Springboks v British & Irish Lions I
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Watched at pub, and banter made commentators hard to hear. But stat flashed up of penalty count of 8 -1 in second half. Without a rewatch, that seems unlikely to have been a fair reflection.
17 - 10 at 50, and I had a feeling missed conversion could be important, which it was.
A bit like a boxing bout in the old days where ref’s call was the decider.
Nothing in it, and both sides will be better next week. Selection will be very interesting! -
Not joking- bored shitless watching that. If it wasn't a Lions Test I'd have stopped watching.
Also, how does Nic Berry get a Lions Test ffs?
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@antipodean said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Not joking- bored shitless watching that. If it wasn't a Lions Test I'd have stopped watching.
the physicality didn't do it for you?
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Alun Wyn Jones is a fucking great captain. Sure he might have looked a little whiny at points, but it was clear he was keeping the direction of that team together and doing his best to ensure he understood what the ref wanted - a key point to make sure he wasn't missing anything in the change of hemispheres.
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@nzzp said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@antipodean said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Not joking- bored shitless watching that. If it wasn't a Lions Test I'd have stopped watching.
the physicality didn't do it for you?
It's like a banquet missing courses.
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@antipodean said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Not joking- bored shitless watching that. If it wasn't a Lions Test I'd have stopped watching.
Also, how does Nic Berry get a Lions Test ffs?
I have to say that despite being heavily invested, ‘cos Lions, it didn’t grab me. The intensity was there but it was all a bit bish, bash, bosh from both sides.
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@catogrande said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@antipodean said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Not joking- bored shitless watching that. If it wasn't a Lions Test I'd have stopped watching.
Also, how does Nic Berry get a Lions Test ffs?
I have to say that despite being heavily invested, ‘cos Lions, it didn’t grab me. The intensity was there but it was all a bit bish, bash, bosh from both sides.
Huh it's weird, because it's pretty much the inverse for me.
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@mikethesnow said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@kiwimurph said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@gibbonrib it was no arms as well.
This
Curry should have sat for 10
Cheap, late, dirty
I’d sit him down next matchDirty? Dunno about that.
If you think Curry should have seen yellow what about Watson? We’d be running out of 7s on that criteria 😳
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@gibbonrib said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@act-crusader said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@gibbonrib said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@mikethesnow said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@kiwimurph said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@gibbonrib it was no arms as well.
This
Curry should have sat for 10
Cheap, late, dirty
I’d sit him down next matchWasn't impressed with Curry at all in the first half (although I wasn't impressed by anyone apart from Itoje). Gave away 3(?) penalties, and didn't offer much. Gutted that Tipuric wasn't available.
I think it was only 2 penalties.
But the breakdown work overall by BIL in the first half was very hit and miss. The Boks had their way on both sides of the ball.
Agreed. I thought Price looked very poor in the first half, but in reflection that was largely because he wasn't getting any decent ball.
Lawes' second half means he should get another go. Wasn't convinced by Conan, would much rather see Faletau in. Curry was so-so, but H. Watson didn't do anything. Don't think there are any other 7 options in the squad, so I guess stick with Curry.
AWJ and Itoje should go again.
Front row, Sutherland wasn't great so I'd go Jones (or Mako if he's not fit). LCD would be a better bench option, with either Owens or George to start. Furlong earned another run-on, although I thought Sinkler was also decent when he came on.
I don’t think you can really critique the lack of attacking cutting edge as there really was little in the way of opportunity for any of the backs. Using the same criteria you’d drop Kolbe too - after all he did three-fifths of fuck all!
I don’t think that I would want to see too many changes for the Lions. Wyn Jones comes back if fit and I surprise myself in saying Mako on the bench. The rest of the forwards can stay, though there’s an argument for Watson over Curry. I’d also like to see Simmonds off the bench with half an hour to go.
Price did enough to keep his spot but Murray is now breathing down his neck. Biggar stays if fit with Farrell as the bench option. If Biggar is out then Farrell with Smith on the bench. Other than that I think they all did well enough given the limited amount of decent ball and the limited game plan.
