Springbok team for The First Test

The Boks have put out there team for the first game. It a bloody good team to say the least! If I was going to pick I will have to say they don't have much pace off the bench, that me trying to find a weakness. I think with this team they will be hard running in midfield and looking for quick ball and drag defenders in and force the penaltys. They wont be eclectic just brutal and if they win it, its because of 80 minuets of fall on power and the kicks will win it.

Springboks 2009 first test Durban 20Th June:

3 John Smit (c), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira

5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha,

8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Heinrich Brussow,

10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Fourie du Preez,

12 Jean de Villiers,13 Adi Jacobs,

15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen,11 Bryan Habana

Subs:16 Deon Carstens, 17 Gurthro Steenkamp, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Morne Steyn, 22 Jaque Fourie.

Lions Vs Southern Kings -Preview

I done a write up on the Southern Kings Squid as there was a wee bit of gossip that Mike Catt was going to play for them. You can read it here. There have a good pool of players to pick from the pick being: Former Boks, De Wet Barry, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Solly Tyibilika and Bevin Fortuin . Springbok Sevens captain Mzwandile Stick and team mates from South Africa first IRB World Sevens Championship also join: Rayno Benjamin and Mpho Mbiyozo. Other Champions in the team are Derick Kuün, Jaco Engels and Francois Hougaard, recently crowned Super 14 champions with the Bulls. The Southern King is not yet a 'Super' team but hope that a good game against the Lions it will help them in there bid to be in a Super 15.

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The Lions have pick what I would say is a B team. The player here are fighting for a place on the test bench with S Williams Vs Fitzgerald, Flutey Vs D'Arcy, Hook Vs O'Gara,Ford Vs Rees,Murray Vs Jones and Hines,O'Callaghan, Shaw all fighting for the second row first bench spot.

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This could go wrong for the Lions but as a lot of the players are fighting it could go right. Murry still got a shot of a staring place he just need a excellent game to stop Vickery. In case the back row gos wrong Geech has put a class acts on the bench Croft,Wallace who could still be fighting for test shirt.

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Southern Kings have played less together than the Lions so it could be a tryfest for the Lions or a slip up. You never know, we might find out Young Earls is the best 15 in the world. The game being played at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday at 1400 UK&Paddy time.

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Lions Team to take on the Southern Kings:

K Earls (Munster); S Williams (Wales), R Flutey (England), G D'Arcy (Ireland), L Fitzgerald (Ireland), J Hook (Wales), M Blair (Scotland); A Sheridan (England), R Ford (Scotland), E Murray (Scotland), S Shaw (England), D O'Callaghan (Ireland-capt), N Hines (Scotland), J Worsley (England), A Powell (Wales).

Subs: M Rees (Wales), A Jones (Wales), T Croft (England), D Wallace (Ireland), H Ellis (England), R O'Gara (Ireland), U Monye (England).

Lions Vs Western Province -Preview

The Lions will take on the Western Province which is basically the Stormers S14 team but with out there Boks and notably they be with out, that man, Schalk Burger. It be a strung team as they get ready for this years Curry Cup and as there may not have as many players in the Bok set up as they would like, they will be a lot of good players and will be the best team the Lions have come up against yet. They do have the odd player out with injury but they still be a well drilled team.

The Lions have pick a stung team. It might not be as stung as the team who ran out against the Sharks. A lot of the players will be looking to put there hands up for a test shirt and after today's game most of the team sheet would have written it self. Stephen Jones is probably the only player who name is already down on the team sheet with Tommy Bow just needing a average game to see him throw.

The backs should be a good fast running line up with Jones as the General and Flutty showing why he could still be a name to start a test, maybe not the first test but if Roberts get a knock or even worse has a bad game Fluty might be the man to step in. Young Earls should benefit greatly by playing with Jones and Flutty who will take him under there wing and make some nice holes to put him throw. Wings as I said Bow just needs a OK game to see him on the team sheet and Monye needs to show that he a wee bit calmer and if he get stuck in he will be putting him self in that other shirt. Kearney is unlucky he up against Burn as he a good player, he should be should under the ball. Ellis I hope to see him play like he did last week. He is in good shape to play a part in the test series.

Sheridan and Vickry need to put there hands up today. Sheridan needs to look danders and match Jenkins in the open and Vickry need to show some of that great form. Murry off the bench will get a go Tuesday I expect him and Vickry in the test team but I don't no which one will start. O'Callaghan, Hines with Shaw; off the bench, a good game from ether one, can pall that shirt off A-W Jones. Worsley and the perfectly, non broken hand of Powell need to stop mucking around in the open, looking for big hits and the ball to crush up and get there hands dirty and hit the brake downs. Williams will be looking to play him self on the bench and keep his name alive for the other tests.

