2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA
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Bulls vs Lions is under threat.
Several Bulls players and at least one on the management team have tested positive.
@mikethesnow I Just read om 365 that one option being considered due to the Boks and Bulls having Covid issues is for the Lions to play Georgia this weekend.
- Well that did not age well, see post below -
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The British and Irish Lions' match against South African provincial team Vodacom Bulls on Saturday has been postponed because of Covid-19 cases in the hosts' camp.
It is the first tour game to be affected in a country that is experiencing a surge in infections.
Tour organisers hope to reschedule the game or find different opponents for the Lions.
Doubts also exist over South Africa's warm-up against Georgia on Friday.
The Springboks are isolating, with training suspended as they deal with an outbreak.
South African rugby bosses said: "Four Bulls players and one member of management returned positive tests which, in combination with their close contacts, made it impossible for them to field a team, according to series safety protocols.
"Series regulations make provision for additional midweek matches to be added on agreement between the organizations.
"Meanwhile, four positive results among the Georgian team and four additional positive tests among Springbok players (Marvin Orie, Frans Steyn, Handre Pollard and Frans Malherbe) plus six among management, including head coach Jacques Nienaber, and one masseuse, have further complicated planning."
SA Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux said: "These positive results are a setback and have underlined the danger of transmissibility of the Delta variant."The Springboks' second Test against Georgia is now in serious doubt."
A decision on Friday's game will be made on Wednesday,
"The priority is to maintain the integrity of the Test series and we will continue to focus on that," said Roux.
The host nation previously suspended training on 27 June because of three positive tests, but were later cleared to play.
Second row Lood de Jager earlier tested positive, with Vincent Koch, Herschel Jantjies and Sbu Nkosi having returned positive results on 27 June.
Jantjies later returned a negative test and was a replacement when the Springboks beat Georgia 40-9 last Friday in Pretoria - their first Test match since winning the 2019 World Cup.
The following day the Lions played their first game on South Africa soil, beating the Sigma Lions 56-14 in Johannesburg.
South Africa is battling a third wave of coronavirus and entered a strict lockdown just as the Lions arrived last week.
The possibility of the Bulls game being called off led Lions defence coach Steve Tandy to state the tourists could adapt to any such disruption.
The Lions' next scheduled game is due to be against South Africa 'A' on 14 July in Cape Town.
Their game against Cell C Sharks on Wednesday, 7 July will go ahead.
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@mn5 said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mikethesnow said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mikethesnow said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
Jones (Wales)
Owens (Wales)
Furlong (Ireland)
Henderson (Ireland)
Wyn Jones (Captain) (Wales)
Beirne (Ireland)
Watson (Scotland)
Faletau (Wales)
Murray (Ireland)
Sexton (Ireland)
Earls (Ireland)
Henshaw (Ireland)
North (Wales)
Rees- Zammitt (Wales)
Hogg (Scotland)That was my initial stab at a Test XV back on 20 March
Here are my current front runners after two matches
Jones (Wales)
Owens (Wales)
Furlong (Ireland)
Itoje (England)
Henderson (Ireland)
Beirne (Ireland)
Watson (Scotland)
Faletau (Wales)
Murray (Ireland, Capt.)
Biggar (Wales)
Adams (Wales)
Henshaw (Ireland)
Harris (Scotland)
Rees- Zammitt (Wales)
Hogg (Scotland)Is Harris really worthy of a test spot ? ( this is written by the ferns biggest fake Scotsman as well ). Surely Aki or Farrell play 12 with Henshaw at 13 ?
Farrell on the bench to cover 10, 12
Davies to cover 9
Liam Willaims to cover 11, 14, 15Harris' defensive role can't be underplayed. Individually he cuts down so much space. Collectively he's in charge of the defensive unit.
On attack he offers more than Aki IMHO. See his grubber to put LRZ in for example.
