Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Last minute penalty wins epic contest, and series, for the Springboks at Loftus

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Last minute penalty wins epic contest, and series, for the Springboks at Loftus

A last minute penalty from the darling of Loftus, Morne Steyn, decided the fate of the 2009 British & Irish Lions as they went down 28-25 to the Springboks in Pretoria in an epic contest. The Springboks win the series, 2-0.

It was a thrilling Test match that served up plenty of ferocity and quality play from both sides. The Lions led up until the 74th minute, with a win looking on the cards.

They had scored early through Rob Kearney while Schalk Burger was in the sin bin for what was described by the assistant referee as a clear eye gouge. The try was converted by Stephen Jones, who also kicked two penalties and a drop goal.

JP Peterson scored off the back of a lineout for the Boks, but it was the Lions who led at half time after having a large majority of the possession for the second week running.

The Springboks fought back in the second half though, scoring through Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie, both of which were coolly converted by replacement flyhalf Morne Steyn.

A courageous late penalty from Jones, who looked like he had just badly injured his leg, took the match to 25-25, with a draw on the cards.

As the Boks pushed closer into drop goal territory, they hastily had a shot from far out. The ball was kicked down field, then hoofed back, before Ronan O’Gara launched an up and under.

O’Gara himself chased, but took Fourie Du Preez out in the air, earning the home side a shot at the win from within their own half.

Morne Steyn stepped forward and landed the kick of his life under immense pressure, winning the game for the Springboks and helping to secure the series win.

Time: 09:47

FIRST:D!
Unlucky lionsss!:P

By Matt, at June 27, 2009 7:39 pm
Now that iv spoilt it for everyone, can someone tell me what happened?
Was watching live commentary in work and didnt a get a chance to see the game:/
From what i can tell o'gara did something stupid at the end?
someone fill me in:)?
Anyways, just so the S,A fans dont think we're all twats.
We lost, simple as.
But god that was a close game:P?

By Matt, at June 27, 2009 7:40 pm
Matt, read the effin article??

lol

Anyway, nice win for the Boks. Incredible temperament from Morne Steyn. First the touchline conversion, then the big kick to make history. Incredible.

Great game by the Lions too though. Have to give credit where credit is due.

Oh and, besides him being perhaps a little TOO amped for todays game, I think BOD should have been skipper. Paul O'Connell was nowhere to be seen. So much for the imposing, big, intimidating forward as a leader.

Classic match. 2-0. Lions havent won a test since 2001, and a series since 97. They had a genuine chance today though.

By FrankyH, at June 27, 2009 7:45 pm
Hopefully for these comments we'll get some gracious winners and losers - not crowing Saffers and sore Lions fans...

Anyway, I'm for the cliche - rugby was the winner. Except for Burger and the unavoidable uncontested scrums.

By jackohos, at June 27, 2009 7:45 pm
i didn't see the game but listened to it on the radio seems very unfortunate on the lions, if the lions dont beat the boks by more than 20 points next week this tour will have been a waste of time and merely a repeat of new zealand we need to destroy them next week to regain any pride

By will, at June 27, 2009 7:46 pm
Great game, but watching it with my dirty dutch/german Afrikaans cape town bastard pain in the arse house mate wasn't nice. Nice braai afterwards........ Hendrik

KAK!!!!!

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 7:51 pm
Ronan O'Gara is an absolute joke! He was on for about ten minutes and still managed to cost them the match.
Kearney was excellent though. It seems I've been right about him all along.

By Kearney for tests, at June 27, 2009 7:52 pm
Oh and Hennie about your Braai's

Boerewors is disgusting!

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 8:01 pm
Sooooo many injuries in key areas ruined the Loins fluidity but was a great game. burger will get a good long ban me thinks.

By Mike.S, at June 27, 2009 8:02 pm
Cough...ROB KEARNEY BEST FUCKING PLAYER IN THE WORLD...COUGH

Sorry excuse me I dunno where that came from.

Maybe from the try line where Rob Keanrey bamboozled the Bok Defence or 90 feet in the air where he claimed every single ball. Seriously he had absolutely no right to claim half of them and he did.

Is it just me or should ths tour be known as the leinster and the welsh lions??? (and david wallace and simon shaw)

Burger for a year easy

By Happyscotsman, at June 27, 2009 8:07 pm
HappyScotsman,

and Paul O' Connell

and Tom Croft

and Andrew Sheridan.

Anyway well done SA, showed why you are World Champions. It was tough on ROG and he's inevitably going to be blamed for the loss despite the fact that it wasn't totally his fault. He didn't leave in the two tries before he came on or give away the previous penalties. We lost because the Lions stopped playing in the second half when we had them on the ropes.

By Richie, at June 27, 2009 8:13 pm
Croft was fairly crappy in that game i thought.

Sweet lord that rob Keanrey is some player. Hes only a young lad too isnt he?

Why was everyone saying that he filled in well??

Filled in?

He was the best player on the pitch and by a country mile and did things that Lee Byrne never would have done.

Best fullback in the world

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 8:28 pm
ROG lost us the game, I'm sorry to say. He was bounced by Spies then about two phases later bounced by Fourie (I think) who was then able to get the try in the corner. He should have booted the ball straight into touch instead of the high ball that led to the penalty. To be fair though, the Boks showed some great heart and commitment to come back and win the test and the series...

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 8:28 pm
Burger was USELESS.. and should be banned for some time (this coming from a Springbok supporter!!)

Brussow whas huge at the breakdown, should have been in the starting line-up..

the moment brussow, Fourie and Morne Steyn took the field, the momenten shifted

3-1 tries let's not forget..

By Cheis, at June 27, 2009 8:38 pm
Yes its history though I'd prefer draw

By FEDOR, at June 27, 2009 8:40 pm
it was a mixture of ian mc geehans choice of subs and rog that cost the match. First there was no center or back with any bulk on the bench, and ROG seemed to butcher all chances of a draw when he ran into the scrum half.There was no mallace in the tackle and he was just searching for the ball ah fuck it i forgive him he knew he did wrong there was a shoot of him shaking his head at the end.Lions deserved the winner, Burger is a cheat, SA where offside at the best of times, didnt see much running from the backrow forwards, backs where amazing today.

great game but the intensity was lost throughout the game lions would of won it

Conor

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 8:43 pm
arr lions what happend. the game was there and we butched it, there was mc'rae in 2001 umaga in 2005 and now o'gara 2009 someone always come out of the tour with a shit reputation and hated. kearny played outstanding, but burger should have been of the bokki twat was trying to rip fitzgeralds eyes out the sick bastard should have been sent off for the match.all o'gara had to do was hold off and nail the guy when he touched the floor but its sooo fustrating watching the lions play, cracking match though, botha and burger are out of the next test after been sighted btw !!!

By welldoneogara, at June 27, 2009 8:44 pm
WELL DONE WORLD CHAMPS (From a Kiwi fan!)

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 8:55 pm
Hey, lets play a game..how many NH teams won this weekend....hmmmmm...thought so!!! Well done BOKS to come from behind how you did shows why you are WORLD CHAMPS, don't listen to all these b&i fans...there are sure to be more moans from them ...

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 8:59 pm
What about Heaslip punching Habana when he scored his try? Lions are no angels and they blew it today. The Boks are world champs and there is a reason why!

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:00 pm
BOKKE!!!!

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:00 pm
na mate im sorry i just heard that burger and botha are both sighted im sorry two of ur many cheating twats have been sighted.you all got frustrated and starting doing the most sick stuff you dont no how to fight properly so you have to do cowardly cheap shots when there not looking. and your beast got owned by jones every scrum

By welldoneogara, at June 27, 2009 9:01 pm
I'm a bok fan and I dont even know how we pulled this one off!! We played like shit for most part and still manage to win?!!!! (and against the best of 4 countries!!!) AMAZING!!

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:01 pm
Funny how on a SA site the heading is: BOK WIN CAN'T HIDE THE CRACKS and then you go on b&i sites and they say shit like 'Honourable loss' Just shows the diffs in class and approuch...

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:03 pm
Absolutely awesome game. Really was, I'm exhausted just watching it.

Well done to South Africa for having the will power, commitment and leadership on the pitch to win the series.

Absolutely no shame in going down how we did, I hope the lions can salvage a win next week just so we don't go home empty handed.

Main points:
Silly by burger could miss the Tri Nations if it gets taken further - but i think Brussow is a better option anyway.

Massive hit by BOD, was it legal? I'd like to see the reverse angle.

Great Try by Habana and Pietersen.

Unlucky for O'gara, but to be fair to the lad he'd just been knocked senselss by Spies two minutes before missing the tackle and hitting the man int he air.

Massive Loss in the midfield, I'd like to see both of them play next week hope it's not toooooooo serious.

Great game and well done again SA, not complaints from here.

Possibly the best game of rugby I've seen since the lions in 2001.

By goodNumber10, at June 27, 2009 9:03 pm
To welldoneogara, us Bok fans are happy Burger has been cited as Brussouw is a better replacement, as for Bakkies, he will get a well desrved rest as the damage is already done. BIL 0 - Bokke 2. We have Danie Russouw and Andries Bekker and Johan Muller if need be so that does not worry us much.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:04 pm
That is absolutely gutting, had it recorded, only finished watching there. Absolutely gutting.

Fine lines though. Lions have a try disallowed in 1st Test for crossing, for Habana's FDourie only just got away with it.

Schalk Burger, I have finally been proved right, is shit. And isn't gunna be playing rugby any time soon after that the filthy c**t!

ROG let us down, saw it coming. Just gutting, you can't fault them though, and he didn't do it on purpose.

Fair play to the Boks, got the job done, and superb set piece moves.

Well done to Morne Steyn, ICEMAN!!!

On a complete change of subject, that was a youngish Lions team and touring party, so ROLL ON AUSTRALIA TWENTY-13.

Fucking gutted though.

By Brick Shithouse, at June 27, 2009 9:10 pm
ROG is an easy blame. To be honest SA were lucky to win in the end. The loss of the two props gave uncontested scrums which in the end brought sa back into it. Couple that with the loss of the best centre partnership i have seen in a while...it would be hard for any team to win, but they nearly did. Safe to say i am disappointed with o garas attempt at a tackle but at the same time you lose your midfield and front row in the space 25mins... you can't expect to win. Still though how much it hurts as a fan to have lost shows what an effort the lions still put in.

