South Africa vs British & Irish Lions - Test 1

[Jimbo]

I did, you're right as I'm on my way back home after hearing some bad news. But nothing to do with this morning. More a load of stuff that's been building for months. Constant stream of "**** hole Wales" "who would bring kids up in Wales" "Welsh people are the most deluded (thick) people on the planet" you know, that kind of stuff. Take out the word Wales and replace it with another poor small country and I don't think people let it slide but any hoooo. I keep getting drawn back in. If Oly could delete my account that would be great.

I'm sorry to hear you have received bad news, I can assure you that I genuinely don't believe anyone here has legitimate bad feelings towards Wales. unfortunately I think the sensible Welsh representation on here is such that it is outnumbered considerably so maybe the banter is not quite so back and forth, Ireland have a pretty strong representation and Scotland even fewer (to my knowledge), balance this with the fact that the lions coach has had such a heavy involvement and would find it difficult not to have atleast some level of bias to certain players. Anyway rather hope you come back after taking some time out.

 

[unrated]

Pleased to see Lood is available. It was a poorly kept secret from months ago that Pollard is fit. I'm 50/50 on Kolisi being fit. He has always been a better player for country than for province but.. Even worse than Kolisi is Smith. Oy. I suppose the selection of him for 2019 RWC and his continued selection pointed in that direction. Will watch him closer. Maybe he adds more than what I see. I know that Youtuber Squidgerugby has done a vid on Kwagga being the defensive organizer from 8 and replaces Vermeulen in that regard. Its just beyond that you still see Vermeulen making huge impact elsewhere too boot.

Elton Jantjies on the bench and our starting front row are like others have noted the oddities. Is Rassie accepting we aren't fit enough for 80 minutes and we are playing our forwards a half each? I can't fathom another reason to start our best off of the bench other than that old chestnut of quotas though I am usually one loath to buy into that one. Mbonambi over Marx for me is fine though Mbonambi is coming back from injury. Nyakane also struggling for form though I do rate him and Ox both, Ox should be Kitshoff's understudy and I'd value 80 minutes from Kitshoff who we will probably need even more in the absence of Vermeulen and Marx.

Agreed on all points. Maybe would not have started Mapimpi yet and kept Nkosi. Would have kept the twins in the squad for the rugby championship and dropped Elstad. He has not impressed me. Wiese and Nicholaas Janse van Rensburg has not yet showed me why people rate them. I can't believe for the first time in my life a Springbok was selected (Janse Van Rensburg) and I have never even heard of him. For the average rugby fan maybe...

 

[Crash Hamster]

Just nicked this off Twitter: The Times names the following as Lions side:

Hogg; A Watson, E Daly, R Henshaw, D van der Merwe; D Biggar, A Price; W Jones, L Cowan-Dickie, T Furlong, A W Jones (c), M Itoje, C Lawes, T Curry, J Conan. Replacements K Owens, R Sutherland, K Sinckler, T Beirne, H Watson, I Henderson, C Murray, O Farrell.

Team announcement now brought forward.

True or not? You decide...

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I absolutely 100% believe that.

Up Conan, up riding!

(But up die Bokke still)

Edit: actually not without Adams surely. Any of the back five options on the bench better than Lawes too but I still believe it.

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

I'd be very surprised by that. Major shock if Adams isn't in the 23 at all and no crashball option with Aki (we know how much Gats like that)

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Agreed on all points. Maybe would not have started Mapimpi yet and kept Nkosi. Would have kept the twins in the squad for the rugby championship and dropped Elstad. He has not impressed me. Wiese and Nicholaas Janse van Rensburg has not yet showed me why people rate them. I can't believe for the first time in my life a Springbok was selected (Janse Van Rensburg) and I have never even heard of him. For the average rugby fan maybe...

TBF it's not like they have had massive amounts of minutes either though.
Janse van Rensburg won Montpellier the challenge cup this year IMO.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Very close to the side I predicted/not a million miles away from what I'd pick

Very harsh on Adams to miss out, and also on Beirne for being on the bench behind Lawes

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

That team would put to rest the anti-Irish & Welsh-bias claims (AWJ love-in aside)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I question whether it's official because they're got AWJ and Itoje the wrong way round,
Unless AWJ's shoulder can't handle playing tighthead lock (though I'm not sure how much different there'd in terms of pressure on the join, it's gonna be a **** load either way)

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

If he's just anti-Sexton that's even more racist in my books. There are some legitimately **** Irish people but Johnny is the top tier.

(It also kind of proves my point that Irish players need to be first team contenders whereas any bang average Welsh or English can fill gaps behind that and make the unions some bank)

 

[g6mcg]

I question whether it's official because they're got AWJ and Itoje the wrong way round,
Unless AWJ's shoulder can't handle playing tighthead lock (though I'm not sure how much different there'd in terms of pressure on the join, it's gonna be a **** load either way)

Could be an issue with the write up? Don't back that many journalists to know the difference.

Anecdotally, from experience at a very low level, there is a pretty major difference in the force going through the shoulder, but if it's not up to that I'd have thought tackling with it would also be very risky.

 

[General Melchett]

With the Boks team announced it makes sense to announce the Lions team tomorrow for the purposes of getting people talking it and max'ing out viewing figures on Saturday. I heard that Weds will be a rest day anyway.

Harsh on Adams otherwise I'm liking the backline.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Reckon SA beats that team though. Gulf in quality in the halfbacks is huge and while Henshaw is better than DDA, I'd take Am over Daly. Backrow will have to put in a shift and Lawes isn't the man I'd pick.

 

[AlRums]

Also reported by wales onlne, who are n shock because no Adams and Faletau

Shock Lions team reported to have been picked as Adams and Faletau snubbed

The Lions will name their team to face the Springboks on Wednesday morning and it appears there will be a few surprises

www.walesonline.co.uk

 

[g6mcg]

What's Daly's defence like at 13? I really don't back him in the back three, and think I've previously thought he was ropey at 13 too.

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

If true, it's clear the plan is to score more tries rather than stop the other team scoring them. It's a team who likes running and cucking the ball around

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What's Daly's defence like at 13? I really don't back him in the back three, and think I've previously thought he was ropey at 13 too.

Better than at fullback and wing tbf, but not exactly BOD or anything

When the alternative is Henshaw at 13 and Aki at 12, I'd say Daly at 13 is no worse than Aki at 12

Harris definitely the better defensive 13, but I think Gatland would bring Aki in before him

 

[RedruthRFC]

I question whether it's official because they're got AWJ and Itoje the wrong way round,
Unless AWJ's shoulder can't handle playing tighthead lock (though I'm not sure how much different there'd in terms of pressure on the join, it's gonna be a **** load either way)

I thought the same about the bench, with Beirnie down as second row cover and Henderson as back row.

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

I thought the same about the bench, with Beirnie down as second row cover and Henderson as back row.

If it's a leak, it's someone on the inside text them a list of names without any context. It's the journalist then fitting them into the side

 

[RedruthRFC]

Better than at fullback and wing tbf, but not exactly BOD or anything

When the alternative is Henshaw at 13 and Aki at 12, I'd say Daly at 13 is no worse than Aki at 12

Harris definitely the better defensive 13, but I think Gatland would bring Aki in before him

Plus picking him provides the back 3 cover to go for a 6/2 split and opens up the chance of long range penalties.