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Post by hallmackem on Apr 14, 2009 17:54:13 GMT
Well, it's almost upon us with the first game of the tour taking place on the 30th of May against a Highveldt XV in Rustenburg. The first test will be played on the 20th of June in Durban.
Full Schedule (Times in brackets = local times)
Sat May 30 (3:00pm) Highveld XV, Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg 2:00pm
Wed June 3 (7:10pm) Golden Lions, Coca Cola Park*, Johannesburg 6:10pm
Sat June 6 (3:00pm) Free State Cheetahs, Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein 2:00pm
Wed June 10 (7:10pm) Sharks, ASBA Park, Durban 6:10pm
Sat June 13 (3:00pm) Western Province, Newlands, Cape Town 2:00pm Tue June 16 (3:00pm) Coastal XV, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth 2:00pm
Sat June 20 (3:00pm) 1st TEST SOUTH AFRICA, ASBA Park, Durban 2:00pm Tue June 23 (7:10pm) Emerging SA, Newlands, Cape Town 6:10pm
Sat June 27 (3:00pm) 2nd TEST SOUTH AFRICA, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 2:00pm
Sat July 4 (3:00pm) 3rd TEST SOUTH AFRICA, Coca Cola Park*, Johannesburg 2:00pm
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Apr 14, 2009 18:01:08 GMT
Exciting times although i think the Saffies will win the series if i'm honest. Out of interest why have the two Coca Cola Park games got a * by them?
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Post by hallmackem on Apr 14, 2009 18:19:02 GMT
Because it used to be known as Ellis Park.
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Apr 20, 2009 22:19:00 GMT
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Post by hallmackem on Apr 21, 2009 12:07:04 GMT
Great news there, confirmed by the fact that he arrived in Heathrow last night to be at today's press conference. Less than half an hour until the squad is named!
I'm excited!
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Post by hallmackem on Apr 21, 2009 12:51:44 GMT
Squad
Backs Lee Byrne Rob Kearney Shane Williams Leigh Halfpenny Ugo Monye Tommy Bowe Luke Fitzgerald Tom Shanklin Brian O'Driscoll Keith Earls Jamie Roberts Riki Flutey Ronan O'Gara Stephen Jones Mike Phillips Harry Ellis Thomas O'Leary
Forwards Jamie Heaslip Andy Powell Stephen Ferris Alan Quinlan Martyn Williams David Wallace Joe Worsley Alun Wyn Jones Paul O'Connell © Donncha O'Callaghan Nathan Hines Simon Shaw Gethin Jenkins Adam Jones Andrew Sheridan Phil Vickery Gerry Flannery Lee Mears Matthew Rees
37 there rather than the expected 36.
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Apr 21, 2009 22:05:40 GMT
Some strange choices and omissions there imo.
No armitage, Kennedy, Blair, Ryan Jones, Hook or Thom Evans yet the likes of Vickery, Ellis, Monye, Quinlan and Earls get the call? At least Cipriani missed out!
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Apr 21, 2009 22:08:54 GMT
Add Croft to that list of should have made its as well.
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Post by hallmackem on Apr 21, 2009 23:11:03 GMT
Happy with Monye and Earls being there.
Ryan Jones has been in hopeless form, Harry Ellis shouldn't be there, same goes for Andy Powell.
They should've gone with just four specialist second rows and picked Tom Croft as a forward who can play back and second row.
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Post by Bismarck on Apr 22, 2009 0:08:47 GMT
Looking forward to it...
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Apr 22, 2009 17:50:52 GMT
I'mm looking forward to it as well Bismarck although i can't see anything other than a South Africa series win! Happy with Monye and Earls being there. Ryan Jones has been in hopeless form, Harry Ellis shouldn't be there, same goes for Andy Powell. They should've gone with just four specialist second rows and picked Tom Croft as a forward who can play back and second row. Not happy with Monye - he's played about 20 seconds of international Rugby, granted he's played well but there are much better candidates including the liks of Thom Evans. Can understand Earls more but i would have chose Delon who can also play wing, centrre or full-back like Earls and deserves it a lot more. Would've liked Croft to be there but Kennedy should've made it more easily imo and how on earth did Quinlan get picked. Oh and you missed Euan Murray off your full squad list Ben...
