Western Province v Lions

[Jer1cho]

Here is the Western Province team:

15. Joe Pietersen
14. Tonderai Chavhanga
13. Morgan Newman
12. Peter Grant
11. Gcobani Bobo
10. Willem de Waal

9. Dewaldt Duvenage

8. Luke Watson (captain)
7. Duane Vermeulen
6. Pieter Louw
5. Anton van Zyl
4. Martin Muller
3. Brok Harris
2. Tiaan Liebenberg
1. Wicus Blaauw

Reserves: JD Moller, Hanyani Shimange, De Kock Steenkamp, Zandre Jordaan, Conrad Hoffmann, JJ Engelbrecht, Gio Aplon

This is a much better side than the Sharks were, and even though they had a poor Super 14, this should be the toughest Lions match so far. I will have my interesting facts and pre-match analysis soon. Stay tuned, ONLY on TRF!!!

 

[Sir Speedy]

I hope Luke Watson gets destroyed.

 

[Jer1cho]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Jun 11 2009, 01:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I hope Luke Watson gets destroyed.[/b]

Fat chance. As cocky and ass-faced as this guy is, he is a damn good player... I have never seen him come off second best in a game.

 

[MunsterMan]

Which is exactly why Martyn Williams/David Wallace has to start this game, Watson is an excellent competitor on the deck. Powell cannot start either.

Isn't Bobo a centre and Grant a winger? How has Chavanga been doing lately, Haven't hear much about him since all the SH was drooling all over him a few seasons ago.

 

[Jer1cho]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMan @ Jun 11 2009, 01:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Which is exactly why Martyn Williams/David Wallace has to start this game, Watson is an excellent competitor on the deck. Powell cannot start either.

Isn't Bobo a centre and Grant a winger? How has Chavanga been doing lately, Haven't hear much about him since all the SH was drooling all over him a few seasons ago.[/b]

1 - Agree on Wallace and Williams, and i would even play Heaslip again if he is up to it...

2 - Bobo is ****, and at 11 is officially the worlds second slowest winger, just pipped by Matt Dunning.

3 - Grant is actually a 10, but doesn't do too badly at 12.

4 - Chavhanga is STILL the fastest rugby player on earth, and is STILL the most injured rugby player on earth. He has been doing well lately though, and scored 2 good tries in their warm-up game a week ago. Give him ANY space, and he will run past the entire team. Happens all the time. Shut him down though, and he may as well be a prop.

 

[Bullitt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jer1cho @ Jun 11 2009, 12:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMan @ Jun 11 2009, 01:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Which is exactly why Martyn Williams/David Wallace has to start this game, Watson is an excellent competitor on the deck. Powell cannot start either.

Isn't Bobo a centre and Grant a winger? How has Chavanga been doing lately, Haven't hear much about him since all the SH was drooling all over him a few seasons ago.[/b]

1 - Agree on Wallace and Williams, and i would even play Heaslip again if he is up to it...

2 - Bobo is ****, and at 11 is officially the worlds second slowest winger, just pipped by Matt Dunning.

3 - Grant is actually a 10, but doesn't do too badly at 12.

4 - Chavhanga is STILL the fastest rugby player on earth, and is STILL the most injured rugby player on earth. He has been doing well lately though, and scored 2 good tries in their warm-up game a week ago. Give him ANY space, and he will run past the entire team. Happens all the time. Shut him down though, and he may as well be a prop.
[/b][/quote]

Apart from Wilkinson

 

[Sir Speedy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jer1cho @ Jun 11 2009, 12:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Jun 11 2009, 01:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I hope Luke Watson gets destroyed.[/b]

Fat chance. As cocky and ass-faced as this guy is, he is a damn good player... I have never seen him come off second best in a game.
[/b][/quote]
Nevertheless, a good team tackle from Heaslip and O'Connell should set the knob straight.

 

[Jer1cho]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ Jun 11 2009, 02:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Apart from Wilkinson[/b]

I stand corrected!

 

[feicarsinn]

Have a feeling we might lose this one. If Western Province are as good as you're making out it would be tough anyway but I think the Lions team will be alot weaker than yesterdays. We'll probably see the likes of Blair, D'arcy, Jones. Bowe and Murray all on show and they'll be the big men for the Lions. I'd expect Monye and Kearney to play and a good performance might nudge them into the test team.

I was just thinking did Worsley and Powell play against the Cheetahs? Not exactly a formidible combination really. Put them together and you have two thirds of a good backrow forward.

