South Africa 'A' v British & Irish Lions, 14 July

                                
SOUTH AFRICA A v BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
Wednesday 14 July
KO: 20:00 SAST / 19:00 UK / 22:00 Dubai  
Cape Town Stadium (Newlands), Cape Town
Sky Sports Main Event

Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Referees: Wayne Barnes, AJ Jacobs
TMO: Marius Jonker

TEAMS:

SOUTH AFRICA A:
15 – Willie le Roux
14 – Cheslin Kolbe
13 – Lukhanyo Am (captain)
12 – Damian de Allende
11 – Sbu Nkosi
10 – Morné Steyn
9 – Faf de Klerk

8 – Jasper Wiese
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit
6 – Marco van Staden
5 – Franco Mostert
4 – Eben Etzebeth
3 – Trevor Nyakane
2 – Joseph Dweba
1 – Steven Kitshoff

Replacements (from):
16 – Malcolm Marx
17 – Coenie Oosthuizen
18 – Vincent Koch
19 – Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg
20 – Rynhardt Elstadt
21 – Herschel Jantjies
22 – Jesse Kriel
23 – Damian Willemse
24 – Kwagga Smith
25 – Elton Jantjies

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS:
15. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) #816
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales) #846
13. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland) #844
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland) #837
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) #836
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) #821
9. Conor Murray – captain (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790

1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) #842
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825
5. Iain Henderson (Ulster Rugby, Ireland) #808
6. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) #854
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) #853
8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales) #779

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) #851
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England) #787
18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #848
19. Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales) #852
20. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #838
21. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England) #849
22. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales) #850
23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822

COMMENTARY:

I have just started this thread on the working assumption that this is the most likely fixture.

I have assumed that the referee rotation will be as previously advertised.

Can I start this thread with Rugby Fan's excellent 'table of minutes played to date':

George, there is a rumour that the Stormers and SA A mathces might be swopped around, will check it out.

Oh, sorry, you got it right, I am behind the times

Old Man wrote:Oh, sorry, you got it right, I am behind the times

Old Man wrote:George, there is a rumour that the Stormers and SA A mathces might be swopped around, will check it out.

The reason being?

Not great. I bet Gatland wanted a host of test players for SA ‘a’ but they all need rest.

Kolisi now isolating with covid.

mikey_dragon wrote:

Old Man wrote:George, there is a rumour that the Stormers and SA A mathces might be swopped around, will check it out.

The reason being?

Not great. I bet Gatland wanted a host of test players for SA ‘a’ but they all need rest.

I think the issue is the A team would be made up of the wider Springbok training squad, and they're all currently isolating.

Ian McGeechan’s Test XV based on performances so far:

McGeechan’s Lions Test XV:
15 Liam Williams
14 Anthony Watson
13 Chris Harris
12 Owen Farrell
11 Josh Adams
10 Dan Biggar
9 Conor Murray (capt)
1 Rory Sutherland
2 Jamie George
3 Tadhg Furlong
4 Maro Itoje
5 Iain Henderson
6 Tadhg Beirne
7 Hamish Watson
8 Taulupe Faletau

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/major-names-culled-in-mcgeechans-latest-lions-xv/?fbclid=IwAR3oJ-LxJ4AZku44hMo9t6NUbEI8h4ovU2HEqagc2lpcT9rkWnnLWj4whgU

I think I’d prefer Ali Price at 9, Hogg at FB, VDM instead of Watson, and perhaps not Faletau at 8 unless he can show a lot more. The rest is there or thereabouts for me. Any of the hookers would be fine for me. Don’t think Wyn Jones would be bad at LH but I like Sutherland too.

https://twitter.com/lionsofficial/status/1414162551387136000

Nice bit of football banter going on!

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1414128090083696641


It looks like the Covid is absolutely rampant in the Boks squad, they are really going to struggle to be ready for these test matches!

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/15558712/nelson-mandela-sprringboks-covid-lions/

Well it seems the Boks are bring in Rory Steyn, dad of the Glasgow and Scotland player, to help get a grip on their Covid bubble.

He was at one stage, in charge of Mandela's security, so you would imagine is well respected.

BigGee wrote:https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1414128090083696641


It looks like the Covid is absolutely rampant in the Boks squad, they are really going to struggle to be ready for these test matches!

Even if they recover and test negative, Covid-19 can cause damage to the lungs which can last for months.

doctor_grey wrote:

BigGee wrote:https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1414128090083696641


It looks like the Covid is absolutely rampant in the Boks squad, they are really going to struggle to be ready for these test matches!

Even if they recover and test negative, Covid-19 can cause damage to the lungs which can last for months.  