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@bovidae said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Keohane is unhinged. What a piston wristed gibbon.
Le Roux landed on his arm so I was happy with just a penalty. Also, Berry has the final call, not the TMO.
I agree completely. SA Rugby Magazine has gone seriously backward since they let him write for them. Even that other SA writer - of who I've forgotten the name - isn't as whiny.
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@catogrande said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@mikethesnow said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@kiwimurph said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@gibbonrib it was no arms as well.
This
Curry should have sat for 10
Cheap, late, dirty
I’d sit him down next matchDirty? Dunno about that.
If you think Curry should have seen yellow what about Watson? We’d be running out of 7s on that criteria 😳
Watson too
And if Kolbe hadn't knocked on, Daly should have gone for holding back.
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@nzzp said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@bovidae said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Le Roux landed on his arm so I was happy with just a penalty. Also, Berry has the final call, not the TMO.
The counterpoint to that is that sort of lift and drive is exactly what's trying to be eliminated form the game. The aggravating factors for me were the intentionality (lifted from a standing position), and particularly the dropping/driving through the tackle. I think YC would be appropriate, but I far far prefer to sanction the action, rather than the outcome (ie lifting, rather than how they land)
That was a yellow all day. Once they're past horizontal I reckon you've got to go to the pocket unless something seriously favorable happens when they go to deck
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Keohane is a gigantic fucktard
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I feel like I’m missing something, there is loads of banter on the socials about the game being a bit of a hiding, felt to me like they limped over the line
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@pakman said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Watched at pub, and banter made commentators hard to hear. But stat flashed up of penalty count of 8 -1 in second half. Without a rewatch, that seems unlikely to have been a fair reflection.
17 - 10 at 50, and I had a feeling missed conversion could be important, which it was.
A bit like a boxing bout in the old days where ref’s call was the decider.
Nothing in it, and both sides will be better next week. Selection will be very interesting!Now watched third quarter.
Penalty against Kwagga for strip was bogus. Yes, it was similar to Daly one in first, but Nic Berry NOT the same. Ball had been ripped before call of tackle. No doubt, Berry felt he was being consistent, but that was three that shouldn’t have been added.
Le Roux non-try was correct result for me, but call wrong. Allowing for the angle he was behind boot. But previous pass clearly forward.
Not seen commented on, but Price’s left foot clearances against left touch were solid gold in Q3.
Not only completely relieved territory pressure, but also led promptly to Lions try and also one of the penalties.
Kwagga kept getting sacked. Three or four times! -
@bones said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@catogrande said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@antipodean said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Not joking- bored shitless watching that. If it wasn't a Lions Test I'd have stopped watching.
Also, how does Nic Berry get a Lions Test ffs?
I have to say that despite being heavily invested, ‘cos Lions, it didn’t grab me. The intensity was there but it was all a bit bish, bash, bosh from both sides.
Huh it's weird, because it's pretty much the inverse for me.
It was a much better second half, but it did go to pot a bit in the last 15 mins. The Boks started to look quite threatening in the period book-ended by their non-tries but their inherent conservatism and lack of a Plan B made it easy for guys like Murray and Farrell when they came on to take the game away just by keeping the ball in the Boks' half
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@gibbonrib said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Wasn't impressed with Curry at all in the first half (although I wasn't impressed by anyone apart from Itoje). Gave away 3(?) penalties, and didn't offer much. Gutted that Tipuric wasn't available.
The two first half penalties Curry gave away were the late hit on Faf and not rolling away when he was caught and pinned by SA - I would argue that the late hit upset Fafs kicking game and there was nothing more Curry could have done to roll away as he was largely out of the way and struggling to get out from under the SA players. I didn't see a third penalty - was Curry the second player in the tackle with Daly when le Roux took a high ball and the Lions were pinged (correctly) for not releasing the player when he got a knee down to the ground?
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@kiwiwomble said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
I feel like I’m missing something, there is loads of banter on the socials about the game being a bit of a hiding, felt to me like they limped over the line
Scorewise, not so much but SA's second half points and near misses came from mistakes rather than pressure.
