I haven’t read the article but I hear that John Barclay gave Cockers a right kicking in a piece in the Times, basically it’s what we’ve all known, players had no authority, every decision was made from the sidelines, players were scared to make their own decisions on the park as they’d get a shellacking on Monday morning, no youth development etc etc
He is another who said he was the right man at the time of his appointment, but overstayed by two years.
The players wanted shot of him for at least that long.
Some of the recent departures make more sense now.
dEEBEE IS IN AN EXTENDED STATE OF SHOCK. Not the team I expected at all. Back line is as expected and I’m happy with that. But, but, but…
The front row? Mbonambi at hooker, definitely, Ox Nche ahead of Kitshoff? How? And Big Trev ahead of anyone at TH? I can only assume that Nienaber and Rassie are looking for a massive 40 minutes from the two starting props and bring on Kitshoff, Malherbe and Marx very early in the second half.
2nd row as expected, Kolisi and PSdT as expected, but Kwagga at 8 is a direct nod to the expected dynamism of the the Lions loosies. I don’t like it.
Bench: the front row is arguably a better scrumming unit than the starting one, with Kitshoff also excellent in the loose – Malherbe not so much! Marx is great off the bench. Lood de Jager in the second row is great to have back, assuming he’s fit enough, Elstadt a bit of a shocker, but covering the back row and maybe seeing Kwagga switching to the side of the scrum at some stage. H Jantjies a good pick at backup 9, EJ as backup 10 has got me praying that Pollard plays all 80 minutes, whilst Willemse is also dodgy, but can cover FB and 10. So why have him, when you have a replacement 10 already? And Kolbe can cover 15 and at a push 10 as well. No centre cover unless you’re seriously suggesting either Elton or Willemse in there? I’d rather Kwagga covered 12 and 13!
The front row thing is fine, but hope Big Trev’s on top of his scrummaging. I reckon it’ll be before half-time that you see the subs, since Bongi has had the Covid.
Mostert might go 80.
At least they’re not going to be replicating the 2019 style.
Both du Preez players sent back to Manchester as well.
I think it’s a huge gamble, to be honest, but probably one that is as much about choice of players as it is about a game plan against the opposition. As ever on the local sites, there’s a massive mixture of provincialism, racism, support, incredulity, speculation, anger, happiness and horseshit. I for one welcome our not-so-new British and Irish overlords.
We’ll need to play out of our skins to win this one.
General consensus (in as much as SA rugby fans ever get there) is that either the 23 will change at the last minute or Jacques and Rassie have something up their sleeves that we’re all too stupid to appreciate.
The Times is reporting this as the Lions first test squad:
Expected Lions team: Stuart Hogg; Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly, Robbie Henshaw, Duhan van der Merwe; Dan Biggar, Ali Price; Wyn Jones, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tadhg Furlong, Alun Wyn Jones (c), Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Rory Sutherland, Kyle Sinckler, Tadhg Beirne, Hamish Watson, Iain Henderson, Conor Murray, Owen Farrell.
If that is the case – well done to all selected.
But, no Navidi (or Faletau); no Adams for example.
Bench looks like the battle will be in 2nd half, not the first
Kitson seems surprised that the player who captained his country to wins in England and France (and who has captained the Lions on this tour) is considered good enough to start for the Lions on Saturday.
Gats moving up his team announcement is the panic. No work lunches for 18 months now. That panic has long slouched off to sit sulking and brooding in a dimly lit corner.
Leaked team was right then. Happy with the pack, Big Dave lawes lucky to be there, and Watson unlucky not to be starting, I would have Talupe at least on the bench , he has a really good rugby brain. I would also have expected Adams over MacDuhan, and I don’t see what the bench 9 and 10 add, particularly of we are a few points down. I guess the back up plan is bring Faz and Muzza on to kick the leather off the ball, just in case Ali and Dan haven’t done it enough already.
Which wing is which ? Who is marking Cheslin ?
