NPR

Sandstorm wrote: Tue Jul 06, 2021 2:49 pm If the Lions go totally unscathed by Covid this tour, I’ll buy you all a coke. Desperate tour organisers and Rugby Boards forced this one to go ahead.

Hope everyone stays safe.

The British & Irish Lions have been hit by a positive Covid-19 test, throwing Wednesday night’s match against the Sharks into jeopardy and raising even more doubt over the remainder of the tour of South Africa.

One member of the tourists’ staff has recorded a positive result following a lateral flow test and that they and four others – including two players – have been forced into isolation.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/ ... to-isolate

It’s looking more and more likely that the whole thing is going to have to be cancelled.

Slick wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:04 pm

ia801310 wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:27 pm I think we are looking more and more likely that the Lions and the Boks will go into 2 hard bubbles and will just play the 3 tests.

Is there time to fly them both to the UK and hold the tests here with some crowds? Not that easy of course, but it could be done.

Can't see HM Government allowing a contingent of virus ridden players into the UK?

sorCrer wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:20 pm

Slick wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:04 pm

ia801310 wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:27 pm I think we are looking more and more likely that the Lions and the Boks will go into 2 hard bubbles and will just play the 3 tests.

Is there time to fly them both to the UK and hold the tests here with some crowds? Not that easy of course, but it could be done.

Can't see HM Government allowing a contingent of virus ridden players into the UK?

With a quarantine I think they'd be very keen.

Slick wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:04 pm

ia801310 wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:27 pm I think we are looking more and more likely that the Lions and the Boks will go into 2 hard bubbles and will just play the 3 tests.

Is there time to fly them both to the UK and hold the tests here with some crowds? Not that easy of course, but it could be done.

Not without 10 days quarantine for all concerened surely?
Reckon they'll be back home by next week!! This was a gamble that ain't going to pay off!

SaintK wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:23 pm

Slick wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:04 pm

ia801310 wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:27 pm I think we are looking more and more likely that the Lions and the Boks will go into 2 hard bubbles and will just play the 3 tests.

Is there time to fly them both to the UK and hold the tests here with some crowds? Not that easy of course, but it could be done.

Not without 10 days quarantine for all concerened surely?
Reckon they'll be back home by next week!! This was a gamble that ain't going to pay off!

10 day hotel quarantine at that. So 10 days lockedup in a hotel room, then restart training, they;d probably need 2 weeks......

SaintK wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:23 pm

Slick wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:04 pm

ia801310 wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:27 pm I think we are looking more and more likely that the Lions and the Boks will go into 2 hard bubbles and will just play the 3 tests.

Is there time to fly them both to the UK and hold the tests here with some crowds? Not that easy of course, but it could be done.

Not without 10 days quarantine for all concerened surely?
Reckon they'll be back home by next week!! This was a gamble that ain't going to pay off!

Surely they could waive that with protocols in place?

Thinking seriously about this - the UK Government would I think be very keen to hold this tour and would exhibit flexibility (they already have to keep the Euro Final).

Not beyond the wit of man that the teams can isolate at places like Pennyhill, meaning that they can train within a bubble. Would probably need to be largely self catered etc but both sides have plenty of staff.

Paddington Bear wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:12 pm Saffer posters feel free to call out my armchair bollocks, but my understanding is the situation in SA atm is pretty serious, and I would assume the presence of such a high profile sporting event is distracting to the authorities trying to deal with it?

More like giving the authorities something to hide behind

Paddington Bear wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:33 pm Thinking seriously about this - the UK Government would I think be very keen to hold this tour and would exhibit flexibility (they already have to keep the Euro Final).

Not beyond the wit of man that the teams can isolate at places like Pennyhill, meaning that they can train within a bubble. Would probably need to be largely self catered etc but both sides have plenty of staff.

That’s my thinking

Slick wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:29 pm

SaintK wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:23 pm

Slick wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:04 pm

Is there time to fly them both to the UK and hold the tests here with some crowds? Not that easy of course, but it could be done.

Not without 10 days quarantine for all concerened surely?
Reckon they'll be back home by next week!! This was a gamble that ain't going to pay off!

