The Springboks vs British & Irish Lions 3rd Test Thread

[Chilli]

British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland fired another salvo at World Rugby, accusing them of being sluggish in communicating the television match official (TMO) change ahead of the first Test.

Gatland, who also admitted to speaking to World Rugby on whether a change of TMO was possible for the second and third Tests, said World Rugby knew a week in advance that New Zealander Brendan Pickerill wasn't going to make it to South Africa because of Covid-19 travel restrictions.


He was replaced by Marius Jonker, from where Gatland insisted he hasn't in any way criticised Jonker's appointment and subsequent performances.

"I don't want to comment on his performances and stuff, but we found out on the Wednesday night before the first Test," Gatland said.

"Our understanding was that it was going to be Brendon Pickerill, but we subsequently found out that World Rugby had known for a week or so that there was the possibility that Brendon may not be travelling to South Africa.

"That raised our concern and we weren't notified about that and why there wasn't a contingency plan in place."

Gatland said World Rugby should have had proper plans in place to replace neutral match officials in the event something happens.

Gatland said the landmark nature of the British & Irish Lions series demands World Rugby to have proper contingencies in place.

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South Africa v British and Irish Lions: Second test match preview

South Africa will be hoping to avenge their defeat to the British and Irish Lions in the first test, with the Lions hoping to win their first series in the country since 1997.

The 2021 British & Irish Lions series concludes on Saturday with the third Test between the visitors and South Africa at Cape Town Stadium.

"Every four years, there's the World Cup and we know how important it is, but the next biggest thing on the calendar is the Lions," Gatland said.

"You don't want to be in a position where the match officials are criticised or questioned and we've had that where officials are being accused of being disrespected.

"We need to make sure we respect the officials as much as we can because they have a difficult job and without them, we can't play the game.

"There's a lot at stake and at times, we get frustrated with calls and decisions, but we have to suck it up and get on with it."

Make a video Warren, but don't look straight at the camera.

[_Os_]

.....and you know this how? If he had been there would have been photographic evidence of the bite marks on Mostert's arm presented to the disciplinary panel, as there usually is with these instances.. Unless of course he was just making it up!

The English have totally lost it. It's hilarious. They're not dirty, instead South Africans are now masters of Keyser Soze-esque subterfuge.

[Chilli]

.....and you know this how? If he had been there would have been photographic evidence of the bite marks on Mostert's arm presented to the disciplinary panel, as there usually is with these instances.. Unless of course he was just making it up!

The English have totally lost it. It's hilarious. They're not dirty, instead South Africans are now masters of Keyser Soze-esque subterfuge.

Ja, Koos's son never kicked Kolbe. Itoje never choked De Allende.

It just never happened.

[_Os_]

There's a chance we're going to get some running in this one I think:
1. Lions have improved their kick defence with their selection changes. If that isn't the weakest part of their game now, then the Boks will have to attack elsewhere, maybe the Lions' weakest point then becomes contesting rucks outwide.
2. Lions have beefed up, they're a bit less mobile than the Boks now I reckon, will be tempting for the Boks to shift the ball if they think they'll be more able to contest the breakdown.
3. Boks have a lighter more mobile backrow than the Lions. Both Bok backrow bench players have a ground game, as does Marx. So the Boks have 3 ground players coming on in the second half.
4. Finn Russell looks like Gatland's backup plan, they may try and use him in the second half to get around SA's defence by moving the ball faster to the wider channels using his floaty passes and kicks.

Possession and set-pieces at the start are crucial, the Springbok starting tightfive is stronger in the scrum and lineout with Lood starting, if the Boks don't get parity/dominance at the start when bigger players are still fresh then the Lions bigger backrow (and vd Merwe/Aki) could do some damage, they look more geared towards close in carrying than the Boks do. Although the Bok defence is geared for absorbing phase play (hence why the Lions are kicking). My guess is the Boks start with the kicking, but if the returns from kicking are poor (because the Lions have improved their kick defence) and there's any sort of platform to do it (scrum/lineout), then the Boks shift the ball more into the wider channels and test the Lions ruck.

