The Springboks vs British & Irish Lions 1st Test Thread

[Biffer]

Can anyone argue that Itoje is not the best second row in the world right now? He was the best player on that pitch by a country mile

Thr problem that some have is that it has been a while since he has been consistently this version of Itoje. He recently (6N) has thrown in a few games where he gives away penalties for fun.

Agreed. He played like a God of Rugby today, but against Scotland in the 6N he was distinctly meh.

Still reckon that was because he hadn’t played a worthwhile game of rugby in three months before that.

[Sards]

All the pressure is on Rassie and the Boks now. Another loss and its goodnight sweetheart

[ASMO]

Can anyone argue that Itoje is not the best second row in the world right now? He was the best player on that pitch by a country mile

Imagine how good he’d be if he hadn’t spent most of the last year playing diddy teams.

He would walk into any team on the planet as first name on the sheet (taranaki girls 2nd XV excepted of course)

[Big Nipper]

Yep. Kolisi isn't up to it.

Did he even play? 80 min?

80 mins. I saw him make 5 tackles and do one good counter ruck. No turnovers. No breaks. Never spoke to the ref or did anything helpful.

To be fair he made the break from the maul in the 1st half where Itoje turned him over, but yeah was anonymous

[Biffer]

Can anyone argue that Itoje is not the best second row in the world right now? He was the best player on that pitch by a country mile

Imagine how good he’d be if he hadn’t spent most of the last year playing diddy teams.

He would walk into any team on the planet as first name on the sheet (taranaki girls 2nd XV excepted of course)

Absolutely. But he’s been wasting his time twiddling his thumbs for most of the last season.

[Sandstorm]

Van Staden should start next week. Kolisi can go fishing in the Tugela.

Don't blame the captain. Rassie made the call to bring on the second half replacements which cost us the game. Up until that point most of you were bragging about winning it 3 love and elevating the Boks to God status. You have the memory of a goldfish

Not me. I have hated the Faf-will-boxkick everything game plan since 4N 2019. It’s shite and if our midgets lose out in the air, we are stuffed. If he don’t have a 6 who can make turnovers, oppo will grind out the territory and eventually the win.

Boks have been caught out and need to adapt or die.

[sorCrer]

Should gave been blown for the Faf steal. Disgraceful reffing.

[Blake]

Jirre the replacement front row was a pile of shit. Kwagga way out of his depth. Please dont ever bting Elstadt on again. Back 3 useless under any high ball.

Gonna be a loooong series

If we keep kicking away possession and allowing Lions to hoof it back at our miniature back 3, then we will lose this series 3-0.

I couldn’t believe we won RWC19 with this kick-everything game plan. Looks like this tactic is passed it’s sell-by.

Can Rassie/Nienaber adapt?

Disagree. The tactic is sound, you just need to execute properly.

I understand that it is boring, but when done right it’s effective.

We did it well in the first half and took the lead, the Lions employed it better in the second half and they came out on top.

It works.

[boere wors]

Can anyone argue that Itoje is not the best second row in the world right now? He was the best player on that pitch by a country mile

Thr problem that some have is that it has been a while since he has been consistently this version of Itoje. He recently (6N) has thrown in a few games where he gives away penalties for fun.

Agreed. He played like a God of Rugby today, but against Scotland in the 6N he was distinctly meh.

Not supporting my body weight i look like a god at the breakdown too

[Sandstorm]

Jirre the replacement front row was a pile of shit. Kwagga way out of his depth. Please dont ever bting Elstadt on again. Back 3 useless under any high ball.

Gonna be a loooong series

If we keep kicking away possession and allowing Lions to hoof it back at our miniature back 3, then we will lose this series 3-0.

I couldn’t believe we won RWC19 with this kick-everything game plan. Looks like this tactic is passed it’s sell-by.

Can Rassie/Nienaber adapt?

Disagree. The tactic is sound, you just need to execute properly.

I understand that it is boring, but when done right it’s effective.

We did it well in the first half and took the lead, the Lions employed it better in the second half and they came out on top.

It works.

Faf kicks, Pollard kicks, Willie kicks, De Allende crashes. And when it isn’t working, there’s no Plan B.

We have an awesome backline, but they never get a chance with ball-in-hand.

[OomStruisbaai]

Gatland moaning work well on the TMO and ref. Cost us a try or two.

