SF - Lions v Highlanders

pukunui

What a pissweak performance. Surely the travel can't Have THAT much of an effect. Its not like they have never played games there before. It looks like tgey hit the piss on the flight and only arrive 20mins before kickoff. 
Hopefully it will have the same effect on the Lions when they travel next week.

Bones

At least Jaco won't be reffing.

canefan

I'm trying to visualise the Lions' flight from JBurg to Wellington; "Good evening Sirs I'm Suzie your flight attendant. Can I get you anything else to eat or drink?......."

Billy Tell

The Lions are really great viewing I must say.
 
Not enough quality in the Highlanders pack, too many gaps in midfield.

bbarcs

When do finals tickets go on sale?

Davesofthunder

Congratulations to the Lions. Hope the Hurricanes can take them out in Wellington though. 
Would of loved to see a Highlanders repeat but they just weren't good enough today unfortunately

sparky

Johan Ackermann's done an outstanding job with the Lions. They finished 15th out of 15 team under John Mitchell in 2012 and weren't even in the competition in 2013. 40-1 at the start of this year's tournament, not many big names in their squad yet they are in the final.

antipodean

Superb rugby the last two weeks by the Lions. Deserved finalists on this viewing.

Tordah

deserved win for the Lions, gota bit of the rub of the green from Peyper and used it well, but wouldn't have needed it. Highlanders had too many bad performers out there (looking at you, E Dixon & Faddes & the scrum in the 1st half). Replacements shored up the scrum, but the problem was really how easily Mapoe and Jantjies broke the line in midfield.
 
A Smith was out of puff from 70 minutes on, Faf played better.
Naholo was very good.
Luke Whitelock best starting loosie for the Landers, Squire was good also.
A Dixon much better than his namesake Elliott.
Ben Smith & Sopoaga were good without being great.
Pleasants-Tate was good, as was Squire.
With Marty Banks it seemed like the Lions expected him to not even try to break the line, so they just let him.

Frye

Joe Wheeler scores his first try in the last minute of his Super career. Looked pretty happy about that!

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bbarcs" data-cid="601758" data-time="1469889807">
When do finals tickets go on sale?</blockquote>Monday I reckon. CF Snr has a ticket spare but I have to be at work on the Sunday morning. I'm not sure I can resist the lure of seeing us finally lifting the crown but I was there last season and it was hard to see us fall. If we lose to the Lions it will be more gutting

Siam

Well done lions, you can have that 
Marty Banks is too good for an Italian side. Should be piloting the Blues

JAF

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="601750" data-time="1469889428">How many of the Lions players have played more than half a dozen tests for the Springboks?</blockquote>only 2 have been fringe Boks last year (Jantjes and Whiteley). None of these players went to World Cup. Only in June tests that some of them got starting games (Kriel, De Klerk, Mapoe, Combrink, Redelinghuys) due to performance with Lions. Future Boks are hooker Marx and centre Janse van Rensburg. 9 of these players are Bok material, but starting out.

Crash

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="601766" data-time="1469890145">
<div>
Monday I reckon. CF Snr has a ticket spare but I have to be at work on the Sunday morning. I'm not sure I can resist the lure of seeing us finally lifting the crown but I was there last season and it was hard to see us fall. If we lose to the Lions it will be more gutting
</div>
</blockquote>
Positive thinking Canefan! Was impressed with last weeks donut in Canes v Sharks.
Lets see how the Lions like the travelling to a wet n' windy capital.special
Time to give them a proper Welly welcome!
Onwards and upwards Canes!!

Provincial Stalwart

Lions are really fucking good. Not exactly a racially transformed team but their game has the potential to transform the Boks if some of that talent is managed correctly. Obviously I'm pushing a tenuous link between Super form and test match rugby but the raw material is there.
 
I'd watch the Lions any time. That early second half try where Jantjes broke from deep and put Skosan in was pure magic.
 
Hard to know whether the Landers or Chiefs played worse in their semi. Landers put in two terrible shifts in the finals.

nonpartizan

Credit where its due, that was an excellent performance from Jantjies. The kick-pass for the try was beautifully weighted. 
 
Highlanders didn't play that poorly in my opinion but I feel they lacked concentration and intensity. They seemed very lethargic.

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="601766" data-time="1469890145">
<div>
Monday I reckon. CF Snr has a ticket spare but I have to be at work on the Sunday morning. I'm not sure I can resist the lure of seeing us finally lifting the crown but I was there last season and it was hard to see us fall. If we lose to the Lions it will be more gutting
</div>
</blockquote>
It will be Tuesday lunchtime again, I suppose. Have to give time for tickets to be snapped up by members and clubs.

hydro11

From watching those highlights, the Highlanders just fell off a lot of tackles. They just seemed a bit tired. Dropping the ball over the line and giving away an intercept never helps.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="601778" data-time="1469903379">Lions are really fucking good. Not exactly a racially transformed team but their game has the potential to transform the Boks if some of that talent is managed correctly. Obviously I'm pushing a tenuous link between Super form and test match rugby but the raw material is there. 
 
I'd watch the Lions any time. That early second half try where Jantjes broke from deep and put Skosan in was pure magic. 
 
Hard to know whether the Landers or Chiefs played worse in their semi. Landers put in two terrible shifts in the finals. </blockquote>
 
Think I saw something saying they are the least transformed?

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="601783" data-time="1469908243">
<div>
From watching those highlights, the Highlanders just fell off a lot of tackles. They just seemed a bit tired. Dropping the ball over the line and giving away an intercept never helps.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
They looked fatigued. One long flight too many I think - just basic handling errors, slippin tackles and mis-reading. At that level you don't have to be far off your best to get smashed.
 
Backed up my call - tip against the people with major travel!

The Silver Fern

SF - Lions v Highlanders