Lions 2021

[Scott1]

Regardless of the calls,which were right,it was still a completely dominant win. Wasn’t even close. A tactical masterclass by Rassie with his bench and subs.

[Postiger2]

Van Staden looks class!

Great performance from SA but pretty poor from the Lions. Should be a great final test. Good luck to whomever is reffing it!

Poor game in many respects but SA ground it out. The Lions need a back 3 that can actually deal with the constant high balls.

[Downsouth]

We have some great game changers, Adams, Williams, Simmonds, Watson, Smith. all have one thing in common...... I cannot see Daly playing next week. The rest must step up. Well played South Africa

[markharbtiger]

Poor display by Lions, and not a lot of rugby played overall. I was inclined to agree with Nigel Owens on the 2nd SA try.

[Scott1]

I don’t see what the Lions can do next week other than hoping SA are off their game. The gulf is too wide in the scrum,line out,maul and breakdown judging by today

[markharbtiger]

I don’t see what the Lions can do next week other than hoping SA are off their game. The gulf is too wide in the scrum,line out,maul and breakdown judging by today

I disagree. There were v small margins in the majority of that game and coupled with more calls going the Lions way and one or two different key player selections there is every reason the Lions can win.

[Scott1]

I don’t see what the Lions can do next week other than hoping SA are off their game. The gulf is too wide in the scrum,line out,maul and breakdown judging by today

I disagree. There were v small margins in that game and coupled with more calls going the Lions way and one or two different key player selections there is every reason the Lions can win.

Small margins? It was absolutely dominant once SA had the 3 locks on,in the lineout,scrum and maul. SA were dominant at the breakdown too,the second half wasn't even close,it was a comprehensive second half performance that SA easily won

[LE18]

Very poor today by Lions, exposed in most positions especially in the back 3, cant see how they can turn this around next week, going to need a miracle, lets just keep hoping for one, going to have to make some changes but who is better? Going to need some bold decisions as to who comes in.

[Scott1]

Very poor today by Lions, exposed in most positions especially in the back 3, cant see how they can turn this around next week, going to need a miracle, lets just keep hoping for one, going to have to make some changes but who is better? Going to need some bold decisions as to who comes in.

What do you do?! Go 6/2 maybe?

[Tigers86asw]

If you cannot catch and are not excellent in the set piece then you will get hammered. Hogg, Van de Merve, Sutherland and Owens were very very poor.

[Scott1]

If you cannot catch and are not excellent in the set piece then you will get hammered. Hogg, Van de Merve, Sutherland and Owens were very very poor.

Sutherland was dreadful!

[Postiger2]

I don’t see what the Lions can do next week other than hoping SA are off their game. The gulf is too wide in the scrum,line out,maul and breakdown judging by today

I disagree. There were v small margins in the majority of that game and coupled with more calls going the Lions way and one or two different key player selections there is every reason the Lions can win.

Agreed. The Lions lost control through some poor decision-making and some poor substitutions. There were a couple of occasions when the Lions passed up a kick at goal in favour of a scrum or line-out when the 3 points was arguably the better option. Not building the score meant they ended up chasing the game when SA scored. The back 3 have to be better under the high ball and van der Merwe can't be doing stupid things like tripping people up right in front of the officials.

That said, this Bok side will take some stopping.

[markharbtiger]

I don’t see what the Lions can do next week other than hoping SA are off their game. The gulf is too wide in the scrum,line out,maul and breakdown judging by today

I disagree. There were v small margins in that game and coupled with more calls going the Lions way and one or two different key player selections there is every reason the Lions can win.

Small margins? It was absolutely dominant once SA had the 3 locks on,in the lineout,scrum and maul. SA were dominant at the breakdown too,the second half wasn't even close,it was a comprehensive second half performance that SA easily won

Yes small margins for the majority of the game. About 20 mins of dominance.

[Tigers86asw]

Very poor today by Lions, exposed in most positions especially in the back 3, cant see how they can turn this around next week, going to need a miracle, lets just keep hoping for one, going to have to make some changes but who is better? Going to need some bold decisions as to who comes in.

What do you do?! Go 6/2 maybe?

Call Ellis Genge would be my call but that won’t happen. Definitely 6/2 split. Williams, Adams, Wyn Jones, George, Beard (for the lineout) and Aki would come into the 23. I think the bigger problem was the bench and aside from that maybe 3/4 changes.

[DeadlyDunc]

I disagree. There were v small margins in that game and coupled with more calls going the Lions way and one or two different key player selections there is every reason the Lions can win.

Small margins? It was absolutely dominant once SA had the 3 locks on,in the lineout,scrum and maul. SA were dominant at the breakdown too,the second half wasn't even close,it was a comprehensive second half performance that SA easily won

Yes small margins for the majority of the game. About 20 mins of dominance.

Lions made it into SA 22 once in the 2nd half I think.

It was a 40min destruction and unfortunately the Lions got nothing positive from it. They were thumped.

Still wouldn’t put it past them to win the 3rd test but SA have to be clear favourites going into it