Lions Tour

kingsheathlad wrote: Sinkler now cited for biting.

Raider999 wrote: Gatland seems to have picked every Welshman in the squad. The one I really cannot understand is the hooker, as Lions lost virtually every line-out he threw in.

Sid James wrote: Raider999 wrote: Gatland seems to have picked every Welshman in the squad. The one I really cannot understand is the hooker, as Lions lost virtually every line-out he threw in. To be fair, when the Lions brought Owens on last Saturday it coincided with SA bringing on Lood from Sale, who dominated the line-out after he came on. Lood has kept his place so the Lions will need a plan B at the line-out. I think this was one tour too many for Gatland.

All the more reason not to start with Owens, very strange selection!

Pappashanga wrote: To be fair, Marx also came on round about the same time and he’s an excellent thrower. It wasn’t just the tall bloke.

And still haven't! Gatlands totally predictable response has been to pick a side to try and out-bully and out-kick SA. Like other international sides why can't he acknowledge that this isn't going to work and that a different game is required. (How does Van der Merwe retain his place after scoring around 4 on most pundits assessments?) 

I agree that it is commonly accepted that defence wins matches but it seems to have dawned on other international teams that you won't beat South Africa by constantly smashing it up the middle. You have to move them around and you don't necessarily have to adopt "flashy back play" to achieve this. Moving teams around should in theory be easier these days with fed scrums and (virtually) uncontested line outs - if you can get your throw and catcher in sync. You should be able to win enough ball to move teams around without taking endless risks. Surely every team must adopt tactics that give them the best chance of winning and trying to beat SA (at their own tactics) will not work. In the words of the late Ted Dexter "sometimes you have to be prepared to lose to give yourself a chance of winning" Sadly I doubt either team will be adopting that philosophy on Saturday and we must all prepare ourselves for another slug-fest, kick dominated, TMO deliberations boring advert of what should be a wonderful game

Edited by Thatbloke - 05 Aug 2021 at 10:49

Sorry, misunderstood that. I was referring to the fact that SA were losing a couple of line outs until the substitutions.

All I will say is that south africa didn't win that, we lost it.

Brilliant match tho. Rugby won that tour. Hoping to see an odd tourist in Millais next week. 

I'm somewhere in between DKF & CC who have posted above. Yes it is a pity that the Lions don't get adequate prep time, but the calendar is so squeezed that I can't see that changing - the national unions (Sco/Wal/Ire) &/or clubs (Eng) who are the players' main employers won't allow it. The rugby was compelling - to me as a purist - because it was so close, with so much at stake, and a real bite to proceedings as a result of the niggle between the camps and sheer physicality. But as a spectacle it left quite a lot to be desired and I wouldn't have thought was very attractive to neutrals or those new to the game.