Springboks v British & Irish Lions II
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Lions make three changes to starting team from first Test as Conor Murray replaces Ali Price
Scrum-half Conor Murray has been handed a surprise start for the crucial Lions second Test against South Africa as head coach Warren Gatland makes four changes to his matchday squad.
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Behind a paywall, so
Stuart Hogg; Anthony Watson, Chris Harris, Robbie Henshaw; Duhan van der Merwe; Dan Biggar, Conor Murray; Mako Vunipola, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Rory Sutherland, Kyle Sinckler, Tadhg Beirne, Taulupe Faletau, Ali Price, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly
Rassie Erasmus hits back at Lions for compromising ‘integrity of the game’
Rassie Erasmus has taken a swipe at the British & Irish Lions for compromising the ‘integrity of the game’ by making their anger known at the appointment of the South African TMO Marius Jonker
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@machpants Apologies, as was signed in didn’t notice. If I were SA I’d take Malherbe and Ox to start and others to finish, which would aid mix.
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@pakman said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@machpants Apologies, as was signed in didn’t notice. If I were SA I’d take Malherbe and Ox to start and others to finish, which would aid mix.
NP, I'm interested to what Rassie, sorry Jacques, decides to do. The bench balance didn't work last time
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Guessing that means Wyn Jones is still injured.
LCD lucky to start. Murray doesn't deserve to be ahead of Price. And Daly doesn't deserve a bench spot.
Adams and Williams very unfortunate to miss out again, given their form.
But Gatland is a very good coach, no decision is made without a good reason.
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@bones said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
That's a stronger looking side.
Gone for a change of emphasis I feel. A bit more defensively minded, maybe expecting a tighter game? Hard to argue too much with any of the selections though I’d like to have seen Simmonds on the bench in place of Faletau as I think he brings a different dimension. Might be the double effect of my England and Exeter bias though.
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Swopping Murray for Price is a little strange. Price was apparently picked for his fast service, but it was his kicking in the second half that was really good. Is Murray going to be better at kicking than Price was last weekend?
Daly on the bench over Williams is a little strange as well. Daly was terrible last weekend so I am not sure what he brings that you wouldn't get from Williams.
What is up with Biggar? There were rumors about concussion issues and something about his knee, has he been cleared or are we going to see a late change this week again?
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Re Biggar, I’d assume they’re giving him every chance to make it. L has gone back a bit, Smith is pretty green and Russel is coming back from injury. So makes sense. Late call coming up. If he does miss out, the bench spot behind Farrell will be interesting.
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@catogrande assuming Biggar and Fynn are out then it has be Smith doesn't it (unless Daly has played ten before).
If they are unsure about Biggar it might explain Daly on the bench as he covers the centres if Farrel is starting.
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@sidbarret said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@catogrande assuming Biggar and Fynn are out then it has be Smith doesn't it (unless Daly has played ten before).
If they are unsure about Biggar it might explain Daly on the bench as he covers the centres if Farrel is starting.
Hogg to 10
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Mako or Sutherland, knife edge
Think SA will pick units, so Faletau instead of Watson no drama
If you're going to play box kick from 9, then organ grinder instead of monkey makes sense
Harris deserves his chance
Didn't need to change the back 3
Price makes sense
Farrell makes sense and no alternative really
Daly lucky
I would have had Adams on the bench, but Zoom took care of that
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@mikethesnow said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
Mako or Sutherland, knife edge
Think SA will pick units, so Faletau instead of Watson no drama
If you're going to play box kick from 9, then organ grinder instead of monkey makes sense
Harris deserves his chance
Didn't need to change the back 3
Price makes sense
Farrell makes sense and no alternative really
Daly lucky
I would have had Adams on the bench, but Zoom took care of that
If I were South Africa I’d practise kick offs to 9’s inboard side. Kicking to Lion’s left just let Price return into SA half for scrum put in itr penalty FOUR times.
Just kick the other way!
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@sidbarret said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@catogrande assuming Biggar and Fynn are out then it has be Smith doesn't it (unless Daly has played ten before).
If they are unsure about Biggar it might explain Daly on the bench as he covers the centres if Farrel is starting.
Finn Russell has resumed training this week so in theory could be in the mix, but that would be a risky call.
Daly on the bench does make sense (would make better sense if he'd played well last week but..). He covers centre and wing well enough and according to Eddie Jones, full back as well, so he is a good bench option regardless of Biggar's fitness. With him and Farrell (starting or bench) you've covered everything from 10 out.
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@catogrande yeah, but assuming Harris goes down in the first minute, doesn't Biggar - Farrel - Henshaw make more sense than Biggar - Henshaw - Daly?
Again assuming Biggar is out and Smith is on the bench it become Farrel - Henshaw - Daly vs Smith - Farrel - Henshaw. In that scenario Daly starts making sense.
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@sidbarret said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@catogrande yeah, but assuming Harris goes down in the first minute, doesn't Biggar - Farrel - Henshaw make more sense than Biggar - Henshaw - Daly?
Certainly does if Daly keeps up last weeks form! And I’d guess that’s what would happen. The issue is if Biggar goes down, or Watson/VDM.
Again assuming Biggar is out and Smith is on the bench it become Farrel - Henshaw - Daly vs Smith - Farrel - Henshaw. In that scenario Daly starts making sense.
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@catogrande said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@sidbarret said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@catogrande yeah, but assuming Harris goes down in the first minute, doesn't Biggar - Farrel - Henshaw make more sense than Biggar - Henshaw - Daly?
Certainly does if Daly keeps up last weeks form! And I’d guess that’s what would happen. The issue is if Biggar goes down, or Watson/VDM.
If VDM, Daly to 11. Then can later swap St. Owen for Biggar, Henshaw or Harris?
Again assuming Biggar is out and Smith is on the bench it become Farrel - Henshaw - Daly vs Smith - Farrel - Henshaw. In that scenario Daly starts making sense.