In the second half, possession and particularly territory stats were heavily in the Lions favour. The Lions seemed to be able to win lineouts and setup mauls at will, the scrums were either stable or the Lions were able to pressure SA and tacticswise SA appeared to either have none or didn't have the energy to execute them.
Not a hiding but 19-5 in the second half is a fair reflection and there may be a little panic in the SA camp to address the weaknesses (i.e. a physical number 8 and at least one front row that can last more than 30 mins).
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@pecotrain said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@kiwiwomble said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
I feel like I’m missing something, there is loads of banter on the socials about the game being a bit of a hiding, felt to me like they limped over the line
Scorewise, not so much but SA's second half points and near misses came from mistakes rather than pressure.
In the second half, possession and particularly territory stats were heavily in the Lions favour. The Lions seemed to be able to win lineouts and setup mauls at will, the scrums were either stable or the Lions were able to pressure SA and tacticswise SA appeared to either have none or didn't have the energy to execute them.
Not a hiding but 19-5 in the second half is a fair reflection and there may be a little panic in the SA camp to address the weaknesses (i.e. a physical number 8 and at least one front row that can last more than 30 mins).
I thought the first front row unit went well.
I'd have kept them on longer.
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Anyone heard if Biggar's knee is still concussed?
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@mikethesnow said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@pecotrain said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@kiwiwomble said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
I feel like I’m missing something, there is loads of banter on the socials about the game being a bit of a hiding, felt to me like they limped over the line
Scorewise, not so much but SA's second half points and near misses came from mistakes rather than pressure.
In the second half, possession and particularly territory stats were heavily in the Lions favour. The Lions seemed to be able to win lineouts and setup mauls at will, the scrums were either stable or the Lions were able to pressure SA and tacticswise SA appeared to either have none or didn't have the energy to execute them.
Not a hiding but 19-5 in the second half is a fair reflection and there may be a little panic in the SA camp to address the weaknesses (i.e. a physical number 8 and at least one front row that can last more than 30 mins).
I thought the first front row unit went well.
I'd have kept them on longer.
The first SA front row? They tired badly in the last 10 minutes of the first half and looked like they were starting to struggle at scrumtime and around the park. I was expecting SA to replace their front row after 50-60 mins but I'm not sure they had that much left. While they had the upper hand in the first 30 minutes, I'm not sure how much of that was down to the Lions forward pack getting into the game.
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@mikethesnow
Only news I can find is https://www.ruck.co.uk/lions-injury-update-biggar-and-jones-out-russell-returns/
When asked about Biggar, Gatland responded: “We’ll have to see. It’s a tricky one”I assume that means its not tricky at all and he's not available. Think he already had a knee niggle so this has made it worse.
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MiketheSnowreplied to PecoTrain on 25 Jul 2021, 14:21 last edited by MiketheSnow 25 Jul 2021, 14:23
@pecotrain said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@mikethesnow
Only news I can find is https://www.ruck.co.uk/lions-injury-update-biggar-and-jones-out-russell-returns/
When asked about Biggar, Gatland responded: “We’ll have to see. It’s a tricky one”I assume that means its not tricky at all and he's not available. Think he already had a knee niggle so this has made it worse.
From the article it says he failed his HIA.
At the time I thought it was a knee injury and some shrewd/dodgy coaching from Gatland to take Biggar off for a HIA so Daly could come back on.
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@pecotrain After 60 it could have/should have been 19 - 13, which would have been a fair reflection.
Territory in Q3 reflected excellent kick chase by Lions and poor reception by Boks more than a sea change.
That said, will later watch Q4, and at the 60 apparent that several of Boks out of gas. -
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60-70 Three fairly average decisions in 10. de Klerk kick caught in play by Kolbe, but ruled out on full. Then line out penalty kicked. If lineout in correct position would have been too far out.
Watson > 90 degrees. Pollard misses.
Scrum penalty against Boks around 69 for ‘walking around’. Looked more to me that Sinckler backed off and AWJ/Itoje pushed on angle causing scrum to pivot. Malherbe went forward. Relieved a period of pressure by Boks.