[duke]

Thr problem that some have is that it has been a while since he has been consistently this version of Itoje. He recently (6N) has thrown in a few games where he gives away penalties for fun.

Agreed. He played like a God of Rugby today, but against Scotland in the 6N he was distinctly meh.

Not supporting my body weight i look like a god at the breakdown too

When would that be?

[Blackmac]

Daly 0m with ball in hand and 6/3 in defence with 2 penalties conceded is some showing

I actually felt sorry for the lad. Mad selection.

[JM2K6]

Agreed. He played like a God of Rugby today, but against Scotland in the 6N he was distinctly meh.

Not supporting my body weight i look like a god at the breakdown too

When would that be?

I mean, it's not like the Lions didn't have a litany of "what the FUCK" decisions go against them in that first half...!

[Slick]

Can anyone argue that Itoje is not the best second row in the world right now? He was the best player on that pitch by a country mile

Imagine how good he’d be if he hadn’t spent most of the last year playing diddy teams.

He would walk into any team on the planet as first name on the sheet (taranaki girls 2nd XV excepted of course)

He was great today but for me Lawes was MoM

[Blackmac]

Hamish should have been off with Kolisi

We’ve seen plenty reds given for that. I couldn’t believe he didn’t even get a yellow.

I thought not. Barely above the horizontal and clearly landed on his arms and elbows before milking the head knock.

[Blake]

Faf kicks, Pollard kicks, Willie kicks, De Allende crashes. And when it isn’t working, there’s no Plan B.

We have an awesome backline, but they never get a chance with ball-in-hand.

When you are in possession in your own half, between the 50m and 22m line, your highest percentage play is ALWAYS a contestable box kick. It just is. If the kick is good you have a chance at gaining possession again. Either in the air, or at the breakdown, or with a counter ruck when going in hard against a retreating opposition pack and a misaligned defensive line.

It’s not going to work every time, but it will work more often than not and put you in range for a penalty or some other opportunity from a scrum or lineout.

Trying to play attacking rugby in that zone against modern defenses is suicide. Every tackle is a breakdown contest and you are either going to get turned over resulting in a turnover try, or concede a kickable penalty.

[Sards]

Gatland moaning work well on the TMO and ref. Cost us a try or two.

Don't go there. We lost the second half and need to focus on fixing that.

[OomStruisbaai]

[quote=Sandstorm post_id=126318

Faf kicks, Pollard kicks, Willie kicks, De Allende crashes. And when it isn’t working, there’s no Plan B.

We have an awesome backline, but they never get a chance with ball-in-hand.
[/quote]

This.

[Sards]

[quote=Sandstorm post_id=126318

Faf kicks, Pollard kicks, Willie kicks, De Allende crashes. And when it isn’t working, there’s no Plan B.

We have an awesome backline, but they never get a chance with ball-in-hand.

This.
[/quote]

I cringed everytime Herschel had to pass from the rucks

[Un Pilier]

Thr problem that some have is that it has been a while since he has been consistently this version of Itoje. He recently (6N) has thrown in a few games where he gives away penalties for fun.

Agreed. He played like a God of Rugby today, but against Scotland in the 6N he was distinctly meh.

Still reckon that was because he hadn’t played a worthwhile game of rugby in three months before that.

This. Plus, he invariably seems inspired in a Lions jersey. As Lawes was today - best game I have seen from him in a long time.

[mos_eisely_]

Harris for Daly only change needed.

What can the Springboks do to come back now?

[boere wors]

Gatland moaning work well on the TMO and ref. Cost us a try or two.

Don't go there. We lost the second half and need to focus on fixing that.

Willies not given try was an especially bad call. On field decision was try. And they didnt have conclusive evidence that he was in Front. Thats what the tmo started to say. He said " we dont have nothing conclusive..." But then stopped to say "we assume that he was in Front". You could hear in his voice that he has just shit in his pants

[Sards]

Harris for Daly only change needed.

What can the Springboks do to come back now?

Find a dry fuse for the bomb squad


Bomb squad equals damp squib

[Blake]

We really missed Duane Vermeulen out there today.
He is such a massive loss, whether it is firing up the pack, trucking up the ball strongly, contesting at the tackle and especially today, fielding the high ball.