I like watching Watson and Hogg, Henshaw sometimes and Dan Biggar is Dan Biggar. That’s it for the backs really. Also disappointed they’ve picked the ringer on the wing.
Pleased for AWJ though suspect he shouldn’t be playing so probably a bad thing he’s there. Furlong and Itoje are tremendous players though I might be a bit too used to disliking the latter often being England’s best player to enjoy him. All the back row forwards we have and we end up with a second row at six, good player but also not very likable so that doesn’t help.
Hope we don’t have to see much of Murray or Farrell, but the sooner Ken Owens, Hamish W and Beirne get on the better in terms of it becoming a team I like.
Duhan plays left and Ches plays right so that’s the match up. My feeling is the Lions are probably better placed to get the ball in their man’s hands more often. I don’t fancy either against the other one on one. Should be a good match up.
Starting back row is wrong IMO. Watson & Beirne should be starting, need their breakdown work at the start. Most other positions are arguable. apart from Furlong, Itoje, Price, Henshaw & Hogg.
Enough in there to annoy everyone. Marvellous work.
Sorry for the negativity, I keep forgetting that it’s the ultimate thing of all ultimate things, but I’m sure I’ll remember once the coverage of the tests really gets going.
Last time Handre Pollard, Maro Itoje, Ox Nche and Duhan van der Merwe started a match together was 9 years ago in an SA schools vs England Under 18.
Malcolm Marx also played, and Pierre Schoeman was on the bench alongside Wilco Louw, who’s in the Bok squad and might get a run out later in the series.
BrewDog swung into the red last year as booming sales of its craft beers online during Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns failed to offset the impact of bar closures.
The Aberdeenshire-based company sank to a £13.1m pre-tax loss in 2020.
Boks are going to HAVE to dominate the Lions from the get go and I fear will need a significant lead later on when they run out of puff. Not sure we have the side to do that. Then again, I’m not sure of anything about the Boks to be honest, such had been the shambolic process so far.
Ovally Balls 
Cucumbers?
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I haven’t read the article but I hear that John Barclay gave Cockers a right kicking in a piece in the Times, basically it’s what we’ve all known, players had no authority, every decision was made from the sidelines, players were scared to make their own decisions on the park as they’d get a shellacking on Monday morning, no youth development etc etc
He is another who said he was the right man at the time of his appointment, but overstayed by two years.
The players wanted shot of him for at least that long.
Some of the recent departures make more sense now.
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dEEBEE IS IN AN EXTENDED STATE OF SHOCK. Not the team I expected at all. Back line is as expected and I’m happy with that. But, but, but…
The front row? Mbonambi at hooker, definitely, Ox Nche ahead of Kitshoff? How? And Big Trev ahead of anyone at TH? I can only assume that Nienaber and Rassie are looking for a massive 40 minutes from the two starting props and bring on Kitshoff, Malherbe and Marx very early in the second half.
2nd row as expected, Kolisi and PSdT as expected, but Kwagga at 8 is a direct nod to the expected dynamism of the the Lions loosies. I don’t like it.
Bench: the front row is arguably a better scrumming unit than the starting one, with Kitshoff also excellent in the loose – Malherbe not so much! Marx is great off the bench. Lood de Jager in the second row is great to have back, assuming he’s fit enough, Elstadt a bit of a shocker, but covering the back row and maybe seeing Kwagga switching to the side of the scrum at some stage. H Jantjies a good pick at backup 9, EJ as backup 10 has got me praying that Pollard plays all 80 minutes, whilst Willemse is also dodgy, but can cover FB and 10. So why have him, when you have a replacement 10 already? And Kolbe can cover 15 and at a push 10 as well. No centre cover unless you’re seriously suggesting either Elton or Willemse in there? I’d rather Kwagga covered 12 and 13!
I can’t spake!
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So what you’re saying is boks by only 20?
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Willemse covered centre v Georgia. Did ok.