Surely they could waive that with protocols in place?

I (and a lot of the public) are pissed off as it is with protocols being waived for various EUFA officials. To waive them further, in this case to allow two squads with either known or suspected cases already in place would be taking things to a whole other level.

The time for moving this series was 2 months ago

Saint wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:41 pm

Slick wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:29 pm

SaintK wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:23 pm
Not without 10 days quarantine for all concerened surely?
Reckon they'll be back home by next week!! This was a gamble that ain't going to pay off!

Surely they could waive that with protocols in place?

I (and a lot of the public) are pissed off as it is with protocols being waived for various EUFA officials. To waive them further, in this case to allow two squads with either known or suspected cases already in place would be taking things to a whole other level.

The time for moving this series was 2 months ago

I agree with your final point, but this is quite different. Much smaller group , all coming from the same place. Quite apart from the fact they are coming to play sport rather than binge on champagne and go shopping

Remember, there's no need to quarantine if you're a 'business leader'

I'm sure most of them could f

Slick wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:39 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:33 pm Thinking seriously about this - the UK Government would I think be very keen to hold this tour and would exhibit flexibility (they already have to keep the Euro Final).

Not beyond the wit of man that the teams can isolate at places like Pennyhill, meaning that they can train within a bubble. Would probably need to be largely self catered etc but both sides have plenty of staff.

That’s my thinking

Where there is a will there is a way. I think Boris would love the idea of having the 3 tests at Twickenham in front of 80,000 fans.

I still think the most likely outcome is that the 3 tests will be played in South Africa. Not sure that all other games will happen though

Game's on. 7pm BST

Did they make the Sharks game an hour later or am i going mad?

Cartman wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:00 pm Did they make the Sharks game an hour later or am i going mad?

Needed to do it in order to get the covid results in.

Davies and Biggar out with Covid. Farrell at 10, Russell backline cover.

Margin__Walker wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 4:15 pm Game's on. 7pm BST

Are they moving the footie to accommodate the big game?

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:01 pm

Cartman wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:00 pm Did they make the Sharks game an hour later or am i going mad?

Needed to do it in order to get the covid results in.

Davies and Biggar out with Covid. Farrell at 10, Russell backline cover.

Ah thanks

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:01 pm

Cartman wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:00 pm Did they make the Sharks game an hour later or am i going mad?

Needed to do it in order to get the covid results in.

Davies and Biggar out with Covid. Farrell at 10, Russell backline cover.

Why do we bother with the Welsh

One player positive, so all sorts of changes tonight based on close contacts. 37 man squad with 9 isolating.

Will be tough to carry on and sounds like a logistical nightmare for the management team.

It will be fun, but I reckon this will be the last game of the tour

And 1 guest wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:16 pm It will be fun, but I reckon this will be the last game of the tour

Might be last warm up game and lock everything down until tests..

With the game off at the weekend in that will help resource issues. Assuming they can avoid covid.

Margin__Walker wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:14 pm One player positive, so all sorts of changes tonight based on close contacts. 37 man squad with 9 isolating.

Will be tough to carry on and sounds like a logistical nightmare for the management team.

Finn Russell the ONLY backs sub tonight.

I can see them making a movie out of it. Invictus 2. In this case it will be the Boks and the Lions linking arms to defeat the virus with an amazing show of rugby, rather than everyone's favourite plucky underdog Boks vanquishing the evil pantomime villains that are the All Blacks

Ali Price in danger of challenging for a test spot

Kawazaki wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:34 pm

Margin__Walker wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:14 pm One player positive, so all sorts of changes tonight based on close contacts. 37 man squad with 9 isolating.

Will be tough to carry on and sounds like a logistical nightmare for the management team.

Finn Russell the ONLY backs sub tonight.

Eddie Jones will be fucking livid. He wanted to be the first coach to do that.

Also, no 10 shirts in Farrell size? We’re they never planning to play him there?

Choc wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 6:10 pm

Kawazaki wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:34 pm

Margin__Walker wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:14 pm One player positive, so all sorts of changes tonight based on close contacts. 37 man squad with 9 isolating.

Will be tough to carry on and sounds like a logistical nightmare for the management team.

