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By Lion's Eye
July 2 2009

South African Springboks v British & Irish Lions 3rd Test - Saturday 4 July Start: 1400 BST Venue Coca-Cola Park (Formerly Ellis Park) Johannesburg Coverage: Live on Sky Sports,  

South African Springboks v British & Irish Lions

3rd Test - 2009

Venue Coca-Cola Park (Formerly Ellis Park) Johannesburg

Well it was to be expected that the South Africans having completed the job last week would cop out this week and change their whole team almost.  Springboks coach Peter de Villiers has made 10 changes in all.   Names some fans I am sure will not have heard of and perhaps don't really care about now.

The Lions due to injuries have also made changes but I am sure will be wanting to win this last test to save a bit of pride.   Having said that the Lions management and players can hold their heads up high as they have conducted themselves in a truly professional manner.  Unlike the South African Head Coach and some of his players.  

Last week's Test unfortunately left a very bad taste due to the circumstances all round, from referees, players right down the line to International Head Coach's comments re gouging (which really have got to be deplored) and the IRB stepping in to sort things out.

De Villiers has since apologised but has continued to insist the flanker did nothing wrong.  He ended a news conference by criticising British and Irish media over their coverage of the Burger incident. 

"We had negative media from Britain in 1974 and 1980 and now I've allowed it again in 2009," he said. "I've learnt that if they can't win on the field then they will try to win anywhere else they can."

Comments like the above are an insult to the British & Irish Lions!   South Africa has a bad reputation for violence on the field of play, we have seen it before and make no mistake we will see them do it again.   In my humble opinion they can no longer be classed as world champions (maybe in name), to be champions you need to have skills (which they have) but you also need to lead by example.  

Dirty, Dangerous play in not to be condoned at any level.   How the mighty Champions have fallen.

Shame they did not keep the coach that put the respect back into the Spring Bok and made them the RWC Champions 2007 - Jake White.

GOOD LUCK to our British & Irish Lions 

South Africa: Kirchner, Ndungane, Fourie , Olivier Nokwe, M Steyn, Du Preez, Mtawarira, Ralepelle, Smit, Muller, Matfield, Brussow, Smith, Kankowski 
Replacements: B du Plessis, Steenkamp, Carstens, Sykes, Spies, R Pienaar, F Steyn 

Lions: Kearney; Monye, Bowe, Flutey, S Williams; S Jones, Phillips; Sheridan, Rees, Vickery, Shaw, O'Connell, Worsley, M Williams, Heaslip.
Replacements: Ford, Hayes, Alun-Wyn Jones, Wallace, Croft, Ellis, Hook.

SA v British & Irish Lions (3rd Test)2009 Pre Match Thoughts

Discussion started by Lions 2009 , 02/07/2009 17:29

Lions 2009
02/07/2009 17:29

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Andy_Shark
02/07/2009 17:43

theres a good chance of a win

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Rarua
02/07/2009 18:55

I hope the Lions do win. The front row is very suss and deserves a hiding. In fact the majority of the whole team selected for the Boks is vulnerable and ....

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Rarua
02/07/2009 18:57

I meatto add that the Bok team rather indicates contempt and as such deserves a good thumping.

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sakkiesalm
04/07/2009 11:25

I predict South Africa will win this one by at least 20 points but most probably 40 points.This team is much stronger than the team selected by De Villiers the first 2 games and you will see it today.All the players starting are strong players and well known and did excellent in the Super 14 and the bench is strong too.My score prediction is 63-20 in favour of the world champions who deserve their title

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mabosa ritchie
04/07/2009 11:43

Bollocks because of the. Wasps factor we will get humped

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kiwitaff
04/07/2009 16:10

Sakkiesalm - do you do racing tips too? I've never seen anyone ever get something so wrong (other than Bish of course)


Oh, and Sideshow Bob at full back was the worst player I've seen in a Boks shirt since Percy

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British & Irish Lions
04/07/2009 16:12

South Africa 9-28 Lions:


Need we say anymore

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Patrick
04/07/2009 16:33

Bish, don't you get tired of always being wrong?

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sakkiesalm
04/07/2009 17:11

Well i admit,i was totally wrong.Congratulations to the Lions on an excellent performance.They thoroughly deserve it

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Rarua
04/07/2009 21:47

My punt was 10-17 which is a touch closer than 63-20.

I think the disallowed try was a tough call. But I have said all along that Bryce Lawrence is a prat.

Edit is the following addition which was what I initially was going to write:

The Boks can lose it bigtime when they get behind and try to change things by unadulterated violence.

And I take back a lot of my criticism of Phillips as a scrum half, although to be really good he needs to speed up his delivery.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:07:04:21:49:54 by Rarua.

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cardiffblue
04/07/2009 22:29

And I take back a lot of my criticism of Phillips as a scrum half, although to be really good he needs to speed up his delivery.

I agree pauses and aims to much before passing, instead of snapping the passes out, but what a great decision to play him at centre. we were winning with a big margin, so geechan thought keep hook on bench, in case we need him. remember last week!!!!!!!!! If we brought hook on, and took philips off and ellis got injured, we'd be in the s***t. good decision! (I might have got that wrong in subs, but someone will clarify Geechs reasoning)

Cheers

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Rarua
04/07/2009 22:47

I think it was going to be a straight swap Ellis for Phillips but when Flutey got injured (in the celebrations of Monye's try?) they kept Phillips on as a mid-fielder.

Seems odd, I know

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kiwitaff
06/07/2009 09:35

Quote:

Well i admit,i was totally wrong.Congratulations to the Lions on an excellent performance.They thoroughly deserve it

True sportsmanship, that's what I like to see and what it should all be about. One or two others (well one other) on this site could learn a lot from you!

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