A good friend is a U23 British rower that many thought had Olympics potential. He got covid early on in the pandemic last year and still hasn't recovered his fitness back to where it was. I feel so bad for the bloke. Rowing is often referred to as being a sport where coaches look for 'lungs and legs'. Legs move the boat and lungs keep the legs moving.

He's still absolutely killing himself training up to 12 times a week as rowers at that level do but if his erg (rowing machine) scores stay where they are currently (much lower than pre covid) then his sporting career will be over before it really began. Brutal.

Wednesdays match will be vs SA A

See Article

Warren Gatland, has named his Lions team to play South Africa ‘A’ at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday 14 July (kick off 7pm BST).

Tour captain Conor Murray (Munster, Ireland) is named skipper of a starting XV which has 12 changes to the team that defeated Cell C Sharks 31-71 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening, with Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England), Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland) and Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) the only players retained.

Watson shifts from right wing to fullback with Harris moving to 13 where he is joined in midfield by Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland). Biggar will again start at fly-half.

The game against South Africa ‘A’ will be shown live and exclusively on Sky Sports and is the fourth match in an eight-game Series culminating in the three Tests against World Champions, the Springboks.

“We’re pleased to have arrived in Cape Town as we near the halfway stage of the Series,” said Gatland.


“Wednesday’s game against South Africa ‘A’ will be our toughest encounter since we arrived here and we’re looking forward to it. We expect them to be physical in the contact area and look to test us at scrum time.”

“I think we’ve benefitted from playing at altitude in the first three games. While the boys have felt it in their lungs, they’ll be all the better for it now we’re at sea level.

“As we move towards the business end of the Tour, it’s pleasing to see so many players putting in some stand-out performances. As coaches we want the players to make Test selection as hard as possible and that’s we’re seeing.”

SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ v THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS

15. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) #816

14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales) #846

13. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland) #844

12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland) #837

11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) #836

10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) #821

9. Conor Murray – captain (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790

1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) #842

2. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829

3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825

5. Iain Henderson (Ulster Rugby, Ireland) #808

6. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) #854

7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) #853

8 .Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales) #779

Replacements:

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) #851

17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England) #787

18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #848

19. Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales) #852

20. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #838

21. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England) #849

22. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales) #850

23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822

Looking at the team selections since arriving in SA I think the squad is too small. I know they've had injury and Covid issues but surely that should have been accounted for.

In particular I think another centre and another back 5/second row player would have made a big difference. Some of these guys have played a lot of rugby in a short space of time. It's s big ask in the modern pro game to back up Saturday to wednesday! Some of that team will be involved this coming Saturday too.

Either Biggar plays the whole match, or one of the scrum halves will have to fill in at fly half.

RDW wrote:Looking at the team selections since arriving in SA I think the squad is too small..

The concern was, a larger squad would be harder to manage, and mean fewer playing opportunities for individuals. They seemed to be deliberately erring on the side of a smaller squad. It would have been slightly smaller still, if Gatland hadn't asked for permission to add one at the last minute.

This looks very close to a test team that you will probably see.

Im looking forward to this one.

Murray has filled in at 10 has he not?

RDW wrote:Looking at the team selections since arriving in SA I think the squad is too small. I know they've had injury and Covid issues but surely that should have been accounted for.

In particular I think another centre and another back 5/second row player would have made a big difference. Some of these guys have played a lot of rugby in a short space of time. It's s big ask in the modern pro game to back up Saturday to wednesday! Some of that team will be involved this coming Saturday too.

Agreed. I thought this when the original squad size was announced. It would be small enough in normal times, but given the fact that COVID is a risk AND anyone flying in as an injury replacement would probably need to isolate for 2 weeks before entering the 'bubble'..... it would have made sense to take more players as injury cover in the first place. A Woodward-esque squad of 45 or similar, for example.

Given the nature of Henshaw's injury I'm surprised they didn't call up another centre given we were already very light there. He hasn't featured since the first game, and that's meant a lot of gametime for Aki and Harris, as well as the wingers given Daley has played a lot at 13 (which may have been his position in the squad, granted). Combine that with Farrell's supposed dodgy shoulder...

Aki has played in all 5 games! That'll be taking a big physical and mental toll, especially when you also consider he's been needing to train to prepare for every game.

RDW wrote:Given the nature of Henshaw's injury I'm surprised they didn't call up another centre given we were already very light there. He hasn't featured since the first game, and that's meant a lot of gametime for Aki and Harris, as well as the wingers given Daley has played a lot at 13 (which may have been his position in the squad, granted). Combine that with Farrell's supposed dodgy shoulder...

Aki has played in all 5 games! That'll be taking a big physical and mental toll, especially when you also consider he's been needing to train to prepare for every game.