By Munsterman Lions Fan, at June 27, 2009 9:11 pm
Just saw the last second penalty incident again - a penalty for having a guy land on your head - where's my rule book?

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:11 pm
Let's show some class and humility when commenting boys and girls, from both sides. Mudslinging comments will be removed.

Congrats to both sides for a cracking match.

Now lets keep things clean on here. If you'd like to get personal and childish, take it elsewhere, thanks.

By GMC, at June 27, 2009 9:12 pm
Agree with everythin Brick Shithouse said.

Absolute Joke show really, great game, but how Lions haven't come out winners is insane. They were absolute dog.

O'Gara not to blame, an error, but honestly, red for Burder, doesnt matter what point of the game it happens, he'll get sited, and that means shit now.

Also, what was with the last SA try?

By cp85, at June 27, 2009 9:18 pm
Are the Boks ever going to win a game without a bias Video-ref?

(So much for the beast) :p

By Truth, at June 27, 2009 9:29 pm
1st so much for the great POC..he was ment to "boss" matfield around in this series..his been no where..burger shud b banned for a month..as for bakkies citing there was nothing in that.jones was just in the wrong place.where he hurt his arm..was good to see pierre spies run more. FINALLY

By Alain Weyers, at June 27, 2009 9:30 pm
Love the shithouses use of the english language!! nice shithouse, you seem to be such a lovely guy...at least not all the b&i fans are as pathetic as you!!! BOKKE 2-LIONS 0!!!

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:31 pm
truth, you don't speak much truth..truth is you should change your name mate!! BOKKE 2 - LIONS 0

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:35 pm
What a game of rugger!! Well done boks! Prob best game I have watched in a long,long time!!!

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:36 pm
I just watched the Bakkies Botha/Adam Jones incident.. and honestly, there's nothing in it. Unfortunate for Jones to be injured, but Bakkies simply cleared him out, legally. I cant see him being suspended. If he is, it's a joke.

As for Burger.. schalk schalk schalk. sigh.. It's idiotic behaviour like that that gives saffas a bad name. Embarrassing. As if we dont already have a bad name for overzealous play.. Disgraceful, in his 50th test.

He deserves whatever punishment they give him, mainly for stupidity - I'm sure Fitzgeralds eyes are fine.

Nice to win the series though. Not many players get chosen ahead of Francois Steyn to take 55m kicks. Morne you legend. Cool as a cucumber.

By Shaft, at June 27, 2009 9:42 pm
fair play to SA, they are world champs and they won.

but the ref and linesman blew it. dylan hartley and quinlan get months for gouging, linesman sees it in clear day and schalk gets 10 minutes. something odd there.

Who are the ones who will be most pleased with this tour. NZ of course. They know if they bring their 'A' game then the tri nations is theirs again.

Kearney is class. and seeing as is took schalk 30 seconds to get in the gouging action that says it all about how SA went into this match. got destroyed in the scrum and BOD and Roberts could take them apart at will. Had to get them off the field to win

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:43 pm
Saffas, you are f*cking deluded. This is from the BBC site:
"South Africa coach Peter De Villiers refused to condemn Burger's action, insisting that the Lions should have had players off the field as well.
""I don't believe it was a card at all.""

Has De Villiers been diagnosed as retarded by a professional?

By the way, Botha (dopey c*nt who Sheridan made look a fool) has been cited for the away-from-play incident that left Adam Jones with a suspected dislocated collar-bone.

I sound bitter because I am bitter. We get to see the Lions try to beat some arrogant anitpodean pricks only every four years and it pisses me off to see dirty play, shitty reffing, etc muddy the water and stop us all from seeing a straight up, fair contest between the Lions and SA.

This has been a rant without a point! The Lions would've won but for injuries.

PS. Bryce Lawrence should retire, he was pretty bad last week and awful this week. He flags for an infringement that carries a minimum 12 week ban and he DOESN'T recommend a red?!

By Tanora, at June 27, 2009 9:44 pm
Just saw RD's comment. Sorry, I lost the run of myself. If I could edit it and tone it down a bit I would.

By Tanora, at June 27, 2009 9:46 pm
Yay two people seemed to agree with me I think? Is that Anonymous above liking me or taking the piss out of me? Someone please clarify :)

Alain, 2 things, stop having a go at Paulie, he didn't play well by his own magnificent standards, and he definately didn't boss Matfield, but Matfield didn't boss him either, and all in all it could have been worse for POC, he leaves with his reputation as intact as it can be after captaining a losing Lions tour.
And a month for Burger, are you clinically insane? Did you not see him trying to rip Fitzgeralds eye out from it's socket?!?!?! If Quinlan's was 8 weeks that one has to be at least 3 months!!!

Again, before some Southern Hemisphere person has a pop at me, I know we lost. Before you lot point it out. Over and over :(

By Brick Shithouse, at June 27, 2009 9:46 pm
tanora =TYPICAL B&I FAN - RD get rid of this muppet!!! well done BOKKE!!!

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:48 pm
To the guys who wrecked the comment boards during the Super 14, it's officially 3 - 0 to the Southern Hemisphere for the last three Lions tours.

2001 you lost to SH
2005 you lost to SH
2009 you lost to SH

Soak it up. It's fact.

I'm only stooping to your level because of the ridiculous amount of disrespect shown during the Super 14 towards the SH.

Defense defense yadda yadda. Sorry boys.

By Dave, at June 27, 2009 9:48 pm
Well done WORLD CHAMPS, good game of rugger - now thats what I call test rugby at it's best!! Just wish we could have won!!!

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:49 pm
The Boks are are disgraeful cheap shot team that should hang their heads in shame. Burger and Botha rightfully cited......

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:49 pm
to the anon ass above, get a life !!!!!! BOKS are the best and you just can't handle it!!!

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:52 pm
Veteran Lions boss Ian McGeechan refused to be drawn on the actions of Burger.

"We've all seen it, and it's not up to me to judge. We weren't playing 14 so it's no good talking about it," said McGeechan.

"Presumably the citing officer will be having a very strong look at it and he will make a decision on the video evidence about what should happen next

"After the conversation between the touch judge and referee, I don't think there's be any doubt about that."

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers refused to condemn Burger's actions, insisting that the Lions should have had players off the field as well.

"I don't believe it was a card at all," he said.

"In the first minute already there had been a lot of needle and if you watch the whole game you will see how many yellow cards they were let off."

That's directly copied off BBC Sport website. Fair play to Geech, but would it kill de Villiers to show a little graciousness in victory.

And as a Northern Hemisphere dweller, that comment from Dave kills me. Lads, he's right, we had a go at their defence and we've conceded 5 tries in 2 Tests. Not exactly water-tight.

Though Southern Hemisphererers, any chance of a little discussion instead of just shooting us down?

By Brick Shithouse, at June 27, 2009 9:55 pm
To the anon above.
i think actually New Zealand are the best.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:55 pm
Watch Habana's second try......the center clearly blocked off.....exactly what the Lions were blown up for in the 1st test and again today.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:56 pm
will the boks stope saying 2-0. we know the score. its the manner of the win which is hard to take and when the manager comes out with quotes like this..

"I don't believe it was a card at all," he said.

"In the first minute already there had been a lot of needle and if you watch the whole game you will see how many yellow cards they were let off."

then its even harder to take. i know they have to defened their players but when theres something so obviously dangerous as that they have a responsibilty to bring them up. how he can say he didnt believe it was a card is truly unbelievable. PDV has diminished standing in the eyes of many already, this brings it down further

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 9:57 pm
Whether ur english, welsh, irish, south african, australian or new zealand something or other i duno what the word is in english im french. anyway

EVERYONE IN THE WORLD MUST ADMIT

That the performance by Mister Robert Kearney was one of the finest that you will see in a VERY long time. Under immense pressure he claimed absolutely everything in the air, his kicking was magnificent, His try was top drawer and dont you welsh biased players start taking all the credit for the pass. Yes it was a gud pass but his finish was immaculate. Only Caucau in his prime could have finished that.

All this talk about lee byrne has been left behind. I think its fair to say that Kearney is the better player and is world class at the young age of 22. Hes the best fullback ive seen for years and will go on to be a truely outstanding player of the game

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 10:16 pm
Here here (to the French Anonymous above), Kearney was spectacular.

By Tanora, at June 27, 2009 10:18 pm
I have to say, Ronan O'Gara actually lived up to my expectations today. I was thinking when he came on 'Oh no we'll lose it now', but surely I was just being pessimistic. Not at all. In the ten minutes he was on he missed a try-saving tackle and gave away a penalty in the last minute. There were some other things like Burger and how he should have gotten red-carded, but at the end of the day O'Gara gave them ten points.
The good thing is though, my name has been completely validated. Kearney is the best full-back in world rugby. At least something good has come of this. Still, why the hell wasn't Rory Best the hooker?

By Kearney for tests, at June 27, 2009 10:22 pm
A great contest spolied by 2 awful bits of foul play from the Boks.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 10:24 pm
Kearney for President!! You heard it here first

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 10:32 pm
ok so burger should get 8 weeks..i DONT Think he will tho.its just that they spoke so much about POC before the tour..

"Alain, 2 things, stop having a go at Paulie, he didn't play well by his own magnificent standards, and he definately didn't boss Matfield, but Matfield didn't boss him either, and all in all it could have been worse for POC, he leaves with his reputation as intact as it can be after captaining a losing Lions tour."

ok i agree.as for peter de villiers comments .they are a joke..he is a twat.ull notice he always says stupid things.
tanora your comments are way off mate. as for sheriden and bakkies.i love it :)..makes me smile.push each other with a smile and wink

By Alain Weyers, at June 27, 2009 10:32 pm
That's pretty much settled the NH v SH debate, when a full strength side that's been together for 6 years can only just about beat a rag tag team thrown together in a few weeks, NH wins.