[clive]

.....and you know this how? If he had been there would have been photographic evidence of the bite marks on Mostert's arm presented to the disciplinary panel, as there usually is with these instances.. Unless of course he was just making it up!

The English have totally lost it. It's hilarious. They're not dirty, instead South Africans are now masters of Keyser Soze-esque subterfuge.

I'm a British Lions supporter but not English, don't forget its 4 nations you north African Cunt.

[handyman]

.....and you know this how? If he had been there would have been photographic evidence of the bite marks on Mostert's arm presented to the disciplinary panel, as there usually is with these instances.. Unless of course he was just making it up!

The English have totally lost it. It's hilarious. They're not dirty, instead South Africans are now masters of Keyser Soze-esque subterfuge.

I'm a British Lions supporter but not English, don't forget its 4 nations you north African Cunt.

4 nations combined against a 3rd world country, should be a walk in the park.

[Sandstorm]

.....and you know this how? If he had been there would have been photographic evidence of the bite marks on Mostert's arm presented to the disciplinary panel, as there usually is with these instances.. Unless of course he was just making it up!

The English have totally lost it. It's hilarious. They're not dirty, instead South Africans are now masters of Keyser Soze-esque subterfuge.

I'm a British Lions supporter but not English, don't forget its 4 nations you north African Cunt.

Ox the Egyptian. I like it!

[sorCrer]

.....and you know this how? If he had been there would have been photographic evidence of the bite marks on Mostert's arm presented to the disciplinary panel, as there usually is with these instances.. Unless of course he was just making it up!

The English have totally lost it. It's hilarious. They're not dirty, instead South Africans are now masters of Keyser Soze-esque subterfuge.

I'm a British Lions supporter but not English, don't forget its 4 nations you north African Cunt.

To be fair there Clive it's really just 2. The English and the Irish. The Scots barely get a look in and the Welsh are shite and fall under their masters, the English, anyway.

[inactionman]

The English have totally lost it. It's hilarious. They're not dirty, instead South Africans are now masters of Keyser Soze-esque subterfuge.

I'm a British Lions supporter but not English, don't forget its 4 nations you north African Cunt.

To be fair there Clive it's really just 2. The English and the Irish. The Scots barely get a look in and the Welsh are shite and fall under their masters, the English, anyway.

Not true as long as Gatland's pulling the strings.

[Sards]

Lamest build up ever.....


That's what it has become...

[shaggy]

Lamest build up ever.....


That's what it has become...

I am almost content in the fact I have been so busy working I have not seen a single minute of the tour live.

It has made an awful lot of people depressed with the current state of rugby.

[Slick]

Lamest build up ever.....


That's what it has become...

Just want the tour over, Rassie charged and banned, and forget it all happened

[Uncle fester]

Think the Saffers are being a bit cocky for a team shorn of PSDT and FDK.

And lions probably won't be as bad again. Think we'll sneak it. Anyone up for a week flounce bet?

[Sards]

Think the Saffers are being a bit cocky for a team shorn of PSDT and FDK.

And lions probably won't be as bad again. Think we'll sneak it. Anyone up for a week flounce bet?

I don't think anybody is sure of anything. BILs played fantastic running rugby against the provincial sides.....haven't seen any of that in the 2 tests

[Sandstorm]

Think the Saffers are being a bit cocky for a team shorn of PSDT and FDK.

And lions probably won't be as bad again. Think we'll sneak it. Anyone up for a week flounce bet?

I don't think anybody is sure of anything. BILs played fantastic running rugby against the provincial sides.....haven't seen any of that in the 2 tests

Because the Boks squeezed the shit out of them in 2nd Test. Ditto the 1st half in #1. 2nd half of Test #1 the Lions returned the favour and the Boks were scoreless.

It's easy scoring tries and putting up 50 points against provincial minnows.

[clive]

Think the Saffers are being a bit cocky for a team shorn of PSDT and FDK.

And lions probably won't be as bad again. Think we'll sneak it. Anyone up for a week flounce bet?

I don't think anybody is sure of anything. BILs played fantastic running rugby against the provincial sides.....haven't seen any of that in the 2 tests

You can't compare the 2, People are moaning about the lack of adventure, the SA rush defence is very good and if the support isn't there SA will pile in and get turnovers, for the lions to get anywhere we must get support to our back play and clean out the Boks.

