B&I Lions vs SA A Lions match thread

[ASMO]

For me Curry next to Itoje was the best Lions player out there

[Big D]

Hmm, well, great to have a decent game, really enjoyed it.

What do we take from it?

Front 5 seems, surprisingly, pretty even. Wyn Jones had a good game. The front rows that didn’t play for the Lions probably still the starters despite some good displays. Looks like the test 2nd row.

Back row. Navidi really good, Curry fine. Did we have an 8? I’d have Watson and 2 others

At least we know who our half backs shouldn’t be.

Harris starts.

No idea about the rest. If Hogg is fit he plays. LRZ was better than expected but still wouldn’t have him starting

If Henshaw is fit he starts at 13.

If Bierne could play 8 I'd start Curry and Watson but he doesn't and I think they'll go with Curry.

Curry was one of the best players tonight.

[Big D]

Would love a balls to the wall back row Curry, Watson and AN Other.

[dpedin]

Hmm, well, great to have a decent game, really enjoyed it.

What do we take from it?

Front 5 seems, surprisingly, pretty even. Wyn Jones had a good game. The front rows that didn’t play for the Lions probably still the starters despite some good displays. Looks like the test 2nd row.

Back row. Navidi really good, Curry fine. Did we have an 8? I’d have Watson and 2 others

At least we know who our half backs shouldn’t be.

Harris starts.

No idea about the rest. If Hogg is fit he plays. LRZ was better than expected but still wouldn’t have him starting

Don't disagree with much of this. Murray and Farrell were awful - slow and poor decision making. They make the rest of the backs look bad, any ball they distributed was slow, poor and usually came with a defender. Murray's kicking was very poor. We really need to see more pace at 9 and 10 and to stop kicking good ball away when we have an overlap or man on man in attack.

Front row were good but agree that those not selected will be the Test front row. Itoji good but still giving away stupid penalties. Curry was best Lions forward and for me I would have him at 6 and Watson 7 in the test team.

Apart from missing Kolbe tackle I thought Harris was solid in defence and joined up attack well at 13, for me he starts outside Henshaw in the Test team. Watson was best of back 3, Daly isn't good enough in any position to displace others and LRZ is good in attack but still think his positioning in defence is poor and he doesn't get involved enough, VdM offers more for me. Hogg, VdM and probably Watson for the Test team with Adams on the bench.

[Slick]

Hmm, well, great to have a decent game, really enjoyed it.

What do we take from it?

Front 5 seems, surprisingly, pretty even. Wyn Jones had a good game. The front rows that didn’t play for the Lions probably still the starters despite some good displays. Looks like the test 2nd row.

Back row. Navidi really good, Curry fine. Did we have an 8? I’d have Watson and 2 others

At least we know who our half backs shouldn’t be.

Harris starts.

No idea about the rest. If Hogg is fit he plays. LRZ was better than expected but still wouldn’t have him starting

If Henshaw is fit he starts at 13.

If Bierne could play 8 I'd start Curry and Watson but he doesn't and I think they'll go with Curry.

Curry was one of the best players tonight.

Firstly, I’d have Henshaw at 12 and Harris at 13.

Second, I’d have said exactly the same about Bierne at 8 plus Curry and Watson if i could have remembered how to spell Beirne

[Raggs]

Curry has covered 8 for England, wasn't terrible at it. Perhaps a Beirne, Watson, Curry?

[Slick]

Curry has covered 8 for England, wasn't terrible at it. Perhaps a Beirne, Watson, Curry?

I’d like that

[Niegs]

Scrum halves dummying at the base/maul annoys the hell out of me. The ref's nearly always give them a warning too, like they don't bloody remember from being told not to do it in the previous 20 weeks.

For all the praise Nige got for addressing 'soccer' antics and the like, not even he (maybe once in all the matches I saw him blow) gives straight pens/fks for stuff like this, including cheeky comments/back chat, etc. It's a verbal warning(s), at best. These things have been in the laws forever.