Just imaginge if we didn't give the world a chance by splitting our country into 4 for you, we have to keep it entertaining and let the SH think they're good at something.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 10:34 pm
Just wanna make 3 points

1) Agree with all the negativity for Ronan O'Gara. The dude has made maybe 3 tackles in 5 years, and is easily the most often handed off player in the world. He gets bumped off 3,4,5 times a game.

2)Rob Kearney best player in the world. Er.. ok.. absolutely ridiculous. Fans rave about his performance today, er compare that with Carter vs Lions 4 years ago that was a world's best player performance. Kearney is nowhere near the top tier of players.

3) The only reason why the north fails so hard is that they refuse to realise their rugby distinctly 2nd rate. Please find more excuses, reasons and theorycraft more. The "pride" of the home nations has lost 7 straight games, and have lost to NZ maori and fail to beat a South African B side and an Argentinian side missing most of its stars 4 years ago. And as usual another barren weekend for the north, which has been the same story since England's supremacy in 2003.

Any Rugby fan, any Bok fan knows, the real challenge is in a few weeks at tri nations. If they play the way they played the Lions they will get slaughtered. The only reason this lions tour is a big deal is that it comes once every 12 yrs.

By Richard, at June 27, 2009 10:35 pm
lol @ richard

The Tri nations is a joke, for years SANZAR has dreamed of a competition like the 6N, I've lost count how many times they have to play each other in the 3N now just to turn it into a bit of a competition.

And if you watched both of the Lions games, neither were a drubbing. This from a team that's only spent a few weeks together against a settled side that have played alongside each other for years.

You've been spending too much time inside your mud hut, get some fresh air.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 10:41 pm
I got to say to everyone giving O'Gara stick....:

My initial reaction was "ok which tool gave the game away" then reading it was ROG i thought "wow, out of character" then watching i really think it is harsh to say he gave the game away, at the end of the day i suppose he did as it was his fault the penalty came about, but really, if you watch he wasnt looking where he was going he was watching the ball and Du Preez effectively jumped over ROG shoulder........

hate to sound like a sore loser but really that was a harsh penalty (i dont know what the rules are regarding this) i dont know whether its a penalty regardless of the intent but from what i see there is no intent....

BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT all that said and done, it always looked uphill against the boks, and i thought that was a monster kick at the end, with distance to spare!!!

anyways! well done to the boks!!

By No.7, at June 27, 2009 10:45 pm
I think you underestimate the huge task it is to put together a team form four countries and play the best team int ehworld.

how many times has a world 15 taken the field and won - not many.

Just enjoy your win and stop acting like little children with "XXXX is the best" etc...

SA are the best side in the world for a good reason and they showed it today.

It's not about S14 or Euro Cup being better etc... this is test rugby, it's a different animal all together.

And that's why the lions were able to be competitive, because it was about taking test players and doing something special. Regardless of the series this tour is a far greater success then the 2005 NZ tour, and possibly even 2001.

Yeah they lost, but it's the most unique thing in world rugby have some respect for it and our sports traditions, and how special this type of thing is in this day and age.

playing for and against the lions makes you legends, it's something that will live forever with these players, results don't diminish that in anyway.

By goodNumber10, at June 27, 2009 10:46 pm
Sorry just to add after my little gripe again, that i thought throughout the test the SA looked stronger and more convincing! so in no way am i feeling like a sore loser, had the springboks put on 500 points on the lions id have still picked out the penalty against ROG and questioned it.....personally if anyone could clarify the taken out in the air with no intent bit id be greatful!

By No.7, at June 27, 2009 10:53 pm
Thats whats really annoying me at the moment, the catch in the air, as soon as one of them gets touch its an instant penalty. Shouldnt have been given, he didnt have to jump to take it. so it shouldnt have been a penalty, its exactly the same as the Cueto incident VS Samoa.

By jamesp, at June 27, 2009 10:54 pm
To Richard, if Kearney is not in the top tier of players, can you tell me the names of the many fullbacks that are better than him? I'm not saying he's the best rugby player in the world, but he's the best fullback. They were saying the same thing after last year's summer tour, so it's by no means a once off performance.

By Kearney for tests, at June 27, 2009 10:54 pm
"Hey, lets play a game..how many NH teams won this weekend....hmmmmm...thought so!!! Well done BOKS"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA........twat.

cos lets play a game, lets see how well NZ fair in the finals in the last few world cups or shit like that, at the end of the day you think some other SH team is gonna kiss your ass because you're a SH team, at the end of the day a win is a win or a lose is a lose, it matters not who its against, and especially when there is a huge difference between each country in the SH.......

By You Pleb!, at June 27, 2009 10:59 pm
XD I can't believe all these people; thinking that they SH is so dominant after this.

The Boks won because of ONE individuals poor performance. The Boks won after the Lions had to completely reshuffle their backline and their pack.

The way the Lions played was outstanding. Even when they were completely screwed over by the poor choice of subs, the only reason they lost was because of O'Gara's performance.

For the second test in a row, they Boks won by the skin of their teeth, and it is ridiculous to think that the Boks are almighty and that SH rugby is all that far ahead.

The Lions would of had even the Aussies or the Kiwis on their knees with the way they played.

Regardless, the Boks did win. But I doubt we will hear the cheers from the Bok fans come the Tri-Nations.

By T, at June 27, 2009 11:01 pm
those south african tries were beauties but the lions should have put them to the sword earlier on, i am guessing a comprehensive victory for the lions next week

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 11:12 pm
I just wanted to note Jacque Fourie's bounce of world player of the year Shane Williams as he went in for his try.

I think that highlights his defensive frailties quite nicely.

By BoomShaka, at June 27, 2009 11:17 pm
oh, and does anybody have a link to footage of the Bakkies Botha / Adam Jones incident?

By BoomShaka, at June 27, 2009 11:20 pm
Just imaginge if we didn't give the world a chance by splitting our country into 4 for you, we have to keep it entertaining and let the SH think they're good at something.
SA, NZ and Australia will always be bitter towards GB, no matter what we did for them and helped them out, even when we split our country into 4 to give them a chance at sport. They'll always hate us, it's the price we pay for being richer than them.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What the fuck lads? That's not on and it makes no sense.!

Kearney for tests, without question Hernandez,when playing there, and Mils Muliaina are better than Kearney. And I could guess you could make decent arguements for Delon Armitage and maybe Maxime Medard. I'm Irish by the way, trying to be objective. So maybe not Armitage. Rob Kearney is definately in the top 5 :)

By Brick Shithouse, at June 27, 2009 11:24 pm
Amazingly, Kearney has to fight to get to play at Full Back for Leinster: he's usually shifted over to the wing!

He was outstanding in NZ and AUS on tour with Ireland in 08. Then - guess what - put out onto the wing again! For his _club_.

Remember he had the mumps near the end of the H Cup, and was sick at the start of the Lions campaign - so he's only back in full flight now - and flight it is.

While I don't usually get into the NH SH ting I think the last few matches have shown that if there is a gap, and there probably is, its small.

NZ vs FR? 1-1 and v tight games.

Everyone in the NH beats Italy anyway. All the time.

Emerging Bok vs 2nd Lions: Draw

Lions vs Bok - BOK won the series, yep no question. However, obviously v tight, and ref decided 2nd match sadly. (Yes, he did - no red card at the start to make a match of it like an old romantic, then harsh call at the end to destroy the series like the cold hearted killer. Not even consistent in his erroring!)

Overall, Don't think the NH SH gap is _significant_ anymore: France, Wales and Ireland are prob at or close to level of the SH at this stage:
e.g. Ireland have ferris, heaslip, jennings, Leamy, Quinlan, Wallace, Best to choose from in the Backrow.

(and are the coaches a bit naff int he SH, or is it just PDV?)

Clubs are at same level essentially.

By mise, at June 27, 2009 11:26 pm
They needed more Scots!!

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 11:33 pm
BoomShaka....yeah apart from Fourie bounced ROG....not Williams.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 11:39 pm
Haven't seen a replay of BOD's tackle from the opposite side, if he didn't use his left arm then he should've been penalised/ carded or even cited. I mean the guy was only on and had to be taken off. Still though, incredible stuff, great win Boks, well done, but it would've been nice to go into next week with it tied.

All O'Gara has achieved in the game (GS, 2HCs, ML, top 5 alltime points) and this moment will always stick out, hard luck. I thought moving Philips to centre and bringing on Ellis was better option just like v Golden Lions.

Fourie's try was perfectly legit. If there was no reason(ie, evidence) not to award the try then it stands. A previous forum tried to claim BOD was a class apart from Fourie and that try proved how great he is. He had no right to keep his feet in field. Its a joke that Jacobs (an alright player) starts ahead of him, I suppose he has had 18 months of on/off injuries.

RE: Kearney, last year v AB in Wellington, AB coaches told Carter and AB backs to stop kicking it towards him because he was destroying them with his return kicks. He has scored a couple of long range DGs but his attempt today was pretty poor.

SA look very good for 3N, but McCaw will be back and NZ will be different class with him leading.

PS loved Habana's hit on Bowe, the timing was pitch perfect and both He and Bowe just carried on even though there was a hint of a head clash. Memorable game.

By Huh!! the 3rd, at June 27, 2009 11:41 pm
TOP 5 CURRENT FULL BACKS

1 Muliaina no question
2 Kearney - best defensive FB
3 Mitchell/ Ashley Cooper - Mitchell ends up on the wing for Auz but is a class act
4 Byrne - not had a great year
5 Hernandez/ Medard/ That SA guy who broke his leg (Janties I think)

Honourable mention, James O Connor, that kid is going to be bigger that Giteau.

By Huh!! the 3rd, at June 27, 2009 11:50 pm
Lads face it we lost in the end.
Yes we out played them but only for 60 minutes . The Lions just started to run out of steam . I think one of the reasons for this was the altitude. People have seem to forgotten about it. They busted there guts and just simply had no oxygen.

Injuries didn't help either. When the scrums went uncontested the Lions lost a weapon but you can't say they would have scored from it.Maybe Habana wouldn't have scored if they were contested but we can't say that.