The front row thing is fine, but hope Big Trev’s on top of his scrummaging. I reckon it’ll be before half-time that you see the subs, since Bongi has had the Covid.
Mostert might go 80.
At least they’re not going to be replicating the 2019 style.
Both du Preez players sent back to Manchester as well.
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I think it’s a huge gamble, to be honest, but probably one that is as much about choice of players as it is about a game plan against the opposition. As ever on the local sites, there’s a massive mixture of provincialism, racism, support, incredulity, speculation, anger, happiness and horseshit. I for one welcome our not-so-new British and Irish overlords.
We’ll need to play out of our skins to win this one.
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General consensus (in as much as SA rugby fans ever get there) is that either the 23 will change at the last minute or Jacques and Rassie have something up their sleeves that we’re all too stupid to appreciate.
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Slade – think about an old head coming on to see England home.
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All 3 Tests to be played in Cape Town. Scratch altitude off the outrage list.
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The Times is reporting this as the Lions first test squad:
Expected Lions team: Stuart Hogg; Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly, Robbie Henshaw, Duhan van der Merwe; Dan Biggar, Ali Price; Wyn Jones, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tadhg Furlong, Alun Wyn Jones (c), Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Rory Sutherland, Kyle Sinckler, Tadhg Beirne, Hamish Watson, Iain Henderson, Conor Murray, Owen Farrell.
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If that is the case – well done to all selected.
But, no Navidi (or Faletau); no Adams for example.
Bench looks like the battle will be in 2nd half, not the first
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– tough on Harris, too and, for my money, Watson and Curry are wrong way around – but at least both are in the 23
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Looks weak
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Insufficient watsons starting
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Plenty of Watsons starting, just not the right ones.
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Mind you, I have my suspicions that that ‘side’ is a deliberate Gats leak.
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Kitson seems surprised that the player who captained his country to wins in England and France (and who has captained the Lions on this tour) is considered good enough to start for the Lions on Saturday.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/20/stuart-hogg-warren-gatland-british-and-irish-lions-south-africa-first-test
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Apparently Gats is going to announce the team tomorrow morning instead of Thursday.
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Panic announcement.
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Not very inspired by that team, but then I’m not that inspired by the whole thing for a number of reasons.
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I’m interested in hearing Deebee’s panic announcement though. Unless he’s just announcing that he’s panicking and that’s all we’re getting.
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Maybe he’s panicking because he’s just heard that there’s no work lunches for the rest of the week?
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Gats moving up his team announcement is the panic. No work lunches for 18 months now. That panic has long slouched off to sit sulking and brooding in a dimly lit corner.
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how’s the waistline?
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Oddly resilient. No retreat, and baby, no surrender.
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different to the leak in that Henderson is out and Williams in.
I wonder who leaked – and why?
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Can’t help thinking that that selection confirmation will lead to Saracens hammering Saints in the Autumn………
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Leaked team was right then. Happy with the pack, Big Dave lawes lucky to be there, and Watson unlucky not to be starting, I would have Talupe at least on the bench , he has a really good rugby brain. I would also have expected Adams over MacDuhan, and I don’t see what the bench 9 and 10 add, particularly of we are a few points down. I guess the back up plan is bring Faz and Muzza on to kick the leather off the ball, just in case Ali and Dan haven’t done it enough already.
Which wing is which ? Who is marking Cheslin ?
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I like watching Watson and Hogg, Henshaw sometimes and Dan Biggar is Dan Biggar. That’s it for the backs really. Also disappointed they’ve picked the ringer on the wing.
Pleased for AWJ though suspect he shouldn’t be playing so probably a bad thing he’s there. Furlong and Itoje are tremendous players though I might be a bit too used to disliking the latter often being England’s best player to enjoy him. All the back row forwards we have and we end up with a second row at six, good player but also not very likable so that doesn’t help.
Hope we don’t have to see much of Murray or Farrell, but the sooner Ken Owens, Hamish W and Beirne get on the better in terms of it becoming a team I like.
