Lions blast Bumble-Boks
The British & Irish Lions earned a deserved consolation when they thumped the Springboks 28-9 on Saturday.
The Boks went into this game having already secured the series, but the opportunity was there to affect a whitewash. The new-look side failed to gel and you have to wonder how much the Bok management considered this an opportunity to experiment rather than an opportunity to go 3-0 up. It was a disappointment on all counts.
The way both teams went at it in the first 10 minutes, you wouldn’t think there were any concerns over the perceived niggle and bad blood. Wearing white armbands to express their disappointment for Bakkies Botha’s suspension, the Boks flew into tackles as if there was still a series at stake, while the visitors responded in kind.
One-on-one tackling was never a problem. The Boks’ synergy let them down on attack and defence, and although this was to be expected considering the majority of the combinations hadn’t spent much time together, it was hardly excusable.
The hosts seemed to be lacking patience as well as precision as a number of early opportunities were missed due to a determined Lions’ spoil. Although they affected some important turnovers of their own, the Boks will lament their inability to control possession to the point where they couldn’t build or profit from a mulit-phase attack.
The defensive synergy was sorely lacking, and time and again, the drift defence was penetrated by one of the big Lions backs. Rob Kearney had another solid day at the back for the visitors, but it was on the wings that the Lions caused all the trouble.
In the 25th minute, Lions No 8 Jamie Heaslip found space on the left wing and palmed off some shocking tackle attempts. Meanwhile, Shane Williams had timed his support run to perfection and accepted the pass before jetting in under the posts.
Another turnover sparked the Lions’ second try as Riki Flutey put in a smart chip that was collected and touched onto Williams yet again. The Wales winger didn’t have to do much but dot down under the posts, and with Jones’s conversion, the Lions had shot to a commanding 15-3 lead.
Referee Stuart Dickinson said he would punish indiscipline and nailed the Boks at scrum time. Beast Mtawarira’s contribution around the park was typically outstanding, but the Bok loosehead was penalised on numerous occasions as the Lions’ tight five applied massive pressure at the set-piece.
Dickinson also nailed the Lions for their lack of discipline in the 37th minute. Fourie du Preez went down to retrieve a rolling ball and received Simon Shaw’s knee in his back. After consulting the touch judge, Dickinson sent Shaw to the sin bin.
The Boks bumbled a try-scoring opportunity but a late shot at goal by Morne Steyn took the half-time score to 15-6. Unfortunately for the Boks, three points were all they were going to gain from their one-man advantage.
The Lions continued to pressure the Boks early in the second half and only some last-ditch tackling and important ball-stealing by Heinrich Brussow stopped them from extending their lead. Du Preez also failed to return after the break meaning Ruan Pienaar had to come off the bench and play scrumhalf.
The Boks blew a try-scoring opportunity when the otherwise impressive Zane Kirchner dropped the ball in the act of offloading in the tackle. Wynand Olivier had thrown a beautiful floating pass to free up Kirchner, and attempted to replicate this pass in a subsequent move. Unfortunately, Ugo Monye read the play beautifully, intercepted the pass, and ran 80m to score.
At 22-6 with 25 minutes to play, there was no way back for the Boks. They continued to struggle for synergy, and the error count began to escalate in accordance with their desperation. They already had the series, but it was disappointing to see them flailing in this fashion.
As the calls of ‘Lions, Lions’ and ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ grew more prominent around a buzzing Ellis Park, the touring team defied recent form by maintaining the pressure.
The hosts battled to get into try-scoring positions as the clock wound down and John Smit eventually turned to Steyn when presented with a penalty from 40m out. The Bulls’ sharpshooter kicked a difficult goal to narrow the deficit, but the 22-9 scoreline still left the Boks with too much to do in too little time to do it.
The poor discipline that has afflicted the Boks throughout the series then cost the hosts in the final minutes, as Heinrich Brussow was penalised for retaliation. Jones made no mistake in restoring the 16-point cushion, and goaled another penalty soon after when Bismarck du Plessis was penalised for hitting him late.
The Boks were also denied a consolation try at the death when the TMO ruled Odwa Ndungane stepped into touch at the moment of grounding a try.
The result takes no shine off an overall series victory for the Boks, but highlights a few problem areas ahead of the Tri-Nations. The first-choice line-up will be back for that tournament, but it must concern the Bok management to see the second string fare so badly.
By Jon Cardinelli, at Ellis Park
July 4th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
#124 Jessp:
His only effect in the entire series was the three points he got his team by diving like football-playing poofter….when the game was already lost
I was going to come on here and congratulate the Lions but with ***** like philips, williams (x2), sheridan, i-could-have-doid, etc in their team…not gonna happen.
