Springboks v British & Irish Lions II
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@mikethesnow said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
Itoje very lucky this was the 2021 Test Series not the 1997 Series
When Allende stands over Itoje and makes him flinch at the end that would have been lights out back in the day
Itoje said he was going to take the knee.
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@stargazer said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
I hope he gets an extensive ban and fine, fucking disgusting behaviour
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@darren said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
lets ban the box kick.
as the founding member of this club, welcome brother
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Don’t often see eye-to-eye with Foster
“I watched it between 22:00 (New Zealand time) and 01:00, it put me to sleep,” he told reporters.
Foster said the last two Lions series have been tight affairs and feels the current one has become an arm wrestle because the Boks and Lions employ similar methods in their approach to the game.
“The Lions series, the one we had here, the one over there, it’s become very tight, almost risk-free type of series, aren’t they? Teams are almost afraid to play, they are just relying on a low-risk strategy,” he said.
Low-risk rugby
“So we are seeing two teams who desperately want to win a big series playing low-risk, highly-effective rugby.
“Both of them are good at the close contact stuff, the close-quarter fighting, the kick and chase, and the pressure game. Two teams playing a similar style, it’s a bit of a slugfest.”
Foster believes both South Africa and the Lions are not comfortable playing against line speed which results in them employing kicking game plans.
“That’s Test match rugby where stakes are high, it’s the whole risk versus reward, isn’t it?” he added.
“You’ve got two teams over there, who want to get up, their line speed is really strong. It’s all about stopping.
“We’ve been criticised in the past for not being able to play around and through line speed, but what you are seeing is two teams that don’t like playing against line speed either.
“So what do they do? They kick. That’s the answer if you are not willing to play a slightly more risky game. Everyone will choose a different way.””
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Kyle cleared: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58073121
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@sidbarret you’re right to highlight our backs’ alignment. Reality is that it takes time to get the timing/coordination right for fluent backline moves in the face of modern defences.
And it’s harder when your scrummie isn’t a real fringe threat and isn’t the crispest passer. The boks are also missing a dynamic forward strike runner to keep the defence honest. Wiese needs to be sat in front of the iPad learning that, at this level, you run at the daylight. He’s getting marginally better every game, but a long way to go before he’s at Duane or even RG levels.
That said, the two tries we scored on the weekend ought to buy the boks a bit more space this weekend. And if the Lions don’t adjust then Pollard’s boot should punish them again. (Which is a good time to mention that his dummy chip for Mapimpi was a fine piece of work.)
In optimistic moments I find myself daydreaming about the bok forwards shaking another layer of rust off, Reinach testing the fringes, and now that the glory boys are back on a first name basis again, maybe they will also remember that Pollard taking the ball flat to the line has paid good dividends against better teams and it’s not a bad option to send a speculative inside ball to the eel dowsed in Vaseline masquerading as Kolbe.
But there’s a perverse part of my psyche that says to hell with creating the half yard of space Am needs to deliver golden balls to his wings. What this series needs is Pollard, Steyn, Willemse, Kolbe and even WLR just raining drop goals from our 10 yard in. And let the Lions cope with the challenge of trying to play off contestable 22 drop outs (and the inevitable scrums) whenever the scoreboard hasn’t crept up by another three points.
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@pakman said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
Kyle cleared: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58073121
Absence of clear evidence. I note no outright denial from Lions camp.
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@crucial said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@pakman said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
Kyle cleared: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58073121
Absence of clear evidence. I note no outright denial from Lions camp.
Well, apart from Sinckler categorically denying it. But yeah not much in the way of back up from the coaches.
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@catogrande said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@crucial said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@pakman said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
Kyle cleared: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58073121
Absence of clear evidence. I note no outright denial from Lions camp.
Well, apart from Sinckler categorically denying it. But yeah not much in the way of back up from the coaches.
When you eliminate the impossible, what is left is the answer?
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@machpants said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
Best banter from Squidge, 6:16 in - so true
Excellent analysis on Lawes and the fold
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@mikethesnow said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
Excellent analysis on Lawes and the fold
Yeah I was amazed at that, was he just too tired, or covering for the hooker that looked to have an injury
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@machpants said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
Best banter from Squidge, 6:16 in - so true
The brushing under the carpet has worked its magic on me. I don't remember any Guilford only a Guildford..