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Also think that probably none of them should be there which is another matter all together.
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Little ray of sunshine this morning aren’t we?
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Duhan plays left and Ches plays right so that’s the match up. My feeling is the Lions are probably better placed to get the ball in their man’s hands more often. I don’t fancy either against the other one on one. Should be a good match up.
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Starting back row is wrong IMO. Watson & Beirne should be starting, need their breakdown work at the start. Most other positions are arguable. apart from Furlong, Itoje, Price, Henshaw & Hogg.
Enough in there to annoy everyone. Marvellous work.
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Kolbe will skin just about anyone so it doesn’t really matter who you put against him. Wonderful to watch.
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Think that’s right about Kolbe, the game will certainly be better for him doing it a few times.
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van der Merwe blasting away is impressive in its own way.
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also a bit fan of watch VDM’s attacking. It’ll be a nice contrast in styles
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Kolbe will skin anyone, *except* Mako Vunipola.
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Lotta flayed corpses come Saturday evening.
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And that’s just in Craigs Town. Cape Town is a whole different bowl of eels.
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Would have had Faletau at least. Probably Simmonds. Definitely Smith.
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BTW – it is Cat. He’s had a tough time but is OK. Hasn’t heard from Sag either. Still loves the Bloodborne chat.
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Sorry for the negativity, I keep forgetting that it’s the ultimate thing of all ultimate things, but I’m sure I’ll remember once the coverage of the tests really gets going.
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Last time Handre Pollard, Maro Itoje, Ox Nche and Duhan van der Merwe started a match together was 9 years ago in an SA schools vs England Under 18.
Malcolm Marx also played, and Pierre Schoeman was on the bench alongside Wilco Louw, who’s in the Bok squad and might get a run out later in the series.
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BrewDog swung into the red last year as booming sales of its craft beers online during Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns failed to offset the impact of bar closures.
The Aberdeenshire-based company sank to a £13.1m pre-tax loss in 2020.
Bwahahahahaaaa
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Sorry for the negativity
I haven’t noticed.
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Heinken Cup draw. It’s complicated:
2021/22 HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP
POOL A (with opponents in brackets)
Stade Rochelais (Bath Rugby, Glasgow Warriors)
Exeter Chiefs (Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Glasgow Warriors)
Leinster Rugby (Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Bath Rugby)
Racing 92 (Northampton Saints, Ospreys)
Sale Sharks (ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ospreys)
Ulster Rugby (ASM Clermont Auvergne, Northampton Saints)
ASM Clermont Auvergne (Sale Sharks, Ulster Rugby)
Northampton Saints (Racing 92, Ulster Rugby)
Ospreys (Racing 92, Sale Sharks)
Montpellier Hérault Rugby (Exeter Chiefs, Leinster Rugby)
Bath Rugby (Stade Rochelais, Leinster Rugby)
Glasgow Warriors (Stade Rochelais, Exeter Chiefs)
POOL B (with opponents in brackets)
Stade Toulousain (Wasps, Cardiff Rugby)
Harlequins (Castres Olympique, Cardiff Rugby)
Munster Rugby (Castres Olympique, Wasps)
Union Bordeaux-Bègles (Leicester Tigers, Scarlets)
Bristol Bears (Stade Français Paris, Scarlets)
Connacht Rugby (Stade Français Paris, Leicester Tigers)
Stade Français Paris (Bristol Bears, Connacht Rugby)
Leicester Tigers (Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Connacht Rugby)
Scarlets (Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Bristol Bears)
Castres Olympique (Harlequins, Munster Rugby)
Wasps (Stade Toulousain, Munster Rugby)
Cardiff Rugby (Stade Toulousain, Harlequins)
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Boks are going to HAVE to dominate the Lions from the get go and I fear will need a significant lead later on when they run out of puff. Not sure we have the side to do that. Then again, I’m not sure of anything about the Boks to be honest, such had been the shambolic process so far.
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