O Driscoll and Roberts didn't fire aswel as they did last week IMO but they were still vital and they didn't have the right replacements in O Gara and Bowe.

Yes Burger should have got a red card but he didn't so we just had to deal with it. Im happy he is cited though. I didn't see what Botha did to Jones but glad he is cited for it.

I feel bad for O Gara he had to play in the centre which is suicidal for him.As soon as he came on he was hit hard and he seemed groggy and had to run across half concious to try and cover Fourie. I have no idea why he put uin the up and under but for the penalty conceeded well it was a penalty but he didn't go for the man but he couldn't stop with his momentum.

Fair dues to South Africa coming back i didn't think they could come back but they proved me wrong. IMO it all came from injuries and altitude.

And i just need to say well done to Shaw . I was shocked when he was picked for the tour but he showed me why today when he was in Bothas and Matfields faces.

It will be hard for the lions to win the last test especially with the injuries. LIONS LIONS LIONS. But if they play for pride and with heart they can do it.

By An Honest Lions Fan, at June 28, 2009 12:01 am
SA are the best side in the world for a good reason and they showed it today.
Goodnumber10, your a goodsportsman!!
BOKKE!!!

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 12:13 am
all credit to all the players for a great match. even though we lost it was still enjoyable and you have to congratulate the boks. a pity the game was spoilt somewhat by the injuries at the end. and a pity o'gara happened to be in the squad at all hes useless. missed a tackle for the Safa's try near the end, then lost us the match with a split second of stupidity. but im not gonna be a sore loser all through this comment :P
Kearney had a stormer, Francois Steyn was class for both matches a pleasure to watch, good to see habana get up and running he is amazing and as per usual Jamie Roberts a player i cant take my eyes off!

By Jordan, at June 28, 2009 12:15 am
I stand corrected. Fourie bounced O'Gara. Thanks Anon.

By BoomShaka, at June 28, 2009 12:52 am
Ok for my comment forget who won or lost ok.....or infact embrace it, i dont really care! can we all focus on what a tool Peter De Villiers is?!? (see below)

"I don't believe it was a card at all," De Villiers said after the game, a comment greeted with bewilderment by the media.

"In the first minute already there had been a lot of needle and if you watch the whole game you will see how many yellow cards they (the Lions) were let off.

"This is sport, this is what it's about," De Villiers added.

i mean WTF (see above) this guy is such a prat, i mean we all have to defend our guys, but really? is he serious?!?

i mean lets say im English, vickery tripped up whats he called in one world cup game.....no coach is going to stand up and say "yeaah well, things happen, this is what its about"

NO ITS FUCKING NOT thats what rules are there for!!! and then lets see the cards the lions deserved and lets see them cited, lets string them up too, at least there is consistency!

PDV=PRICK

ok seriously any saffa supporters actually agree with him? or think schalk was not guilty? reallly?!?

By No.7, at June 28, 2009 1:20 am
If the Lion's hadn't lost 4/6 of the players who were playing the best, the result would have been different, simple.
But seriously, what in the hell was O'gara thinking?!?!?

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 1:24 am
Very good game this was the B&L game to be fair ( From a Saffer ) and i agree burger should get a long Ban but i think Botha's wasnt or shouldnt be. And no their where only 1 saffer that played dirty and you know who it is not all saffers are dirty so please dont say all was only 1.

GG!

By JuiCe, at June 28, 2009 1:29 am
And btw we dont really like DIV and we dont want him as our coach! he is a moron.

By JuiCe, at June 28, 2009 1:31 am
Mike Phillips blamed ‘dodgy’ refereeing and the lack of stronger action against Schalk Burger for their defeat at Loftus.
When asked about the incident where Burger had clearly eye gouged Luke Fitzgerald, earning him a yellow card, the scrumhalf was in no mood to be diplomatic.

‘It was a clear red card. It was simple,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘They should have played with 14 men for 79 minutes, and that would have given us a massive advantage.

‘I couldn’t believe it. There was some dodgy refereeing throughout the Test, but that was the worst of it. You can’t do things like that, and it [Burger not being red carded] cost us the game.’

Watching from the stands it appeared that the Springboks were typically physical. However, Phillips said in the dark recesses of the scrums and rucks they overstepped the mark, and employed overly aggressive, illegal tactics.

‘It was horrible, disgusting really,’ he said. ‘There were a number of punches thrown off the ball and other things that went on that were illegal.

‘I understand that Test rugby is a tough environment, but you have to stay within the rules. You work your socks off as a professional to win Test matches like these, and when things like what they did today go unpunished it just pisses you off.

‘The refs are paid to do a job, and you leave it in their hands. But what happened today was not sport. We were by far the better team, but we were robbed of victory.’

Lions eighthman Jamie Heaslip was equally frank when asked about his thoughts on the Burger incident.

‘I’m sure he’ll be banned, but I really don’t give a shit about that now. I’m just gutted to have lost a Test series with the Lions,’ he said. ‘They’ve got their gameplan and we’ve got ours, and if they want to do dirty shit that’s their prerogative.’

Heaslip was slumped against the wall for the duration of the interview, clearly disengaged from the discussion and wanting to do nothing more than wallow in self pity.

‘I’m sure we’ll get over it eventually, but right now I’m gutted. I can’t put into words what this feels like,’ he said.

‘I didn’t ever have any doubt in my mind that we would win.’

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 1:35 am
btw how the f@#k r the lions going to get themselves up for the third test!

By Swampy, at June 28, 2009 1:44 am
I'm a Lions supporter and Irish at that! But all this talk about Burger and the eye gauging...

Brian O driscoll's ILLEGAL tackle was a yellow, Whoever PUNCHED Habana in the face after his try should have got a yellow as well as whatever Lions player threw another Bokka try scorer against the stands after he scored.

The sickness was on both sides.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 2:01 am
ok there is no need to state the obvious anymore folsk... I am a saffer and I am EMBARRASSED to have peter de villiers as head coach, he cant string an english sentance together and is quite honestly a terrible coach.

And to the B&I fans.. stop being so bitter... the boks showed enough charcter today to come back from 19-5 down and wrap the game up.. unlike you who failed to do so last week. and to be fair, Pienaar managed to miss 8 points at goal so really, the boks deserved the win.

well done to the lions though for pulling off such an exciting tour.

By doos, at June 28, 2009 2:08 am
Unfortunately I missed the game today... A mother's day promise, forgive me rugby brethren and come to my aid if you will...

Does anyone know where I can download the game?

It will not come on in Canada until Monday

By Canadian Content, at June 28, 2009 2:21 am
canadian content - fair play to you!
Now that's a calming influence.

phew! Hot stuff here right now.

that next test could be a 99 call type of match, judging by how the comments here and it seems, far more impoertantly, by the players are going.

What would happen if the Lions win the next match by a cricket score in a bloodbath?

Re Habana: Players _always_ go in on the try scorer and give him a bit of a going over. Its been like that for years. Knee in the kidneys seems to be the most common. Ref never seems to pull it up. I think that Heaslip pulled back from the punch in reality - it wasn't a south sea island straight arm anyway.
That's how it looked to me.

Can someone answer these:

1: was that foot in touch for the try? I mean, it was, so how was the call not given?

2: What about the SA constantly popped up back row for the uncontested scrums? Is that legal? Lions all stayed down, thereby loosing any advantage vision would give.

and finally, am I insane to ask for a few of the hits here on RD? The BOD hit on the SA #19 would be 'nice'.

By mise, at June 28, 2009 3:06 am
Dirty game from both sides, and to be honest- the BL countries together with the Springboks on 1 pitch and you have most of the rugby world's bad tempers in 1 place.

Before the tests everyone was saying "the springboks aren't match fit blah blah", "John Smit is no real prop blah blah" etc. Now it's all about the excuses and reasons why you lost? When you had so much going for you?

PDV is a twat, the vast majority of Springbok supporters will be able to tell you that he is the greatest handicap in the team! Look at his disastrous replacements in the first test, and the lack of vision for playing in-form players just so that he can have his dream-team on. Politics is a cancer at the heart of SARugby at the moment, and if SARFU attempts to reprimand or "advise" PDV in his course of action, he will simply play the race-card.. A teams discipline is defined by it's coach, Jake White's Springbok's won the world cup through discipline and cooling of the self-destructive tempers- PDV is squeezing every bit of rage out of the boks, having them react to every niggle which comes their way- that isn't on ffs!

I think the Lions were a bit hard-done today, but they had a 3-score lead at half time and blew it. Both sides played dirty- Burger should probably have been given red, but when he received his yellow and the BIL went 10-0 up, the critics were silent? O'Driscool's "tackle" was a definite yellow (even if Burger's should have been red) and nothing happened to whoever punched Habana's nuts, or who shoved Peterson into the advertising boards after he scored.

RoG cannot be blamed alone- the coaches had the wrong replacements on the bench, and to be totally honest- after Pierre Spies had steamrolled O'Gara he only remained on the field cos there was nobody to replace him either!

The coaches of both sides screwed the teams today, thank God the players didn't disappoint on entertainment though.

In the words of George Gregan "4 more years boys, 4 more years"

Thanks B&I Lions for a memorable Test Series, and good luck for the 3rd test!

By Unknown, at June 28, 2009 3:09 am
Wow, the whine has reached a particularly high decibel level this morning.
The Boks were more physical. They are very hard to beat at home, no matter how well you play, they always seem to pull something out of their arse.
They tend to opverstep the line between tough and cheating, they always have been that way.
Burger is a disgrace, he almost cost them the game, Brussow should have started anyway.
And of course PDV is an idiot, everyone knows that. The Saffers probably hate him more than anyone.
In the end,. OGara came on and gave away the game.
Deal with it. Lions loser, Saffers win, SH is clearly a cut above.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:21 am
"1: was that foot in touch for the try? I mean, it was, so how was the call not given?

2: What about the SA constantly popped up back row for the uncontested scrums? Is that legal? Lions all stayed down, thereby loosing any advantage vision would give.

1: No it was not, it was Brussow's foot that went into touch, and he didn't have the ball. Fourie's legs were being held in the air by the covering defender, he did brilliantly to stay in play. Clearly a try, magnificent effort to not go out.