Kwagga did well in the first half, but was badly exposed in the second. He is not Duane’s successor…but I don’t think Wiese is either. Those are some big boots to fill.

[Big D]

WTF is Warburton on about? Why would you consider changing 9 and 10?

[Blackmac]

Gatland moaning work well on the TMO and ref. Cost us a try or two.

Don't go there. We lost the second half and need to focus on fixing that.

Willies not given try was an especially bad call. On field decision was try. And they didnt have conclusive evidence that he was in Front. Thats what the tmo started to say. He said " we dont have nothing conclusive..." But then stopped to say "we assume that he was in Front". You could hear in his voice that he has just shit in his pants

They have just shown it from the correct angle with a line across the pitch. He was clearly in front.

[Blake]

Gatland moaning work well on the TMO and ref. Cost us a try or two.

Don't go there. We lost the second half and need to focus on fixing that.

Willies not given try was an especially bad call. On field decision was try. And they didnt have conclusive evidence that he was in Front. Thats what the tmo started to say. He said " we dont have nothing conclusive..." But then stopped to say "we assume that he was in Front". You could hear in his voice that he has just shit in his pants

Regardless of the technicalities of the questions and wording, it was the correct decision in the end. For me it was a forward pass AND Willie was in fort of the kicker.

We had some unlucky bounces of the ball today. It happens.

[OomStruisbaai]

[quote=Sandstorm post_id=126318

Faf kicks, Pollard kicks, Willie kicks, De Allende crashes. And when it isn’t working, there’s no Plan B.

We have an awesome backline, but they never get a chance with ball-in-hand.

This.

I cringed everytime Herschel had to pass from the rucks
[/quote]

Damian desperate antics at the last kick off probably cringed you aswrll?

[Biffer]

WTF is Warburton on about? Why would you consider changing 9 and 10?

I know, right? They’ve hardly made any mention of how good Price was today, they all still have the love on for Murray. General opinion on here through the game was he was one of the best lions on the pitch.

[Biffer]

Harris for Daly only change needed.

What can the Springboks do to come back now?

Yeah, although I think Wyn Jones will get in if fit. I’d change LCD for Owens though.

[Sards]

Second half won 19 to 5 by BILS

[boere wors]

Second half won 19 to 5 by BILS

we imploded there. every bounce and call went against

[boere wors]

Will we see any changes in the lineup next saturday? wouldnt even know who to bring in, marco in at 6, kolisi shifts to 8 as he wont be dropped. But who else is there??? RG and Duane might be availible, but fit? Du Preez twins have been sent home. Marcel Coetzee not in the squad. Dont think Wiese will be the answer. Doesnt look too good imho

[Torquemada 1420]

Daly 0m with ball in hand and 6/3 in defence with 2 penalties conceded is some showing

I don't even think that's accurate. I'd wager he made minus metres given how far backwards he went in every contact.

[Torquemada 1420]

Can anyone argue that Itoje is not the best second row in the world right now? He was the best player on that pitch by a country mile

Imagine how good he’d be if he hadn’t spent most of the last year playing diddy teams.

He would walk into any team on the planet as first name on the sheet (taranaki girls 2nd XV excepted of course)

Suspect Dupont might challenge that.

[sorCrer]

Hamish should have been off with Kolisi

We’ve seen plenty reds given for that. I couldn’t believe he didn’t even get a yellow.

I thought not. Barely above the horizontal and clearly landed on his arms and elbows before milking the head knock.

But at the very least checked?

[Biffer]

We’ve seen plenty reds given for that. I couldn’t believe he didn’t even get a yellow.

I thought not. Barely above the horizontal and clearly landed on his arms and elbows before milking the head knock.

But at the very least checked?

Thought the TMO did and agreed with the ref.

[Sards]

Will we see any changes in the lineup next saturday? wouldnt even know who to bring in, marco in at 6, kolisi shifts to 8 as he wont be dropped. But who else is there??? RG and Duane might be availible, but fit? Du Preez twins have been sent home. Marcel Coetzee not in the squad. Dont think Wiese will be the answer. Doesnt look too good imho

Rassie will have to produce a miracle to win the next one. Too late with Covid protocols to look outside the squad.

[Hal Jordan]

WTF is Warburton on about? Why would you consider changing 9 and 10?

If anyone gave a toss about player welfare Biggar shouldn't play the next Test as he failed the HIA.