slow for a wing and starting Lam at 11 and Rayasi at 14 seems so much better. And Jordie at 13 is a recipe for disaster; they tried that twice last year, in a game against the Reds in which the Canes struggled and against the Crusaders, which they lost. He is not a centre and his best spot is at fullback. Agree that they should have gone for PU-J.

@Stargazer Yeah silly selections IMO, I don't mind the Savea benching though because we need to keep our best player fresh as possible. Should have started Coles as he needs to start playing big minutes if he is going to feature heavily in the playoffs. But yeah, PUJ should have started and it would have kept everything else the same as it was last week.

I hope he doesn't start doing this in knock-out football.

@Duluth solid achievement, I'm sure they aren't satisfied with just one title though.

@Canes4life amazingly, I can see them getting a lot more even with sabbaticals on the horizon

Referee: Jaco Peyper
AR1: Egon Seconds
AR2: Stefan Geldenhuys
TMO: Willie Vos

Peyper is not the worst ref around, but it's concerning that it's an all South African refereeing panel again.

@Stargazer said in Lions vs Canes:

Referee: Jaco Peyper
AR1: Egon Seconds
AR2: Stefan Geldenhuys
TMO: Willie Vos

Peyper is not the worst ref around, but it's concerning that it's an all South African refereeing panel again.

Do you smell an old school bokke stitch up Star?

@canefan I do

That was probably the easiest try that Ben Lam has ever scored.

Great kick from Jordie.

Great impact from Ardie, as expected. That second try from Lam was on him.

Haha, love the emotion from Plumtree.

So, anyone else watching this game? I missed the first half and see that Marshall started at 10 instead of BB, Jordie has been moved to fullback, and Peter U-J starting at 13, with Toala named at 22, taking Peter U-J's spot on the bench.

Any reason given why?

Geez, Ben Lam didn't even attempt a tackle. That was shit.

Try Dyantyi.

Twitter tells me that BB was pulled because of an injury; some cynics say they never planned to play him.

Anyway, Dane Coles has scored in the corner. They're now checking a high tackle on TJP.

Geez, only a penalty. Apparently "a yellow card is not necessary", because the Canes have scored a try. Is that a rule? Weird.

Watching Ardie and Sam Cane playing recently, it's clear Hansen has a tough choice on who starts at 7.

Makes me feel warm all over...

And ... Toala just came on for his SR debut!

Try Laumape disallowed; double movement.

This year's Lions squad is definitely weaker than that of previous years.

And it's game over. Deserved bonus point win to the Canes.

FT: 17 - 37 Canes

@Stargazer said in Lions vs Canes:

Twitter tells me that BB was pulled because of an injury; some cynics say they never planned to play him.

Anyway, Dane Coles has scored in the corner. They're now checking a high tackle on TJP.

Geez, only a penalty. Apparently "a yellow card is not necessary", because the Canes have scored a try. Is that a rule? Weird.

That wasn't really what I heard him say, he was just saying there's no penalty as the try was scored. The tmo told him it wasn't card worthy though, which if that's not card worthy then almost no high tackles are.

Highlights:

Lovely to see Dane Coles with a double and getting back to his best form.

@Stargazer said in Lions vs Canes:

This year's Lions squad is definitely weaker than that of previous years.

Lions haven't got the same depth they had in 2016-18 No Mostert Kriel Ackers Jnr Rohan JvR Akker VD Merwe etc

Hurricanes have put together 2 outstanding performances back to back in SA

Shown an edge and toughness they've lacked this season

Might have a chance of winning in C'church compared to relying on divine intervention as I'd though 2 weeks ago

Plumtree & Holland were pumped for this game Last they were in Jo'Burg
Canes tapped out in the HighVeld Couldn't handle the conditions

Poor Brad Shields chances of being an AB died that day so he had to become a turncoat & become "English" all of a sudden

@Bones Yeah how is it not a card. Should in fact be red. Went high (neck), ended higher and has force. Thats what is the determining factors for red. All ticked in this instance

@Jaguares4real they have lacked a bit of edge, but they haven't lacked toughness IMO. Infact that is exactly what has got them over the line in some of those tighter games this year.

I know many on here, including myself have bagged the likes of Prinsep and Blackwell but you can't fault their consistent effort on defense. They both have pretty big tickers, type of players you need in a side to give you that hardness.

Big ups to Peter Umaga Jensen who was very solid at centre - big, powerful and seemed to make all the right decisions both on defence and attack. Hopefully they keep him there through the playoffs because Jordie needs to be at Fullback.

@Rebound said in Lions vs Canes:

@Bones Yeah how is it not a card. Should in fact be red. Went high (neck), ended higher and has force. Thats what is the determining factors for red. All ticked in this instance

I didn't see a replay but on first viewing it looked about the same as Fifita's one last week.

@hydro11 alot worse as he actually connected with the head. I can't believe he wasn't carded, let alone red carded.

Good win. Coles and Ardie brilliant when they came on. Master stroke that.

Been a good little tour this one.

@Rancid-Schnitzel Will be a big confidence booster with a lot of wider squad members getting a few minutes.

Any word on BB’s injury?

@Unite said in Lions vs Canes:

Any word on BB’s injury?

Not injured, just sick.

@hydro11 said in Lions vs Canes:

@Unite said in Lions vs Canes:

Any word on BB’s injury?

Not injured, just sick.

Ok, Cheers.

Beaudy needs to play every remaining game for us, including next week. I feel he's had too much time off this year and it's probably prevented him from getting any real momentum in his game.

@Canes4life said in Lions vs Canes:

Beaudy needs to play every remaining game for us, including next week. I feel he's had too much time off this year and it's probably prevented him from getting any real momentum in his game.

On the other hand our backup (Marshall) needs game time. And the risk of injury in a sort of meaningless game

@Canes4life

Disagree. BB was shattered by the time of November tests last year. He played too much Rugby last year.

I am glad that the world's best player is having his schedule managed to give him the best possible chance to shine in the RWC knockouts.

@sparky said in Lions vs Canes:

I am glad that the world's best player is having his schedule managed to give him the best possible chance to shine in the RWC knockouts.

He's not having his schedule managed, he's just been injured for most of Super rugby.

@Nepia when was he injured?

@Canes4life said in Lions vs Canes:

@Nepia when was he injured?

Whoosh.

@sparky said in Lions vs Canes:

@Canes4life

Disagree. BB was shattered by the time of November tests last year. He played too much Rugby last year.

I am glad that the world's best player is having his schedule managed to give him the best possible chance to shine in the RWC knockouts.

Totally agree. He's been overused by the Canes for a few years now. Only when you see him live do you appreciate how much ground he covers in a game. His form may fluctuate but his effort and commitment can never be faulted. An extended period of rest, even if due to injury, is good for the ABs later on in the year.