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 
hmm….inexperience
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So far so good.
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South Africa are in Cowan-Dickie’s head.
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The fuck was that throw?
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Big Trev is having a brilliant first half.
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BIG TREV!!!
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leaking points
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That was quite the advantage to the Lions, full width and 20m+ up the pitch.
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Boo.kick for the corner.
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Two hands Robbie, two hands.
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Will Greenwood is not my favourite commentator.
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@OT – that’s why I decided against getting Now TV for the tour.
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Two scrums went down at the end of that half and it was Big Trev that collapsed them both, but Sutherland was pinged
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Both Tudor’s parents are Polish. I thought you’d like to know, especially now.
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Refit, I bit the bullet and got a pass for the tests, but the comms are annoying, the SA guys on the hooky streams are much better
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Far too many penalties coughed up, far too little ball in hand hand stuff, they look better when they started to move it.
The Bok defence is well on top atm.
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ROG with a pretty good analysis there, the Lins need to up the tempo, maybe take a risk from further out
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Guardian calling it a howler of a first half for the Lions. Didn’t think it was that bad.
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Ticht, I don’t think the Lions have scrummed very well and they’re gonna get stuffed in that department in the next 40. Boks are playing their game so far, long may it continue. That said, in the last couple of minutes the Lions got a bit of broken play and go forward.
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I think Big Trev’ll be off in a few minutes, ticht. The SA front row’s gone well in the loose as well. Bongi Mbonambi is a proper player, good technically and tough as fuck around the park.
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Hoggy got gouged there, both eyes
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The Lions need more control, much more control, up front. Making Price’s life hard at the moment.
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BB, hardly a howler, but that hit early on by Am in midfield was what I was talking about – cutting off the ball to the wings. It was beautiful.
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Biggar looks like he’s stepping up
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Get in!
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LCD making amends for the earlier wonky throws.
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Well done Lions, thats a statement.
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Etzebeth was lucky LCD scored, he collapsed that as it was just short of the line
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Forawd pass
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I loved the way Allende handed the ball forward to Am.
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Bam, bam. Good start for the Lions, good reply by SA.
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“Happy with the pass”??
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Greenwood covers himself with glory again.
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No problem with the kick, but the pass was forawrd
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Ay, ay. Big decision.
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Oh he’s called it the opposite way!
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Thank dog for that.
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We too were shouting about the forward pass!
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Scruffy but superb by du Toit and Mapimpi.
Watson beaten in the air early on.
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Seat-belt tackle by Hogg so he’s lucky it was given.
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Valiant work by Hogg, keeping Mapimpi up. Shame it ended up in Faf’s hands.
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Sindo is just a series of solipsistic columnists … me, me, me….I, I, I… tiresome
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Come on McFuckface!
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Big Duhan has been good on the other side of the ball
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Mish on, Stephen Jones is punching himself in the face before writing up the game
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New mountain in Cape Town – Table Top Mountain.
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Oh dear Hamish.
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Got away with it!
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Bullshit.
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Brilliant from Mako
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