I joke about it a lot, but it does seem like refs want to be the players' buddy giving the inches the players make miles out of... probably would ask the ref if he can do their homework as well!

When I reffed kids games, I used to march them back ten, or reverse decisions if I got lip; & I'd like to see it used way more often when it's adults on the pitch

I do it for scoffs and under-the-breath mumbles.

[dkm57]

EH?!? Currie was military medium and pedestrian at best.
Itoje was good, thank feck AWJ is coming back to join him in the boilerhouse though Ryan was decent enough.
Back row was ininspired
Front rows solid enough, Mako the weak link
Half backs were awful.
Harris had a howler but otherwise good, Aki was on the pitch I'm told.
LRZ was the best of the back 3

[And 1 guest]

With Murray and Davies being utter shite, we look like it price at 9. Farell has been utter shite all year, Russell is crocked so it's Biggar at 10 with maybe even hogg as cover

[ASMO]

Starting Test backs i would have

Price
Biggar (Smith as backup)
Henshaw
Daley
Watson
VDM
Hogg

[ASMO]

EH?!? Currie was military medium and pedestrian at best.
Itoje was good, thank feck AWJ is coming back to join him in the boilerhouse though Ryan was decent enough.
Back row was ininspired
Front rows solid enough, Mako the weak link
Half backs were awful.
Harris had a howler but otherwise good, Aki was on the pitch I'm told.
LRZ was the best of the back 3

We must have watched a different game then oh well

[Raggs]

EH?!? Currie was military medium and pedestrian at best.
Itoje was good, thank feck AWJ is coming back to join him in the boilerhouse though Ryan was decent enough.
Back row was ininspired
Front rows solid enough, Mako the weak link
Half backs were awful.
Harris had a howler but otherwise good, Aki was on the pitch I'm told.
LRZ was the best of the back 3

We must have watched a different game then oh well

Think quite a few people watched a different game to dkm...

[And 1 guest]

Hope none of the knocks picked up today are serious. Williams and Watson looked in a bit of bother

[ASMO]

Watson seemed to recover pretty well, will likely be stiff as hell tomorrow, he needs to be wrapped in cotton wool for the tests.

[fishfoodie]

Hope none of the knocks picked up today are serious. Williams and Watson looked in a bit of bother

Williams failed his HIA, so it's all about the protocols once they check him tomorrow

[Slick]

With Murray and Davies being utter shite, we look like it price at 9. Farell has been utter shite all year, Russell is crocked so it's Biggar at 10 with maybe even hogg as cover

Hogg is a magnificent rugby player. Hogg is not a 10

[And 1 guest]

Glad gatland didn't agree to play the saffa squad again this weekend.

[And 1 guest]

With Murray and Davies being utter shite, we look like it price at 9. Farell has been utter shite all year, Russell is crocked so it's Biggar at 10 with maybe even hogg as cover

Hogg is a magnificent rugby player. Hogg is not a 10

Neither is farrell

[dkm57]

Starting Test backs i would have

Price surprisingly
Biggar (Smith as backup) sound
Henshaw yup
Daley think I'd go for Adams
Watson yup
VDM hmm
Hogg if fit

Good thing there's still LRZ, Williams and Harris available.

Still don't get the Currie love thing, Mako just seems to past his sell by date, Fagerson needs to learn how to hold onto the ball.

[boere wors]

Did Willie leave the field due to his injury in the game, or was he subbed only later?

[Marylandolorian]

I have to ask . Why the team is called South Africa A and not the Springboks?

[Sandstorm]

I have to ask . Why the team is called South Africa A and not the Springboks?

Wednesday

Seriously if it wasn’t for Covid cancelling 2nd Test against Romania last week, this team would have looked very different tonight.

[boere wors]

Used to be called Emerging Springboks or Junior Springboks. It is normally a team of youngstars or other promising players not yet selected for the boks, but selection criteria is variable. This time, to give them game time after the covid interruptions, it were mainly springboks playing.

