South Africa vs British & Irish Lions - Test 1

[unrated]

That must be a fake Lions team. Why would they make Murray stand in captain and not even pick him in first test.

 

[General Melchett]

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

I imagine Walesonline have already finalised the player ratings with AWJ getting another 9/10.

 

[mdaclarke]

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...

Rassie always said transformation meant equality of opportunity of opportunity rather than pure numbers. Although it would explain things. I can't see Rassie deliberately risking the Series for the sake of Quotas.

If it doesn't work then Niche and Nyakane will be out and Koch and Du Toit will be in and Rassie can say at least he tried.

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

That must be a fake Lions team. Why would they make Murray stand in captain and not even pick him in first test.

For the reason Gats made Warburton captain in 2017 and didn't pick him for the first test. If you're not good enough; you're not good enough

 

[ncurd]

No Adams and Starting Lawes is the kind if baffling decision I'd expect from Gats in a Lions selection.

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

Lawes - hugely physical, played well all tour and a good lineout option

Why is that baffling?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Lawes - hugely physical, played well all tour and a good lineout option

Why is that baffling?

Cause Beirne has been playing better for a good while now

 

[Jimbo]

No Adams and Starting Lawes is the kind if baffling decision I'd expect from Gats in a Lions selection.

Agree Adams omission is baffling and a classic Gats move, however Lawes inclusion might actually be a tactical master class, if he is tasked with ending Faf at every opportunity it could really disrupt their flow, can't think of a better man for that task TBH.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Premiership Rugby on Instagram: "Familiar faces 🦈 On Saturday, @britishandirishlions take on @bokrugby in the first test of the series 🦁🇿🇦 Yet, we think @salesharks' @thomascurry_7 will recognise a few faces in Cape Town... 🦈 Swipe through to see

8,906 likes, 106 comments - premrugby on July 20, 2021: "Familiar faces 🦈 On Saturday, @britishandirishlions take on @bokrugby in the first test of the series 🦁🇿🇦 Yet, we think @salesharks' @thomascurry_7 will recognise a few faces in Cape Town... 🦈 Swipe through to see the #GallagherPrem...

www.instagram.com

 

[Nudger]

Seeing as always the English and Irish have been the biggest moaners on this tour I hope he goes:

1. Wyn Jones
2. Owens
3. Fargerson
4. Beard
5. AWJ
6. Navidi
7. Watson
8. Faletau
9. Price
10. Bigs
11. VDM
12. Harris
13. Adams
14. LRZ
15. Hogg

Dont start **** then moan

 

[ChicagoKid]

Rassie always said transformation meant equality of opportunity of opportunity rather than pure numbers. Although it would explain things. I can't see Rassie deliberately risking the Series for the sake of Quotas.

If it doesn't work then Niche and Nyakane will be out and Koch and Du Toit will be in and Rassie can say at least he tried.

Nyakane was the 2nd choice TH during the RWC before his injury. Koch is solid but Nyakane has had a better career. Ox and Du Toit will likely be the replacement LH & TH for RWC 2023.

 

[ncurd]

Lawes - hugely physical, played well all tour and a good lineout option

Why is that baffling?

Agree Adams omission is baffling and a classic Gats move, however Lawes inclusion might actually be a tactical master class, if he is tasked with ending Faf at every opportunity it could really disrupt their flow, can't think of a better man for that task TBH.

Cause Beirne has been playing better for a good while now

This and I'm still nowhere near convinced at Lawes as an international 6. Plus if I wanted someone with that task in mind Underhill is far better suited to it and he's not even on tour.

 

[AlRums]

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.

Worst in the tour stats

16 tackles made, 9 tackles missed 64%
5 turnovers conceded
4 handling errors
14 times kicked possession away, for 739m

Out of all 5 games played in SA, for 326 mins

 

[Ferrari333SP]

I'm not putting any stock in some leaked team selection for the 1st test; waiting for the official announcement on Thursday

Also

 

[AlRums]

Premiership Rugby on Instagram: "Familiar faces 🦈 On Saturday, @britishandirishlions take on @bokrugby in the first test of the series 🦁🇿🇦 Yet, we think @salesharks' @thomascurry_7 will recognise a few faces in Cape Town... 🦈 Swipe through to see

8,906 likes, 106 comments - premrugby on July 20, 2021: "Familiar faces 🦈 On Saturday, @britishandirishlions take on @bokrugby in the first test of the series 🦁🇿🇦 Yet, we think @salesharks' @thomascurry_7 will recognise a few faces in Cape Town... 🦈 Swipe through to see the #GallagherPrem...

www.instagram.com

Two classic clear examples of forward passes in the last clip

 

[big ginger 8]

Lawes - hugely physical, played well all tour and a good lineout option

Why is that baffling?

There's another huge physical, played well all tour and good lineout option as well. He also had the most turnovers of any player in the 6N and scored or set up a load of tries this tour. Oh and he wears a blue scrumcap which seems to be the cool thing at the moment.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Stuart Hogg in line to start for British & Irish Lions in first South Africa Test

Warren Gatland is set to go for broke when he names his first Test side to face South Africa, with the Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg among some fascinating potential inclusions

www.theguardian.com

Off the back of the Times leaked team, the Guardian confirming it.

 

[unrated]

For the reason Gats made Warburton captain in 2017 and didn't pick him for the first test. If you're not good enough; you're not good enough

Murray is different as he was made captain a few weeks into tour after Gatland had time to assess his squad and be in training with them as well as get to know the player on a peronal level judging their mentality and all that. So Murray becoming captain would not have been based on some random Roulette gamble. Coaches know not to make players captain that they think is not a likely stater. I hear your Warburton case, but Murray was one picked in different circumstances.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Nyakane was the 2nd choice TH during the RWC before his injury. Koch is solid but Nyakane has had a better career. Ox and Du Toit will likely be the replacement LH & TH for RWC 2023.

I dont agree nyakane was second choice. Sure he didnt start against the all blacks, but neither did the beast. Thar was about the opposition - rassie saw a weakness in the all blacks reserve scrum and wanted to exploit it. Nyakane was brilliant all through 2019, pretty hard to see why hed be second choice.

 

[Ferrari333SP]

South Africa v British and Irish Lions: All three Tests set for Cape Town

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/57905260