[Cartman]

Im thinking it will be last weekend's first half Lions vs second half Boks, both just better
So Boks to win it is my bet

[boere wors]

Think the Saffers are being a bit cocky for a team shorn of PSDT and FDK.

And lions probably won't be as bad again. Think we'll sneak it. Anyone up for a week flounce bet?

You are overestimating their importance for us. They are great players, but we play a specific gameplan. Hence not much worries from our side, we are quietly confident, nothing to do with cockiness. Especially as Mostert and Cobus are like for like replacements.

[OomStruisbaai]

Think the Saffers are being a bit cocky for a team shorn of PSDT and FDK.

And lions probably won't be as bad again. Think we'll sneak it. Anyone up for a week flounce bet?

Uncle spot on. BILs by 50

[handyman]

Think the Saffers are being a bit cocky for a team shorn of PSDT and FDK.

And lions probably won't be as bad again. Think we'll sneak it. Anyone up for a week flounce bet?

I'm up for this, but lets make it 2 weeks.

[Chilli]

Think the Saffers are being a bit cocky for a team shorn of PSDT and FDK.

And lions probably won't be as bad again. Think we'll sneak it. Anyone up for a week flounce bet?

I am with you on this.
Faf and PSDT are the heartbeat of the team.
Yes, Mostert is an excellent replacement, but them we lose another lock.
Reinacht is not Faf and can't produce the formula. Nor is he that Jack Russell in defense.

We are a slightly weaker team for it.

Lions by 8

[Sards]

I hear both sides of the coin and do understand that the amount of stoppages and delays definitely gave the boks chance to slow the game down to cope....but that is no excuse for us beating them soundly second half.
Unlike others I don't celebrate the clusterfuck that Rassie has created and the heap of shit this tournament has turned into. It just feels like we are very sore losers and ungracious winners....
With Rassie about to be reviewed after the weekend how will you feel about his actions if we lose the series...is he still God and " behind you we stand Rassie ".....or will he take the brunt of it...or Nienaber.....asking because I am dreading the backlash from South African supporters if we lose and the Refgate thats going to ensue......

I am praying like vok that we win and escape another week of drama....

[OomStruisbaai]

Springbokke must be underdogs. They are unprepared for this. BILs last roll of the dice, will be desperate to turn it around. They will be going in with a semi after so long isolated.

[Chilli]

Springbokke must be underdogs. They are unprepared for this. BILs last roll of the dice, will be desperate to turn it around. They will be going in with a semi after so long isolated.

Stem

[sorCrer]

Think the Saffers are being a bit cocky for a team shorn of PSDT and FDK.

And lions probably won't be as bad again. Think we'll sneak it. Anyone up for a week flounce bet?

I am with you on this.
Faf and PSDT are the heartbeat of the team.
Yes, Mostert is an excellent replacement, but them we lose another lock.
Reinacht is not Faf and can't produce the formula. Nor is he that Jack Russell in defense.

We are a slightly weaker team for it.

Lions by 8

Nah Faf hasn't been that good and should have been off the field in the last test and did a yellow in the A game. PSDT didn't even feature last week after going off injured early.

Not happy about losing a lock though and fielding all our options there from the start.

[Chilli]

Lions food and drink while watching the rugby





South African food and drink while watching he rugby

[Uncle fester]

Think the Saffers are being a bit cocky for a team shorn of PSDT and FDK.

And lions probably won't be as bad again. Think we'll sneak it. Anyone up for a week flounce bet?

I'm up for this, but lets make it 2 weeks.

*spits on hand*

[handyman]

Think the Saffers are being a bit cocky for a team shorn of PSDT and FDK.

And lions probably won't be as bad again. Think we'll sneak it. Anyone up for a week flounce bet?

I'm up for this, but lets make it 2 weeks.

*spits on hand*

Good stuff boet.