Just go home
July 4th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
#136 jonnymain:
Just dont like his pedantic style of reffing!
Always warning “green” most of the time.
He could have overruled Bryce’s mistake; when Bryce said “checking try or no try” I could hear his anxiety levels were too high
Not blaming him but Stu just doesnt do it for me!
Boks have won 3 out of 11 with him officiating.
July 4th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
#138 JockBok:
I want to show Lions fans how pathetic it is not to congratulate the winner!
The Bok B-team was k*k today, no doubt!
Shame Williams will prob write another book now, to celebrate this defeat…
July 4th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
#149 poppa69: Correct. Many very talented people never really reached their full potential, because of the state of politics back then.
Always thinking of how people like Naas Botha could`ve made a bigger impact on the world stage.
Sad, but it`s a new world now.
July 4th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
#153 Sheriff: Congratulations on a series win. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 4th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
#155 JockBok:
Thanks and well done!
July 4th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
#154 The-Pill: yeah, shame for them that it eventuated that way… I know of Naas Botha, he with the prodigious boot, sure I seen him play…
July 4th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
#156 Sheriff: No probs mate. We’ll get yo back in 2021
July 4th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
#152 Sheriff: I think he’s getting better with age myself. He was warning “green” most of the time because the Lions had most of the possession
July 4th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
#158 JockBok:
Can’t wait.
Enough time to reflect on what-ifs tho
July 4th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
#159 jonnymain:
I think he developed that habit over the years.
His problem is complacency. Aus really not producing any refs; the game is increasingly attracting these an*lly retentive types as refs.
Not good.
July 4th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
By the way. I found the ‘justice’ bands a brave thing to wear. It’s not many sides that would publically demand a longer ban for Schalk Burger – that shows great moral courage.
July 4th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
#161 Sheriff: its because they dont have the step up from club rugby to a national comp… they come from club rugby straight to international, so dont really learn their craft properly…
July 4th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Quite simply the worst Bok performance I’ve ever seen. Its time to show PdV the door before he destroy SA rugby for good!
July 4th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
#116 bobbyboyshey: Everyone was crying for WO and Fourie at centre but they got shown up today – 1st choice centres are JdV and Adi – klaar! Also we have no depth in the wings which is very worrying if Habana or Pietersen get injured!
July 4th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Of all 3 tests, this was the only true snotting. And the Lions made 7 changes to the Boks 10, so both sides fielded B teams.
July 4th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
#60 CharlieBrown: Since when was Cardiff a little corner of France?
July 4th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
pathetic boks
July 4th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Seriously. Although I’m a Brit, I’ll be watching the Tri Nations with interest and I have to say – careful guys.
Congratulations on a well won series, but don’t let the win blind you. I’ve been watching SA teams on and off for many many years, and this is one of the most limited Bok back lines I have ever seen. The wingers are great, but there is no cover if anybody gets injured. You could make a good argument that all 4 lions centres on show were better than their Bok counterparts, and at full-back, no contest.
Basically, you’re going to be limited to a forward-based kicking game and I’m not sure that is going to be enough.
July 4th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
#166 TheTackler:
Thanks Tackler.
You have your critics here on keo, but they are all wrong.
You’re not bad. You’re just s*xually frustrated.
July 4th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
#163 poppa69:
And what is the problem in NZ?
July 4th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I wonder – did our forwards hold back at clearing rucks and the other collision points in fear of getting a ban for actually playing rugby correctly??
Or were the instructions to revert to the loose, individualistic play of some of last years more catastrophic games?
July 4th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
#165 Crouching Tiger Hidden Bokke: Bulldust!!! First choice should always be JdV and JF. THAT is world class, for those that dont have to strain to see over chips.
July 4th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
#33 surreyshark4:
But more recently than ‘we whitewashed the Lions’.
#46 Dubliner:
hang on there fella. You still lost.
Lions were certainly dominant for longer periods over the 3 Tests tho. Boks awesome for 1st 50mins of 1st Test, Lions last 20mins. Then all Lions for first 65min of 2nd Test, Boks unstoppable for final 15mins. And a RC would have changed that result, without doubt. Then 3rd Test is all Lions 3 tries to zip.
I thought the Lions were cr*p when they left UK. So I doff my cap, well done those Men.
July 4th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
#171 Sheriff: not sure I can explain that one lol
July 4th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
#169 Jessp:
Yip smack dat on the head
We got to start again from scratch
Thats what I would do about now.
