So here we are then. At the business end of what has been a shambolic and in many ways disappointing Lions tour. No fans, Covid a constant threat to the tour as a whole, weak provincial teams not offering much, players in and out of isolation and still very little clarity on the actual fitness and match readiness of the Boks, who’ve had one competitive outing since winning the World Cup almost 20 months ago.
The 1st test is in Cape Town, at sea level, and will by all accounts be dry and cold despite it being the winter rainy season down there. So it should allow for a decent game of rugby. Should. The other two Tests are also now going to be in Cape Town, so no altitude for the Lions to acclimatise to. First blood Lions (except for losing to the SA ‘A’ side, which had quite a few of this side in it anyway).
How important is this Test? Well, according to an anorak with more time on his hands than me (probably doesn’t have to make his own lunches, the bastard), going back to 1968, whoever has won the 1st Test between these two has also won the series. So fairly important to get that marker down!
Onto the Bok side. The starting backline is the same one that blitzed England in Tokyo, so really continuity there, with established combinations and understandings. However, Handre Pollard has had little game time recently and as the pivot, is key to keeping his forwards going forward and distributing to his outside backs when the chance is on. He’ll be rusty for sure, but hopefully settles quickly. Similarly, Makazole Mapimpi on the left wing has been in isolation and hasn’t had a great build up to the match.
Positives are that Faf, the centre pairing, Cheslin Kolbe and Willie le Roux all got a good run in that ‘A’ match and gave the Lions plenty to think about. With Pollard, de Allende and the superb defensive organiser Am marshalling the midfield, the Lions are unlikely to get too much yardage through that channel. They’ll also fancy having a crack at Dan Biggar’s channel and the Lions midfield and seeing if they’re in sync. Plenty of gas in the back three as well, with Willie also very adept at entering the line with great timing and offering good variety with his left foot.
All eyes will be on Chessie and seeing how he goes against McDuhan and whether the Boks give him much first phase ball. If they do, he could cause havoc. McDuhan has been very impressive on this tour (and before it), but the Bok defence has regained its miserly reputation and the drift and scramble seems to work most of the time. It’ll be interesting to see if the Boks use the ‘Japan rush’ where Am flew up into the Japanese midfield regularly to make it difficult to get the ball to their speedy wingers and forcing them back into the midfield and heavy artillery.
The replacement backs don’t fill me with much confidence, although all have enough experience to get the job done. Hershel Jantjies is an electric 9 when on form and snipes around the sides excellently, whilst Elton at 10 is very experienced. Damian Willemse is inconsistent and not much cop defensively.
The forwards? I’m a bit bewildered by the front row, which I don’t think is anybody’s first choice down here. Ox Nche is in just his 2nd Test and gets the nod over the ginger ninja Stephen Kitshoff based on his mobility, whilst Trevor Nyakane was less than impressive in the ‘A’ match. Up against wily operators in Jones and Furlong it could be a gamble that backfires on the Bok coaching staff. If it does, the Boks will be on the back foot early on. Mbonambi at hooker is the man in possession and excellent in all his disciplines. The replacement front row could cause absolute havoc in the second half though and it’ll be interesting to see when they’re introduced.
The second row is excellent with the physicality of Etzebeth nicely complemented by the sheer work rate of ‘Sous’ Mostert – a hugely underrated part of the Bok pack at both the set piece and on defence in open play. With the excellent Lood de Jager to come off the pine, there is quality in the second row.
The back row is either a master stroke or a disaster waiting to happen. Siya Kolisi isn’t everyone’s cup of tea down here (many for reasons other than rugby), but he does a lot of unglamorous work and is a great leader, something we’ll need in the heat of this battle. Bok World Cup winning captains – Pienaar, Smit and Kolisi – have all been hugely respected by their sides and importantly also by the opposition and the refs. You can’t replace that. PS du Toit is another machine in the pack, who not only offers a lineout option and a tackle machine, but a good carrying option too. He owned George Ford in the World Cup and will be looking to put similar pressure on Dan Biggar. The real surprise is Kwagga Smith at 8. The exact opposite of Duane Vermeluen – who will be sorely missed whatever the management says about depth and quality – Smith is a natural ball carrier who thrives in open play. He’s also very good on the floor and likely been picked to slow down Lions ball and win turnovers. He won’t knock many back in the tackle though.
Looking at the pack overall, it would appear that the Boks are wary of the Lions playing fast and loose (by Test standards) so have picked the likes of Nche and Smith to add mobility to the pack early on and disrupt the Lions at the breakdown, with some brutally heavy artillery to come on later on.
Prediction? If the Boks don’t run out of puff too early and they’re able to nullify the Lions pack, I think they’ll sneak it. Boks by 2 points!
Onna telly this week – there’s only one, but it should be a goodie
Saturday 24th July
| South Africa v B&I Lions | 17:00 | Sky Sports Main Event |
Ovally Balls 
Thanks DB and Thaum for a tasty summary of tomorrow’s main course.
I would just like to add that I thought Sinckler was very good against the ginger guy in the ‘A’ game. He looked really motivated and was concentrating on what he was doing (a change from most of the season in my opinion).
He was taken off early I believe to keep him fresh and hungry. I think their ‘battle’ in the 2nd half will be very important alongside George / Marx.
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I considered making the following edit:
Handre Pollard has had little game time recently and as the pivot, is key to keeping his forwards going forward and
distributing to his outside backs when the chance is onhis backs going backwards.LikeLiked by 2 people
Kolbe running backwards on one leg to Swan Lake will still run rings round McDuhan.
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Words Deebee.
