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The tried and tested Bok trick that lies in wait for 2021 Lions
The schedule for the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021 has been announced, and it involves eight matches in five weeks.
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This is two games fewer than the 2017 tour of New Zealand, which may help head coach Warren Gatland in terms of player management. This is also the first time in the professional era that a midweek match is not played between the three Tests matches, however, there are new problems to contend with against the world champions.
One thing that has been noted by those from the home nations and South Africa is that two Tests are to be played at altitude in Johannesburg. The first match is played at the FNB Stadium, before a move to Cape Town for the second Test at sea-level, and a return to Johannesburg for the third encounter at South Africa’s home of rugby, Ellis Park.
https://twitter.com/DannyEdoBrien/status/1202205306656370689?s=20
So Jozi got the two tests and Cape Town got the 3rd one??Altitude and the Bok success rate in Jozi might me the key https://t.co/BN2Hfsxg3K
— Rhadebe Mthimkhulu (@gxops) December 4, 2019
While some have questioned why two matches are played in the same city when there are other contenders, playing at altitude will certainly be a factor. Of course, both Bloemfontein and Pretoria could have been options at a similar elevation, but the main priority would always have been to take the visitors outside their comfort zone.
https://twitter.com/liamnapiernz/status/1202165675126595585?s=20
https://twitter.com/TjaarlsDavis/status/1202164354424147969?s=20
https://twitter.com/DenverCFletcher/status/1202220353336086534?s=20
Some may not think that this will be too consequential, but these are the margins that could help clinch another historic series for the Springboks. Not only does this take its toll on the players physically, but the ball travels further, which gives the game a different complexion; something the players in green will be accustomed to. With a warm-up game in Pretoria against the Vodacom Bulls, this will give the Lions a chance to acclimatise and prepare for what will be two demanding Tests.
https://twitter.com/luvukonombembe/status/1202175225598808064?s=20
South Africa play the Lions at:
1. Altitude
2. Sea Level
3. AltitudeSeriously @lionsofficial , who signed off on this? 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/YYQJxBXDGa
— wadesgotit (@wadesgotit) December 4, 2019
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England were the most recent side to encounter the rigours of playing at altitude in a series against the Springboks in 2018. The first two matches were played in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein and followed similar formats; England started strongly and opened up a lead (a 21 point lead in the first Test), but petered out as the games progressed, losing both.
The third Test, played in Cape Town, saw England come away with the victory, albeit against a changed South African outfit.
This Lions squad has the potential to be one of the best ever with England and Wales having great 2019s, and capable of beating the world champions anywhere. However, in what may be a series that is determined by razor-thin margins, altitude could play a part.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
16 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
16 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt 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.
26 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 🤐
16 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….
26 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….
16 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!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
16 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
14 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.
16 Go to comments