Lions...Saturday

[Mick Mac]

Anyone hoping to watch it? - where's best venue?

[matthew123]

EDT I reckon - whose up for that?

Should be it's usual partizan atmosphere for such occasions!

Think there was some interest from Brendon and BigBadWolf to attending the EDT as well if memory serves me correct from last week?

[Mick Mac]

Ok Matt - We'll head for the EDT. Might see you there. Anyone else?

[matthew123]

Yes I'll be there Mick.

The Lions starting XV has just been announced.. with 5 Irish, 6 Welsh and 4 English

15 L Byrne (Wales); 14 T Bowe (Ireland), 13 B O'Driscoll (Ireland), 12 J Roberts (Wales), 11 U Monye (England); 10 S Jones (Wales), 9 M Phillips (Wales); 1 G Jenkins (Wales), 2 L Mears (England), 3 P Vickery (England), 4 A-W Jones (Wales), 5 P O'Connell (Ireland, capt), 6 T Croft (England), 7 D Wallace (Ireland), 8 J Heaslip (Ireland).

[BigPhil]

All the rugby in the Prince Albert starting with the kiwis at 8.30 , followed by the aussies at 11 , take a break for lunch then the lions at 2,

and our beers are the best prices around.

make the effort, come on down and enjoy a great day of rugby

cheers

phil

[david_carnell]

I'm up for the other test matches but my sister get's married on Saturday and on this occasion rugby comes a close second.

In the words of Duncan Banatyne: I'm ooot.

COME ON THE LIONS!!!!

[BigPhil]

Many Moons ago , I remember a wedding that was on the same day as NZ v Oz 2nd test, bledisloe cup on the line.

needless to say, we had to change the timings of the wedding , as all of the grooms party had tickets to the match along with both fathers.

so wedding in morning ,photos at eden park in the corporate gardens, rugby at eden park in afternoon ( still all dressed up) and then we made it to the reception for 7pm

well planned day , and 15 years later they are still married. !

[matthew123]

I'll be watching that All Blacks v France game on Sky+ after I wake up - should be a classic encounter with All Blacks looking to save face and tie the series.

Have a late breakfast / early lunch then down to the EDT to watch the Lions versus South Africa - which should be a cracking atmosphere.

I know it's not patriotic but I've already placed a small bet on the Springboks to win tomorrow - I don't see how the Lions are good enough. I fear the Lions will be blown off the park as the Boks have superior handling skills, speed and power. It's a daunting task for the Lions taking on the World Champions in their own backyard but good luck to them!

[Mick Mac]

you might lose your money there matt.

[Mick Mac]

you might lose your money there matt.

[Brendan]

matthew123 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I fear

> the Lions will be blown off the park as the Boks

> have superior handling skills, speed and power.

I don't know they'll probably just lose by 7 runs again.

[Brendan]

What time does the match start?

[matthew123]

2 p.m. kick off - although from past experience best to get to EDT about 1.30 p.m. to cement viewing position

[Brendan]

hmmm, I'm wiz planking in Brixton tomorrow morning (weather permiting) so not sure if I'll make it back to ED. May have to watch it (or maybe just the first half) in the Far Side (which is a great little pub by the way and very accomodating for the sport if you ever find yourself around Stockwell Road)

[Narnia]

matthew123 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'll be watching that All Blacks v France game on

> Sky+ after I wake up - should be a classic

> encounter with All Blacks looking to save face and

> tie the series.

>

> Have a late breakfast / early lunch then down to

> the EDT to watch the Lions versus South Africa -

> which should be a cracking atmosphere.

>

> I know it's not patriotic but I've already placed

> a small bet on the Springboks to win tomorrow - I

> don't see how the Lions are good enough. I fear

> the Lions will be blown off the park as the Boks

> have superior handling skills, speed and power.

> It's a daunting task for the Lions taking on the

> World Champions in their own backyard but good

> luck to them!

I'm more optimistic than you Matthew. Imagine how many Lions supporters will be in the crowd. Will never have happened to the Boks before, playing at home. Also they will be undercooked from having very little game time.If the Lions perform to the level of the individuals involved, as a team, I reckon they will win. Now the others Tests are a different kettle of fish. Remember what the odds were on the Lions with and without handicap?

[tommy]

30,000 Lions fans reportedly there. Will be an electric atmosphere

[matthew123]

Yes it'll be a real boost for the Lions having that support - but I don't think it will make much difference to South Africa as after all it was only back in November the Springboks won in Cardiff, Scotland and Twickenham.

I'd imagine tomorrow will be the best time for the Lions to beat the Boks - since they may be slighty rusty, and they're missing the explosive Burger.

[matthew123]

Blinking eck what a game eh Mick Mac the EDT was rocking - well worth the attendance, rock on the Second Test

[Mick Mac]

thought it was a great game. Vickery proved to be a poor selection and the boks forward power was negated when jones replaced him. Also rob kearney will push lee byrne for a place now. Lions finishing was poor. Monye twice and phillips once. Boks will be relieved to have won but worried about the lions backs who they could not handle. Roberts and o driscoll were unplayable. Thanks for coming along matt.

[bignumber5]

pretty tense last 10 minutes...

vickery really did get butchered, didn't he? agreed on kearney, fine show, and both centres looked dangerous. I'd put a fair few probs down to a fairly pedestrian service from phillips, so no matter what the backs tried they'd always been lined up well in advance. As much as the physical boks might shove him around, i'd like to see Harry Ellis start the second test just for a bit of urgency behind the pack.

i think the second test could be interesting. other than ellis, adam jones and kearney i'd leave the side how it is.

And let's just take a moment to appreciate the seemingly faultless Gethin Jenkins!

[matthew123]

Did the Lions get back into the game because of the changes in the Forwards or was it because the Springboks made 7 changes when they thought the game was won?

I'd pick the team that finished the First Test - with the exception of Andy Powell in at No 8, who has the muscle and dynamo to make us more competitive when it comes to open play combat.

[Narnia]

I'm not sure about Monye and would prefer Fitzgerald or Kearney on the wing if Byrne is'nt fit. If Jones is at flyhalf just because he knows Phillips well, then I'd give O'Gara a chance. He may have kicked the goals that might have won the test. However the problem was in the forwards and Vickery proved to be a poor choice. I like Powell though he is a bit of a headless chicken but his physical presence might be good.. Maybe Nathen Hines in the second row too. The worst thing about the match was Rees (I think) hitting Habana off the ball and conceding a penalty when we were in a great position. Shame about Byrne been penalised for 'crossing' as it would have been a wonderful try.

[matthew123]

Bad news for the Lions, "South Africa make one change for the second Test against the Lions with flanker Schalk Burger returning from injury in place of Heinrich Brussow"

[Mick Mac]

13-13 draw for Lions tonight.

Commentators are saying Luke Fitzgerald may start on Satruday after impressive 60 mins tonight before being replaced by Monye.

(I reckon they should have just picked the whole Ireland team in the first place.).

Still bullish about Lions to win 2-1.

[Narnia]

I was more impressed with Earls but he wont get picked. On the 50/50 high balls he is a little short but what a good runner with the ball and a great try. I'm not sure Fitzgerald did enough. his kicking can be suspect. If Byrne is fit we might see Kearney on the wing.