Thread: Lions Tour of South Africa 2009.

Originally Posted by Bobcock

Why would knocking Vickery make me feel better?

'Cos he's English and so am I. I know how you down-trodden subjects get a bee on your bonnet about an Englishman saying something negative about another non-English subject...

This is the Lions, maybe you don't understand the concept here..........

As for O'Connell I have no loyalty to him at all, I just happen to think he'll be selected despite his slightly below par performance to date. I just remarked that some people I watched the game with last week berated him the whole game for a bunch of perceived mistakes, whilst not necessarily watching the screen. Some of the usual gobby Wall Street suspects.

When I met Bobcock on Saturday I agreed to meet him tonight to watch the next game. Woke up this morning and realised the game was Tuesday...I am a Richard Cranium. Even took a day off tomorrow to nurse the hangover.

At least we won

Originally Posted by Bobcock

This is the Lions, maybe you don't understand the concept here.

I don't understand the concept of supporting any team except England if you're from one of the other areas of Britain, no.

Hook's injury ruins my theory of a 5/2 split and Murray's injury alters my front row.

Blairs form has made him impossible to pick on the bench as well

My Revised Test XV

15 Bryne

14 Bowe
13 O'Driscoll
12 Roberts
11 Monye

10 Jones
9 Phillips

1 Jenkins
2 Mears
3 Vickery
4 Jones
5 O Connell
6 Croft
8 Heaslip
7 Wallace

Bench (Very Important)

16 Ford
17 Sheridan
18 Shaw
19 Williams
20 Ellis
21 O'Gara
22 Fitzgerald

Losing Hook and Halfpenny has robbed the team of the sort of the two really versatile backs who could step in at 15 or wing and in Hook's case 12 and 10 as well.

Springbok Team For First Test

15 Frans Steyn
14 JP Pietersen
13 Adi Jacobs
12 Jean de Villiers
11 Bryan Habana
10 Ruan Pienaar
9 Fourie du Preez

8 Pierre Spies
7 Juan Smith
6 Heinrich Brussow
5 Victor Matfield
4 Bakkies Botha
3 John Smit (c)
2 Bismarck du Plessis
1 Beast Mtawarira.

Subs: 16 Gurthro Steenkamp, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Jaque Fourie, 22 Morne Steyn.

Pretty happy with this team. The injury to Burger has allowed the selection of Brussow who can make a major contribution at the breakdown. Steyn is probably the best choice for fullback although his inexperience there is a bit of a concern. Lack of a recognised kicker is also a bit of a concern (shades of 1997) however they have included Morne Steyn on the bench.

2 days to go; can't wait!

Originally Posted by BKKBoet

Steyn is probably the best choice for fullback although his inexperience there is a bit of a concern.

I have been watching Stein playing for the Bulls (I think) in the super 14's and he is a great player and deadly for drop goals.

Apart from him playing out of position a very strong team across the park and will give the Lions a run for their money.

^The Steyn you are thinking of is Morne Steyn, the Bulls no 10 and probably on form, the best 10 in the country; at least he has been included on the bench. The Steyn they are playing at fullback is Francois Steyn from the Sharks (see Avatar!). He is a talented player who has never really settled in a positon, this year the Sharks used him at both 12 & (after injury to Pienaar) 10. However many of those in the know say 15 would be his best position so I am looking forward to see how he goes on Saturday.

^ Ok and thanks and the boks must have a strong back-line if Morne Steyn cannot make the first team. A brilliant player and also good to see Bryan Habana still running around as he is one of the best finishers in the game.

^ It is a decision that has been questioned by many. Pienaar was the incumbent after the EOYT but got injured in the S14 and missed a number of weeks before playing in the last game of the round robin. Steyn played right through and was awesome in the semi & final. As you say though, there is the comfort that he is on the bench if Pienaar is not up to standard.

i'd rather you'd picked steyn at 10....Francois that is, I think he's a dead loss there, at full back he is at his most dangerous.

A while ago I was told he and Jean de Villiers would in no way be fit for the first Test, we been hoodwinked?

Originally Posted by Bobcock

i'd rather you'd picked steyn at 10....Francois that is, I think he's a dead loss there, at full back he is at his most dangerous.

Agreed! I think he showed during the Sharks S14 campaign that he is too slow for 10. After Pienaar got injured and we had no decent backup, our campaign was effectivley over.

Originally Posted by Bobcock

A while ago I was told he and Jean de Villiers would in no way be fit for the first Test, we been hoodwinked?

I think he has had a number of weeks to recover so am not sure. Having said that though there is a worry with players like De Villiers, Pienaar and Jacobs all coming off injuries. Hopefully they are all now 100%.

I don't know why they just didn't run the bulls team out as they were absolutely awesome during the S14's.

What's your 2 oaks (B'cock and Boet) opinion on where this game will be won and lost?

I feel the Lions have had a good run out over the last 2 weeks and the Boks might be a bit underdone due to lake of match fitness.

My prediction is a 28 to 18 scoreline to the Boks!

The forwards. Boks have physical edge and the Lions don't have anyone to compete with Brussow. Still nervous though; the match fitness factor is the big unknown, however there is good depth on the bench to cover it.

The Lions will win this one due to being match fit and having the confidence of a full bag of wins so far on the tour.

As for the Boks forwards having a physical edge; obviously it depends on who is played, but at full strength the Lions have the edge.

Originally Posted by BKKBoet

Still nervous though; the match fitness factor is the big unknown,

I think this where the Lions will win the 1st test. Not so much of a problem in the 2nd and 3rd, on the other hand the Lions will be knackered.

The Springboks have been having full contact matches against the Emerging Springbok team every 2 days the last week or so, so I am hoping that this nullifies the match fitness factor a bit!

Originally Posted by BKKBoet

The Springboks have been having full contact matches against the Emerging Springbok team every 2 days the last week or so, so I am hoping that this nullifies the match fitness factor a bit!

Clutching at straws there.

Originally Posted by BKKBoet

The Springboks have been having full contact matches against the Emerging Springbok team every 2 days

But nothing like what these crazy Poms, Jocks, Taffy's and Paddy's will be dishing out.

I think this game will be a lot closer than what I first thought but one thing for sure (and apart from O'Driscoll on his day) the Boks clearly have more true match winners in their side and that could be the difference not to mention the crazy Yarpy support.

Where's everyone watching the game and if there is a Teak Door meet-up in one of the pubs I might make the trip up to Bangers and to watch the game?.

Should be a good one!

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

if there is a Teak Door meet-up in one of the pubs

Name a place and I will be there

Originally Posted by Thai Pom

Name a place and I will be there

I would nominte the Office bar in Soi 33 or the Wall Street but you can't smoke in there mate.

Anywhere is OK as far as I am concerned as long it has a good atmosphere and a bit of eye candy!

Bobcock, where are you...............

I bring my own eye candy Mrs TP likes watching grown men kick the S**T out of each other.

We did the 2nd half of last weeks in WS, it was pretty quiet, quite a few were in Tenderloins because of the eye candy in WS and the Office.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Wall Street but you can't smoke in there mate.

I beg to differ...

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I beg to differ...

No smoking in there last week!!

Smoking has been banned in Wall Street until quite late at night and when the big boss isn't there. Well I have been told on a number of occassions to step outside for a puff.

Up to you TP and I will go where the masses and their ladies feel more comfortable.