'Absolutely, I honestly believe we will have a Test series'
Lions boss Warren Gatland has insisted his squad can still look ahead with confidence to having their planned Test series versus the Springboks following an extraordinary Wednesday in South Africa where a Covid outbreak in their camp was confirmed shortly after it was decided to cancel this Friday’s Boks versus Georgia game due to the virus.
The Lions had learned on Tuesday that their match next weekend versus the Bulls had been postponed due to an outbreak amongst Jake White’s squad and this development was followed on Wednesday by that night’s game against the Sharks getting jeopardised by events within Gatland’s own squad.
Two individuals – a player and a staff member – tested positive and a total of twelve close contacts – eight players and four staff members – were identified and placed into isolation at the team hotel, forcing Gatland to make eight changes to the original matchday 23 he had announced on Monday.
The Lions went on to comfortably win the match 54-7, Duhan van der Merwe and Josh Adams each scoring a hat-trick, and while they finished with just 13 players after van der Merwe and Louis Rees-Zammit, another try-scorer, were taken off due to tightened hamstrings, the main thrust of Gatland’s post-match media briefing was Covid, its impact and its possible ramifications for the rest of the tour.
July 24 is the date when the Lions are set to begin their three-Test series versus the Springboks and Gatland was very optimistic it will still go ahead despite a day of drama for both squads 17 days before they are due to clash in Cape Town in their opening Test.
PLAYER RATING: A remarkable performance given the context of the day that was in it for Gatland's Lions. #LionsRugby #SHAvBIL https://t.co/nlpUsQ4APN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 7, 2021
“Absolutely. I honestly believe we will have a Test series. Our medics said beforehand the likelihood when we are in South Africa was we were going to get a case or two and it is just how we deal with it. The players have been incredibly vigilant. South Africa are probably in a worse situation. For us, we have got time in the next few weeks to hopefully get everyone right so that we can have a good Test series and make sure we are safe and secure in our bubbles.
“That is definitely what we are trying to do. We’re not sure where we picked these cases up from, whether it was through hotel staff or some people passing by at the matches or whatever. I am not 10o per cent sure but as far as we are concerned we are preparing and looking forward to a Test series.
“We have been incredibly vigilant in terms of what we do as a group. We have been in this bubble for the last four weeks so we are not sure where it has come from. The challenging thing was when we first came into the hotel there was a number of the hotel staff that tested positive and had to be removed so whether it has come from that or not but I know all our tests had been negative up until today [Wednesday]. We will just address it as it goes. We know there were going to be certain challenges but we are hopeful we can get things back on track and this Test series can go ahead.”
There is still speculation that the Lions might yet have a match to play this Saturday if a new opponent is found to replace the Bulls. “Possibly. I need to talk to the medical team and get a report on that and talk tomorrow [Thursday] if there is a game for the weekend. My understanding is that one of the positives was a very, very weak positive and if he is retested tomorrow and it is negative his close contacts should be okay. We probably need to wait for that.”
Asked to shed light on how Wednesday had unfolded for the Lions, Gatland added: “Quite surreal. It’s been a real challenge considering the staff and players were in our rooms until six o’clock this evening. We didn’t get the results back until half-past five and then had to make a few changes but incredibly proud of the performance and the players, how they adjusted and how the staff worked so hard today.
“I came away from here today thinking more than the result and the performance, I was really proud of the togetherness of the group and how much they wanted to go out there and perform and wear the jersey.
“My message to the players was let’s use this as a positive, let’s use whatever is thrown at us that we can deal with it, nothing is going to faze us and we were in a situation where we weren’t in control of things so we just had to go with the flow and adjust.
“We talk about potentially being in a situation of chaos and it’s then being able to adapt and then change. That is really what we did today and the players were absolutely outstanding in their approach, just how vocal they were in the changing room after and the way they supported each other on the pitch was tremendous.”
Regarding the Lions finishing the match two players short, Gatland continued: “We took Duhan van der Merwe off because his hamstrings were tightening up and when we were down to 14 men we were able to score, and then Louis Rees-Zammit’s hamstrings tightened up as well so we played the last few minutes with 13 men when the game was comfortably in the bag.
“They are not injuries, their hamstrings were tightening up, the game was won so we just precautionary took them off the field. There was no need to risk them. They had done a lot of running in the game. Duhan had scored three tries and Louis had got on the scoresheet as well. There was no point in risking those players who had given us everything they had really.”
The most worrying revelation about a crazy day on the 2021 Lions tour #LionsRugby #CastleLionsSeries #LionsSA2021https://t.co/2JP2b4NaFX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 7, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments