Cell C Sharks v British & Irish Lions, 7 July

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CELL C SHARKS v BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
Wednesday 7 July
KO: 19:00 SAST / 18:00 UK / 21:00 Dubai  
Emirates Airline Park (Ellis Park), Johannesburg
Sky Sports Main Event

Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)
Assistant Referee 1: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: AJ Jacobs (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

TEAMS:

CELL C SHARKS:
1. Khwezi Mona
2. Fez Mbatha
3. Khutha Mchunu
4. Ruben van Heerden
5. Hyron Andrews
6. James Venter
7. Thembelani Bholi
8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c)

9. Jaden Hendrikse
10. Curwin Bosch
11. Thaakir Abrahams
12. Marius Louw
13. Jeremy Ward
14. Werner Kok
15. Manie Libbok

16. Kerron van Vuuren
17. Ntuthuko Mchunu
18. Wiehahn Herbst
19. JJ van der Mescht
20. Reniel Hugo
21. Dylan Richardson
22. Grant Williams
23. Anthony Volmink

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS:
15. Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales) #833
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) #816
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland) #837
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #841
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) #821
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales) #850

1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England) #787
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) #851
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #848
4. Iain Henderson – Captain (Ulster Rugby, Ireland) #808
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales)
6. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby, Wales)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England) #849

16. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829
17. Rory Sutherland (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #840
18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #818
19. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #838
20. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #839
21. Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790
22. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland) #783
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland) #844

COMMENTARY:

“We have followed all necessary precautions since the start of the Tour, which included regular testing and rigorous COVID-19 counter measure planning and protocols,” said Ben Calveley, Managing Director for the British & Irish Lions. wrote:

I fail to believe this. If they had done that, then how could they have become infected ?

It's turning farcical now.

LordDowlais wrote:

I fail to believe this. If they had done that, then how could they have become infected ?

It's turning farcical now.

Because they've not done everything they can. And also because you can just be unlucky or careless once.

I can see this going downhill quickly from here. And more annoyingly the match is now clashing with the football.

No 7&1/2 wrote: And more annoyingly the match is now clashing with the football.

Ah, so it is. That's very annoying. I think it'll end being another one postponed though. Can see more lateral flow fails, this afternoon.

Well that is that then.

***GAME/TOUR OVER***

Some good news, the match will go ahead

Old Man wrote:Some good news, the match will go ahead

That is good news.

But it's been pushed back by an hour, I think?

yes

George Carlin wrote:But it's been pushed back by an hour, I think?

19:00 KO UK time.

I wonder if there will be any changed to the team, if any of them are the ones isolating?

BigGee wrote:

George Carlin wrote:But it's been pushed back by an hour, I think?

19:00 KO UK time.

I wonder if there will be any changed to the team, if any of them are the ones isolating?

According to reports there is a minimum of one change expected. Let's just hope the match happens and everyone remains disease free. Were all the Lions completely vaccinated? I suppose not all the Boks yet.

doctor_grey wrote:

BigGee wrote:

George Carlin wrote:But it's been pushed back by an hour, I think?

19:00 KO UK time.

I wonder if there will be any changed to the team, if any of them are the ones isolating?

According to reports there is a minimum of one change expected.   Let's just hope the match happens and everyone remains disease free.  Were all the Lions completely vaccinated?  I suppose not all the Boks yet.

They all got jabbed whilst in Jersey, but i am assuming it was their first one, the ones not in Jersey I assume got done locally.

So we don't really know for sure, but probably not.

Blimmey, the Lions have got 6 forwards on the bench!

Russell is the only back!

bomb squad

I think we can assume that all the isolated players are backs then!

Price starts for the second game in a row and will likely have to play 80 mins!

I am interested to see how the young Sharks pack will perform here

1 player has tested positive and 8 are isolating following the PCR testing today!

BigGee wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

BigGee wrote:

George Carlin wrote:But it's been pushed back by an hour, I think?

19:00 KO UK time.

I wonder if there will be any changed to the team, if any of them are the ones isolating?

According to reports there is a minimum of one change expected.   Let's just hope the match happens and everyone remains disease free.  Were all the Lions completely vaccinated?  I suppose not all the Boks yet.

They all got jabbed whilst in Jersey, but i am assuming it was their first one, the ones not in Jersey I assume got done locally.

So we don't really know for sure, but probably not.

Lions management say that their independant medical advisers gave them the go ahead for the match to proceed.

No current plans to move the Test matches out of SA (Though they did not deny it)

The majority of the Lions squad, but not all, have been double jabbed. He would not, understandably, answer any questions about the Boks situation.

McGeechan saying, on player welfare grounds, that they should lose this weekends game.

Fair few missing then.

7 1 bench.

Shakrs backline are going to struggle with the big boys in the Lions backline

Old Man wrote:Shakrs backline are going to struggle with the big boys in the Lions backline

Especially when we get an injury and need faletau at inside centre.

Another strong start.

What's going on with the shirt numbers?

Seems too easy again. May be too early to judge.

The SA first XV will be crying off at this rate.

Sharks have settled a bit now and should have scored

Good turn over on our line there by Curry.

Tat yellow was a bit harsh, he was pulled over the ruck

I heard Biggars shirt was very stretched around the neck due to his head pushing through it.

Scrums are a mess

Vunipola demonstrating why he should not be in the test team.

Lovely kick by Farrell. Great chase vdm.

DTH showing his pace and physicality there

Curwin bosch is kak, his passes are slow and inaccurate and too many unforced errors

Too easy.

Almost like SA are not taking this seriously.

Another one by Vunipola.

Young team tighthead, no stars

Mako penalised again!

Lions defence is rock solid, Sharks can't make any progress

yes, but sharks errors aren’t doing them any favours either

Not really any need for Farrell to have kicked that one as LRZ was always covered. a couple more phases would have been a better option

That was a better lineout set, good try

BigGee wrote:Not really any need for Farrell to have kicked that one as LRZ was always covered. a couple more phases would have been a better option

He is up against a midget though. Leads to the try anyway.

I expected the Sharks to be more physical than the Sigma Lions, it seems I was wrong

No 7&1/2 wrote:

BigGee wrote:Not really any need for Farrell to have kicked that one as LRZ was always covered. a couple more phases would have been a better option

He is up against a midget though. Leads to the try anyway.

We got away with it, but it was poor choice

BigGee wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

BigGee wrote:Not really any need for Farrell to have kicked that one as LRZ was always covered. a couple more phases would have been a better option

He is up against a midget though. Leads to the try anyway.

We got away with it, but it was poor choice

These warm ups are to try things as much as anything else. Rees-Zammet hasn't had a great first half though.

Shame the Lions are playing such inexperienced teams.

yes, it is disappointing

I said at the time that Japan likely to be the hardedt warm up game and i think i will be right

well to be fair the Japanese team is an international team, whereas these are provincial teams depleted of their main players and our depth has suffered due to all the overseas contracts

Fagerson and Vunipola not sending signals for test selection.