Lions shouldn’t have been ahead at 70. -
70-80. De Allande try was inches from being legit. Sheer luck.
Lions Maul gives rise to fair penalty. Came after three dropped balls by Boks, losing 30m each time.
Five points too much to claw back.
Lions box kicking in second half won that for them, hence Lions 47% of time between Bok 22 and halfway.
But at least three dubious reffing decisions led to six dodgy points and playing last 10 with 15, when 14 was justified.
Neither side showed much attacking skill, albeit Boks very dangerous in broken play.
Better to be lucky than skillful! -
@pakman said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Scrum penalty against Boks around 69 for ‘walking around’.
Stop it
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@bones said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@pakman said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Scrum penalty against Boks around 69 for ‘walking around’.
Stop it
Aussies don’t like that sort of play!
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@pakman said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@bones said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@pakman said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Scrum penalty against Boks around 69 for ‘walking around’.
Stop it
Aussies don’t like that sort of play!
Walking the 69 around is absolutely showing off.
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Just watched the second half again.
More @pakman commentary.
There is period from about 55 to 65 where the Springboks just got zero luck. It starts with the penalty against Kwagga for the strip. Not wrong, but just so close to a great play.
Then from the kickoff there's a box kick, which looks (in my biased opinion) to go forward off VDM, but not called. A little later there is a knock on called from a kick that is then played by a player in front but not called. Faf kicks the ball out on the full, but Kolbe is able regather and get a foot in play. But the refs miss it so the Lions get get a line out that they mauled for a penalty that is now in range.
Shortly thereafter Watson is very lucky to stay on after tips tackles Le Roux.
I don't mean that we got screwed by the ref, and I still think Berry is the best ref we'll have in this series, but sometimes you need a bit of luck to go your way. These types of close calls going against you compounds into pressure especially if they follow so closely on each other.
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@sidbarret said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Just watched the second half again.
More @pakman commentary.
There is period from about 55 to 65 where the Springboks just got zero luck. It starts with the penalty against Kwagga for the strip. Not wrong, but just so close to a great play.
Then from the kickoff there's a box kick, which looks (in my biased opinion) to go forward off VDM, but not called. A little later there is a knock on called from a kick that is then played by a player in front but not called. Faf kicks the ball out on the full, but Kolbe is able regather and get a foot in play. But the refs miss it so the Lions get get a line out that they mauled for a penalty that is now in range.
Shortly thereafter Watson is very lucky to stay on after tips tackles Le Roux.
I don't mean that we got screwed by the ref, and I still think Berry is the best ref we'll have in this series, but sometimes you need a bit of luck to go your way. These types of close calls going against you compounds into pressure especially if they follow so closely on each other.
Point being that Boks being 5 behind at end was unlucky, and allowed Lions to close it out. If 2 points different ball game!
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Tactically South Africa needs to find a way to generate go forward off static ball especially around their own ten meter line. The box kick is fine, but you can't always kick to set defendses.
There were also at least two scrum advantages where we used low percentage kicks instead of setting up attacks.
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Yeah mate, we did get the rub of the green. I don’t think that many of those rub of the green calls were that bad, Kwagga’s strip and the tip tackle aside. The rest for me were close calls, just this time they all seemed to go our way. But that’s test match rugby, you weren’t robbed but similarly if you’d have won, it wouldn’t have been an injustice. The Bok indiscipline in the second half was the most telling factor.
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@catogrande yeah not robbed, just rubbed of green stuff.
Actually the discipline wasn't that bad. High tackle from Etsebeth that was tough call (led to line out that BIL scored off) , an offside against Mapimpi, a scrum penalty where Vanipulo was on an interesting angle. The big one was the maul (three penalties and a try) where we just didn't have an answer.
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@sidbarret said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@catogrande yeah not robbed, just rubbed of green stuff.
Actually the discipline wasn't that bad. High tackle from Etsebeth that was tough call (led to line out that BIL scored off) , an offside against Mapimpi, a scrum penalty where Vanipulo was on an interesting angle. The big one was the maul (three penalties and a try) where we just didn't have an answer.