 

[MunsterMan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (feicarsinn @ Jun 11 2009, 03:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I was just thinking did Worsley and Powell play against the Cheetahs? Not exactly a formidible combination really. Put them together and you have two thirds of a good backrow forward.[/b]

:lol:

 

[MunsterMan]

I'd pick:

15. Kearney
14. Bowe
13. Earls
12. Flutey
11. Monye
10. Jones
9. Blair

1. Sheridan
2. Ford
3. Murray
4. O'Callaghan
5. Hines
6. Worsley
7. Williams ©?
8. Powell

Rees, Vickery, Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Ellis, Hook, D'arcy


Back row is looking poor with Worsley and Powell, Jones only arrived today and while altitude won't be an issue I wouldn't throw him straight in there.

 

[shazbooger]

I'd probably drop in D'Arcy at 13. He looks the more likely option for a test cap (over Earls) so it could give them another option.

Other then that, well I dont really care that much.

 

[MunsterMan]

I would too actually, but Geech won't IMO.

 

[glosbigboy]

Il be looking for Murray to have a big game as so far he has been a real let down. I know hes not much around the park but I was hoping for a bit more impact in the scums. Perhaps the poor guys just been over hyped after his games in the Autumn internationals. Similar to Blair really! A few good games and all of a sudden you are the number one player in the world in your position. Just daft. Also open side is there for the taking if Williams wants it. Wallace was better last night but not really setting the world alight.
Isnt it time O`Connell started jumping at the front rather than middle. AWJ is imo a shoe in to start with OC but they have the jumping positions wrong. Put Croft at the front on their ball and I can see us at least making an impact on their ball(more than most sides do). Scrum time is where I see us getting the better of the Boks. Beast and Smit are not the best scrummagers and I think if we go with Sheridan/Jenkins(not a lot to chose on form between them) at loose and Vickery at tight we can really go after them. catch them cold as they will be undercooked as in 97 and its all on the 2nd test.

 

[Thingimubob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (glosbigboy @ Jun 11 2009, 06:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Il be looking for Murray to have a big game as so far he has been a real let down. I know hes not much around the park but I was hoping for a bit more impact in the scums. Perhaps the poor guys just been over hyped after his games in the Autumn internationals. Similar to Blair really! A few good games and all of a sudden you are the number one player in the world in your position. Just daft. Also open side is there for the taking if Williams wants it. Wallace was better last night but not really setting the world alight.
Isnt it time O`Connell started jumping at the front rather than middle. AWJ is imo a shoe in to start with OC but they have the jumping positions wrong. Put Croft at the front on their ball and I can see us at least making an impact on their ball(more than most sides do). Scrum time is where I see us getting the better of the Boks. Beast and Smit are not the best scrummagers and I think if we go with Sheridan/Jenkins(not a lot to chose on form between them) at loose and Vickery at tight we can really go after them. catch them cold as they will be undercooked as in 97 and its all on the 2nd test.[/b]

Beast had massive problems against Murray in the Autumn, and tbh he's a much better scrummager than Vickery, and offers more in the loose too. Jenkins is miles ahead of Sheridan too, he offers a hell of a lot more in both the scrums and the loose imo. Jenkins had the upper hand against his opponent (Smit I think it was) in both the Summer Tour to SA and the Autumn Series match, so that should be a decent backing too.

 

[Steve-o]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Jun 11 2009, 02:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jer1cho @ Jun 11 2009, 12:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Jun 11 2009, 01:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I hope Luke Watson gets destroyed.[/b]

Fat chance. As cocky and ass-faced as this guy is, he is a damn good player... I have never seen him come off second best in a game.
[/b][/quote]
Nevertheless, a good team tackle from Heaslip and O'Connell should set the knob straight.
[/b][/quote]

You seem to have quite strong convictions when it comes to Watson, anything he's done that's ****** you off in particular?

 

[glosbigboy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thingimubob @ Jun 11 2009, 06:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (glosbigboy @ Jun 11 2009, 06:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Il be looking for Murray to have a big game as so far he has been a real let down. I know hes not much around the park but I was hoping for a bit more impact in the scums. Perhaps the poor guys just been over hyped after his games in the Autumn internationals. Similar to Blair really! A few good games and all of a sudden you are the number one player in the world in your position. Just daft. Also open side is there for the taking if Williams wants it. Wallace was better last night but not really setting the world alight.
Isnt it time O`Connell started jumping at the front rather than middle. AWJ is imo a shoe in to start with OC but they have the jumping positions wrong. Put Croft at the front on their ball and I can see us at least making an impact on their ball(more than most sides do). Scrum time is where I see us getting the better of the Boks. Beast and Smit are not the best scrummagers and I think if we go with Sheridan/Jenkins(not a lot to chose on form between them) at loose and Vickery at tight we can really go after them. catch them cold as they will be undercooked as in 97 and its all on the 2nd test.[/b]

