2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA
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The war of words between Warren Gatland and Rassie Erasmus has certainly begun with the Test series fast approaching.
Speaking in Thursday’s press conference after naming his side to face the Stormers this Saturday, Gatland poked fun at Erasmus now balancing his job of being South Africa’s director of rugby with being their new water boy. Erasmus was seen on numerous occasions wearing an H2O vest, running onto the pitch giving instructions on Wednesday in his side’s victory over the Lions, but Gatland has highlighted that there was something fundamental he forgot.He said: “Last night, he was the water boy and running onto the pitch, but the thing is if you’re the water boy, you’ve got to make sure you’re carrying water. So I didn’t understand what his role was. You don’t run onto the pitch giving messages and stuff if you’re the water boy without carrying the water. So my advice to him is make sure he’s carrying water next time he does that.”
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@daffy-jaffy said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
The war of words between Warren Gatland and Rassie Erasmus has certainly begun with the Test series fast approaching.
Speaking in Thursday’s press conference after naming his side to face the Stormers this Saturday, Gatland poked fun at Erasmus now balancing his job of being South Africa’s director of rugby with being their new water boy. Erasmus was seen on numerous occasions wearing an H2O vest, running onto the pitch giving instructions on Wednesday in his side’s victory over the Lions, but Gatland has highlighted that there was something fundamental he forgot.He said: “Last night, he was the water boy and running onto the pitch, but the thing is if you’re the water boy, you’ve got to make sure you’re carrying water. So I didn’t understand what his role was. You don’t run onto the pitch giving messages and stuff if you’re the water boy without carrying the water. So my advice to him is make sure he’s carrying water next time he does that.”
Perfectly valid observation and criticism
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@sidbarret I don't actually recall our UK comms people mentioning the throwing but I was spewing. They weren't really bad, just consistently a little bent. He's pretty swift for a big barrel of a lad I will admit.
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The civil unrest events in SA must be a further threat to completing this tour -
Riots and looting have gripped the country following the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma, leading to horrific scenes of theft and general unrest.Due to the situation now being experienced in Gauteng, two matches scheduled to take place in Johannesburg on Saturday have been cancelled or postponed.
The Carling Currie Cup Premier Division match between the Sigma Lions and the Toyota Cheetahs has been called off. A decision on the result and log points will be made at a later stage.
Furthermore, the Women’s First Division Final, between the Mastercard Golden Lions and Free State, also scheduled for Emirates Airline Park, has been postponed. A new date will be communicated in due course.
On Wednesday SA Rugby announced that two Carling Currie Cup Premier Division matches this weekend will be cancelled.
The clash between the Cell C Sharks and the New Nation Pumas, scheduled for Durban on Friday, has been called off due to unrest in KwaZulu-Natal, while Saturday’s match in Kimberley between Tafel Lager Griquas and the Vodacom Bulls is also off.
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Apparently the Lions are still prepared to play the Jo'burg test as long as their new team bus arrives in time -
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@mikethesnow Fighting fire with fire I suspect. Remember the assistant coaches of the Lions not only doing the same but also putting pressure on the refs in NZ on the last tour. Frustrating to see from a fan's perspective.
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@old-samurai-jack said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mikethesnow Fighting fire with fire I suspect. Remember the assistant coaches of the Lions not only doing the same but also putting pressure on the refs in NZ on the last tour. Frustrating to see from a fan's perspective.
We may need to get some soccer style rules into sideline behaviour, relying on pro coaching staff to not take the piss isn't working. Same with physios/medics, bench players.
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I hope we don't have the first casualty of forging ahead on a tour in a country wracked with covid
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Springbok team to face the British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium:
15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 62 caps, 60 pts (12t)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse) – 14 caps, 40 pts (8t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 15 caps, 15 pts (3t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Munster) – 47 caps, 30 pts (6t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 14 caps, 70 pts (14t)
10 – Handré Pollard (vice-captain – Montpellier) – 49 caps, 465pts (6t, 78c, 89p, 4d)
9 – Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks) – 30 caps, 20 pts (4t)
8 – Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 7 caps, 5 pts (1t)
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers) – 56 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain – Cell C Sharks) – 51 caps, 30 pts (6t)
5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 40 caps, 5pts (1t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 86 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls) – 43 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers) – 37 caps, 40 pts (8t)
1 – Ox Nché (Cell C Sharks) – 2 caps, 0 ptsReplacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 34 caps, 30 pts (6t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 48 caps, 5pts (1t)
18 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 39 caps, 5pts (1t)
19 – Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks) – 45 caps, 25 pts (5t)
20 – Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse) – 2 caps, 0 pts
21 – Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 11 caps, 25 pts (5t)
22 – Elton Jantjies (Pau) – 38 caps, 283 pts (2t, 63c, 49p)
23 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 7 caps, 5pts (1t) -
Kwagga Smith is a big call
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Lions tests against the Boks to take place in Cape Town, Cape Town and Cape Town.
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Republic of the Western Cape. This suit the BILs. Cold and wet at the moment.
Obvious the Bok selectors need to select 50% PoC and the reason for our starting fatties.
If they can stand their ground you can expect the Bom squad to kill it off.
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@mikethesnow Kwagga come some distance with NieNaber. Myself would liked van Staden to have the best combination.
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@oompb said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mikethesnow Kwagga come some distance with NieNaber. Myself would liked van Staden to have the best combination.
I rate Kwagga, always have. But it's a very different back row with him in it.
Faster, for sure.
Maybe that's Rassie's cunning plan
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This is doing the rounds at the moment
The Times I think broke it
Lawes must have photos
Looking more and more that it's legit
If so, then a big fuck you to the Times for breaking it.
What goes on tour...
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@oompb said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
Republic of the Western Cape. This suit the BILs. Cold and wet at the moment.
Obvious the Bok selectors need to select 50% PoC and the reason for our starting fatties.
If they can stand their ground you can expect the Bom squad to kill it off.
Yep. Good old home advantage.
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Can't see it. Most glaring omission is Adams, so unless he's copped an injury, that selection is fucked. No Faletau or Simmonds? Nah. Lawes warrants a bench spot but no more. Owens is firmly third choice hooker in anyone's eyes.
I will buy* you a virtual beer if that is the side.
*Meaning that in reality I will do nothing of the sort. This is what virtual means in this instance.
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@catogrande said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
Can't see it. Most glaring omission is Adams, so unless he's copped an injury, that selection is fucked. No Faletau or Simmonds? Nah. Lawes warrants a bench spot but no more. Owens is firmly third choice hooker in anyone's eyes.
I will buy* you a virtual beer if that is the side.
*Meaning that in reality I will do nothing of the sort. This is what virtual means in this instance.
I'll spill it if I'm right
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That is a big advantage for the Lions.
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@dagrubster said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
That is a big advantage for the Lions.
Do you really mean somewhat less of an advantage to RSA?