2 : pfffft, grasping at straws a little. It's uncontested, it doesn't really matter, it'd be an incredibly pedantic ref to pull that up.

Seriously the whining should stop now, you lot need to learn how to lose with dignity.
You've had enough practice at it, after all.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:26 am
Botha's is perfectly legal, he was just cleearing the ruck, Jones'arm was in an unfortunate position. It's a shame, but nothing ilegal about it.
Burger is a disgrace, he should be banned for about three months. The irony is that it will actually improve the Boks team for the third test and the tri-nations, because Burger's keeping brussow out of the team, and brussow's in devestating form.
Anyway, now the preliminaries are out of the way, we can focus on the real stuff, the 3-nations. South Africa are gonna have to lift their game too, and I'd say they know it.
If they play like they did against the Lions they won't win the 3-nations.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:30 am
All this talk about us whingeing over the loss, I'd just like to say, that if SA simply outplayed the Lions then I certainly wouldn't be whingeing. But the fact that Burger wasn't sent off and jailed was shocking, and I think we have every right to feel agrieved.

By Kearney for tests, at June 28, 2009 3:47 am
O GARA DRINKS FOR FREE IN SA FOR LIFE

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 8:11 am
June 27 is O Gara day in SA from now on. lol

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 8:12 am
look ronan ogara is a piece of crap it was his fault the lions lost the game first of all he let SA score in the corner and then he does that shit up and under and tackles the player in the air :( what was he thinking ........idiot
As for Burger he should havehad a red card. the only four players who perfformed for the liuons that game was rob kearney, mike philips, steven jones and jaime roberts(who has shined through out this tour) and paul o connel captain wrong desision in my opinion through out this tour all i have seen him do is waddle around the pitch not making yards or tackling. Some captain
But fair play to SA they did have a good come back . but mainly because some B&I let us down by mising a tackle when it neaded to be made and doing a stupid and pointless kick and then tackling him in the air giving SA the penalty that one the game:( thanks a lot ronan o gara
o well theres always next time .....

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 8:57 am
i h8 o'gara LEARN TO TACKLE

By MITCH, at June 28, 2009 9:05 am
french view: maybe it was the most entertaining game i've seen since the NZ-France semi final in 1999?
The BIL is a good institution, please keep it. The Saff are tough men,.
And please no more SH is better than NH things, it is stinky, mentaly feeble, and absolutely a joke.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 9:39 am
Keep clutching at those straws boys. It's not going to win you the series, but it will make you sound like sore losers.

All this talk of dirty play, but I think BOD was way out of line early on, and was lucky Victor didnt tear him a new one.

Schalk was totally out of line, but the Botha incident is nothing. Perfectly legal, yet unfortunate.

It is funny how all these Lions fans are totally condemning Burgers apparent eyegouge, calling SA dirty c*nts etc, when it was one of their own, Alan Quinlan, who couldnt even make it on the plane because he did the same thing, if not worse. Keep that in mind moaners.

I have a grudge personally, and that is that the stadium looked more like Cardiff than Pretoria. The administrators etc need to catch a wake up. Where's the advantage in playing at home when you make it impossible for locals to afford tickets, and have half of bloody Britain & Ireland there?? Sad, and a messup.

Well done B&I Lions for a great series though.. made it tighter than we had expected.

By Dave, at June 28, 2009 10:16 am
Its easy to blame o gara ...
and it should be, stupid vision and just him in general gave the boks a shot to win and for fouries try o gara got completly sat down.

By haz davies, at June 28, 2009 10:27 am
Anonymous said.. The Boks are world champs and there is a reason why!

Yes, they beat Fiji, Argentina and England, soon after that they came last in a 3 team comp. Good win in the first Lions test but lucky to take out the second, credit for their tenacity though. But despite the ABs poor form the TriNations will test the Boks again and I'm picking Aust to test everyone. I'm not Aust.

By peter d, at June 28, 2009 11:15 am
So...who hates O'Gara?

what he did was totally pointless, all he had to do was hoof it down field in the first place!
Bet Geech wishes he put Hook on the bench instead of him, would of been alot more useful.
Credit where its due the boks came back very well, the loss of both props and centres really hurt us though, and we lost some intensity in the second half, probably because of that.
i thought JP Pietersen played brilliantly, second only to Simon Shaw.

God i hate O'Gara...

By David, at June 28, 2009 11:28 am
P.S i loved that you actually hear Bread of Heaven from the Welsh boys, and at loftus as well, cracking support. =)

By David, at June 28, 2009 11:29 am
"So, he who jumps for a high ball will guarantee either possession or a penalty? Eh?"

What are you even asking?
Yes, if a player goes up in the air, catches the ball cleanly and lands with it, he is in possesion.
No it does not garuntee posession, because if another player comes along and legally competes for the ball in the air with the guy trying to catch it and is good enough to take the ball, than he gets posession. Also if a guy takes the catch, but is then tackled when he lands and loses the ball in the ruck, then again, it's all legal but he's lost posession.
So of course it doesn't garuntee posession.
The rule is there so that players don't get taken out in the air, because they might land on their heads or necks. You, know, they might get maimed or die. That's why it's there, same reason spear tackles and head highs are ilegal.
I mean seriously, do you know anything about rugby? Jesus christ.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 11:38 am
Lions plus ferris and flannery would have won one test at least burger is filthy and shouldnt have been starting anyway broussouw is better Kearney is infinitly better than byrne he cried off wen wales needed him(vs ireland) and when lions needed him.

By Declan, at June 28, 2009 11:44 am
to David!

O'Gara is a donkey !! shouldnt of got played at all...shouldnt even of been picked for the tour!!

all he did in the last 6N was kick the drop goal against Wales!!!

if he is not dropped for the Autumn internationals then were fucked!!!

put Johnny sexton in there!!

young but offers way more than O'Gara

By creggsrugby08, at June 28, 2009 12:03 pm
'It is funny how all these Lions fans are totally condemning Burgers apparent eyegouge, calling SA dirty c*nts etc, when it was one of their own, Alan Quinlan, who couldnt even make it on the plane because he did the same thing, if not worse. Keep that in mind moaners.'

quinlans wasnt seen by match officials. was on cameras though and he got a couple months. if he wasnt banned youd have a point. but burgers was seen and he got 10 mins, not consistent really is it.

also will the saffers stop saying you know PDV is a dick due to his subs decisions last week. his subs decisions make him a fool. his comments this week about burger make him a dick

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 12:07 pm
Truth said

"Are the Boks ever going to win a game without a bias Video-ref?"

i would answer: are Sky and british people ever going to always to hide themselves behind bias comments?"

i watch this game and i can understand lions sadness, but the best team won... That's it.
It didn't mean lions were trash, far from that. But they lack a bit of cohesion. The concept of dream team is limited.

Very bad decision from ROG to "air" tackle de preez is

By Flooz, at June 28, 2009 12:09 pm
from a neutral: great match. unhappy with the result though :( lions really unlucky to be 2 tests down. would have loved next sat to be the decider. feel sorry for o'gara. he was out on his feet when he got steamrolled for the try (was a try- bowe should have done better) and didn't know what hit him when following that up and under. UK press always need a villain though.

By gar, at June 28, 2009 12:21 pm
The best game I've ever seen in my whole life.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 12:25 pm
Credit where it's due the three bok tries were world class! Well done WORLD CHAMPS! (and no i'm not a bok fan myself!)

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 12:28 pm
Well done SA, to come back like that in test rugby shows your class, bring on the 3N!!

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 12:29 pm
What a damn good game of pure hard fought test rugby, just like the good old days!!! Pure old school, brilliant rugby!! Well done to both teams from a neutral fan, best game ive seen in a long time!

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 12:31 pm
Where was the beast yesterday? Nowhere to be seen....lions were dominant throughout but the injuries hurt us to badly. The boks are the best in the world and you can't give players like habana and fourie space to run...

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 12:37 pm
"quinlans wasnt seen by match officials. was on cameras though and he got a couple months. if he wasnt banned youd have a point. but burgers was seen and he got 10 mins, not consistent really is it."

Burger WILL get banned though.. so its the same thing. Both stupid acts, that deserve to be punished. I wont be calling Quinlan a dirty irish c*nt though..

By Dave, at June 28, 2009 12:47 pm
The lions did well in the first half, but got well beaten in the second, so how were they dominant throughout?
Considering they scored their only try when SA was a man down, I'd say they were far from dominant throughout.
SA scored three, and won the game. Sounds like they might have been the dominant team over all.
I mean seriously, are you guys that used to losing that you think you are the better team even when you lose? That's loser talk.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 12:55 pm
First off all... ARRGGHHHH We lost!!!!!
Second of all... what a game...
Third - On yesterdays display why would you ever choose cock burger over Broussow. That boy is immense.
Fourth - For PDV to make that comment of his only spoils the SA victory, and is detremental to rugby as a whole.
Fifth - would people put there names on posts and stop hiding behind Anon.
PEACE

By Cheech, at June 28, 2009 12:56 pm
"quinlans wasnt seen by match officials. was on cameras though and he got a couple months. if he wasnt banned youd have a point. but burgers was seen and he got 10 mins, not consistent really is it."

It's rugby, grow up.
The touchie clearly said that he didn't really see it well, and used the words yellow card.
To be fair, I think Burger and Quinlan are dirt cheating bastards.
Brussow's more valuable to SA anyway.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 12:58 pm
you guys all sound like footballers! you blame one person for a lost game, well in all honesty its the lions fault for not putting early points on SA, and for losing the first test, i think you should take a step back and just accept it.

on the other hand all this talk of:

"I'm a Lions supporter and Irish at that! But all this talk about Burger and the eye gauging...
Brian O driscoll's ILLEGAL tackle was a yellow, Whoever PUNCHED Habana in the face after his try should have got a yellow as well as whatever Lions player threw another Bokka try scorer against the stands after he scored."

you really should look at who has been cited, i mean i am aware things get missed but in this day and age with camera's pointing everywhere very little gets missed, i mean what else did burger think he was grabbing, its a pretty distinctive feature (someone elses face/eyes) and as for the dodgy tackle on jones, maybe it didnt warrant sanction but someone thinks it does.........personally as a lions supporter i think burger has to be banned, Botha....maybe should get something seeing as he ended up dislocated jones shoulder with an illegal tackle.....and as for the lions foul play, well if someone wants to cite them then fair enough, they knew the rules and chose to break them, they should suffer the consequences.........even if that means losing BOD :( (although i might cease to watch it if BOD isnt in it!)

