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
Great story. Rugby needs new investment in teams like Brussels another pro league in Europe would be great.
1 Go to commentsAlso, looking at the data from last year, it seemed like by far the two biggest predictors of success were (1) kicking more than your opponents, and (2) having a higher rate of line-out wins than your opponents. I haven’t gone through the stats this year with a fine tooth comb, but the increase in kicks per game and the increase in tries from lineouts would suggest that these two metrics are only getting more important. England’s move away from a kick-heavy game to win against Ireland was seen by some as evidence that running rugby is on the rise. Alternatively it could be taken as evidence that if one team kicks more, and the other team wins more lineouts (as England did) a match is bound to be close to a draw.
2 Go to commentsI have been finding it odd that points per 22 entry has become such a talked about stat, given that your points per entry can be driven down by having more entries. These data would seem to confirm that it isn’t a useful metric, or at any rate is less useful than total entries.
2 Go to commentsI think the last two games England have played is some of their best rugby they have played under Borthwick. There has been a lot more attacking instinct and as a reward have created some well worked tries. Ollie Lawrence is a good foil at 12 as he offers the hard direct lines whilst the rest of the backs can play open. As much as it pains me to say but I do hope England keep playing this way. On a side note my favourite try of the weekend was Lorenzo Pani’s for the nice loop play that put him away and his finish was excellent. Thanks as always Nick.
39 Go to commentsMost exciting player on the planet right now, worth the price of a ticket.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith and Ireland live rent free in Safa’s heads. Their comments only triggers because its true. If the Boks had dismantled a 14 man AB’s, then there would be more respect. But they didnt, in fact quite the opposite, the 14 man NZ were clearly better. And the Bok have always been ordinary between RWC’s, thats why their supporters are now ‘only RWC’s matter’. They know thats BS. Its BS to both AB’s and Bok’s due to their history. But now its all the Safas have. Now we’ll hear excuses when they lose “oh we didnt have all our players available, the ABs/France/Eng/Irel were at full strength”, forgetting for a minute that its because of their own dumb policy. Oh well, makes a change from blaming ‘cheating refs’.
23 Go to commentsNo Nick, they did not, in fact, justify any ‘probables’ label. At no time did they seriously compete for the championship. Ireland led from start to finish and in the end, as a result of glaring referee errors, were never under serious pressure to lose their crown.
39 Go to commentsMoney for him, and his family, has been the sole motivator since he signed for Queensland aged 17. Why else sign for Melbourne. Tupou is poorly advised. If he’d stayed and developed in NZ he would have had a long Test career. If Leinster offer him a few more coins than he’s currently earning, he’s goneburger.
4 Go to commentsFinn. No one would say Ford had played well up until the last game. One standout performance in 5 is hardly in form . It should be a given that a 10 will control play . Not in Fords case be praised for suddenly doing so. Where was he against Scotland ,Italy. The pundits were saying how far away from play he was standing and one even said that the Ireland game was his last chance saloon to perform . Not exactly top form catching anyones eye. If he can play like this game after game then great. Keep him in . But after 90 odd caps we all know he just doesnt keep it going . By all means keep him there but the issue is that Borthwick will persist even when he plays poorly. Which is more often than not. Thats why i am concerned that Smith ,despite fab form , cannot get a game at his preferred spot. Can you imagine Ford at full back .
5 Go to commentsI do not really get why put Ollivon at 6 when he’s a 7, while Cros was the best Frenchman of the tournament, playing at…6. His only game replacing Aldritt at 8 doesn’t change much in terms of his impact. Lamaro was also outstanding in that brilliant Italian side, probably better than Reffell. So putting 2 Welsh players from the wooden spoon holders, and none of the 4th nation (Scotland) is also strange. Is it about showing that in this harsh transition Wales is, there were some standouts…?
6 Go to commentsThe events at this year’s six nations should undermine many of the arguments made against promotion and relegation between the six nations and the REC. If Italy had been allowed to yo-yo between divisions it conceivably could have really hurt their development, but if Italy, Wales, and Scotland are all at risk of relegation, with none of them being relegated more often than once every 3 or 4 years, you’d have to back all of them to muddle on through it, especially when you factor in the likelihood they’ll still be guaranteed world league matches against tier 1 opponents. Another way of looking at italys resurgence would be to say that the development model of adding an extra team to the six nations has worked, and now must be done again. Georgia could join to make it a 7 team round robin, and if and when Georgia demonstrate an ability to consistently win games, Portugal can also be added to make it an 8 team 2 conference competition. Frankly at this point I think it falls to world rugby to demand that the 6N act in the interests of the game. If the 6N won’t commit to expansion then the 6N teams should be handicapped in world cup draws (i.e. world cup seedings would not be based on their ranking points, but on their ranking points minus a 5 point penalty).
6 Go to commentsSteve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
39 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
6 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
4 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
4 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
6 Go to comments