[Marylandolorian]

Now it makes sense, thanks both

[OomStruisbaai]

The Boks look better then I thought they would. Pretty sure if it was a genuine test we would win it with ease.

Good:
Defense in the first half was close to brutal.

PSdT workrate was outstanding. When he came off we missed him.

Our backs except Moernaai & Faf play like a settle unit.


Bad
Scrumming was kak. Trevor still on the Miele pap.

Faf back to box kicking. Vok it's painful to watch.

Moernaai kick to much . We have such good backs now.

Second half was shocking.

Lineout drives struggle.


There is lots of work ahead.

[OomStruisbaai]

For the Lions, Itoje, Curry and the LH were good. They need Koos van der Merwes laaitie.

[Openside]

Haven’t read thread just finished watching it - some thoughts

1. Faf de Clerk was as clear a red as you will see, proper home town TMO

2. Not bad considering that was basically the boks

3. Delighted AWJ is back as Conor Murray shouldn’t be anywhere near the test team his box kicking was Taranaki girls U12 standard.

4. I think if they had showed an along the line angle LRZ would have been awarded a try.

5. Good to shut SA out for whole second half but they were tactically naive not taking scrums when SA down to 13

[boere wors]

The Boks look better then I thought they would. Pretty sure if it was a genuine test we would win it with ease.

Good:
Defense in the first half was close to brutal.

PSdT workrate was outstanding. When he came off we missed him.

Our backs except Moernaai & Faf play like a settle unit.


Bad
Scrumming was kak. Trevor still on the Miele pap.

Faf back to box kicking. Vok it's painful to watch.

Moernaai kick to much . We have such good backs now.

Second half was shocking.

Lineout drives struggle.


There is lots of work ahead.

The scrum worried me the most, Trever struggled again, as against Georgia. Malherbe needs to start, Koch to come on.

Driving maul didnt work at all in the second half, Lions defended that very well.

Lukhanyo Am was outstanding.

[fishfoodie]

Halfbacks is ultimately where the Lions will succeed, or fail; & they don't have any combination that looks good so far; but Biggar & Price are probably the closes they have to a pair.

If anyone else in the backs goes lame, I hope Gatland asks Cooney down. He's more in the frame of a French SH, than anything else; & having another play maker, might be just what the Lions need to confuse the Boks defense, & unleash the undoubted firepower they have in the back three.

[Openside]

Halfbacks is ultimately where the Lions will succeed, or fail; & they don't have any combination that looks good so far; but Biggar & Price are probably the closes they have to a pair.

If anyone else in the backs goes lame, I hope Gatland asks Cooney down. He's more in the frame of a French SH, than anything else; & having another play maker, might be just what the Lions need to confuse the Boks defense, & unleash the undoubted firepower they have in the back three.

As long as it isn’t Ben Youngs

[fishfoodie]

Halfbacks is ultimately where the Lions will succeed, or fail; & they don't have any combination that looks good so far; but Biggar & Price are probably the closes they have to a pair.

If anyone else in the backs goes lame, I hope Gatland asks Cooney down. He's more in the frame of a French SH, than anything else; & having another play maker, might be just what the Lions need to confuse the Boks defense, & unleash the undoubted firepower they have in the back three.

As long as it isn’t Ben Youngs

Only if the Malaysian bookies are picking the team .... or a certain ice cream vendor ......

[Sards]

The Boks look better then I thought they would. Pretty sure if it was a genuine test we would win it with ease.

Good:
Defense in the first half was close to brutal.

PSdT workrate was outstanding. When he came off we missed him.

Our backs except Moernaai & Faf play like a settle unit.


Bad
Scrumming was kak. Trevor still on the Miele pap.

Faf back to box kicking. Vok it's painful to watch.

Moernaai kick to much . We have such good backs now.

Second half was shocking.

Lineout drives struggle.


There is lots of work ahead.