In the UK comms, Sam Warburton called it late in the first half that if the Lions kept the ball in hand a bit more and just played more rugby in general, the Boks we’re giving away penalties. He must have called that three or four times before we began to play that sort of pattern. In the second half the score and the penalty count backed this up. For sure one can point at some close calls but the numbers overall tell the story.
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@pakman yeah, but could have been even had Pollard hit the conversion and the penalty for the tip tackle.
Hell we could have been up by seven had Le Roux timed his run from Am's kick a bit better.
We had our chances, but didn't take them. It might have been different with a tad more luck, but them the breaks.
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@pecotrain said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@gibbonrib said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Wasn't impressed with Curry at all in the first half (although I wasn't impressed by anyone apart from Itoje). Gave away 3(?) penalties, and didn't offer much. Gutted that Tipuric wasn't available.
The two first half penalties Curry gave away were the late hit on Faf and not rolling away when he was caught and pinned by SA - I would argue that the late hit upset Fafs kicking game and there was nothing more Curry could have done to roll away as he was largely out of the way and struggling to get out from under the SA players. I didn't see a third penalty - was Curry the second player in the tackle with Daly when le Roux took a high ball and the Lions were pinged (correctly) for not releasing the player when he got a knee down to the ground?
the third was early when SA were looking to clear their lines, and there was bobbling ball. I think first 10 minutes - but the ref blows an SA penalty, and calls 'offside 7'. Was hard to pick up live - it looked like a latish hit on the SA kicker.
I'd also strongly argue the 'not rolling' penalty. Really stood out as both sides were working so hard on clearing the tackle area - in that one, he lay there, then rolled. I hate the Gats tacklers lying longitudinal and impeding people to the breakdown. It's apparently legal, but you see it in every team he coaches. Smart rugby, but cynical as all hell, and very effective I reckon.
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@pakman said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Point being that Boks being 5 behind at end was unlucky, and allowed Lions to close it out. If 2 points different ball game!
5 points means you need to manufacture a try rather than earn a penalty - given that all of SA's try scoring opportunities in the game after the 5 minute mark (when Itoje got his hads on the ball in questionable circumstances) came from mistakes that created opportunities from broken play rather than genuine pressure and broken play was just as likely to result in Lions points as Springbok points.
Your analysis of the reffing is right around Hamish Watson (definite card for tip tackle) but ignores SA having the penalty count going 8 v 1 against them in the second half without losing anyone for deliberate infringing. Of the three TMO incidents for tries, one was clearly correct (knock on by Kolbe), one benefitted the Boks (Fafs try) and the third appears to be correct from the front on angle which wasn't shown during the game but I assume was seen by the TMO.
So whats the Springbok gameplan for the 2nd test? Pretend everything is OK, do the same again and hope they can benefit from TMO mistakes to get more tries?
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@pecotrain said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
@pakman said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions 1:
Point being that Boks being 5 behind at end was unlucky, and allowed Lions to close it out. If 2 points different ball game!
5 points means you need to manufacture a try rather than earn a penalty - given that all of SA's try scoring opportunities in the game after the 5 minute mark (when Itoje got his hads on the ball in questionable circumstances) came from mistakes that created opportunities from broken play rather than genuine pressure and broken play was just as likely to result in Lions points as Springbok points.
Your analysis of the reffing is right around Hamish Watson (definite card for tip tackle) but ignores SA having the penalty count going 8 v 1 against them in the second half without losing anyone for deliberate infringing. Of the three TMO incidents for tries, one was clearly correct (knock on by Kolbe), one benefitted the Boks (Fafs try) and the third appears to be correct from the front on angle which wasn't shown during the game but I assume was seen by the TMO.
So whats the Springbok gameplan for the 2nd test? Pretend everything is OK, do the same again and hope they can benefit from TMO mistakes to get more tries?
Great photo. Clear and obvious as mud, in words of Will Greenwood!
And two of those 8 penalties were bogus. Very few in red zone.
But agree with summation. Stick with game plan and it will come down to how the 50:50s break.
I think I’d revert to big eightman.
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