Beast had massive problems against Murray in the Autumn, and tbh he's a much better scrummager than Vickery, and offers more in the loose too. Jenkins is miles ahead of Sheridan too, he offers a hell of a lot more in both the scrums and the loose imo. Jenkins had the upper hand against his opponent (Smit I think it was) in both the Summer Tour to SA and the Autumn Series match, so that should be a decent backing too.
[/b][/quote]
Its all about form. Vickery is miles ahead of Murray at the moment but that can change with one huge performance on Sat. Where has Murray offered more than Vickery on this tour in the scrum or loose. From what ive seen Murray looks like a body builder who cares more about taping his biceps up to look good rather than the nuts and bolts of forward play.Jenkins ,I admit is a very good prop and probably no1 but look at what Sheridan has done to taller props. he has destroyed them.We are lucky to have two exceptional loose heads on the tour.

 

[Boggle]

Definitely the Provincial game I've been looking forward to the most, apart from the obvious bias, I just think we have a fairly decent team.

Really did think the Sharks had one too though, but they ended up playing some of the worst rugby I've ever seen on Wednesday.

Very happy to see Joe Petersen playing, I really liked the way he was playing back in 2006 which was the last time I saw him anywhere in professional rugby, no idea what happened to him (probably injured a lot, I remember Bevin Fontein 'sp?' or someone almost taking his head off with a shoulder tackle).

I used to think Bobo was **** too, but I think he's had a fairly ok'ish season and last year in the currie cup he did have some cracking games, that center pairing is really odd though, Grant plays better at 10 and Morgan Newman is....well I'm not sure.

By the way, what happened to Powell ?
I remember last year a lot of the Welsh were talking him up to be the next best 8man in world rugby, why so much hate lately ?

 

[Bumbadum]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (glosbigboy @ Jun 11 2009, 06:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thingimubob @ Jun 11 2009, 06:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (glosbigboy @ Jun 11 2009, 06:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Il be looking for Murray to have a big game as so far he has been a real let down. I know hes not much around the park but I was hoping for a bit more impact in the scums. Perhaps the poor guys just been over hyped after his games in the Autumn internationals. Similar to Blair really! A few good games and all of a sudden you are the number one player in the world in your position. Just daft. Also open side is there for the taking if Williams wants it. Wallace was better last night but not really setting the world alight.
Isnt it time O`Connell started jumping at the front rather than middle. AWJ is imo a shoe in to start with OC but they have the jumping positions wrong. Put Croft at the front on their ball and I can see us at least making an impact on their ball(more than most sides do). Scrum time is where I see us getting the better of the Boks. Beast and Smit are not the best scrummagers and I think if we go with Sheridan/Jenkins(not a lot to chose on form between them) at loose and Vickery at tight we can really go after them. catch them cold as they will be undercooked as in 97 and its all on the 2nd test.[/b]

Beast had massive problems against Murray in the Autumn, and tbh he's a much better scrummager than Vickery, and offers more in the loose too. Jenkins is miles ahead of Sheridan too, he offers a hell of a lot more in both the scrums and the loose imo. Jenkins had the upper hand against his opponent (Smit I think it was) in both the Summer Tour to SA and the Autumn Series match, so that should be a decent backing too.
[/b][/quote]
Its all about form. Vickery is miles ahead of Murray at the moment but that can change with one huge performance on Sat. Where has Murray offered more than Vickery on this tour in the scrum or loose. From what ive seen Murray looks like a body builder who cares more about taping his biceps up to look good rather than the nuts and bolts of forward play.Jenkins ,I admit is a very good prop and probably no1 but look at what Sheridan has done to taller props. he has destroyed them.We are lucky to have two exceptional loose heads on the tour.
[/b][/quote]

You'll have to excuse the directness of this question, but what the hell are you talking about?

Not only is Murray better than Vickery, but he doesnt give away penalties in his own half like there was some prize for doing so.

Jenkins is so superior to Sheridan in every possible aspect of rugby playing that it's not even funny.

 

[Cymro]

Lions Team Announced:
British & Irish Lions (vs Western Province)

15. Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland)
13. Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland)
12. Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England)
11. Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England)
10. Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales)
9. Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England)
8. Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
7. Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
6. Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England)
5. Nathan Hines (Perpignan/Scotland)
4. Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster/Ireland)
3. Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England, captain)
2. Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales)
1. Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks/England)

Replacements

16. Ross Ford (Edinburgh/Scotland)
17. Euan Murray (Northampton Saints/Scotland)
18. Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England)
19. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England)
20. Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland)
21. James Hook (Ospreys/Wales)
22. Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster/Ireland)

Great to see Ryan Jones getting a place on the bench <_<