D'Arcy on the bench I think he will be playing on Tuesday to give BOG a rest but will come on for Earls at some point. Croft on the bench as back up in case Worsley and Powell play like they did last time, Geech learned his lessen and put a some back up back row there. Hook will come on to save Jones for the tests.

I said this last Saturday but I think this team could slip up as they will be up against a good team it all down to if they can have that amazing D like Wednesday and if they can boss the brake down. If they do it be a good lions win if they don't boss the brake down and if they are loose in the D we could be looking at a slip up.

Lions Team to take on WP:
Rob Kearney (Ireland); Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Keith Earls (Munster), Riki Flutey (England), Ugo Monye (England); Stephen Jones (Wales), Harry Ellis (England); Andrew Sheridan (England), Matthew Rees (Wales), Phil Vickery (Captain-England), Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland), Nathan Hines (Scotland), Joe Worsley (England), Martyn Williams (Wales), Andy Powell (Wales).
Subs: Ross Ford (Scotland), Euan Murray (Scotland), Simon Shaw (England), Tom Croft (England), Mike Blair (Scotland), James Hook (Wales), Gordon D'Arcy (Ireland).

Western Province Team:
Joe Pietersen; Tonderai Chavhanga, Morgan Newman, Peter Grant, Gcobani Bobo; Willem De Waal, Dewaldt Duvenage; Wicus Blaauw, Tiaan Liebenberg, Brok Harris, Martin Muller, Anton Van Zyl, Pieter Louw, Duane Vermeulen, Luke Watson (captain).
Subs: Hanyani Shimange, JD Moller, De Kock Steenkamp, Zandre Jordaan, Conrad Hoffmann, JJ Engelbrecht, Gio Aplon.

Cat will not play the Lions...

It seems that Mike Cat and Brent Russell will not be playing the Lions on June 16Th. The Southern kings have announced a 27-man squad which is made up of a collation of ex-Boks and 7's stars.

Former Boks, De Wet Barry, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Solly Tyibilika and Bevin Fortuin come into the Southern Kings squad. Springbok Sevens captain Mzwandile Stick and team mates from South Africa first IRB World Sevens Championship also join: Rayno Benjamin and Mpho Mbiyozo. Other Champions in the team are Derick Kuün, Jaco Engels and Francois Hougaard, recently crowned Super 14 champions with the Bulls.

The Southern Kings play the Lions at the newly named Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. They are looking to play in a Super 15 in the near future.

Southern Kings Squad to play Lions:
De Wet Barry, Rayno Benjamin, Kevin Buys, Michael Coetzee, Jaco Engels, Bevin Fortuin, Josh Fowles, Henry Grimes, Francois Hougaard, Wylie Human, Sivuyile Kobokana, Derick Kuün, Tiger Mangweni, Mpho Mbiyozo, Darron Nel, Lungile Payi, Ross Skeate, Mzwandile Stick, Heinrich Stride, Solly Tyibilika, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Michael Vermaak, Ruan Vermeulen, Elgar Watts, Frikkie Welsh, Marco Wentzel, Simon Westraadt

Lions Vs Sharks-Preview

This team looks good. I will not go as far as to say this is the test team but a lot of the player will be playing in the tests. I said this because there are a lot of players who, on past form, would be in a test team but need to prove them self. Geech must of read my blog and has listened to me and given S.Willams a run out to see if he can play into some form. Fiz gets a run out on the wing could he be Bows wing partner when test time comes? As always Bryne, sound. O'Drucoll and Roberts are building a good partnership, I hope if all gos to plan Geech puts on Flutey to see what him and BOD can do. O'Gara need to step up if he dose not wont to be found on the bench for the tests behind Jones. Phillips, sound.

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In the front row Jenkins and Jones need to show why they should start instead of the other props and with luck they make life hard for the selectors, as all the props on tour are looking good. Mears, Sound. O'Connell and AW Jones ,could this be the test second row? Jones need to play like he did last time and if he dose he will have that test shirt. This back row of Heaslip, Wallace and Mr Croft this is the drees dress rehearsal for the test for them. They need to start playing together as our back row. As this will be the key to winning out here, this is the best back three from the British Isles. Vickery and Shaw coming off the bench are two tun impact subs. If 1/2P comes he will need to put his hand up. All the subs have something to prove when they get on as the beanch seems to be the test beanch and no one wont ot be siting on that come kick off for the test.

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This is a good team a team who, I think, will run some trys past a weekend Sharks out fit who are missing there star Boks I think it about 8 players they do not have. This team has what the last Saturday team lacket and that a good back row and direction in the mid field. It be a good game for Lions fans.

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Lions Team to take on the Sharks in Durban:

Lee Byrne (Wales); Shane Williams (Wales), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland); Ronan O'Gara (Ireland), Mike Phillips (Wales); Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Lee Mears (England), Adam Jones (Wales), Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O'Connell (Ireland, capt), Tom Croft (England), David Wallace (Ireland), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland).

