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The zero-tolerance Lions: 'We need to call each other out if anyone isn't following the protocols'
Josh Adams is eager to develop his relationship with Stuart Hogg from Six Nations rival to British and Irish Lions team-mate knowing his artistry could enhance his own strike rate. Of the 36 other players selected for the tour to South Africa, it is the prospect of playing with Hogg that excites Adams most with the pair strong contenders for back three starts against the Springboks.
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Adams has developed into a ruthless finisher on the wing for Wales after amassing 17 tries in 32 Tests while Scotland captain Hogg is a deadly runner from full-back. “Probably someone like Stuart Hogg from Scotland,” said Adams when asked which of his Lions teammates he most wants to play with.
“He’s got a bit of X-factor about him, hasn’t he? He always makes the odd break from full-back. He’s an exciting player. He’s someone you could pick up a couple of tries from by just floating around him and getting on his shoulder.”
If Adams is selected for the Test team he will be driven on by the memory of the 2019 World Cup when Wales were knocked out at the semi-final stage by South Africa, who went on to be crowned world champions. “There’s obviously a little bit of motivation about it for myself,” said Adams, whose side lost 19-16 in Yokohama.
“We came agonisingly close with the kick in the last couple of minutes but, then again, I’m in a different environment now. It’s a different team with new ideas coming from everybody. You have to park that and take it as a fresh start. We’re looking at it as a three-Test series. There is a bit of motivation personally but as a collective, it’s a fresh start.”
Brilliant to see them getting down to business in Jersey ?#LionsRugby
https://t.co/WUxoWeK4o5— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 15, 2021
For the build-up to the tour and in South Africa itself, the Lions will be operating in a strict bubble environment with Scotland centre Chris Harris revealing a zero-tolerance approach will be enforced by the players. “It was set out really early before we met and got together. We were told to wear our mask. We know how vigilant we have to be and how strict we need to be,” said Harris, who was described by Gregor Townsend in March as one of the world’s best defensive No13s.
“We need to call each other out if anyone isn’t following the protocols. It’s really important that we do that because we can’t risk catching it and risk it spreading.” A social committee has already been assembled with a key date looming in the diary on Friday when England clash with Scotland in the group stage of Euro 2020.
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“The game will be on in the team room. The Scotland game was on in the team room on Monday afternoon,” Harris said. That was an unfortunate loss but there will hopefully be a bounce-back next week. All the football will be on in the team room when possible. There are boys who are into football who will be watching that. It’s something that’s put on that we can do together.”
"For us Afrikaans guys to talk to a referee is weird, he is in a position of authority"#Springboks #LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/zKcGeo64mJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 13, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
The whole thing has blown up because Eben’s words have clearly struck a nerve in Ireland. Otherwise they would just laugh it off. I think some former Irish players, commentators and some Irish fans know deep down this Ireland team started to believe its own press and that a certain amount of arrogance had started to creep in during the World Cup. The topic was actually brought up by Irish pundits on Off the Ball recently. It’s fine to be arrogant if you can back it up. Ireland didn’t.
20 Go to comments‘The Irish are good people'. Why is Goode praising a people who hate his own? Wet wipe.
20 Go to commentsLa mejor final que se puede ver en el emisferio norte.
1 Go to commentsA lot of cope from south africans in the comments. Etzebeth is a liar and a hypocrite; you don’t have to defend him!
20 Go to commentsHe got big and really slow for a flyhalf…not sure he’s relevant in a bok conversation anymore
4 Go to commentsBest tourney team vs best team in the regular season for 3 games in RSA - talk is cheap, let’s see what’s what on the tour
20 Go to commentsOne overlooked statistic from their 2016 winning season is the Huricanes are still the only team in Super rugby history not to concede a try during the playoff rounds.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the article, Nick. The Nienaber blitz D does ask a lot of its scrumhalf. I have been watching JGP on D and he often looks like he has mastered what Nienaber asks for better than Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach! 🤣 Impressive season by JGP if I must make an understatement.
21 Go to commentsOkay last one. I promise. I think it’s despicable for Andy Goode to suggest that Eben can’t count to 12. To be fair he only had to count to 8 - the number of Irishmen who DIDN’T say that. Less the 3 kiwis of course. 23 - 12 - 3 = 8. See Joe. I can do maffs.
20 Go to commentsCheers, Nick! How do you see the Reds’ Jock Campbell’s play this year? Not as strong a carrier as Andrew Kellaway or Tom Wright, but does avoid errors. Do you see Joe Schmidt as wanting safety first at 15 or a try-assisting counterattacker?
85 Go to commentsI’m sure this was all just a big misunderstanding. Irishmen and Afrikaaners conversing in a noisey stadium. Not easy to get the right messages across. A minefield.
20 Go to commentsSay what you will about Andy Goode. But he is right about one thing… I’m not sure what that one thing is exactly… but I’m willing to hear him out.
20 Go to commentsAnother article to bait and trigger Irish fans. This must stop.
20 Go to commentsHi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
85 Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
1 Go to commentsI’d be fascinated to see what other candidates you all might have for the Lions captaincy role. Let me know, below 👍
2 Go to comments“ planning for the next cycle….” Sigh ill-advised language Elton old juice bean. Ppersonally glad you self-eliminated yourself, there were better players in the position around you.
4 Go to commentsRegardless of best in world etc. Lawes was outstanding against Leinster and has been all season. Looked like three try saving turnovers. His turnovers also contributed to NH scores. Immense performance.
2 Go to commentsDickson now considered the top ref in England it appears. Good that these series are getting one NH and one SH ref.
2 Go to commentsI don’t think any coach or selector would ever rely on Blackadder being available for selection. I didn’t think it would be possible but he has easily eclipsed Ennor as they most injured player of all time. IMO a symptom of today’s game where players are required to carry at least 10kg of extra mass from when they first hit the scene in their early 20s. Some players respond well to this, maybe due to genetics allowing them to recover faster, or not having reached their peak natural weight yet, but for others the constant training to maintain their weight eats away at recovery time and they spend most of their careers injured.
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