@mikethesnow said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mn5 said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mikethesnow said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mikethesnow said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
Jones (Wales)
Owens (Wales)
Furlong (Ireland)
Henderson (Ireland)
Wyn Jones (Captain) (Wales)
Beirne (Ireland)
Watson (Scotland)
Faletau (Wales)
Murray (Ireland)
Sexton (Ireland)
Earls (Ireland)
Henshaw (Ireland)
North (Wales)
Rees- Zammitt (Wales)
Hogg (Scotland)That was my initial stab at a Test XV back on 20 March
Here are my current front runners after two matches
Jones (Wales)
Owens (Wales)
Furlong (Ireland)
Itoje (England)
Henderson (Ireland)
Beirne (Ireland)
Watson (Scotland)
Faletau (Wales)
Murray (Ireland, Capt.)
Biggar (Wales)
Adams (Wales)
Henshaw (Ireland)
Harris (Scotland)
Rees- Zammitt (Wales)
Hogg (Scotland)Is Harris really worthy of a test spot ? ( this is written by the ferns biggest fake Scotsman as well ). Surely Aki or Farrell play 12 with Henshaw at 13 ?
Farrell on the bench to cover 10, 12
Davies to cover 9
Liam Willaims to cover 11, 14, 15Harris' defensive role can't be underplayed. Individually he cuts down so much space. Collectively he's in charge of the defensive unit.
On attack he offers more than Aki IMHO. See his grubber to put LRZ in for example.
Prior to the tour he was very much Chris Who? However he really put his hand up v the Lions and for me is in the box seat for the 13, though early days yet. I also think 10 is still up for grabs, Biggar had a good game v Japan after a good 6N, Russell’s flakiness to me does not fit within a typical Gatland game plan and Farrell has not yet had a sniff, though you’d want him on the park.
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@mikethesnow said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mn5 said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mikethesnow said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mikethesnow said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
Jones (Wales)
Owens (Wales)
Furlong (Ireland)
Henderson (Ireland)
Wyn Jones (Captain) (Wales)
Beirne (Ireland)
Watson (Scotland)
Faletau (Wales)
Murray (Ireland)
Sexton (Ireland)
Earls (Ireland)
Henshaw (Ireland)
North (Wales)
Rees- Zammitt (Wales)
Hogg (Scotland)That was my initial stab at a Test XV back on 20 March
Here are my current front runners after two matches
Jones (Wales)
Owens (Wales)
Furlong (Ireland)
Itoje (England)
Henderson (Ireland)
Beirne (Ireland)
Watson (Scotland)
Faletau (Wales)
Murray (Ireland, Capt.)
Biggar (Wales)
Adams (Wales)
Henshaw (Ireland)
Harris (Scotland)
Rees- Zammitt (Wales)
Hogg (Scotland)Is Harris really worthy of a test spot ? ( this is written by the ferns biggest fake Scotsman as well ). Surely Aki or Farrell play 12 with Henshaw at 13 ?
Farrell on the bench to cover 10, 12
Davies to cover 9
Liam Willaims to cover 11, 14, 15Harris' defensive role can't be underplayed. Individually he cuts down so much space. Collectively he's in charge of the defensive unit.
On attack he offers more than Aki IMHO. See his grubber to put LRZ in for example.
Prior to the tour he was very much Chris Who? However he really put his hand up v the Lions and for me is in the box seat for the 13, though early days yet. I also think 10 is still up for grabs, Biggar had a good game v Japan after a good 6N, Russell’s flakiness to me does not fit within a typical Gatland game plan and Farrell has not yet had a sniff, though you’d want him on the park.
@catogrande said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mikethesnow said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mn5 said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mikethesnow said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mikethesnow said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
Jones (Wales)
Owens (Wales)
Furlong (Ireland)
Henderson (Ireland)
Wyn Jones (Captain) (Wales)
Beirne (Ireland)
Watson (Scotland)
Faletau (Wales)
Murray (Ireland)
Sexton (Ireland)
Earls (Ireland)
Henshaw (Ireland)
North (Wales)
Rees- Zammitt (Wales)
Hogg (Scotland)That was my initial stab at a Test XV back on 20 March
Here are my current front runners after two matches
Jones (Wales)
Owens (Wales)
Furlong (Ireland)
Itoje (England)
Henderson (Ireland)
Beirne (Ireland)
Watson (Scotland)
Faletau (Wales)
Murray (Ireland, Capt.)
Biggar (Wales)
Adams (Wales)
Henshaw (Ireland)
Harris (Scotland)
Rees- Zammitt (Wales)
Hogg (Scotland)Is Harris really worthy of a test spot ? ( this is written by the ferns biggest fake Scotsman as well ). Surely Aki or Farrell play 12 with Henshaw at 13 ?