Was just thinking the same - he's renowned for a great engine in Connacht but he must be thinking he's going to be slightly flogged by the time of the first test in comparison to other midfielders.

Murray has filled in at 10 - once or twice - but he is a regular enough place-kicker for Munster and Ireland.

RDW wrote:
Warren Gatland, has named his Lions team to play South Africa ‘A’ at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday 14 July (kick off 7pm BST).

Tour captain Conor Murray (Munster, Ireland) is named skipper of a starting XV which has 12 changes to the team that defeated Cell C Sharks 31-71 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening, with Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England), Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland) and Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) the only players retained.

Watson shifts from right wing to fullback with Harris moving to 13 where he is joined in midfield by Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland). Biggar will again start at fly-half.

The game against South Africa ‘A’ will be shown live and exclusively on Sky Sports and is the fourth match in an eight-game Series culminating in the three Tests against World Champions, the Springboks.

“We’re pleased to have arrived in Cape Town as we near the halfway stage of the Series,” said Gatland.


“Wednesday’s game against South Africa ‘A’ will be our toughest encounter since we arrived here and we’re looking forward to it. We expect them to be physical in the contact area and look to test us at scrum time.”

“I think we’ve benefitted from playing at altitude in the first three games. While the boys have felt it in their lungs, they’ll be all the better for it now we’re at sea level.

“As we move towards the business end of the Tour, it’s pleasing to see so many players putting in some stand-out performances. As coaches we want the players to make Test selection as hard as possible and that’s we’re seeing.”

SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ v THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS

15. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) #816

14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales) #846

13. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland) #844

12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland) #837

11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) #836

10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) #821

9. Conor Murray – captain (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790

1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) #842

2. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829

3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825

5. Iain Henderson (Ulster Rugby, Ireland) #808

6. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) #854

7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) #853

8 .Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales) #779

Replacements:

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) #851

17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England) #787

18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #848

19. Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales) #852

20. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #838

21. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England) #849

22. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales) #850

23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822

Swap Watson for Hogg or Williams, and that is more or less the test side for me.

On reflection my test team, with a few undecideds, thus far would be:

Hogg
DvdM
Harris/Daly
Henshaw (if fit)
Adams
Biggar
Price

Wyn Jones/Sutherland
Any of the hookers but LCD and George look strongest at present
Furlong
Itoje
Henderson
Beirne
Watson
Faletau/Conan

The Oracle wrote:On reflection my test team, with a few undecideds, thus far would be:

Hogg
DvdM
Harris/Slade
Henshaw (if fit)
Adams
Biggar
Price

Wyn Jones/Sutherland
Any of the hookers but LCD and George look strongest at present
Furlong
Itoje
Henderson
Beirne
Watson
Faletau/Conan

Damn, posted on the wrong thread again! Saw LD’s comment about changes for the test team and thought we were on the test thread!

There are a lot of areas of strength for the lions, but there are so many more areas of concern imho.

Players looking jaded already, last game Adams played he looked bust 5 mins into 2nd half.

There are a large number of key ongoing injuries, Russell, Farrell, Henshaw, L Williams, itoje...

There are certain positions where no-one has any form, I'm looking at loosehead, 8, scrum half, 12 etc...

Finally, and I think this is the biggest issue, is we have a lot of quality players, who are very different to each other or their potential partnerships.

Look at hooker, LCD, George, and Owens are as different as hookers can be, all have their strengths but none have gelled in the scrum!

Same with the back row, there's no real balance, despite having world class players there there is absolutely no cohesion! Bierne, Watson and Conan have all played well against poor opposition, but that's come at a sacrifice of Curry, Navidi, and falatau who havnt created a partnership with the others.

No 9 is playing well, meaning our 10's are off kilter, and that's being passed up the backline, Biggar is the only real option currently, without a 9,12 pairing to suit him.

Back 3 has the same issue as the back row, lots of top players, no cohesion or unit built thus far. Adams and VDM look great going forward, but are being caught out because the 13 and 15's are very different people.

Rant over

Anyone seen the ‘A’ team South Africa have just named…

South Africa ‘A’ team to face British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium:
15 – Willie le Roux
14 – Cheslin Kolbe
13 – Lukhanyo Am (captain)
12 – Damian de Allende
11 – Sbu Nkosi
10 – Morné Steyn
9 – Faf de Klerk
8 – Jasper Wiese
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit
6 – Marco van Staden
5 – Franco Mostert
4 – Eben Etzebeth
3 – Trevor Nyakane
2 – Joseph Dweba
1 – Steven Kitshoff

Replacements (from):
16 – Malcolm Marx
17 – Coenie Oosthuizen
18 – Vincent Koch
19 – Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg
20 – Rynhardt Elstadt
21 – Herschel Jantjies
22 – Jesse Kriel
23 – Damian Willemse
24 – Kwagga Smith
25 – Elton Jantjies

Some A side that

I get why they've done it, but crikey it's mad to see that.