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 1:10 pm
two things, and i am not going to get into this tribal immature horse-shit.

Burger has to be gone for at least the year. that gouge on fitz was horrendous, i know it happens, it's happened to me, and if a lions player did it i'd fell the same way, there is no place in our game for that sort of thuggery.

Secondly, i honestly do not believe that the last SA try was a try. From sky's coverage the right foot was in touch, it's not really good enough to have all this tech and it not covering the angles you actually need.

Still the refs got the whistle i suppose. fair play to the boks, played very well, Brussow (?) esp and well as the back three and Morne.

Oh and Rob Kearney, JPR Williams all over again with that try. Class.

By btesco, at June 28, 2009 1:10 pm
The refereeing in dat match was an absaloute joke, to allow someone who has been clearly sighted for gouging to remain on the pitch is a disgrace, clearly a ref who didnt want to upset the home crowd....Disgraceful!

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 1:12 pm
just watching everything again.

BOD's challenge is not dirty, he's offside at best, it's just a clumsy challenge going for the big hit and the impact makes his arms flail. Seriously he was chest on shoulders and his arms don't wrap because the impact of heads bounces him off.

Burger, stupid stupid thing to do - 3 months minimum.

Botha - it will be nothing.

Watching it again it is a great match, but to be fair the lions don't threaten the line that much once the Boks are back to full strength, it's ferocious stuff and the lions are defendiong a lead for about 50 minutes.

O'gara, isn't the one to blame for fouries try - lets end this discussion now.

watch the footage yes he gets bumped, but Philips and Fitzgerald both fail to stop him as well, so how can it be O'Gara fault. Fitzgerald is the worst offender he waits for the man to come to line instead of going to meet him and possibly figthing him into touch earlier. Terrible bit of defending - but then he probably couldn't see the man having no eyes and all ;)

Am i the only person who thinks Dick Muir is possibly the most important man in South African rugby? I'm pretty sure he runs the show beind the scens, he should be your national coach not PDV.

Well done again, great game, lets hope next week isn't ruined with these injuries to the Lions squad.

Jenkins -Broken cheek
Jone - Dislocated shoulder
BOD- Concussion
Roberts - Wrist
Bowe - Elbow.

By goodNumber10, at June 28, 2009 1:20 pm
btesco, Skys coverage is Supersports coverage. we all saw the same thing mate - Brussouws foot in touch, not fouries. Stuart Barnes just needs glasses (and a muzzle).

By Dave, at June 28, 2009 1:24 pm
Quite simply Shalk burger shouldn't have been on the pitch, that man/thug/twat should be banned for a full season what he did was disgusting and has no place on a rugby pitch.

But....fair play Morne Steyn you won it, and I've like your play all season in the super 14!

By bert, at June 28, 2009 1:26 pm
Hopefully, Burger is being banned for quite a while. Such a jerk.
Brussow is by now better anyway.
And Jaque Fourie is class. Shame is injured so much. Great kicks by steyn in the end. All in all good game. Very unlucky for the Lions.

By Ben, at June 28, 2009 1:50 pm
the biggest winner today was the game of rugby and what a game it was brilliant

ps i think burger better learn to flip burgers because thats all he will be doing during the tri nations

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 2:01 pm
how balls is it for their record the lions always meet the current best team in the world. not being sarcastic, i support them but fuck SA were good. 12 and 13 are their weak link though.

also, i finally get the kearney hype. Like is a pure footballer. he has the skills you can't teach and will just get better.

i'm afraid SAmay white wash us. but i still hope the lions live on.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 2:01 pm
I do think that it is possible to comment on the various aspects of a game without being _automatically_ a sore looser.

comments are what this comment section is about, after all!

Presuming that the Lions would have won only for x y and Z could be construed as sore loosing, but not all comments re bad refs, dirty play etc presume that.

Objectively speaking some decisions might of course have changed the game - esp a red card in minute one - but the BOKs were v physically dominant towards the end - O Gard and Williams were tiny compared to the massive animals the BOKs kept bringing out!

Sometimes teams with 14 win through being extra motivated by the sense of injustice at the red anyway.

Overall thou - comments are not automoans. Chill out!

By mise, at June 28, 2009 2:03 pm
Quick one:
Cheers for the clarification re the foot in touch

Permanently popped up scrum - disagree it gave the boks an incredible advantage -fair play to them for getting away with it.

By mise, at June 28, 2009 2:09 pm
The Lions didn't deserve to win, but at the end of the day I still reckon that both Ireland and Wales would beat the Lions as well...

By bah, at June 28, 2009 2:17 pm
Don't worry folks, John Hayes will score a hat-trick next week and all will be right again in the world.

Also Monye is better than Shane Williams

By O'Gara killed MJ too, at June 28, 2009 2:19 pm
Looking forward to the next test, anybody else agree that the Lions should give some other players a go? (they're probably going to have to anyway with all these injuries).
I'd like to see Hook feeding a backline including Flutey, Earls and S Williams.
The series is lost so why not throw in some players who are going to play some exciting, running rugby?

By LionsBoy, at June 28, 2009 2:21 pm
What a fucking stupid way to lose the game. Goddamnit!!!

By horsesht, at June 28, 2009 2:22 pm
Congratulations to the Boks for winning the match and series, congratulations to them for being a bunch of eye gougers, bullies and thugs led a a cretin of a coach with the IQ of a turd. This is a coach who cant see that idiot burger should have been sent off for gouging. Be it the Boks in 74, 97 or 09 its still the same brutal and thuggish mentality only in 2009 its a rainbow nation thuggish mentality. Well done South Africa.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 2:23 pm
Wow, bitter anyone?
The Saffers do cheat a bit, especially at home, and Burger is a disgrace, I hope he gets banned for ages. He's an idiot for letting down his team too, he almost cost them the test. Brussow will do a much better job. South Africa finally have the ball fetcher that NZ and Australia have.
Obviously PDV is an idiot, an absolute joke, but the saffers could (and did) tell you that before the test series even started.
So hows that, your guys lost to a team with an idiot for a coach? That must sting.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 2:42 pm
"So hows that, your guys lost to a team with an idiot for a coach? That must sting."

not really, we took a scratch side and lost to a team that Jake White built and Dick Muir has maintained behind the scenes for the last 2 years.

We all know PDV is just a token, he's even said as much in rugby World, but the comments he's said? well he should be disciplined for bringing the game into disrepute to be frank.

By goodNumber10, at June 28, 2009 2:50 pm
Shows how poor SA were when they get overexcited about beating a team thrown together in a few weeks.

Botha has been cited for injuring Adam Jones, after Adam Jones destroyed the beast.

So last week they won with the Beast cheating in the scrum, this week they had to act like pussies and cheat again.

Sad times when the World Champions of a sport have to cheat to beat a rag tag team with little preperation.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:02 pm
dont be too hard on them acting like retards, theyre a third world country they dont know any better

game changed after they cheated the superior props out of the match.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:05 pm
Stuart Barnes has no idea what the hell he is talking about. He just says things, just random stuff that pops into his head and then stands by it like his is the gospel truth.
He'll make a snap judgment call based on nothing and despite all evidence to the contrary, will stand by it.
Brussow's foot was clearly the foot in touch, it's not even difficult to see that, it's clear, a child could see it. The ref spent ages agonising over every angle looking for any evidence that fourie's foot had hit the line. He couldn't. You could clearly see the line and corner post, and neither was touched by Fourie before the ball went down.
Brussow clearly touched the chalk, as the ref said, but not Fourie.
And yet Barnes, despite repeated replays couldn't see it. Is he clinically demented?

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:07 pm
Wow, all of a sudden the Lions are a scratch team of ner'do'wells, a rag tag bunch of journeymen, gathered from pubs and houses of ill-repute, cobbled together in fifteen minutes and sent to the slaughter at the hands of the cheating, conniving, ref-influencing, third-world South Africans, some of whom probably have horns and tails.
You lot are ridiculous.
At the start of the tour it was all about the mighty Lions, led by the invincible O'Connell, a team of hulking forwards and lightening backs, ready to show the South Africans what the defensive masterminds of the NH could do to soft tackling S14 nancy boys.
It's hilarious how the tune changes.
You lost, deal with it, stop moaning.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:15 pm
The Lions havn't won a series for 12 years, havn't won a Test match in 8 consecutive games, soon to be 9 I fear, probably facing two whitewashes in a row. Should we scrap the Lions? Or change the format? Cos while all the hype is good fun, bottom line is they can't stop losing.

By Brick Shithouse, at June 28, 2009 3:15 pm
dont be too hard on them acting like retards, theyre a third world country they dont know any better
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Good one, that's constructive? Fucking arse!

And stop calling them ragtag and all this 'thrown together' shit, they're supposedly the best players from 4 countries with a population of around 70million altogether I'd say. They should be able to handle it.

By Brick Shithouse, at June 28, 2009 3:18 pm
First you all talk the lions team up as if they're rugby gods now all of a sudden they're just a 'rag tag' team.

Another series down the drain for the british and irish losers!

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:24 pm
South Africa head coach Peter De Villiers however insisted Burger, who was playing his 50th Test for the Springboks, did not even deserve a yellow card.

"I don't think it should have been a card at all," he said.

"For me and for everybody, this is sport. This is what it is all about. This is great if everything is clear cut in this environment we are in we shouldn't try to prepare even.

"What people think and what people say to us is their opinion and we honour their opinion but it doesn't mean we all agree with it."