Finn Russell the ONLY backs sub tonight.

Eddie Jones will be fucking livid. He wanted to be the first coach to do that.

Also, no 10 shirts in Farrell size? We’re they never planning to play him there?

Not for tonight's game. New shirts for every match - and as he wasn't in the squad they must have just found a spare one. looks like LRZ is wearing Biggars shirt as he has 10 on his back

Once again a few guys failed to put their hand up for a test spot and have taken a step back. I thought Vunipola was just plain awful and I can't see him anywhere near a starting slot if he can't hold the scrum up on his side. A season of playing second string rugby has taken its toll. Rees Zammit again was a mix of good going forward but defence looked a bit dodgy - he missed a tackle in 1st half which the commentator tried to blame Price for. He needs to do more in a game. Curry was a disappointment, I thought this was an ideal game for him to put his hand up but he was outshone by Navidi in the back row. The rest did well in what was essentially a glorified training match and showed a few good touches in attack. It will be interesting to see who plays in the next match, whenever that is and whoever it is against.

Curry was hammering people in the tackle and won that ridiculously good turnover on the tryline, so...

Agreed about Mako and that missed tackle by LRZ was Jacob Umaga-esque

JM2K6 wrote: Thu Jul 08, 2021 10:54 am Curry was hammering people in the tackle and won that ridiculously good turnover on the tryline, so...

Agreed about Mako and that missed tackle by LRZ was Jacob Umaga-esque

Not saying Curry didn't go about doing the bread and butter of his job ok but it was a game I thought he would excel in and he didn't. I just expected more from him, Navidi outshone him in the back row and looked a better 7.

Lions to play Sharks again on Saturday
....and all clear in the Lions camp!

Saturday’s new Lions fixture seemingly hinges on whether the unnamed player who tested positive on Wednesday and has since tested negative on Thursday tests negative again on Friday so that all his six close contacts can be released from isolation and become available for selection for a match hastily arranged against the Sharks due to the unavailability of the Covid-hit Bulls.

Team for Saturday's rerun against the Sharks
George to captain and Anthony Watson to finally get a start. That could possibly be close to the starting test pack........without Hill
British and Irish Lions: L Williams, A Watson, Daly, Harris, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Davies; Sutherland, George, Furlong, Itoje, Hill, Beirne, H Watson, Conan.
Replacements: Owens, Jones, Sinckler, Lawes, Simmonds, Curry, Murray, Russell.

SaintK wrote: Fri Jul 09, 2021 1:56 pm Team for Saturday's rerun against the Sharks
George to captain and Anthony Watson to finally get a start. That could possibly be close to the starting test pack........without Hill
British and Irish Lions: L Williams, A Watson, Daly, Harris, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Davies; Sutherland, George, Furlong, Itoje, Hill, Beirne, H Watson, Conan.
Replacements: Owens, Jones, Sinckler, Lawes, Simmonds, Curry, Murray, Russell.

Very close to the test pack I'd pick. That is of course irrelevant :-)

6/2 bench split.

Suggests maybe still some covid related issues?

Kawazaki wrote: Fri Jul 09, 2021 2:21 pm 6/2 bench split.

Suggests maybe still some covid related issues?

Possibly, think a couple are carrying knocks too. Also some issues with gametime. Adams, Price and Farrell have played at this week. Henshaw carrying an injury and Hogg was touch and go before being ruled out due to Covid with a tight hammy IIRC.

What about the poor Sharks players?! Will any of them be getting a rest or will it essentially be the same team?

Kawazaki wrote: Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:09 pm What about the poor Sharks players?! Will any of them be getting a rest or will it essentially be the same team?

Lots of changes. Much stronger pack than last week.

Kawazaki wrote: Fri Jul 09, 2021 2:21 pm 6/2 bench split.

Suggests maybe still some covid related issues?

Hogg is the only player currently self isolating
Townsend and 3 other backroom staff also!

Sounds like Marcus Smith is on his way to SA as cover for Finn Russell.

Margin__Walker wrote: Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:04 pm Sounds like Marcus Smith is on his way to SA as cover for Finn Russell.

Confirmed