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Post by hallmackem on Apr 22, 2009 18:49:52 GMT
I realised but just didn't change it.
Nah, Armitage should've gone ahead of Kearney. I watched Kearney play for Leinster against Harlequins and he just boots it down the field every time. As for the Evans/Monye debate, they have about the same amount of caps, and probably pace for that matter but Monye offers a little more in defence.
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Post by tigertiger on Apr 23, 2009 20:18:24 GMT
Think a centre pairing of O'Driscoll and Shanklin would be very good for the Lions, thought Shanklin was fantastic vs Gloucester in the EDF Cup Final
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Post by hallmackem on Apr 24, 2009 15:38:27 GMT
Nah, there are better options at Inside Centre. Shanklin is an Outside Centre.
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Post by hallmackem on Apr 28, 2009 13:05:58 GMT
Thomas O'Leary injured. Will another Scrum Half replace him or will they go for an extra Fly Half?
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Apr 28, 2009 17:44:38 GMT
I would think they will probably take another Scrum Half - ideally Blair but Peel also wouldn't be too bad imo.
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Post by hallmackem on May 5, 2009 12:40:00 GMT
Munster back row forward Alan Quinlan has been cited for gouging and will almost certainly lose his Lions place. Tom Croft must be first on the list of replacements? The only other sensible option would be Ryan Jones and he's more of a Number 8, Quinlan is a Blindside, like Croft.
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on May 6, 2009 16:26:29 GMT
Good - Croft should have been in there instead of Quinlan anyway. The main reason for taking Quinlan? His (and i quote) "sense of humour". Hoping he would pull a John Bentley i guess but i'd rather have Croft in there.
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Post by hallmackem on May 7, 2009 17:43:43 GMT
Tom Shanklin may be out...
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Post by hallmackem on May 31, 2009 16:29:59 GMT
A poor start by all accounts, just scraping past a Bafokeng Royal XV 37 points to 25. Lee Byrne and Andrew Sheridan the only good performances apparently, Keith Earls was terrible, which isn't something I'd expect.
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Post by Wolvensam on May 31, 2009 17:22:48 GMT
Had a nosey at this and it was a very poor 60 minutes from the Lions who did, as Ben said, scrape through.
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Post by hallmackem on May 31, 2009 17:26:32 GMT
I'm just glad the props had a good game, if South Africa are to be beaten then you have to take advantage of their only weakness: a (relatively) poor front row.
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Jun 1, 2009 19:37:07 GMT
Byrne was ok, Roberts was decent although personally i still don't really rate him and i suppose Sheridan was alright but tbh no-one should come out of that game with any real credit. Shocking from the Lions, no continuity, no skill and looked like a shabby outfit all round. Changes made for Wednesday though, so we shall see how it all goes then.
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Post by hallmackem on Jun 3, 2009 17:45:21 GMT
The Lions are absolutely hammering the Golden Lions!
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Post by Bismarck on Jun 3, 2009 18:11:14 GMT
40 mins - TRY Golden Lions 10-39 Lions
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Post by hallmackem on Jun 3, 2009 20:03:48 GMT
10-74 at the end.
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Jun 3, 2009 22:32:55 GMT
A hammering - looks like this back line fared better than that of the first game.
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Post by hallmackem on Jun 20, 2009 13:01:44 GMT
Test time!
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Post by hallmackem on Jun 20, 2009 13:16:27 GMT
John Smit scores almost straight away.
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Post by Bismarck on Jun 20, 2009 16:28:39 GMT
South Africa 26-21 Lions...spirited comeback but Boks were shown too much respect first half.
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