Front row find some props, get W. Kruger up to speed and fast
2nd Row bring in some fresh blood from somewhere, Matfield getting stale and cannot provide incentive anymore, Bakkies just a brute enforcer, and those armbands today absolute stupidity, took their eye off the ball and put it on their arms instead, idiots.
Back row, time to blood the youngsters and get rid of dead wood, Kanko, – gone, in with Vermeulen to start at 8 and Potgieter on bench at 7 and utility, play Spies off bench.
9 H.Adams in now, and another backup like Hougaard.
10 Pienaar to start every game, M.Steyn off bench
12, 13 – JdV & Jacobs still the better option, the 2 today only bench options not starters, limitations were hugely exposed.
11, 14 Habana and JPP, and Basson as cover, better start scouting around the juniors for another. Maybe look at some 7’s players as options.
15, Steyn start, Kirchner bench.
Matfield, Smit, time to start preparing for your swan songs, these guys are on the wane, time for fresh blood and fast, the only ’senior’ boks I’d retain for now are Botha, Smith, JdV, Habana, and FdP at a push, but he’s not the god most people here think he is, not by a very long shot, a better effective distributing scrummy like Adams far better in my book. Bakkies also would be needing backup soon (Sykes or Wentzel or Steenkamp or one these new kids get up to scrath, but not Muller and/or Roussouw, – time for fresh blood – very important right NOW)
July 4th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
#175 poppa69:
We should escalate that to Tackler perhaps.
The loser prob went to bed already.
July 4th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
#177 Sheriff: lol perhaps its because we cant see the wool over our eyes
July 4th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
#172 Mistral: yea mistral for sure. was looking for that and think they did. think they sometime looked like they were confused(like many of us) as to what the rules are.
July 4th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
#9 whatever: Nobody ever wins a two-test series with one win apiece. The series is always shared.
Different matter regarding the silverware though. In a shared series, the silverware can still find a clear home with one of the two teams if it is decided on a points-differential.
July 4th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
if habs and jp gets broken we are in the shite.we need a real badass 4lock.start looking bakkies is not a youngster.vic is goeing backwards steadely sykes needs to get games.kanko was not on the pitch time for vermeulen to step up
July 4th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
#178 poppa69:
The reason the Kiwis come here is because Saffas very seldom have something bad to say about Kiwis
It’s just not in our nature to criticise that which we dont quite understand, unlike Kiwis and Aussies.
We play the game, occassionally raise concerns but we dont look for excuses. Not in our genes.
We congratulate the winner and go back to fix. Perhaps, that’s why we win just about every RWC…
July 4th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
#177 Sheriff:
Who went to bed, today ?
Oh, you went to bed today !
Good night.
July 4th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
124 jessp – Calm down! Comments such as ‘just go home’ are extraordinary. Fans of rugby have just witnessed a sensational game, series and tour. If SA come to the UK, they would be welcomed and shown due respect as the current world champions by any ‘proper’ fan of rugby (with the exception of the scumbag Burger, of course), which makes me think you are a soccer fan, or a short-arse who was bullied at school.
Surely you derived some pleasure from the tour? You scraped 2 wins and were well and truly spanked in the third. For a squad put together 3 weeks before they flew out, at the end of a nine month season, surely, as a group of players, The Lions deserve some credit. Were you at the game? Did you leave with the rest of the SA ‘fans’ before ‘captain moan’ lifted the cup for what must seem a shallow victory?
Having read your ‘contribution’, I decided not to lower myself to your level, but then it occurred to me that to communicate with you, I would have to.
As we ‘all go home’ as requested, I will cherish the thought that 25000 Lions fans have crapped all over The Rainbow Nation, at least once a day, over the last 2 months. Actually, it would have been better if all the **** were dumped in your bedroom,(I assume you still live at home?) as I have no problem with any of your fellow countrymen.
PS: K*n*s starts with a C not K…
July 4th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
#183 WakaNathan:
Nathan
The next item on the agend is 3N.
We will talk then.
Note – you left out the 3rd letter of your nick; the “n”
Pls amend.
July 4th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Oh, and the ‘justice bands’ were gayer than any Tutu. Surprised PDV didnt spot that one. Another soccer type move! I always belived that the refs (or IRB) decision was final. Did Bakkies sew them for you? Grow up…
July 4th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
#185 Sheriff:
classic boet
wankanathan…. no doubts
July 4th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
#185 Sheriff:
why are you still up – you mentioned going to bed ?!
Youre only as good as your last game and your next one.
Tonight you go to bed a loser, Loser.
July 4th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
#188 WakaNathan:
How can a loser like yourself call another person a loser?