Sky Sports News

By Another Gem from PDV, at June 28, 2009 3:35 pm
LOL, ok, as far as you guys are aware im a lions supporter....and i am.... but seriously i have to agree with the bok supporters about you guys ranting about a ragtag team......really guys dont be prats! yes it was not the best team we would like to field, especially by the end of the match, but it was far from a rag tag team. i mean the players were good enough to be selected for the lions for goodness sake...

i think we can all agree it might have turned out different if burger was red carded etc, and if the rules state red card for an eye gouge then it should have been red (and bok fans if those are the rules then you can deny it) but hey, it didnt happen, and after taking the foot off the gas the boks overtook......and im sorry to say you cant blame ROG, his mistakes may have been converted into points, but its a 15 man game and perhaps the ball should have been stopped before fourie got hands on it.....etc

at the end of the day, the lions lost.....burger will be screwed over, and personally had it been anyone else, perhaps on the lions team id like to see the same punishment!! there is no room for it!!

so yes! Springboks dont get too big headed, but ofcourse enjoy your win. It was not the lions best team but it was far from a rag tag team, and anyway which country ever gets to field their best team, someone is always injured!!! so congrats boks!

P.s. the sooner you get rid of PDV the better....or maybe keep him, he might be a good coach, just tape his mouth up!

By No.7, at June 28, 2009 3:49 pm
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:52 pm
God! I hate Fitzgerald even more now

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:55 pm
'Burger WILL get banned though.. so its the same thing.'

Its not the same thing though is it. Quinlans wasnt seen by the match officials, Burger was.

4 people need to be brought before the IRB for this one:
Burger - Banned for a long time
PDV - for claiming its sport, the coaches mentality runs through the team and if thats his then its pathetic and he needs to be made accountable.
Ref and Touch judge - For why they thought that an offence which carries one of the longest punishments in rugby only warrented a yellow.

And could someone please explain to me how the build up to habanas try was different to the crossing for the lions at the end of the first half which was a penalty and 3 points to boks? With 2 decisions there thats 10 points to SA. I know ill get 'sour grapes' and all that thrown at me and the refs work being final but consistancy is what is needed and the ability to make big calls and this ref had neither.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:56 pm
i know the injuries were accidental but its a real kick in the balls that the 4 who went off were the 2 who were the rock of the scrum and the 2 who were the rock of the backs. that is what won it for the boks.

And theres alot of talk about kearney but where did that performance from shaw come from? If he played like that more often hed go down as one of the greats

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 3:59 pm
Fairplay to morne steyn , he was awesome and as a lions fan i was gutted to see him coming on haha! south africa won, end of. Just try not to be so cocky, i know ur the world champions and winner of the series but do you have to be so arragont, i know its not all of you, but somee spoil it! well done to both teams for a fantastic test match!

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 4:05 pm
The decoy runner didn't affect the play, he didn't take out the defender. Habana went through a gap that was always there and beat four covering defenders with pace.
Stop moaning, for god's sake.
The ref has gotta be banned now hey?
That's an interesting precedent. Why don't we lock him in chains and march him through the town square so people can throw stuff at him?
Learn how to lose with dignity.
Winning in South Africa is very, very hard. Australia does it only rarely, and every game we lose something controversial happens. The Saffers often overstep the boundaries. But it's all part and parcel of playing in South Africa. That's the challenge, to rise above all that stuff and win anyway. The Lions just weren't good enough to do it.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 4:05 pm
anonymous @3.52pm - your last sentence should have you banned from this site for life if such a thing were possible, what a jerk.

By andyK, at June 28, 2009 4:11 pm
'The decoy runner didn't affect the play, he didn't take out the defender. Habana went through a gap that was always there and beat four covering defenders with pace.'

as is often said, if a player isnt affecting play what is he doing there? I wasnt asking for a description of it, I was asking where is the difference between that and the lions one which was a penalty? Not much.

'The ref has gotta be banned now hey?
That's an interesting precedent.'

Its not an interesting precedent actually as its already used in football. If a referee gets big decisions wrong then they are either demoted or dont officiate big matches. If you did your job wrong youd either get a warning or at worst fired. Why is it different for a referee??

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 4:14 pm
I agree with Andy K, but to the guy after 3.52, why do you hate Fitzgerald? It's not as if he gave SA ten points like someone else did.

By Kearney for tests, at June 28, 2009 4:18 pm
"And yet Barnes, despite repeated replays couldn't see it. Is he clinically demented?"

you do realise barnes actually said it's a try after watching the replay. He said it's brussows foot in touch.

Dosne't show it in the highlights there but in the full match they showed it agian and again for about 3-4 minutes and by the end he was, "i think it could be a try"

By goodNumber10, at June 28, 2009 4:18 pm
"And yet Barnes, despite repeated replays couldn't see it. Is he clinically demented?"

you do realise barnes actually said it's a try after watching the replay. He said it's brussows foot in touch.

Dosne't show it in the highlights there but in the full match they showed it agian and again for about 3-4 minutes and by the end he was, "i think it could be a try"

By goodNumber10, at June 28, 2009 4:18 pm
"OL, ok, as far as you guys are aware im a lions supporter....and i am.... but seriously i have to agree with the bok supporters about you guys ranting about a ragtag team......really guys dont be prats! yes it was not the best team we would like to field, especially by the end of the match, but it was far from a rag tag team. i mean the players were good enough to be selected for the lions for goodness sake..."

yes but being selected and becoming a cohesive unit is not the same thing.

6 weeks to play 3 tests against the best team in the world is a huge task, and to be frank the lions have come out of this series far better respected then the boks.

By goodNumber10, at June 28, 2009 4:21 pm
Better respected eh?
They lost both test matches, they even got a draw against the Emerging
Boks.
Heaps to respect.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 4:27 pm
Anonymous Guy at 3.52..
1. It's no wonder South Africa is in such a mess that they totally miss the point of the Lions, the people there are so backward.

How do you know that? What is the poi t of the Lions and how do they miss it?

2.South Africa should be grateful that they show up there every 12 years to boost the economy, because the bunch of inbreds that inhabit the country are doing nothing to make any money for themselves.

Yeh you're right on this one, besides having sex with their relatives the South Africans don't really get up to much. NOT. Twat again.

And 3.At least Karma is present there, Burgers sister deserved to be raped, payback for him being such a cheating pussy.

What. The. Fuck.

You are a retard, please go away.

By Brick Shithouse, at June 28, 2009 4:28 pm
As a Bok fan I am happy with the series win.

I have to say that Burger is a disgrace.

Also, BOD is a tough SOB and I would like to have him in my team. Whatever the legality of his tackle on Rousseau, he kncoked out a huge man who is about 40 pounds heavier than him!

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 4:34 pm
This comment has been removed by the author.

By BoomShaka, at June 28, 2009 4:40 pm
Anyone with a brain who can is leaving SA in droves. The only ones staying are the backward inbred Afrikaaners.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 4:52 pm
boomshaka - i hope as you put it karma hunts you down for that comment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just makes me hate b&i fans even more, now i don't want the lions to ever tour here again if they are followed by ****ers like you!!!!

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 4:53 pm
Burger's wikipedia profile:
"Despite these strengths, Burger does have a problem on field with accruing yellow cards and penalties frequently and a tendency to gouge the eyes of other smaller players, as he is too much of a coward to pick on players his own size, a problem common to many - if not all - 'fetcher' flankers in world rugby.[citation needed]"

By HM, at June 28, 2009 4:55 pm
To goodnumber10, i am aware that they may no be cohesive but that still does not make them a rag tag thrown together team.....at the end of the day this is what the lions tour is, its "the best of Britain and Ireland" the chosen squad trying to play together, and because the chosen XV lost some key players and had to make up the team with (hey guess what) "the best of Britain and Ireland" doesnt mean that they are thrown together.........if they arent good players they shouldnt be on tour, and if the team is ready to replace some players due to injury they should be ready to lose!

its not like the entire team was struck down and they had to call over to Britain and Ireland and say "hey do you mind sending us a few players we seem to have run out"

By No.7, at June 28, 2009 4:57 pm
"Better respected eh?
They lost both test matches, they even got a draw against the Emerging
Boks.
Heaps to respect."

yes, and New Zealand have only one one test series there.

You don't seem to understand the point of taking a team of players who had never played together and turning them into a test class side.

You do realise the point of this for the lions players is the challenge of doing something so difficult don't you?

Of course they want to win, but the odds are always stacked against any combined side, regard less of where they are from, you seem to be losing site of what this series is about in your rush to gloat - which says far more about the people gloating.

It's a shame as the lions, along with the Barbarians, is one of the most respected traditions in world sport.

There is pretty much no comparison and yet people like yourself don't seem to understand what a huge feat it is to even get to a stage that is competitive.

Yeah yeah SA won, but at what cost? The comments by your coach has completely demeaned an amazing achievement in beating the lions by saying stupid things, and the comments on this board reflect that somewhat, and you're likely to lose - if not two - of your first choice players for a long time.

SA ruby's names been dragged through the mud by PDV and frankly the players in the BOK side don't deserve that. because beating the lions is a huge achievement, that they should be allowed to enjoy instead of feeling embarrassed by the actions of a few idiots.

People should enjoy the win not gloat about, it always comes back to bite your arse.

By goodNumber10, at June 28, 2009 4:57 pm
I'm going to ignore all the horrible 'hate mail' and give credit where it is due: well done boks, what a game of rugby.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 4:58 pm
"if they arent good players they shouldnt be on tour, and if the team is ready to replace some players due to injury they should be ready to lose!"

i don't think i called them rag tag or thrown together, but it is a scratch side built over 6 weeks.

It took SA 3 years to become competitive in world rugby after the sanctions were lifted - lets get some perspective as to exactly how hard a task putting together a wining lions side is.

By goddNumber10, at June 28, 2009 5:01 pm
"RD - Im putting in a FORMAL complaint about boomshakas comment, get this muppet off this site ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Er, read it again!

It's not boom shakas words, he's quoting someone else and calling them a disgrace.

unless of course you're supporting the person he called a disgrace?

I thought not

By goodNumber10, at June 28, 2009 5:02 pm
What, formal as in writing that in the comments section? Nice one mate.

Lets keep it clean boys, no need for the SA, Lions, player bashing.

Few words though:

Boks at times were completely outclassed, as last week. I really don't believe they have earn't either win. Escaped with a win both times.

