British & Irish Lions player ratings vs Springboks | First Test
The British & Irish Lions player ratings, brought to you by The Famous Grouse
Loosehead Wyn Jones was pulled out of the team after injuring a shoulder and Rory Sutherland was promoted from the bench.
It was a tense Test match that delivered on physicality but failed in the spectacle department.
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS PLAYER RATINGS:
15. STUART HOGG – 6.5
Broke even. Kicked smartly and beat defenders for fun in the opening minutes, but struggled with the greasy surface tracking back. The Lions looked at sea when the Boks kicked in behind and Hogg played a key role in the Lions Key Stone Cops routine that nearly gifted them a late try.
14. ANTHONY WATSON – 7
Again, set off alarm bells in the South African defence whenever he had the ball. Often left trying to make something from nothing, such was the dearth of attacking platform afforded to him by the Lions’ game plan.
13. ELLIOT DALY – 5
Got a welcome to Cape Town hit by Lykanyo Am and had to be peeled off the floor. Pinged for not releasing when directed by the ref and came up short with a 50 metre Hail Mary penalty kick. He’s mixed the sublime with the ridiculous on this tour, but this was more the latter. Gatland’s gamble at 13 didn’t pay off.
12. ROBBIE HENSHAW – 6.5
Struggled alongside Daly to make the gainline in the first quarter, with the Boks winning the battle of the blitz. A line break foiled by a superb Willie Le Roux tackle was his major contribution to the game but he grew into the second half and involved in plenty of hand-to-hand combat.
What a match! #LionsRugby pic.twitter.com/3ogQWeAIiC
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 24, 2021
11. DUHAN VAN DER MERWE – 8.5
Very nearly had the perfect start from a Dan Biggar Garry Owen, leaping above Kolbe to very nearly take a ball with the try line begging. It was billed as DVDM surviving against the smaller, nippier man, but if anything it was Kolbe who had his hands full. A star is well and truly born.
10. DAN BIGGAR – 7
Mixed his kicking well in the first half in the context of the Lions’ booting the leather off the ball. His usual metronomic accuracy deserted him at times – his missed kick in the 35th minute hurt. Found his groove in a brighter second half, before a HIA saw him removed.
9. ALI PRICE – 7.5
Don’t listen to the detractors, this was a very solid outing from Price. As the Lions began to rely on his box kicking, so they came back into the match.
1. RORY SUTHERLAND – 7
A late call-up to starting XV, Ox Nche got the better of him in opening scrum exchanges, but Sutherland and the Lions started to turn the tide as the game wore on. The scatty service didn’t help.
2. LUKE COWAN-DICKIE – 7.5
The competition was a major step up after his heroics against the Stormers, but Cowan-Dickie was game. His second-half try set the tone for the Lions’ fight back.
3. TADHG FURLONG – 7
Struggled to contain Trevor Nyakane, who had a point to prove at the setpiece, early on but slowly got into him after that. Was break even against the much-vaunted Kitshoff. Yet to see fireworks though.
4. MARO ITOJE – 8.5
Etzebeth and PSDT did a number on him in contact early on, with Etzebeth taking his time to remove himself from Itoje’s chest. A box office private battle was afoot. Playing at times more like a six, the Saracen’s poaching saved the Lions, not least his final strip and rip to bagged up the ball game.
Maro Itoje re-introducing himself. #RSAvBIL #LionsRugby pic.twitter.com/9kskfmzv3k
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 24, 2021
5. ALUN WYN JONES – 7
The Lions seem less emotionally fragile with Jones on the field, if that’s something that can be said. Red-lined it on the workload front, with no evidence that his three-week break negatively affected his fitness.
6. COURTNEY LAWES – 8
Clocked up a decent tackle count but he struggled to impose the physicality he’s known for on the Boks in the first half. Came to life in the second-half after an energising purple patch, including a rare tackle-busting run. Left it all out there.
7. TOM CURRY – 7.5
Was absolutely everywhere in the opening minutes, even if his over-eagerness cost him a penalty or two.
8. JACK CONAN – 7.5
One of the few Lions forwards to consistently shake some change out of Bok pockets with ball-in-hand.
REPLACEMENTS:
16. KEN OWENS – 7
The Sheriff got an eagle to the snot, which looked very sore. That aside, a very decent cameo.
17. MAKO VUNIPOLA – 7.5
Got into Malherbe after being promoted into the Test team.
18. KYLE SINCKLER – 7.5
Made a big impact, with the Lions in full scrum ascendency in the final 20 minutes.
19. TADHG BEIRNE – NA
20. HAMISH WATSON – 7.5
‘Mish’s’ eagerness to get into the game nearly cost the Lions’ a yellow card. Lucky. Ripped in after that.
21. CONOR MURRAY – 7
Was a steady hand on the tiller when the Lions’ wanted to cash out.
22. OWEN FARRELL – 7
Why has watching Farrell kick from hand suddenly become an anxious business? Did enough to guide the Lions home, supplying the final points.
23. LIAM WILLIAMS – NA
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Comments on RugbyPass
One significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
53 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
53 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
53 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
53 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
53 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
53 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
53 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
53 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
53 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
53 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
53 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to comments