Media release:
South Africa 'A'
Match thread
British & Irish Lions
If that's South Africa 'A', I'd love to know what they're going to change for the main Springboks squad. This is a strong looking "A" side.
Covid cases aside looks like Rassie giving the test squad a run to replace the abandoned Georgia test. The unofficial fourth test?
@stargazer British and Irish Lions:
15 Anthony Watson, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Conor Murray (captain_, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Josh Navidi, 5 Iain Henderson, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Wyn Jones.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Tadhg Beirne, 21 Sam Simmonds, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Elliot Daly.
Date: Wednesday, July 14
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 20.00 (19.00 BST; 18.00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Looks like the Lions have gone for a fairly strong side as well.
From what I can gather from the Boks A side, I’d say the front row is not their strongest, it’s a replacement 10 and one bench lock.
In an effort to boost the players’ match fitness and give them the best possible chance to push for places in the Springbok Test team, Rassie Erasmus was hoping that the South Africa ‘A’ side could play a second match on Saturday before the Test series against the British & Irish Lions kicks off next weekend.
@bovidae said in South Africa 'A' v British & Irish Lions:
In an effort to boost the players’ match fitness and give them the best possible chance to push for places in the Springbok Test team, Rassie Erasmus was hoping that the South Africa ‘A’ side could play a second match on Saturday before the Test series against the British & Irish Lions kicks off next weekend.
Warren says no
Biggar ankle injury, Farrell in
Adams watching his missus in Labour, Watson to wing, Liam to 15
SA lucky not to receive a card there for repeated infringements.
Though may get one for foul play.
I thought the yellow for FAF was fair. No clear contact to the head.
Good to see the ref dish out another yellow though for repeated infringements.
What's the reason behind the Lions reluctancy to maul from a lineout 5m out? Not want to show their hand too early?
@toddy said in South Africa 'A' v British & Irish Lions:
What's the reason behind the Lions reluctancy to maul from a lineout 5m out? Not want to show their hand too early?
Christ knows
Murray v poor
@mikethesnow said in South Africa 'A' v British & Irish Lions:
Should have gone for the scrum
Wasted opportunity
I was just about to post the same thing. The Lions were guilty of too much bravado. Dumb.
Not much has changed for SA. Plenty of kicking and ferocious defence.
Lions do another tap from a penalty and finally get over the line (against SA reduced to 13). The decision not to go for a scrum or lineout is just weird.
Maybe Gatland is trying to find out if you can tire SA out.
I always thought the tackled player was allowed a chance to place the ball? He was short when tackled but it looked on the line when he placed the ball.
@toddy said in South Africa 'A' v British & Irish Lions:
I always thought the tackled player was allowed a chance to place the ball? He was short when tackled but it looked on the line when he placed the ball.
Said it was short on second attempt
Third go was playing the ball on the ground
Sth Africa showing how to close out a game from the 60 minute mark....
And can we ban the commentators saying when a tackle is shown in a replay "and that what it means to be a Lion.."
The Lions will be disappointed they didn't capitalise on the 2-man advantage as they had try-scoring opportunities. Credit to the SA defence though.
Some players who might have been test starters didn't impress that much tonight.
Good game management last 10 for SA saw them through. Some good performers both sides but felt a lot being held back in set play moves? Nice run for both esp first half apart from scrums which looked lottery…
Made me laugh
“Down at half time was tough ask. We were calm and executed most of what we wanted to do, but it’s a good hit out against a good side. This was something that we needed and it was massively physical.” (So called Captain Murray)
I agree this will be of greater benefit to their prep than previous games, but if that was an example of the Lions executing most of what they wanted to do, then I’d be very very worried. However, that was likely just a phrase to use in an interview wasn’t it?
Please tell me it was..
@mikethesnow said in South Africa 'A' v British & Irish Lions:
I thought I was watching Wales v Argentina again
Dumb rugby from BIL
Deserved to lose
On the plus side, the game showed the Test series will be a tough fight and not a Covid-induced farce.
Really looking forward to it after this game.
Did anyone notice how much weight the SA pack had gained over Covid?
Agreed with comments in Conor Murray, he was easily the worst Lion out there. That roll-the-ball-through-the-caterpillar thingy EVERY time he was looking to box kick or for an exit play was not a good strategy - gave SA time to set - not to mention being bloody annoying.
Farrell's thinking under pressure went to pieces and although I like Rees-Zammit-dammit he did himself no favours yesterday, got shut down too easily.
Tom Curry easily the best Lion by a country mile with good cameos from Vunipola and abrasive Adam Beard as well. Pack was much improved after they entered the fray. For mine, I;m still not sold on Itoje, good when carrying and in mauls, but still too much ruck-inspecting and leaning, albeit he was not alone in that. Tom Curry has surely picked himself in that test squad, he set the bar, and should be held up as an example for the rest to match.