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The statistic that sets Elliot Daly apart from any other 2021 Lion
England back Elliot Daly heads into Saturday’s third Test versus the Springboks on the cusp of completing the extraordinary feat of playing a part in all eight Lions matches on South African territory. The versatile Saracens operator is the only player in Warren Gatland’s squad to have featured in all seven 2021 tour matches in the southern hemisphere so far and he will complete the full house if he steps off the Test bench in Saturday’s series finale in Cape Town.
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A tourist in 2017 in New Zealand where he played in seven of the ten matches that took place in the southern hemisphere on that trip, Daly has started four matches in South Africa (the first Test versus the Springboks, both games versus the Sharks and the clash with the Stormers) while he also appeared off the bench in the Lions’ other three games (South Africa A, last weekend’s second Springboks Test and the opener against Sigma Lions).
The interesting difference on this tour is that Daly has been a starter at outside centre, the position where he last started for England in 2016. In contrast, his five starts on the previous Lions tour were on the left wing in 2017.
His 403 minutes on the pitch in South Africa have seen him score one try, provide two try assists, give five offloads, make eleven carries for a 149-metre gain, leave 13 defenders beaten, make 19 kicks in open play, put in 21 tackles, make 36 passes and kick for 452 metres.
On the debit side, he has conceded six turnovers, missed eleven tackles and was also involved in that compelling early first Test hit from Lukhanyo Am which left him on his backside in Cape Town, but under pressure Lions attack coach Gregor Townsend is a fan of what Daly has brought to the table on tour in South Africa.
Why Dan Biggar is still the man at No10 for the Lions despite last weekend… and what they are looking for in the series decider from their two back three Wales call-ups #LionsTour2021 #LionsRugby #RSAvBILhttps://t.co/MRIqgntaLj
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 6, 2021
“It’s a credit to his ability, his endurance of being able to back up games,” said the Scotsman about Daly’s ever-present inclusion on the Lions teamsheet. “He has worked really hard, things like his kick chase, getting back for opposition kicks has been outstanding. It shows his adaptability. He has run at 13, has run at 15, he has covered games and training sessions on the wing. It’s a credit to him that he is involved in all three Test matches and is covering a number of positions tomorrow [Saturday].”
It was on May 6, the day of the Lions tour squad announcement, that Townsend initially outlined his enthusiasm regarding Daly’s selection as a midfielder for the South African trip rather than as a back three player where he had traditionally featured for England and Saracens. “As a 13 it could go very well for us, the goal-kicking, the left foot – all the various attributes he has are positives,” he said.
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'If we’re honest, the Lions have gone back into their shell ever since Elliot Daly got absolutely smoked by Lukhanyo Am'
It's time for the Lions to play, writes @AndyGoode10 ??? #LionsRugby #CastleLionsSeries #rsavbil https://t.co/2cU3ADxS1j
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 6, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Je suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
25 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
25 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood 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.
25 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.
9 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.
25 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?
11 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.
11 Go to comments