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The British & Irish Lions Weekly round-up, brought to you by The Famous Grouse
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Warren Gatland’s Lions seem to have emerged from their first brush with Covid-19 relatively unscathed, with the outbreak, as we speak, under control. Now the Lions face the prospect of South Africa A, who should be their toughest Test of tour to date. But the fixture to date is hardly set in stone. Gatland suggested that the game could yet be filled by swapping with the Stormers fixture, should the Springbok outbreak make playing them impossible.
While it seems to be pandemonium currently for most squads involved in this tour, the Lions are facing far fewer problems on the pitch, having comfortably beaten the Cell C Sharks in back-to-back fixtures on Wednesday and Saturday.
TEAM NEWS
There has been a new addition to the squad this week, as England’s Marcus Smith was called up on Saturday as a replacement for Finn Russell, who has a problem with his Achilles. The Harlequins fly-half was informed of his call-up in the Twickenham tunnel on Saturday after being replaced in England’s victory over Canada. Gatland has still not confirmed whether the Scotland No 10 will play any further part in this tour.
Meanwhile, Conor Murray is set to make his first start against South Africa A since being named Tour Captain, in what should be a far sterner challenge than what the squad have faced so far. Gatland said: “Wednesday’s game against South Africa ‘A’ will be our toughest encounter since we arrived here and we’re looking forward to it. We expect them to be physical in the contact area and look to test us at scrum time.”
OFF THE PITCH
It will be a relief to the entire Lions squad to know that the player who initially produced a positive Covid test on Wednesday has since tested negative twice, as the millions of fans at home will hope that is the last roadblock the squad face.
STAT OF THE WEEK
Wales’ Josh Adams appears to be in insatiable try scoring form, having added a hat-trick on Wednesday to the four he scored the Saturday before. He has already broken the number of tries scored by a Lions tourist in the professional era, and is on course to make sure no one breaks it for many tours to come.
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Previously, the record for most tries scored by one player on a Lions tour in the professional era is seven – a figure hit by both John Bentley and Tony Underwood in 1997, but that was with a 14-game tour.
Josh Adams has scored eight tries in three matches. ?????#LionsRugby
— Josh Gardner (@joshgardner) July 7, 2021
TOURIST OF THE WEEK
Adams was not the only player to bag a midweek hat-trick, as Duhan van der Merwe also chipped in with three in the 54-7 win on Wednesday. The Scotland winger added a further try in the 71-31 win on Saturday to keep Adams on his toes in the race to be the tour’s top scorer.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
The Lions found themselves in a spot of bother against the Sharks at half-time of their second encounter, and were drawing 26-26. However, a reckless elbow from scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse’s, who had already scored, to the head of Liam Williams in the 46th minute completely changed the game. The Rugby Critic perfectly summed up on Twitter how match seemed to descend from a tight affair to a wrestling match.
*Lions finally being put under pressure for the first time on this tour.
Jaden Hendrikse: #LionsRugby pic.twitter.com/h0IpQesHKH
— The Rugby Critic (@therugbycritic) July 11, 2021
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Comments on RugbyPass
Hey. Stay home and play for Mooloo.
1 Go to commentsTighthead was always going to be our weakness this year with Ryan going home to Ireland and the Cashed Up Blues taking a third All Black prop from us - nobody else in SR does that. Numia is the exciting one. He used to be a lightweight but he's really improved. Do you have stats on the All Black hookers’ lineouts for the game? I seem to remember a few misses.
2 Go to commentsFergus Burke isn't tier 1 player quality…but guess what, he'll be playing amongst them for Saracens…. all going well and Steve Borthwick is still the head coach, England...Scott Robertson’s hint of amending NZRU’s offshore AB eligibility clause, would mean that players like Josh Moorby who show potential might get a call…
4 Go to commentsThe movement of quality players back to SA is remarkable.
2 Go to commentsInteresting article, Nic. Am enjoying seeing the Rebels doing well, partly just to spite those who are working to wipe them off the face of the Australian rugby planet. But it is also good to see a team with somany good players beginning fire. LSL has benefitted so much from his move up to Northampton for the one year. I wonder why he did not stay on for another year. Does he now looks north and see his teammates of last year now doing so well, and have some regrets.
44 Go to comments“Over 80% of the World Cup squad are over 30” No it isn’t lol
2 Go to commentsTyrel Lomax the best AB prop since Carl Hayman. Absolutely destroyed the Boks in RWC Final and is monstering allcomers in Super this season. Should be a monster battle vs touring Poms, always deliver a power pack.
2 Go to commentsEye gouging seems like such a strong term for what can only be described as a poke in the eye. When I think of eye gouging I think of someone trying to intentionally pop someone’s eyeball out. it’s like calling a high-tackle attempted decapitation.
3 Go to commentsGreat article. No insights to add, just wanted to say that. :)
1 Go to commentsLeinster are going to win the world cup.
13 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
44 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
44 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
4 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
8 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
44 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
8 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to comments