[Uncle fester]

Bok fans



Lions fans

[Sards]

Lions food and drink while watching the rugby





South African food and drink while watching he rugby

My wifes drinks tomorrow...clue , she likes all the bad boys



So thats
Vodka
Gin
Wine
Tea

I am going to have to be a bad boy this weekend

[JM2K6]

Lions food and drink while watching the rugby





South African food and drink while watching he rugby

The Brits and Irish, notoriously afraid of alcohol particularly when watching sport

[Cartman]

Alcohol is afraid of them lol

[Chilli]

Lions food and drink while watching the rugby





South African food and drink while watching he rugby

The Brits and Irish, notoriously afraid of alcohol particularly when watching sport

Yeah. So I've heard

[bok_viking]

By the way, a quick advert for those of you who always look for links, etc to watch sport on. I do provide an IPTV service that provides almost any channel you might want to watch related to sports or otherwise, from UK, SA, AUS, NZ, USA, etc I used to always provide the service to expats while i was living in Asia. Its not a free service though, $5.50/month but as long as you have an android or IOS device/tv and internet speed of at least 10MB it basically work the same as any cable service. Although in some countries like the UK and USA you might need a VPN because some of the ISP's there block IPTV services that are not registered with them.

Now back to the rugby... GO BOKKE!

[Marylandolorian]

By the way, a quick advert for those of you who always look for links, etc to watch sport on. I do provide an IPTV service that provides almost any channel you might want to watch related to sports or otherwise, from UK, SA, AUS, NZ, USA, etc I used to always provide the service to expats while i was living in Asia. Its not a free service though, $5.50/month but as long as you have an android or IOS device/tv and internet speed of at least 10MB it basically work the same as any cable service. Although in some countries like the UK and USA you might need a VPN because some of the ISP's there block IPTV services that are not registered with them.

Now back to the rugby... GO BOKKE!

Sent you a PM

[bok_viking]

By the way, a quick advert for those of you who always look for links, etc to watch sport on. I do provide an IPTV service that provides almost any channel you might want to watch related to sports or otherwise, from UK, SA, AUS, NZ, USA, etc I used to always provide the service to expats while i was living in Asia. Its not a free service though, $5.50/month but as long as you have an android or IOS device/tv and internet speed of at least 10MB it basically work the same as any cable service. Although in some countries like the UK and USA you might need a VPN because some of the ISP's there block IPTV services that are not registered with them.

Now back to the rugby... GO BOKKE!

Sent you a PM

I replied

[clive]

The ref will play a huge part in the game he must stop the bok cunts slowing down the game lost count on how many SA went down feigning injury, slow to everything.
Big calls went to SA last week and the loss of flaf will make a difference, Bl need to come out fighting.
As hosts SA have been `fucking shit, no wonder the country is on the brink of collapse, the pitch looks like a farmers field, god knows how there haven't been any covid cases for the Lions, but that is down to the Lions staff, left to the dirty SA cunts the place would be overrun, time to reconsider another tour to SA play it in a decent country.

[Marylandolorian]

Can someone send this moron in the digital desert?

[Blackmac]

The ref will play a huge part in the game he must stop the bok cunts slowing down the game lost count on how many SA went down feigning injury, slow to everything.
Big calls went to SA last week and the loss of flaf will make a difference, Bl need to come out fighting.
As hosts SA have been `fucking shit, no wonder the country is on the brink of collapse, the pitch looks like a farmers field, god knows how there haven't been any covid cases for the Lions, but that is down to the Lions staff, left to the dirty SA cunts the place would be overrun, time to reconsider another tour to SA play it in a decent country.

Did we not come here to avoid wankers like this.

[sorCrer]

The ref will play a huge part in the game he must stop the bok cunts slowing down the game lost count on how many SA went down feigning injury, slow to everything.
Big calls went to SA last week and the loss of flaf will make a difference, Bl need to come out fighting.
As hosts SA have been `fucking shit, no wonder the country is on the brink of collapse, the pitch looks like a farmers field, god knows how there haven't been any covid cases for the Lions, but that is down to the Lions staff, left to the dirty SA cunts the place would be overrun, time to reconsider another tour to SA play it in a decent country.

Did we not come here to avoid wankers like this.

He is a proper Caerphilly Cunt alright.