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How the Lions coaches have coped without the isolated Townsend
Neil Jenkins has given an insight into how the Lions are coping with preparations in Cape Town to face South Africa A with their attack/backs coach Gregor Townsend left behind in Johannesburg after he got caught in last week’s virus crisis that affected Warren Gatland’s tour party. The Scotland boss, a player on the successful Lions tour to South Africa in 1997, is now set to miss his third match of the tour having been confined to his hotel room for last week’s back-to-back wins over the Sharks.
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Townsend was viewed as an intriguing inclusion on Gatland’s Lions tour staff, especially after Scotland managed to win away at both England and France in this year’s Guinness Six Nations. However, with the isolation period of the people caught up in last Wednesday’s positive virus test only set to elapse this Wednesday, the Scotsman has been removed from hands-on involvement for a week – quite a chunk of time in a tour that is now into its 17th day on South African soil.
“It’s all of us,” said Lions kicking coach Jenkins when asked about the additional workload that needed to be taken on in the absence of Townsend along with three other staff members and one player who all stayed behind in Johannesburg when the Lions flew to Cape Town on Sunday. “Warren leads everything, as he always does. Steve (Tandy), myself and the players – we have got some fantastic players here that can lead from the front both on and off the pitch.
“Certainly our decision-makers and our 10s are experienced players and they can take a fair bit of that as well. It’s just everyone linking in, everyone helping out, same as we always do day-to-day. It’s no different really. Of course, we would love Gregor here, there is no doubting that, and he will be here pretty soon. But everyone is chipping in and everyone is trying to give their own input in the right way.
“We will be clear and concise (in our messages) and the guys will be ready to rock (against South Africa A). We have got no issues with that. We’d love Gregor and everyone here doing what they do day in day out, but it is what it is. There was a possibility that something like this could happen. You don’t want it to happen but it has happened and we would like to think we have gone about our business pretty well and we look forward. Hopefully, the messages will be clear and we will be ready to play.”
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Jenkins added that he welcomes the prospect of the South Africa A side being stacked with so many World Cup winners just ten days out from the opening match in the three-game Test series the Lions will play the Springboks in. “Twelve years ago probably some of the (preparation) games were a little bit easier than we would have liked and we had the shock of our lives against South Africa in the first Test.
“There is no doubting that and it took us about a half to get into that game to realise what we were up against. Certainly, we know what we are up against on this trip. There is no doubting they are a fantastic team, fantastic players, well-coached, world champions obviously. It is going to be a good marker for both sides. I’m excited and I know everyone else is.”
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— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 14, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
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