I thought that was a joke. Bloody hell! Guess that's where the SA players will be getting their gametime...

I'm expecting injuries this game.

Nice, well played SA, get on the front foot and send the sh*ts up them

Interesting move by Rassie and Co.

The loose trio will be of particular interest with Vermeulen and Kolisi not availabe

A few more updates:

AWJ is back training and may join the camp again this week
Kelleher is being lined up to come out too
Rassie wanted the Lions to play South Africa 'A' again this weekend - the Lions said no

RDW wrote:A few more updates:

AWJ is back training and may join the camp again this week
Kelleher is being lined up to come out too
Rassie wanted the Lions to play South Africa 'A' again this weekend - the Lions said no

I can sort of see why. This A game is going to be basically a test now. So another one would be, in total, like 5 test matches!

Would have been great to see another tough game though.

The Oracle wrote:

RDW wrote:A few more updates:

AWJ is back training and may join the camp again this week
Kelleher is being lined up to come out too
Rassie wanted the Lions to play South Africa 'A' again this weekend - the Lions said no

I can sort of see why.  This A game is going to be basically a test now.  So another one would be, in total, like 5 test matches!

Absolutely - there's very little reason why the Lions would agree to that. It's not our responsibility to get the Bocks test ready.

RDW wrote:

The Oracle wrote:

RDW wrote:A few more updates:

AWJ is back training and may join the camp again this week
Kelleher is being lined up to come out too
Rassie wanted the Lions to play South Africa 'A' again this weekend - the Lions said no

I can sort of see why.  This A game is going to be basically a test now.  So another one would be, in total, like 5 test matches!

Absolutely - there's very little reason why the Lions would agree to that. It's not our responsibility to get the Bocks test ready.

Aw

RDW wrote:A few more updates:

AWJ is back training and may join the camp again this week
Kelleher is being lined up to come out too
Rassie wanted the Lions to play South Africa 'A' again this weekend - the Lions said no

Why another hooker?

Well its basically 4 tests then. Obviously trying to ensure an out and out winner in case of a draw again.

Actually a huge chance for a few players to leap frog the opposition. Play well here and its going to count for more than the Sharks.

Old Man wrote:

RDW wrote:

The Oracle wrote:

RDW wrote:A few more updates:

AWJ is back training and may join the camp again this week
Kelleher is being lined up to come out too
Rassie wanted the Lions to play South Africa 'A' again this weekend - the Lions said no

I can sort of see why.  This A game is going to be basically a test now.  So another one would be, in total, like 5 test matches!

Absolutely - there's very little reason why the Lions would agree to that. It's not our responsibility to get the Bocks test ready.

Aw

South Africa are cheats....

mikey_dragon wrote:

Old Man wrote:

RDW wrote:

The Oracle wrote:

RDW wrote:A few more updates:

AWJ is back training and may join the camp again this week
Kelleher is being lined up to come out too
Rassie wanted the Lions to play South Africa 'A' again this weekend - the Lions said no

I can sort of see why.  This A game is going to be basically a test now.  So another one would be, in total, like 5 test matches!

Absolutely - there's very little reason why the Lions would agree to that. It's not our responsibility to get the Bocks test ready.

Aw

South Africa are cheats....

Yup, SARU has been accused of that many a time in the Antipodes

mikey_dragon wrote:

RDW wrote:A few more updates:

AWJ is back training and may join the camp again this week
Kelleher is being lined up to come out too
Rassie wanted the Lions to play South Africa 'A' again this weekend - the Lions said no

Why another hooker?

You always need two in training, so it give some breathing space if you want to rest the matchday pair, or if COVID means two have to isolate.

Rugby Fan wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

RDW wrote:A few more updates:

AWJ is back training and may join the camp again this week
Kelleher is being lined up to come out too
Rassie wanted the Lions to play South Africa 'A' again this weekend - the Lions said no

Why another hooker?

You always need two in training, so it give some breathing space if you want to rest the matchday pair, or if COVID means two have to isolate.

Fair, but they should probably call up some extra players too. Hogg not featuring again is a worry, although he could be available in a week or 2.

Wow - so the Lions are really going to have their first test.

That could legitimately be the first choice test backline for the Boks.

Mapimpi and Pollard missing

Wonder if Gatland knew about the likely SA lineup. Would he have wanted to hold some players back and vice versa if he did?

There were talks earlier in the week about the SA A match swopping, so I suspect he was kept in the loop

Old Man wrote:Mapimpi and Pollard missing

Correct, but that's really all.