The scrum worried me the most, Trever struggled again, as against Georgia. Malherbe needs to start, Koch to come on.

Driving maul didnt work at all in the second half, Lions defended that very well.

Lukhanyo Am was outstanding.

Am was fantastic. Very impressed that he performed so well whilst carrying the burden of captaincy. And no Duane to mentor him.

[Sards]

That was the first outing for our Springboks since the RWC besides Pollard missing . You could not help but notice a lack of colour in the forwards and I am sure this will have to change before the 1st test so expect Kolisi to start. Kolbe did not get any real chance to dazzle and looked very suspect on defence. Sbu on the other hand put in a very good effort. I would definitely start Mapimpi. Especially if Duhan is taking the field.
Not quite sure what that Jesse cameo was all about. I suspect Rassie was trying something out. This leads me to think that Rassie is planning to have Jesse on the bench. We seemed short of pace in the back 3. Willie had a good game again. I don't think we were really tested out wide. In previous games the BILs backs got a lot more ball

[sorCrer]

Not a good game, but I’m sure both coaches learned more from this match than any of the other warmups.
Exposed a lot of weaknesses.

Boks will need to up the aggression and physicality. Lions won’t be able to handle it, but need to seriously cut down the penalties. Can’t let all that work go to waste and lose all that momentum.

Scrums are a worry. We need Frans Malherbe back stat.

Morne might not be a good backup for Pollard after all. Big worry at 10.

Missing Duane Vermeulen a lot. Wiese has been so-so. I’d actually not mind starting a MvS, PSDT, Kolisi trio in the test.

Van Staden, Janse van Rensburg and Dweba all took their opportunities well. Made a good impression.

Was an great game and Morne was fine. SA A just beat the Lions FFS

[sorCrer]

That was the first outing for our Springboks since the RWC besides Pollard missing . You could not help but notice a lack of colour in the forwards and I am sure this will have to change before the 1st test so expect Kolisi to start. Kolbe did not get any real chance to dazzle and looked very suspect on defence. Sbu on the other hand put in a very good effort. I would definitely start Mapimpi. Especially if Duhan is taking the field.
Not quite sure what that Jesse cameo was all about. I suspect Rassie was trying something out. This leads me to think that Rassie is planning to have Jesse on the bench. We seemed short of pace in the back 3. Willie had a good game again. I don't think we were really tested out wide. In previous games the BILs backs got a lot more ball

Kolbe looked suspect on defence?

[handyman]

Haven’t read thread just finished watching it - some thoughts

1. Faf de Clerk was as clear a red as you will see, proper home town TMO

2. Not bad considering that was basically the boks

3. Delighted AWJ is back as Conor Murray shouldn’t be anywhere near the test team his box kicking was Taranaki girls U12 standard.

4. I think if they had showed an along the line angle LRZ would have been awarded a try.

5. Good to shut SA out for whole second half but they were tactically naive not taking scrums when SA down to 13

You say naive, I say braindead.

[Chilli]

I like Dweba. Big test coming up with 13 men.

We are very blessed at hooker right now. Hopefully Dweba has leapfrogged Scarra in the pecking order after this outing.

Now we just need to get Akker in the mix.
Bongi
Marx
Dweba
Akker

Quality right there.

And yet we have Scarra and Fez

[Blackmac]

EH?!? Currie was military medium and pedestrian at best.
Itoje was good, thank feck AWJ is coming back to join him in the boilerhouse though Ryan was decent enough.
Back row was ininspired
Front rows solid enough, Mako the weak link
Half backs were awful.
Harris had a howler but otherwise good, Aki was on the pitch I'm told.
LRZ was the best of the back 3

Funny how the first thing you say about Harris is negative because of the miss on Kolbe, but everyone is ignoring Itoji's even more embarrassing effort to tackle the same player.

Ryan??

[OomStruisbaai]

Did Willie leave the field due to his injury in the game, or was he subbed only later?

Injury, hammie