Btw – I have just spotted the missing “N”
Move that “N” the 5th letter to 3rd. You from the outback?
July 4th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
bigtim – Did you read my post? Or did you reply to the wrong one. I never wrote the words ‘just go home’ at any point, and anyway, seeing as I’m a Brit, Welsh to be precise, that’s not something I would say. Sorry but I’m a little mystified. Though I agree with you – as have written before – that was one of the best series of games I have ever seen in my 40 years of watching rugby.
July 4th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
#189 Sheriff:
My team won last time out.
Against any opposition.
And yours.
Yours lost their last match. Any way you look at it.
Good night. Loser.
July 4th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
#191 WakaNathan:
Cheers plonker.
2-1; reflect on that…
July 4th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
#192 Sheriff:
Not against my team, loser.
But, yes, between our teams it was in fact 2-1.
And my team whitewashed em, stuck a hunner on them, and traumatised them with an inferiority complex forever. Until you came along.
And thats the thanks we get.
July 4th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
This last dozen or so post looks like a bunch of kiddies in the sandpit squabbling over the Tonka Toys. Most people, including me, come to Keo for some intelligent debate, but right now, this **** is looking like an offshoot of Planet Rugby.
FFS grow up guys!!
July 4th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
10 changes. Nice job Snor. Mugwab. Who you going to blame now? YOu can’t change that many people, now matter how talented, and expect them to gel
Corksucker
July 4th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
#194 cooky:
Actually, I call childish using a Test match to air some ‘Justice’ campaign which, incidentally isnt for a tsunami or an earthquake or a nation of persecuted native peoples, but a fellow player getting a long overdue wakeup on his flying-headbutts.
Justice.
FFS
The singe most arrogant thing Ive seen ON a rugby pitch bar none. Shameful.
July 5th, 2009 at 12:03 am
#164 Crouching Tiger Hidden Bokke:
One can only conclude you’re probably around 3 rugby years old
July 5th, 2009 at 12:49 am
196. WakaNathan
The memo to referees and National Unions from the iRB, which I posted earlier in another thread, shows clearly that time has been called on players who think they are going to be allowed to charge into rucks that way in the future. This does NOT just apply to Bakkies. There are a number of other players who are going to be in for a rude awakening. Brad Thorn, Adam Thomson, Rocky Elsom, Jamie Heaslip and Paul O’Connel have all been guilty in the past of using this illegal and dangerous practice. Bakkies is just unlucky in that he has been made an example of. While some might argue that the “physicality” would be taken out of the game, I think that’s just BS. There is plenty of physicality in the game without players have to resort to using their heads and shoulders as the business end of a battering ram. Encroachers can be just as effectively “cleaned out” by binding and driving as they can by being hit with a flying head-butt, and with a far lower chance of sustaining a match, tour, season or career ending injury. Two players tried the “Bakkies” approach in this test, Kankowski and O’Connell, and both were penalised for it.
Dickinson will have included a reference to this in his pre-match briefing. The message has gone out, and the players (that mean ALL players in ALL countries) need to get that message, or they will spend a considerable amount of time warming a seat in the grandstand.
As for the “Justice” campaign, well, thats up to them. Personally, as coach, I would not have allowed it. They appeared so concerned about the feeling of “injustice” that they forgot they had a game to win. It distracted them from the task at hand. Those players didn’t look focused on beating the Lions. IMO it hindered their effort rather than helped it.
These types of campaigns rarely work, and can often backfire badly. In 2005, the Lions made a similar mistake over the BOD affair with Mealamu and Umaga. SCW and Alistair Campbell gave the media their “smoke and mirrors” show, and together with the British Media tried to run a smear campaign against Tana. Meanwhile, the Nation rallied around their skipper, and the AB’s concentrated on caning the Lions arses. 48-18 and 38-19 explained it to SCW far better than any reply in the media could have.
July 5th, 2009 at 12:57 am
#198 cooky:
Have you read Umagas book?
He goes it to a bit of detail about the incidednt with BOD.
It makes good reading especially the way BOD reacted to Umaga when Tana was trying to get a hold of him to apologise,but BOD wouldnt answer his calls or anything.
July 5th, 2009 at 1:23 am
#198 cooky:
Absolutely, those armbands were most stupid idiotic gimmicks I’ve seen any rugby player wear anywhere, and it detracted from their focus, all the stupid hullabaloo about Bakkies all week long from J.Smit because he knew without Bakkies propping him from the rear, Sheridan was going to own him, and so he did.
They had a rugby game to win not some ridiculous holy high ground war of sentiment with their ridiculous armbands, didn’t prove stuff all to anyone let alone themselves. Lunacy.