Lions Vs Western Province - What I Think

Well that was a close one! I think it safe to say the Lions D under Edwards is up to scratch. This was always going to the Lions hardest pre-test game as WP do not have as many Boks and are a good well drilled team.
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Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Ugo Monye all had a good game I said before the match that Bow just needs a 'OK game to see him on the team sheet'. Well I am happy that we got more than that, he showed us why he is a test player. Monye I would say has put his hands in the test shirt unless Fiz has a cracker on Tuesday or Geech go for out of form Willams. Monye hinted to the BBC that he like to play with Bow as they play better together "He is a great winger and with Rob Kearney there as well it has been easy to slot in between the two of them. Our attacking combinations seem to be coming on, we have got a really good pattern and shape, and without the ball our defence has also been strong." As Monye said Kearny play great I would say it to late for him to push Burn out the test side before the first test but could see him on the bench and maybe used in the other tests.
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Mid field was OK, Keith Earls and Riki Flutey had a OK game Flutey was not outstanding; and that what he had to be to push BOD or Roberts out the teem but he played OK. Earls did not do anything which would make you hit your head on the table, so a good game from the young gun. A quite game from Jones but did enuth for him to stay on pole for the test 10. Ellis showed his class I think we see more of him on this tour, Phillips test 9- for the first test at least.
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Back Row, Joe Worsley and Andy Powell did get to the brake down a bit more but still standing in the middle of the park to much, look for the TV cameras. I can not help think if Powell just stuck his head down and drive on their mull he could help stop it, instead of playing pater-cake with them. If it was not for Martyn Williams we probably be a lot more slow ball with more turn overs as he had the game of his life. He got stuck in at the brake down. Good with ball in hand, so good I think he might be the back up 12! Williams is given Geech and Co a hell of a tuth call. Wallace or Williams I would be happy ether way and I would not like to put any cash down on which one they go for, both class players.
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The second row where OK I would not say they did much to push AW Jone off the test team sheet. Andrew Sheridan, Matthew Rees,Phil Vickery the big 3 at the front. Sheridan I would say had a OK game but he need to match Jenkins great game so I think he lost his test place. Vickery was good, as Captain and as a player I think he will be in Pole for the test shirt unless Murry has a cracker on Tuesday. Rees and Ford (off the bench) showed why Meirs will get the test 2 shirt, that is because Meirs is the only one who can throw the ball in strait!
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We scored trys, our D was good. Players put there hands up. But they did get a couple of drop goles and the odd penalty but I would think Geech and Co be happy as there no meager problems. Job Done.

5 Boks Down 5 to go!

A good game the test team has written it self. Half way let carry on boys!

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.