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Words Deebee.
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Thaum – thank you so much for that link.
I have emailed Dawn to congratulate her. she has an auto response that she won’t have much chance to respond personally. That’s fine by me – just wanted to add my weight to her supporters.
I’ve never been moved to do anything like that before.
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Slade – ProfessorPineapple alerted me to it.
Dawn Butler was magnificent.
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Interesting preview – thanks, Deebee.
On a different note, the big rugby story here and in the UK has been the furore over a Neil Francis/Luke Fitzgerald podcast – published by the Independent (Irish version) in which Marcus Smith was referred to having ‘an oompa-loompa tan’ .
As you might expect everyone* has weighed in on this – see any rugby-related Twitter account. I think the upshot has been Francis getting the “tin-tack”.
Francis wasn’t overly popular anyway (he had a track record of controversial takes) but seemed to be part of a click-bait strategy by the Indo (which to quote Prince Philip in another context) is a “bloody awful newspaper”. Fitzgerald was also highly vocal about the strategy of residency players – which in the case of Bundee Aki – verged close on xenophobia to say the least.
*Zebo, Monye, Harlequins, rugby pundits of all types
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Trisk – missed that story. Good Dog.
There’s a mixed-race couple in our village (yes, really!) who had a baby a couple of years ago. Some eejit saw the baby and said, ‘Oh look, he’s got a lovely tan!’ (The mother is – very – white.)
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And another cross-post:
Thinking further on the O’Toole article, I have come to the conclusion that the Tories’ real secret plan – if it’s possible that such a collection of morons actually have a plan – is to ensure that a border poll will win, thereby solving the Irish Problem for good.
I’ve said it before, but I think that NI will leave the UK before Scotland does.
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This one has gone fairly viral….
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I just this, what a twat.
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He’s been doing his best to demonstrate that Tony Copsey was right for at least the last decade.
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Violence on a rugby field is wrong:
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Francis is a prick.He’s been packed off now. Doubt he’ll be missed.
Luke Fitzgerald just lets it pass on the clip I heard earlier.
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In other news John Mitchell to Wasps from England.
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– why did he lamp him?
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Tomp – how did the producers and other people involved in the podcast not cut the section out though?
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@Craigs – maybe the person in charge of editing wasn’t a fan, and let it through?
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craigs, as I understand it, that section went out uncut at first and then some edits were made.
Maybe the producer isn’t a fan of Francis. Maybe they see nothing wrong with what he said. Maybe they don’t care.
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Refit/Tomp – tbh though it makes the (irish) Independent culpable as well. They effectively ‘own’ the output from this podcast and are equally on the hook.
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Probably. They’ve employed him for years and know what he’s like. As trisk said, it’s not much of a paper. Marginally better than its Sunday equivalent from what I’ve heard.
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150 minutes to a whole lot of questions being answered.
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The pug is remarkably calm under the circumstances. I’m making pastries to keep my mind off stuff. Mrs Deebee is with the pug on this one. Red wine is needed i feel.
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Red wine’s always needed.
In this case to celebrate your win, Deebee.
I went for the Boks by 8 in the superbru thing. Along the lines of a much shorter (and probably not putting enough thought in it) analysis than yours: packs are equivalent but the Boks’ backs, specially the centres, seem much better.
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Wyn Jones injured, replaced by Sutherland, with Vunipola on the bench.
Boks by 9 then.
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Sky’s build up programme just had a section with Doddie. Man’s a legend.
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Now Willie John McBride, the ultimate Lion Legend.
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Well, I think Dawn Butler was just rude /s
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Hi Refit
Can you post your link to the game when you have it??
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Will do Slade.
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@Flair, I hope you’re right. I dreamed last night that the Boks scored four tries in the last eight minutes and still lost by a score. Red wine isn’t helping at the moment. Maybe I need to up the dosage.
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“Wyn Jones injured”
Boks’ chances of getting through the game with 15 players dramatically increased.
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I suppose what annoys me more than anything is the personal nature of the ‘criticism’. I was a forward and there’s always bands with the backs so I understand the direction of what he’s saying. If he’d stopped at David Beckham hair then it would have been fine but he could have at least found out what his heritage is before making such a stupid comment. If I was being extremely generous then I would say that he genuinely believes MS is a white guy with a tanning bed addiction (I dont) buthe has previous apparently.
Anyway, fuck him, everyone loves Marcus, let’s look forward to the game!!!
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Sky also have Will Greenwood in the studio (sporting a haircut that would make even The Mish think twice). Will is, no doubt, a proper leg end.
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Also a great segment with Hoggy. At least he’s managed to stay away from Murray’s elbow this time.
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Linky: https://www.vipbox.lc/south-africa-vs-british-irish-lions-1-live
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Good luck to both sides. Hope it’s a cracker without (too much) controversy. Nervous as fuck, but delighted we’ve got a match!
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good man!
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‘Mon the Lionz!
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Really looking forward to this, there are some fantastic players on both sides.
You have to feel for Jones, but what a story re Hoggy and Sutherland, from mini rugby in Hawick together to starting this game.
Oh and fuck Covid, yeah there are far more serious things than a game of rugby, but this great occasion should have a full house
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– Dog walked and watered
– Red wine
– Fags
Ready!
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Saffer front row looking terrifying.
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… Oh hang on, those are the anthem singers. Who are making a lovely noise, in fact.
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Duhan is probably the very definition of “mixed feelings” there
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3 Tons/Tuns of Fun!!!!!
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Ouch! Daly got absolutely creamed there.
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Curry given away two penalties so far. SA going for the posts.
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