Farrell on the bench to cover 10, 12
Davies to cover 9
Liam Willaims to cover 11, 14, 15Harris' defensive role can't be underplayed. Individually he cuts down so much space. Collectively he's in charge of the defensive unit.
On attack he offers more than Aki IMHO. See his grubber to put LRZ in for example.
Prior to the tour he was very much Chris Who? However he really put his hand up v the Lions and for me is in the box seat for the 13, though early days yet. I also think 10 is still up for grabs, Biggar had a good game v Japan after a good 6N, Russell’s flakiness to me does not fit within a typical Gatland game plan and Farrell has not yet had a sniff, though you’d want him on the park.
Squidge raved over him, and he’s not Welsh, so must be decent
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If the 1st Test was Saturday
Jones (Wales)
Owens (Wales)
Furlong (Ireland)
Itoje (England)
Henderson (Ireland)
Navidi (Wales)
Watson (Scotland)
Faletau (Wales)Murray (Ireland, Capt.)
Biggar (Wales)
Adams (Wales)
Henshaw (Ireland)
Harris (Scotland)
Rees- Zammitt (Wales)
Hogg (Scotland) -
tweet from Brenden Nel -
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From the Lions website -
The British & Irish Lions will play back-to-back matches against the Cell C Sharks to ensure the tourists can continue to prepare for the Test series against the Springboks later this month.SA Rugby and the Lions have agreed to replace the Vodacom Bulls with the Cell C Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (kick-off 18h00 SAT, 17h00 BST), after the former was ruled out because of COVID-19 infections.
The Lions beat the Cell C Sharks 54-7 at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Wednesday in the second match of the Castle Lager Lions Series. The tourists had opened their account at the same venue with a 56-14 victory over the Sigma Lions on Saturday.
“The choice of the Cell C Sharks was dictated by the fact that they have been in a bubble, have returned negative tests throughout and were prepared to take on the fixture,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby.
“No other team in the country could meet those conditions right now – without going into a five-day lockdown. It is not an ideal situation, but COVID-19 has made sure that we do not live in an ideal world.”
The change has meant that the Cell C Sharks’ match against the Sigma Lions in the Carling Currie Cup on Saturday has been cancelled with a decision on the points allocation to be confirmed.
“We’re very grateful to the Sharks for agreeing to play us again this Saturday at Loftus Versfeld,” said Lions managing director Ben Calveley.
“We have further COVID-19 testing scheduled for today and tomorrow. The results of those tests will determine whether we will be able fulfil this fixture, but, as it stands, we are optimistic.
“We remain committed to the Tour in South Africa and determined to rise to the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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From the Lions website -
The British & Irish Lions will play back-to-back matches against the Cell C Sharks to ensure the tourists can continue to prepare for the Test series against the Springboks later this month.SA Rugby and the Lions have agreed to replace the Vodacom Bulls with the Cell C Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (kick-off 18h00 SAT, 17h00 BST), after the former was ruled out because of COVID-19 infections.
The Lions beat the Cell C Sharks 54-7 at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Wednesday in the second match of the Castle Lager Lions Series. The tourists had opened their account at the same venue with a 56-14 victory over the Sigma Lions on Saturday.
“The choice of the Cell C Sharks was dictated by the fact that they have been in a bubble, have returned negative tests throughout and were prepared to take on the fixture,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby.
“No other team in the country could meet those conditions right now – without going into a five-day lockdown. It is not an ideal situation, but COVID-19 has made sure that we do not live in an ideal world.”
The change has meant that the Cell C Sharks’ match against the Sigma Lions in the Carling Currie Cup on Saturday has been cancelled with a decision on the points allocation to be confirmed.
“We’re very grateful to the Sharks for agreeing to play us again this Saturday at Loftus Versfeld,” said Lions managing director Ben Calveley.
“We have further COVID-19 testing scheduled for today and tomorrow. The results of those tests will determine whether we will be able fulfil this fixture, but, as it stands, we are optimistic.
