We got to see who the real Lions were last night and it were the ones from Britain and Ireland! If there was any doubt that the British & Irish Lions do not mean business on this tour, then last nights 74-10 win against the Golden Lions, just went to show that you can not rule these guys out.
Okay, before I go any further, I know a lot of Springbok supporters will be saying that the Golden Lions were very weak and a very poor team. They have just sacked their coach and had several new players in new positions. Fair and fine but it still takes good opposition to put 74 points on the scoreboard and only limit you to scoring 10 points AND keeping the opposition scoreless for the whole second half.
It would be very silly for me to think that the British & Irish Lions are world beaters now after they destroyed the Lions last night but that win should add some much needed confidence to the Lions as they seek to beat the Boks.
What caught my eye last night was the performance the Lions two centers, Roberts and O’Driscoll. If there are two players who could win the series for the Lions, it is these two guys. Roberts looked very good last night although it was against weak opposition. He certainly will not have that much freedom against Jean de Villiers and Jacobs but he will give them a run for their money. The fact that Roberts and O’Driscoll can switch positions depending on the move will be an advantage to the Lions.
I am sure the Boks and their supporters will not be shaking in their boots now after the game last night but they should atleast sit up and take note. The Lions are here!
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7 comments
Manny says:
Jun 4, 2009
it’s a call I made a long time ago. Roberts is gonna be the suprise package of this tour when he dominates thinhs in midfield! I just hope him and O Driscoll dont get injured because thats where the Lions are winning it….whoemever the Boks pick at 12 and 13!
Ron says:
Jun 4, 2009
If either of those two gets injured then its game over and we still have not seen much of Shane Williams, but we all know what he can do! Just ask Habana!!!!!
Kambas says:
Jun 4, 2009
guys lets be realistic here, this game was a cake walk for the lions. It was more to boost their own ego than to say the lions are here. as for the centres, HONESTLY!! do you really think they will give any of our four centres any trouble? Our back ups, namely jaque fourie and wynand olivier are in superb form as the super 14 showed. de villiers and jacobs are extremely able bodied centres even when not in form.
Manny you got it wrong my friend and i am willing to put my money on it. Do you rate BOD or Roberts to be better than Kahui, mortlock, or nonu and look what happened to them this season when they were in fine form themselves. THEY GOT SERVED!!!
I feel a comparison coming along here we go
LIONS Vs BOKS CENTRES
OFFENSE
what showed in last nights match was that the lions centres ran very good lines and linked up extremely well in the centres but again it was against limited opposition. BOD has been in amazing form but lets be honest gents he was not playing against the best centres in the world week in week out at the six nations and gents if you play against week opponents and perform you will struggle at the highest level we all know that. But he is the best the lions have and has been rated as the top centre in the world so you can never right him out. the others are just place fillers if you ask me.
Jean de villiers is arguably the best centre in the world at running angles and we have seen that time and again in the super 14 even as he was playing with an average team. He is a game breaker need i say more . Same goes for fourie and although olivier is mainly used for gaining the hard yards his support play is on another level plus. Adi Jacobs in my book is the weakest of the four but the hard yards gents speak volumes.
DEFENCE
Olivier and Fourie are Beasts in defence, and i will not even bother comparing the lions centres defensive capabilities to the boks.
if anyone else would like to give it a shot please go ahead.
verdict boks to win it in the centres!!!
Guru says:
Jun 4, 2009
Just as much as I was not moved too much by the Lions lack of form vs the Royal XV, I am not moved by their performance vs the Xerox Pussy Cats, sorry, Lions.
I agree with Kambas, their backline ran very good lines and they certainly defended well too. But if you put this in context, the British and Irish Lions are the best of the northern hemisphere and they played one of the worst provincial side in SA. Let’s not get too excited gents cos trust me, Roberts will not be having the red carpet treatment and having doors opened for him to just walk past. Andre Pretorius literally gazed as Roberts ran past him last night. Come 20 June, Roberts will need bulldozer if he is to run past Jean/Jacobs or Olivier/Fourie. Not gonna happen.
Manny says:
Jun 5, 2009
Kambas, to address your point, Kahui and Nonu were definitely better than DeVilliers, Jacobs, Fourie and Olivier. Those two were the form centres of the S14 as far as I am concerned. The Bok centres did not serve these two All Blacks at all. In my opinion the best centre in the world right now is Nonu. BOD, Roberts, DeVilliers and Olivier are on the tier below those two and Jacobs and Fourie are on the tier below that.
I agree with Guru, lets not get ahead of ourselves by rating BOD and Roberts based on that one game against the Lions. But what I said a while back, and you can refer to this website on one of the posts that I put up in February/March entitled “These Lions are set to hunt for Bok meat” at the bottom of the Lions Tour folder, is that beware of Roberts and O’Driscoll in the midfield. Gents, these two have been impressing me for a long time. All that Lions game did was show the doubters and those who didnt know Roberts, just how good these two can be!
Devilliers/Fourie/Jacobs/Olivier better watch out!
BP says:
Jun 5, 2009
haha and so the continual debate continues! awesome!
BP says:
Jun 5, 2009
and im back online, whoop! alrighty!
guys, we all know that the lions arent gonna have it as easy as they did the other night, but be sure that they are not gonna be the walk over the bok public thought after the royals game. they showed signs of what they’re capable of, off loads in the tackles, great lines etc…doesnt amtter who you play, if those things are clicking it makes a big difference.
boks best keep themselves grounded and not think that its gonna be a whitewash…