Subs: Matthew Rees (Wales), Phil Vickery (England), Simon Shaw (England), Joe Worsley (England), Mike Blair (Scotland), Riki Flutey (England), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales).

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I hope you enjoy my art work...

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Update:

Sharks Team:

Stefan Terblanche; Chris Jordaan, Andries Strauss, Riaan Swanepoel, Luzuko Vulindlu; Monty Dumond, Rory Kockott; Deon Carstens, Skipper Badenhorst, Jannie du Plessis, Steven Sykes, Johann Muller (capt), Jacques Botes, Jean Deysel, Keegan Daniel.

Subs: Craig Burden, Patric Cilliers, Albert van den Berg, Michael Rhodes, Charl McLeod, Guy Cronje, Lwazi Mvovo.

Lions Vs Cheetahs- Preview

My first thought about this team is a worried one. I don't know why but I can't help think this team can slip up. I think it's because of the mid filled of Hook, Fizgerald and Earls. There all good players in there own right but rally are the Lions 3 chose mid field. I just hope they make me look silly to say this by being awesome. Young Earls has to play the game of his life and I hope he dose. I giving him some stick on here OULB and on rucku and I hope I will have to eat my words. Fizgerald playing inside? Hook we all know Hook on his day is one of the best players on this green, green earth but, as we seen with the Ospreys, he can lack control and with a young guns out side him will he lose control?

Back 3. Byrne we all hope to see some of the same, what a great player. 1/2P I hope will show us something special I hope he will bring some spark to add two Byrne. Williams needs to show some of his 2008 forum he look like to be riding the bench for the tests.

Powell, Worsley, Ferris a big 3! They need to use there power and bulk to boss the brake down, Ferris is looking good.

Sheridan and Murray if have a good game will be putting perisher on Geech to give them a test run out. Mr Ford and Ellis have not look bad and I expect them to look good. Is O'Gara on the bench in case Hook lose control and if he dose will hook play inside and bring on D'Arcy? No back row subs.

This won't be the Tryfest of Wednesday but we will all be looking for a good win. If our defence is good and stop them scoring Trys and if we get 2+ Trys and kick our goles I be happy with a low scoring win.

Lions Team to take on The Freestate Cheetahs:
Lee Byrne (Wales); Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Keith Earls (Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland), Shane Williams (Wales); James Hook (Wales), Harry Ellis (England); Andrew Sheridan (England), Ross Ford (Scotland), Euan Murray (Scotland), Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland), Paul O'Connell (Ireland,capt), Stephen Ferris (Ireland), Joe Worsley (England), Andy Powell (Wales).
Subs: Matthew Rees (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Simon Shaw (England), Nathan Hines (Scotland), Mike Blair (Scotland), Ronan O'Gara (Ireland), Gordon D'Arcy (Ireland).

Update:
Cheetahs team to take on Lions:
H Daniller; D Demas, C Uys, M Bosman, J W Jonker; J-L Potgieter, T de Bruyn; W Du Preez, A Strauss, K Calldo, N Breedt, D de Villiers, H Brussow, F Uys, H Scholtz (capt).
Subs: R Strauss, W P Nel, F Viljoen, K Floors, G Odendaal, L Strydom, F Juries.
Strongest team Lions have yet come across. Bring it on!

Gossip - Catt could play against the Lions

Right I pick up a story I read on the great Rucku; Will Carling's gossip forum/rugby social network of a page. They got the story off planetrugby.com and it seems they got it off rugbyweek.com and they seem to got it off Port Elizabeth's local newspaper dispatch.

Now I have got it I will tell you all about it. That old git Catt seems to be a name in the mix for the Southern Kings ones know as Southern Spears and the Coastal XV. The Southern Kings (who play the Lions on 16Th June) who are looking to play in a Super 15 in the near future. Catt, who got boo by the South African crowd as he was born and bought up in South Africa and went to there top Rugby school Grays College, is one of many Euro playing players who seem they might have a run out against the Lions. The others in the mix are De Wet Barry, Neil de Kock, BJ Botha, Daan Human, Gary Botha, Faan Rautenbach and that man Brent Russell.

If Catt plays against the Lions will he be the first Lion to play against the Lions on a tour (as I know Lions play games agents England, Bar Bars etc in the Home Nations)? It be good to see but I do hope if he dose go up agents the Lions he gets nobbled.

The Southern Kings Team said to play Lions on the 16 June:
15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Vuyo Zangqa, 13 Rudi Coetzee, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Wylie Human, 10 Mike Catt, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Darren Nel, 7 Solly Tyibilika (c), 6 Trevor Hall, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Mpho Mboyosi, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Hanyani Shimanga, 1 Daan Human.
Subs: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Faan Rautenbach, 18 Lungile Payi, 19 Robbie Diack, 20 Josh Fowles, 21 Mzwandile Stick, 22 Brent Russell.