“We remain committed to the Tour in South Africa and determined to rise to the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
@daffy-jaffy said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
From the Lions website -
The British & Irish Lions will play back-to-back matches against the Cell C Sharks to ensure the tourists can continue to prepare for the Test series against the Springboks later this month.SA Rugby and the Lions have agreed to replace the Vodacom Bulls with the Cell C Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (kick-off 18h00 SAT, 17h00 BST), after the former was ruled out because of COVID-19 infections.
The Lions beat the Cell C Sharks 54-7 at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Wednesday in the second match of the Castle Lager Lions Series. The tourists had opened their account at the same venue with a 56-14 victory over the Sigma Lions on Saturday.
“The choice of the Cell C Sharks was dictated by the fact that they have been in a bubble, have returned negative tests throughout and were prepared to take on the fixture,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby.
“No other team in the country could meet those conditions right now – without going into a five-day lockdown. It is not an ideal situation, but COVID-19 has made sure that we do not live in an ideal world.”
The change has meant that the Cell C Sharks’ match against the Sigma Lions in the Carling Currie Cup on Saturday has been cancelled with a decision on the points allocation to be confirmed.
“We’re very grateful to the Sharks for agreeing to play us again this Saturday at Loftus Versfeld,” said Lions managing director Ben Calveley.
“We have further COVID-19 testing scheduled for today and tomorrow. The results of those tests will determine whether we will be able fulfil this fixture, but, as it stands, we are optimistic.
“We remain committed to the Tour in South Africa and determined to rise to the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Given the situation, I wonder if they could expand the squad sizes to give more Lions players a run?
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Marcus Smith to join the Lions in South Africa because Finn Russell is injured. Big call going for the English youngster ahead of Jonny Sexton:
https://twitter.com/lionsofficial/status/1413877790231908355?s=19
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26 people have covid in the springbok camp, including 14 players
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26 people have covid in the springbok camp, including 14 players
Why so many rugby professional players are not vaccinated ? This would have solved many problems IMO.
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You can be vaccinated and have Covid.
In other news there's not too much second string about the SA 'A' team for Wednesday
To face:
*British and Irish Lions: Watson; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Aki, Adams; Biggar, Murray (capt); Jones, Owens, Sinckler, Itoje, Henderson, Navidi, Curry, Faletau.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Vunipola, Fagerson, Beard, Beirne, Simmonds, Davies, Daly.*
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Should be a cracker
Could go either way, but momentum and match fitness is with the Lions.
Lions by 7-10
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You can be vaccinated and have Covid.
In other news there's not too much second string about the SA 'A' team for Wednesday
To face:
*British and Irish Lions: Watson; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Aki, Adams; Biggar, Murray (capt); Jones, Owens, Sinckler, Itoje, Henderson, Navidi, Curry, Faletau.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Vunipola, Fagerson, Beard, Beirne, Simmonds, Davies, Daly.*
@margin_walker said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
You can be vaccinated and have Covid.
In other news there's not too much second string about the SA 'A' team for Wednesday
To face:
*British and Irish Lions: Watson; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Aki, Adams; Biggar, Murray (capt); Jones, Owens, Sinckler, Itoje, Henderson, Navidi, Curry, Faletau.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Vunipola, Fagerson, Beard, Beirne, Simmonds, Davies, Daly.*
First match together for Itoje and Henderson.
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@margin_walker said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
You can be vaccinated and have Covid.
In other news there's not too much second string about the SA 'A' team for Wednesday
To face:
*British and Irish Lions: Watson; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Aki, Adams; Biggar, Murray (capt); Jones, Owens, Sinckler, Itoje, Henderson, Navidi, Curry, Faletau.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Vunipola, Fagerson, Beard, Beirne, Simmonds, Davies, Daly.*
First match together for Itoje and Henderson.
@pakman said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@margin_walker said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
You can be vaccinated and have Covid.
In other news there's not too much second string about the SA 'A' team for Wednesday
To face:
*British and Irish Lions: Watson; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Aki, Adams; Biggar, Murray (capt); Jones, Owens, Sinckler, Itoje, Henderson, Navidi, Curry, Faletau.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Vunipola, Fagerson, Beard, Beirne, Simmonds, Davies, Daly.*
First match together for Itoje and Henderson.
Just keeping AWJ’s jersey warm by the looks of it
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