Lions sweat on Roberts
1 Jul 2009
The British & Irish Lions are limping to the finish line with news that Jamie Roberts is doubtful for the third Test.
Two senior players, centre Brian O’Driscoll and prop Adam Jones, have been sent home with a concussion and dislocated shoulder respectively, while prop Gethin Jenkins will also miss the Test as a result of a fractured cheekbone.
A number of others are struggling to regain full fitness for the final Test at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Roberts ran at training on Wednesday, but didn’t take any contact. Phil Vickery, who was likely to come into the run-on side at tighthead prop, is suffering from a throat infection.
Vickery is expected to recover before Saturday, but there is doubt whether Roberts will win his race against the clock.
There was, however, better news regarding flyhalf Ronan O’Gara, who is likely to play off the wood at Ellis Park, and Tommy Bowe, who also looks set to recover from a knock.
Lions captain Paul O’Connell said the loss Of O’Driscoll, Jones and Jenkins was massive.
‘Brian brings a quiet confidence to the team and he’s incredibly valuable as a player,’ O’Connell told keo.co.za. ‘When your most potent attacking weapon is also your best and most honest defender, it has a galvanising effect on the whole team. He’ll be sorely missed.
‘Gethin is an intelligent guy and is able to point out where we’ve gone right and wrong,’ he continued. ‘It’s the same with Adam, who is a strong scrummager and good at the lineouts and around the pitch.’
Forwards coach Graham Rowntree conceded that should Vickery start, he would have to overcome memories of a diabolical performance in the first Test.
‘Let’s not beat around the bush here. It’ll be a huge psychological challenge for Phil after what happened in the first Test,’ Rowntree said. ‘He’ll have to pick up technically and emotionally. But as coaches that’s our job.’
O’Connell added that it was difficult to motivate the players after the Loftus defeat, which effectively renders the third Test a dead rubber, but explained that a couple of days off has rejuvenated them physically and mentally.
‘We would have loved to have gone into the third Test at one-all. We didn’t come here to lose and that obviously had a big effect on the boys,’ he said.
‘We’ve enjoyed the tour, but the real enjoyment comes from winning and having that experience of what it’s like to be in a winning changeroom. We haven’t had that and that’s made this last week tough.
‘But that said, we are professional and I’m sure we can replicate the intensity we’ve shown over the first two Tests.’
O’Connell referred to the Springboks as an ‘excellent team’ who would be difficult to beat even if they make the wholesale changes they are widely expected to.
‘We would have loved another crack at that same backline but they have outstanding strength in depth and the players who come in will bring a new intensity and new hunger to the Test,’ he said.
By Ryan Vrede, in Johannesburg
63 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
2 Jul 2009, 07:37 am
I watched the detailed highlights of the game last night. We actually didn’t play too badly! Matfield was hitting the rucks like I’ve never seen him before. Great stuff! The Boks won the physical contest which won them the game! The Boks must have watched ‘The 300′ before the game:).
#46. Disa. That article echoes my sentiments!
Just to re-iterate, that was only the Springboks second test of the season! Imagine if the Boks get everythin right this Saturday. It might be an emotional test, who knows which Boks are leaving for overseas after the test.
Bokke are our heroes! Go for the 3-0!
2 Jul 2009, 07:44 am
Starting Bok Team for the 3rd Loins test is
15 Zane Kirchner
14 Odwa Ndungane
13 Jaque Fourie
12 Wynand Olivier
11 Jongi Nokwe
10 Morné Steyn
9 Fourie du Preez
8 Ryan Kankowski
7 Juan Smith
6 Heinrich Brüssow
5 Victor Matfield
4 Johann Muller
3 John Smit
2 Bismarck du Plessis
1 Tendai Mtawarira
2 Jul 2009, 08:07 am
#52 Is this official?
2 Jul 2009, 09:09 am
#50 Waster: Sorry meant 49 from Pietman, same thing anyway, wake up guys! The whole world is not conspiring against you!
2 Jul 2009, 09:23 am
they should rather sweat on the field…
2 Jul 2009, 09:57 am
Didn`t read everyone`s comments, so forgive me if someone already said it.
The Lions must be the biggest sissies ever…. They lost atleast 12+ players from the beginning of the tour till now through injuries. Can`t remember that any other team has lost so many players through injuries. Don`t know if their bodies can`t tack the knocks or our boys are just bigger and tougher.
Believe me the Lions can`t wait to go home and lick their wounds…… africa is a tough country…..
2 Jul 2009, 10:35 am
Roberts will fine WO and JF as much tougher defence to take on, just ask the Chiefs hooker who had a run in with WO at the final of the S14, brutal tackle, he wabeld off the field.
See Jamie get hit hard this weekend.
2 Jul 2009, 10:51 am
#33 Big Hit: the British badger is relatively fearsome but the most ferocious creature (according to the Guinness Book of Records) is the African Honey Badger or Ratel.
2 Jul 2009, 10:54 am
A honey badger named Kleinman was documented stealing a meal out of a puff adder’s mouth and casually eating the meal in front of the hissing snake. After finishing the meal, Kleinman began also to hunt the puff adder, the species being one of the honey badger’s preferred venomous snakes. He managed to kill the snake and began eating it, but then collapsed on the dead snake as he had been bitten during the struggle. After about two hours he surprisingly awoke. Once his paralysis had subsided, Kleinman continued with his meal and then resumed his journey.
2 Jul 2009, 10:54 am
I just looked at the “punch” by Sheridan on Bekker’s err, privates , and it was not that bad, more like a sly grope than anything else, maby Bekker can open a case for sexual assault?
I would not site Sheridan, let’s just call him squiril from now on.
2 Jul 2009, 10:57 am
#60 Breakdown Boy: The question is. Why is Sheridan taking sly gropes at Bekker’s privates? That’s not on.
2 Jul 2009, 12:03 pm
For a sense of balance this site so sorely lacks sometimes….SA remove their players from the test warm ups and wrap them in cotton wool.
The BI Lions take on the weak warm up oppionenets, after full seasons of Club and Country matches.
And we’re the pussies? Eh?
Serious point though are all of our players, both hemispheres, perhaps being asked to play too much.
I wonder if it was the other way round, i.e. The Boks played the Lions after the Tri-nations and the S14…wouldn’t injuried be a problem for the Boks?
2 Jul 2009, 12:25 pm
53# Yes that is offcial.
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.