Hat Tip: Rucku, planetrugby.com,rugbyweek.com,dispatch

Lions Vs Lions-Preview

As the British and Irish Lions take on the Golden Lions tonight the one thing that we all will be hoping is to see the boys win and win well to show that the Lions are here to play. The last game was rubbish, to sum it up. The Royal XV where nothing more than a part time team. Tonight they need to show us some us something so we can get our teeth into. Now the Golden Lions will be better than the Royals as they are a S14 side but they are one of the worst S14 team around, so we will be hoping for a big score.

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I got a lot of hope faith in this side this could be a existing side. Jones and Phillips I hope they do what they do for Wales and I would both are siting in test spots at this time. O'Driscoll will add direction and some flare in the center. Monye I think is going to be the black horse on this tour I expect to see some good running,tackles and even the odd try?!

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Jenkins -Mears -Vickery could this be the test front row? A-W Jones I would say is siting in a test spot but a good game from Hines could see him go top of the second, second row list. Croft, Wallace, Heaslip a fast existing back row I think this combo could be the money a good game from the 3 could be the key against the Boks.

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British and Irish Lions:
R Kearney (Ireland); T Bowe (Ireland), B O'Driscoll (Ireland, captain), J Roberts (Wales), U Monye (England); S Jones (Wales), M Phillips (Wales); G Jenkins (Wales), L Mears (England), P Vickery (England), N Hines (Scotland), A-W Jones (Wales), T Croft (England), D Wallace (Ireland), J Heaslip (Ireland).

Subs: R Ford (Scotland), E Murray (Scotland), S Ferris (Ireland), A Powell (Wales), H Ellis (England), J Hook (Wales), S Williams (Wales).

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Golden Lions:

L Ludik; M Killian, J Boshoff, D la Grange, D Noble; A Pretorius, J Vermaak; L Sephaka, W Wepener, G Muller, B Mockford, W Stoltz, C Grobbelaar, F van der Merwe, W Alberts.

Subs: E Reynecke, J Van Rensburg, E Joubert, T Clever, C Jonck, W Venter, E Rose.

Lions Team- Game one

The team to take on the Royal XV in Rustenburg on Saturday at 1400.

Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland), Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales); Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland), Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland); Andrew Sheridan (Sales Sharks/England), Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales), Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England), Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland - captain), Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales).

Subs: Lee Mears (Bath/England), Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Ferris (Ulster/Ireland), Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales), Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England)

I think this is the pack they will go for the tests, but with Wallace on instead of Worsley and I think it is the back 3 they go for. I think with Brian O'Driscoll out, the mid field they leave open to to play with before the next game. They need to win and the Royals will not be soft so they need to put out a big pack and it a good game to see what the young guns like Earls and Roberts can do and for Blair to show his name should of always been on the Lions squid list.

Halfpenny looking good

The Welsh flayer is on track to join up with his Lions team mates next week.

The Cardiff Blues physiotherapist, Tim Atter, said: "We're happy with the progress Leigh has made since returning to us,”

”He's running hard and is up to 80% and over the next two days we hope to get him back to full pace. We have worked mainly on strengthening and conditioning and Leigh has also done some light kicking".

"Leigh himself has been really positive and worked exceptionally hard - he is determined to get on the tour."
”Hopefully he can fly out to meet up with the rest of the Lions."

Royal Highveld XV

The first team to take on the Lions:

Russell Jeacocks (Leopards); Egon Seconds (Griquas), Deon van Rensburg (Leopards), Hanno Coetzee (Griquas), Bjorn Basson (Griquas); Naas Olivier (Griquas), Sarel Pretorius (Griquas); Albertus Buckle (Griquas), Rayno Barnes (Griquas), Bees Roux (Griquas), Rudi Mathee (Leopards), Jacques Lombard (Griquas), Wilhelm Koch (Leopards, capt), Devon Raubenheimer (Griquas), Jonathan Makoena (Griquas).

Subs: Pellow van der Westhuizen (Leopards), Stef Roberts (Griquas), Rynard Landman (Leopards), RW Kember (Leopards), Jacques Coetzee (Pumas), Riaan Viljoen (Griquas), Jovan Bowles (Bulldogs)

11 played for the Vodacom Cup champions Griquas. Two players played for Super 14 side Cheetahs, scrum-half Sarel Pretorius and centre Deon van Rensburg.

They may not be a team of stars but they be putting in big hits and make life hard for the Lions. The Royal coach Chaka Willemse said "The Lions must know they are coming to South Africa for a first match that won't be easy,".

Lions team is out tomorrow will put it up ASAP. I expect a lot of the Welsh boys to play.