RugbyRebels

francoisfou wrote:After a damp squid of a 1st half, I'm pleasantly surprised with the 2nd.
I thought the Boks didn't seem as fit as the Lions as the 2nd half wore on and that bodes well for the next week's decider!

On the downside was some shocking panic passing by the Lions that should have been punished.

Yep. Neither team looked like a very complete side.

Lions won the second half and won the game, did wonder whether starting backrow was right? Lawes carried a lot in second half but little in first - personally would have started H Watson over Curry and Falatau more exciting than Jack Conan for me. Case for starting Beirne at 6 next test (with Lawes as second row/flanker impact player from bench)? Also in that first half there was a noticeable lack of carrying power in both second row as a unit and centres as a unit.

Was a certainly game of two halves (like another big game recently but with a more favourable outcome ) and boks seemed to run out of puff in that second half.

Well done lions but a more physical ball carrying impact will be needed from the off for second test and no room for complacency given some close ref calls

J Dory wrote:Was so excited to watch this game, but that was a shit test match. What's the point of lining up all those quality backs (on both sides) if they never get to run and pass the ball. I'm all for epic forwards battles but for fucks sake once you get over the gain line spread the ball now and then.

I reckon bro.

Lions turned it around after h/t. Addressed their weaknesses and played far smarter. Winning the 1st test was crucial so its a job well done.

Big D wrote:

Which Tyler wrote:

Big D wrote:Wyn Jones out. Sutherland gets the start.

Awful luck for Jones.

Oh shit.
So that means... Mako against Malherbe...

Oddly their replacement front row from SA made no impact on either the starting front row and subs.

Not sure what the issue was in the first half. At times the SA scrum engaged and the ball was in. It was never really set so not sure if that was it or not.

Fair play to Mako. Everyone expected him to get bent out of shape but he was rock solid.

Btw Will Greenwood sporting comedy Mohican - specially for Series?

Spiffy wrote:

Big D wrote:

Which Tyler wrote: Oh shit.
So that means... Mako against Malherbe...

Oddly their replacement front row from SA made no impact on either the starting front row and subs.

Not sure what the issue was in the first half. At times the SA scrum engaged and the ball was in. It was never really set so not sure if that was it or not.

Fair play to Mako. Everyone expected him to get bent out of shape but he was rock solid.

Absolutely.

If the Lions don't make stupid mistakes and gift the Saffers points, it's easy pickings. RSA have nothing. I expect Gatball next week and a series win.

THen again, we did make a TON of mistakes today. Terrible under the high ball and not many ideas with ball in hand.

Rassie will be giving his players a hell of a bollocking and they’re sure to respond in the only way they know how - brutality. If the Lions avoid getting drawn into that then the series will be there for the taking.

Dull game but cut out the careless penalties early on and I think that is a comfortable win. Price's kicking was spot on in the main.

Would love to see more intent in the second test though.

Finally managed to watch the highlights having been exiled at the inlaws for the weekend. There's a lot of talk in the match reports about Jonker disallowing the Le Roux try for a very marginal offside, but no note of the fact that the pass before the kick appears clearly and obviously forward on my tiny phone screen. Am I wrong?

Puja

Puja wrote:Finally managed to watch the highlights having been exiled at the inlaws for the weekend. There's a lot of talk in the match reports about Jonker disallowing the Le Roux try for a very marginal offside, but no note of the fact that the pass before the kick appears clearly and obviously forward on my tiny phone screen. Am I wrong?

Puja

It was forward. You Northern interlopers have the measure of this dull, negative Bok team. The SA commentary was obsessed with winning set piece penalties, and once you have that, you have the series. Fuck me it is a dull contest.

Job done. SA really ran out of steam and ideas at the end. Although if H Watson had got yellow for the tip tackle, it might have been different. Having said that, SA should really have had a yellow too for their 14 penalties.

Game of two half’s, first half was what I feared but second half they came back and won it.

Itoje was sensational as was Conan. Thought Lawes was quiet for the first 60 but really came into it.

Weird tackle by Mish. I think the TMO got all the decisions right.

Conan was sensational?

I thought Curry had probably done enough to secure the Jonny Hill what have you done that for? Award for most stupid penalty in the first half of the first test until Hamish Watson decided to put in a strong contender.

Once the Lions cut out the stupid penalties and managed to stabilise the scrum a bit, it rapidly became apparent that the Boks had little in the way of imagination or cutting edge.

16th man wrote:I thought Curry had probably done enough to secure the Jonny Hill what have you done that for? Award for most stupid penalty in the first half of the first test until Hamish Watson decided to put in a strong contender.

Once the Lions cut out the stupid penalties and managed to stabilise the scum a bit, it rapidly became apparent that the Boks had little in the way of imagination or cutting edge.

My stream had cut out and it came back with a replay of Watson's stupid pen, and my first thought was: "Why is Jonny Hill on the pitch?"

So yeah, Watson wins that, lol.

16th man wrote:.. and managed to stabilise the scum a bit

A tadge disrespectful there perhaps..

Both sides pants under high ball. But at least in the second half we kicked to compete. Probably made the difference, alongside the few brief minutes Daly was off the pitch

Did anyone else notice Farrell was about a foot away from completing a high tackle in his brief cameo? On the pitch for 5 minutes and he aims a high shot, just didn't catch him enough to warrant a look.

A damn liability.

A foot sounds like quite a lot?

Mikey Brown wrote:Conan was sensational?

He made a few carries but none of our carriers was penetrative to really dent the green wall in that first half - Itoje (notwithstanding his mighty fetching work) and Wyn Jones I feel in particular lacked power as a unit to punch holes - in fact Itoje was knocked back yards in one instance and carrying is the one area in which one feels he slightly under performs and does not live up to his superstar status (though more than makes up for it by acting like an openside in a locks body and he’s a given starter for all three tests) - do think our other lock needs to be a power carrier even if that’s at the expense of AWJ

Saw the second half today having had text updates. Itoje was Immense and Jones and Conan appeared to be putting in a shift.

Daly was a lucky boy on several occasions. It was unclear what he was supposed to bring to the party.

The Books were very poor but we're a gnat's testicle away from scoring more tries. That would've been very poor.

I think we will see Aki in the next game and perhaps Liam Williams, Mako has probably done enough to warrant a start pending on the fitness of Wyn Jones.

jngf wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Conan was sensational?

He made a few carries but none of our carriers was penetrative to really dent the green wall in that first half - Itoje (notwithstanding his mighty fetching work) and Wyn Jones I feel in particular lacked power as a unit to punch holes - in fact Itoje was knocked back yards in one instance and carrying is the one area in which one feels he slightly under performs and does not live up to his superstar status (though more than makes up for it by acting like an openside in a locks body and he’s a given starter for all three tests) - do think our other lock needs to be a power carrier even if that’s at the expense of AWJ

It's Alun-Wyn Jones, so either Alun-Wyn or Jones, Wyn Jones is a different player entirely.