South Africa have made 10 changes to their starting line-up for Saturday's third and final Test against the British and Irish Lions. Only scrum-half Fourie du Preez, flanker Juan Smith, lock Victor Matfield and props Tendai Mtawarira and John Smit keep their places. Though if you look at the selections, this is still a powerful team with some flair in the backs. Smit the … [Read more...]
2009 British Lions Tour: Burger & Botha Banned but Lions are Battered
Following citings from Saturdays 2nd test in Pretoria, Schalk Burger has been given an 8 week ban for gouging and Bakkies Botha 2 weeks for dangerous play. The bad news for the Lions is Burger and Botha out and arguably they will be replaced by players who are in better form. For the Lions, they have lost both first choice props and almost certainly will be without their … [Read more...]
2009 British Lions Tour: Lions lose Series- South Africa 28 B&I Lions 25
Morne Steyn landed a penalty with the last kick of the game to give South Africa victory in the second Test and wrap up the series against the Lions. Rugby can be cruel when a team has done all they think is necessary to force a draw, they have it wrenched away in the last minute. However the Lions gave away too many penalties and then field position in the second half thus … [Read more...]
2009 British Lions Tour: Ticket Prices Too Expensive in South Africa
Empty seats have been a obvious in most stadiums on the tour and now the South Africa rugby chiefs have admitted that lower than expected attendances on the tour are partly down to high ticket prices. Organisers have been criticised for a ticketing policy which saw seats on sale for the Tests for about £84, against the usual Tri-Nations prices of £10 to £35. Part of the … [Read more...]
2009 British Lions Tour: Emerging Springboks hold Lions- Emerging Springboks 13 Lions 13
In atrocious conditions the Emerging Springboks had the better of the second half and so came back to force a draw with a try and wide conversion on the final whistle. Newlands Stadium, Cape Town was the venue and although the game started with just the pitch wet, it soon offered the players all extremes of weather. It was the Lions who seemed to adapt to the conditions best … [Read more...]