No one expected the British and Irish Lions to play with the panache and skill expected to win a Test series from their first tour match but this performance against the Royal XV was abysmal. The Lions were more rugby pussy cats than roaring, dangerous beasts.
The first surprise in the match was the small crowd, officially 12,352. The reason given is that Pretoria is not too far down the road and the fans were there for a real rugby match.
The second surprise was the appalling play from the Lions for the first hour of play.
With only 13 minutes of play left, the Royal XV led the Lions 25 – 13. This was virtually game over, if (and it is the ifs of sport that make it such an intriguing business) the second division players from the high veldt had only taken their time to work through to a victory.
Instead from the kick-off Shane Byrne (the best of the Lions along with his captain Paul O’Connell) put in a high ball which was allowed to bounce. Byrne got his foot to the ball twice with speculative kick-throughs. The ball sat up for him finally to grab and plant across the tryline for a crucial try.
The Lions then missed try after try as the Royals XV began to kick poorly and fall off tackles.
The Lions began to use the rolling maul which can no longer be dragged down. The referee, Marius Jonker allowed the mauls to stop and start several times. Inevitably, the Lions scored. And then at the end there was a breakout with Ronan O’Gara scuttling away to score between the posts.
In the end the scoreline 37 – 25 looks respectable. But against second rate opposition which was allowed to look first rate, the Lions could only score four tries. They conceded three tries.
The general consensus of the British rugby writers is that the Lions got their (inevitable?) bad tour match out of their system. ‘All we know for sure at the moment is the Lions can finish a game extremely well,’ insists The Sunday Times rugby writer Stephen Jones.
This brought a sardonic retort from one of his readers: ‘Marvellous match. Huge fan turn out, top performance from England’s and Ireland’s best. Bring on the Bulls.’
You can’t take too much out of an opening match, of course.
But the Lions pack, especially the bigger players looked to be heavy-footed around the field. Perhaps the altitude got to them early.
The back line on the day, which had only one youngster Keith Earls (who had a shocker), was loaded with stars. But only Byrne really enhanced his reputation.
The Lions will surely get much better. But on the evidence of their opening match and the superb play of the Bulls down the road at Pretoria, the Lions will have to get much better than just much better to stand any chance in the Test series.
The Bulls (who will form the brawn and brain of the Springboks, surely) played like rampaging bulls.
The Lions, for most of their match, played like pussy cats.
Derm
Roar Guru
Thanks for those Rusty. Was in Cape Town last year and enjoyed it immensely. The best place I've visited in 20 years of travelling - a lot. Shall check out some of the places you mention.
Rowdy
Guest
Rusty, I think it's common knowledge amongst rugby experts such as yourself that England would do well to come second against the Taranaki under-13 girls' XV. But I doubt that this year's Crusaders or Warries would beat them home and away.
Rusty
Guest
I like to cover the globe in terms of rugby so I do read most online resources. So I know Mr Jones has been paying out the Lions but the Chiefs comment was a bit strong
Rusty
Guest
and if you like ladee-dah anything in Camps Bay, such as Barazza, Blues, Eclipse, Summerville and Caprice will fit the bill. For an incredible sunset view and cocktails head up the road from Campsbay and half way to Llandudno/Hout Bay you will find a hotel all by itself. Well worth it
Rusty
Guest
in terms of touring mate - you have to go to the WP game for the festivity, the history of Newlands located in the shadow of table mountain and the fact its next to the SAB brewery says something! Being from Cape Town I would say you will enjoy the overall package of going to see this game better than say the G Lions in Johburg. My point is that as evidenced in the Super 14 I just dont think the WP pack and shorn of their Boks will be able to compete with the BI Lions. So from a point of reference they will not be able to test them as much as say the Sharks. With 40K fans in the Newlands cauldron it should still be a cracker though. After or before depending on your preferences (all local) Drink in the beer garden outside the Grand Stand side Drink at the Forresters Arms or Forries as its called locally Eat at Barristers Steak house (in my opinon in the top 3 in CT) Eat at the Butchers Grill (5min walk from Newlands) There are plenty of other places to eat and drink but If you like a sherbert or two in a couple of unique locations also try the following: Brass Bell in Kalk bay Red Herring in Noordehoek Dunes restraunt Houtbay
Derm
Roar Guru
Why not Western Province, Rusty? Am planning to go to that match on my trip. You do know by the way that Stephen Jones is the main portrayer of doom saying for the last two months that the Lions will lose all three matches against the Boks. And after the Bulls win, is even more convinced of it.
Dick $tallion
Guest
The following teams could beat the current Engalnd team both home and away: Crusaders Waratahs Bulls Chiefs
Rusty
Guest
my bad Pothale - for some reason I had it in my head that that they played them beforehand. In which case swap Sharks for emerging Boks. As I dont expect my WP to have the forward grunt to compete with the Lions
Dick $tallion
Guest
Some thoughts from the peanut gallery: 1) Shane Byrne - owner of the greatest mullet to ever pack into a scrum 2) Anyone else notice the abundance of "cocks" on the field? - Koch - Jeacocks well only two - but they got alot of ball.....
Derm
Roar Guru
They play first Test before they play the Emerging Boks so they better be finished before then. The Emerging Boks will get the B side only, I'd say.
Rusty
Guest
Justin - also interested to hear your views in the straw poll
Rusty
Guest
Justin - there are still a bit of scratch side so I will reserve judgement until they play the emerging Boks by which point they should be close the finished article. That said the Royal XV was also scratch and if the conditions were that hard then the BI Lions should have faded, not the other way around.
Justin
Guest
What does it make the B&I Lions if they can only beat a 2nd division invitational side in the last 15 minutes???
Rusty
Guest
back to the thread a bit - suprised by Martyn Wiliams comments given he was in SA not so long ago for a 2 game series on the highveld
Rusty
Guest
in fact - given the penchant for random straw polls. Which Super 14 teams do you think could beat England? To cover both angles mention home and away (uk) . I will start Bulls - home definitely, away highly likely Chiefs - home definitely, away highly likely
Rusty
Guest
and if the game was played in Hamilton I would predict a blood bath
Rusty
Guest
I would back the Chiefs to humble England, at Twickenham with all their Lions players back.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
So according to Jones the Chiefs are talent free are they. I would back them to beat England. Knives Out - "Respect is the core tenet of rugby and the majority of notorious correspondents tend to exist on a diet of tabloid antagonism and bitter vitriol" how true is this statement and another indictment is that rugby supporters come to the roar for some analysis of the players and the game plan, whereas this should be the diet that the rugby writers feed us. Spiro is our only popular insightful rugby writer the other writer makes Jones look like a genius. Havent seen the game yet but have it on HDD might have a glimpse today but it doesnt sound like it worth sitting through.
Derm
Roar Guru
Scott: "It takes only a moments cogent reasoning and thought to dismiss everything Jones says as so much bumfodden. Teams that come second in hard fought competitions are rarely talentless." You are the calm voice of reason. Can we pin that quote at the top of the Roar page in nice shiny letters?
Knives Out
Guest
Labelling the Chiefs as talent-free speaks volumes. I do recall Mr. Jones labelling Peter Stringer as just a little, bald bloke, or something similar. Respect is the core tenet of rugby and the majority of notorious correspondents tend to exist on a diet of tabloid antagonism and bitter vitriol as opposed to the values that make our sport so vital. It's quite sad actually.