By Chris, at June 28, 2009 5:06 pm
BOKS 2 lions 0!!!!

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 5:07 pm
Keep things clean please.

What a waste of time it is for me to have to sift through all these comments to remove the immature, lack of class sentiments from fans on both sides of the fence.

Remain respectful, or bite your tongue. Your comment will be removed if it's deemed to be not within the spirit of this website.

By GMC, at June 28, 2009 5:22 pm
the lions are always the underdogs. have only won 4 series, which is why those winning teams are so fondly remembered.

this tour has improved the lions image due to the bickering of 2001 and the shambles of 2005. without those 4 injuries in this match it would be 1-1 and going to a decider next week. thats why this tour has redeemed the lions despite the loss.

many players with enhanced reputations: du preez, r pienaar (1st test), m steyn, roberts + bod, croft, shaw

thats why burger and PDV have left such a bad taste as there are so many positives from this tour

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 5:40 pm
Anon, learn to read: I was quoting someone else and calling them a disgrace.
Anyway, I've deleted my comment since the original has been removed.

By BoomShaka, at June 28, 2009 5:55 pm
lions should have beat them gutting for all the players ! ! !
lost it when roberts and o'driscol went of. BOD was world class again and should have been skipper for he tour,
but the discovery of the hole tour as to be broussow who has been awsome since he played the cheeters vs lions and should have started in place of burger

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 5:57 pm
is it just me or does anybody else her think that half the people bitching and moaning have never touched a rugby ball or put in a hit..

yes burger is a cunt and should have gotten red but fuck it its rugby these things happen in evry game and only get noticed when someone is retarded enough to do it on the touchline in full view of linesman and tv cameras in the first 30 seconds of a match....and cant people just enjoy rugby instead of this bullshit nh/sh commenting?

peace

By number 7, at June 28, 2009 6:04 pm
Think it is funny folk keep banging on about the boks being world champs. Fair enough they won the world cup but have went on to get sacked in the tri nations. As a northeren hemisphere dweller think it says alot for the state of the game up here that we only have 2 midfielders in 4 nations that can deal with the southern giants and we cant even put a squad together without taking one with us. And was dissapionted to see only 1 prop on the bench before the game any one else feel uncontested srcums before the game kicked off. Also think as good a player as he is Mathew Reas should be getting as much stick as Burger silly throat throw on bakkies. And was wondering how long would take the boks to catch on to phillips inability to pass off the ground or quickly at all for that matter.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 6:45 pm
For all the boks fans who moaned for years about Mr McCaw being a cheat for his work on the floor now have a player in the very same mouled Broussow if infact not a lot worse. Is he invisible to refs at ruck time.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 6:51 pm
"Think it is funny folk keep banging on about the boks being world champs. Fair enough they won the world cup"

Well isn't that the very definition of world champions?

As for only having two Centers who can deal with the boks, how do you know, the other two haven't had a chance to play them.

They may be the best, but there si still Hook, Fluety and Darcy all in the equation.

Uncontested scrums? I mean seriously. I don't think anyone can prepare for that, Sheridan comes on, Jenkins either switches side, or comes off. That's pretty standard to be frank.

Lets TRY and remain objective.

By goodNumber10, at June 28, 2009 6:57 pm
hey, can someone explain the use of an uncontested scrum? i'm fairly new to the game and saw it in this match and didn't know what was going on... do the players have to call for this or is it solely at the referee's discretion?

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 7:08 pm
congrats boks. slightly better than the lions - not THAT much better. what i'm trying to say is that both sides played very well. kudos to both teams, shame for the lions since i was rooting for them. :(

but ehhh... o'gara...
...

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 7:10 pm
Am pretty sure being champions means beating every one not just winning one tournament then going on to get beaten by a record amoutn by the aussies and coming last in tri nations.

Yeah cause Fluety and D'arcy done such a good job against thier emerging boks fills me with hope just face it in 4 countrys we don't have the depth they do in 1.

Any test side in south africa is looking for trouble only going out with one prop and not to mention seen as the scrum was such a possitve thing for the lions and annoying thing for the boks in the first half what a weapon to lose.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 7:24 pm
Uncontested scurm during SA and Lions match because, I don't know which team, don't have more replacement prop on the bench (all the prop had been used and there were hurts)so you put an other player on the scrum for example a wing and the scrum aren't contested

(sorry for my english, i m french)

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 7:24 pm
Lions lost 1st Lion's Test because the referee was bad

Lions lost 2nd Lion's Test because the referee was bad

Stop it, it's ridiculous

Admit your defeat

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 7:30 pm
I saw the below clip on Youtube. Apparently fearsome ex-Bok back row Andre Venter got some kind of infection or virus that attacked his spine. It put him in a wheelchair and he has young kids.

I thought I would post this as it helps remind us that winning or losing a rugby match is not the end of the world. It's not really that important in the grand scheme of things, and let us get some perspective even though we are dissappointed.

I hope andre Venter makes a recovery and they can find a cure. Wouldn't it be nice if the rugby community could do some kind of benefit for the big man?! Great player.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLO8l7cSwJI

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 8:06 pm
Take a bow Rob Kearney.

By jorge, at June 28, 2009 8:28 pm
First off great game!!
Dissapointed with the result, ROG was poor yes but he can't take all the blame, we didn't look like scoring at all in the second half!!
Dissapointed with the officialling again, the scrum was not reffed what so ever!!
Paul O'Connel was very poor in both tests, barely saw him at all!
Credit to the South Africans great effort and the most frightening thing is they won the game with their youngsters or up and coming players off the bench, certainly have enough cover if some retirements are coming!!
Enthralling series!! Lets hope we save some face next week!!

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 8:32 pm
what a game. well done to boks, but sad to see lions lose. one more game, hope its as good as the last 2,
harry

By b and i fan, at June 28, 2009 8:33 pm
people saying that winnign the world cup dont make you champions, but they know how to win the big games that are importat and could be win the world cup again in 2011 if they carry on bringing through some of the guns.
what you think?

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 8:57 pm
Yes cirtain players did wrong bit I beleive the game was tarnished by cowedly refereeing by the frenchman who has a responsibility to protect players, STRAIT RED CARD FOR BURGER.

Did anyone notice the missing camera angle on the contraversial try? There should be footage looking down the touchline to prevent cheeting vidio refs. Too many coincidences for one game!

Siman shaw, what a ledgened, deserverd his place in the squad.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 9:09 pm
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 9:31 pm
Thank you to all the B&I fan's, it was a great game, and I really thought you were going to win this one, Unlucky in the end. Well done to the Bok's and thank you for pulling it out the bag in the end.

Isn't it great that we are not football fans that stoop to such things as mudslinging and whining............

By The Rambling Man, at June 28, 2009 9:38 pm
first of all a cracking match second of all we butched it.
but we gave it everything,jenkins and jones were the missing figue of the first test, the scrum that was on our own 5 metre line where jones won the penalty of the beast was sensational, shaw had a cracker but i still think kearney played better. as someone said before the reff bottled sending off burger and 14 men for 80 minuets is a massive advantage. o'gara made a huge mistake that has changed his career for the worse but from that game you saw 5 people have the games of there lives and has changed there careers for the better, o'drisscol had some balls to take on matfield and was so disapointing for him to go off, people say that its the very best from all four nations which is very true but the reason that south africa won this series was because they know eachothers every move and know eachother inside out. that takes months on end to get that its something you carnt produce over night, lions played well and havnt deserved to be 2-0 down but then again havnt deserved to be 2-0 up congrats SA, revenge in 12 years i hope!!!

By newcastlefalconsany1?, at June 28, 2009 10:14 pm
o'gara shouldnt have been im the squad, hook is more versatile, poor choice by the management cost us the series

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 10:20 pm
Having read all the comments on here, i'm surprised there's not more focusing on the lack of options on the bench. I couldn't believe the replacements were Ellis and O'Gara, for three reasons.

Firstly, shane williams can cover scrum half if need be, and its hardly the most specialist position.

Secondly, Hook is a better player than O'Gara. Thirdly, if SW can cover S.Half and Hook centre and FH, why was the bench not Hook, D'Arcy and Shane Williams?

This is where the game was lost. You could even scrap D'Arcy and just have another prop as williams and hook are so versatile.

By Anonymous, at June 28, 2009 10:23 pm
203 posts wow!!!! Unless this ends up 204,205 then shag it.

'Sore losers?'
'Whingers?'
'You lost,Get over it?'

This is a rugby forum, this is where you come to air your views on events oval related, however ill informed, bias or just plain ridiculous. If you read these comments or reply to them you are searching for something you agree with or want to dispute, to call someone a 'sore loser' defeats the purpose unless they are completely wrong, in which case thats their opinion and they're intitled to it. To come on here and give that line shows you are not interested in debate and are wasting your own time, and ironically shows you up to be a 'Bad Winner', as Jeremy Clarkson would say.

We can all agree there was some great rugby played and SA were marginally better over the 2 tests. No matter what result next sat, it will feel like a letdown, unless you are a Bokke and SA go on and hammer the Lions.

By Huh!! the 3rd, at June 28, 2009 11:49 pm
Anonymous says : "ROG cant take all the blame"
Yes he fucking can!! HE took the guy out in the air and HE missed the vital tackles. Im sorry but not even the irish can excuse that performance.

By RobbedBlind, at June 28, 2009 11:56 pm
RobbedBlind said...
Anonymous says : "ROG cant take all the blame"
Yes he fucking can!! HE took the guy out in the air and HE missed the vital tackles. Im sorry but not even the irish can excuse that performance.

LOOK AT THE FOOTAGE, YES O'GARA WAS THE CAUSE BUT HE WAS LOOKING UP AND WAITING FOR THE CATCH! HARDLY HIS FAULT!

By No.7, at June 29, 2009 1:05 am
McGeechan was not present when De Villiers spoke but when informed of what the Springbok boss had said he admitted: "I am very disappointed if that's what he said.

"Because for me you can't see that and say it's a part of the game that I would ever want to be associated with."

Botha misses the next match, burger is still awaiting......

By No.7, at June 29, 2009 1:08 am