Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Lions Memories

Friday, June 19, 2009

Lions Memories - Selection

On the eve of the first meeting in the three Test series in South Africa, we've got a short video for you that talks about being selected for the Lions, and what it means to a player to be chosen amongst the privileged few.

After a long wait, the time is nearly upon us as the World Champion Springboks host the British & Irish Lions for the first time since they last won a tour, in 1997.

Following the initial squad selection, and a few unfortunate injuries, there's been much debate for the last few weeks about who the starting fifteen will be to take the field in Durban for this historic meeting of rugby giants.

We now know the make up of both sides though, as thirty men will kickoff the Test series tomorrow in what should be a fiercely physical contest of mind and body.

This video features short interviews from past Lions, legends of the game, talking about how it felt for them to make the prestigious tour party of the best players from England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland.

The lineups for tomorrow are as follows:

British and Irish Lions:
Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Ugo Monye, Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips, Gethin Jenkins, Lee Mears, Phil Vickery, Alun-Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell, Tom Croft, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Donncha O'Callaghan, Martyn Williams, Harry Ellis, Ronan O'Gara , Rob Kearney

Springboks:
Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen, Adi Jacobs , Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismark du Plessis, John Smit, BJ Botha, Victor Matfield, Heinrich Brüssow, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies
Replacements: Gurthro Steenkamp, Deon Carstens, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Enrico Januarie, Jaque Fourie, Morne Steyn

Time: 02:44

first comment!
come on lions

By Paul Gormley, at June 19, 2009 6:19 pm
austin healey, the man is a legend but that is a hell of a cruel prank to pull

By Anonymous, at June 19, 2009 6:28 pm
Seems like a pretty strong side, had flannery and murray not been out of the tour i think the front row would be outstanding, not sure how POC and Alun-Wyn Jones will match up to Matfield and Botha though :/. Fight between the back rows should be interesting but i think the boks edge it. How good is this Brussow guy, i mean i dont mean it in a bad way but i just havent really seen him play or anything? In the backs overall i think we can match the boks pretty evenly, though i think JP and Habana have got more pace than Bowe and Monye respectively. But hey hopefully they prove me wrong. Really want the lions to win but i just can see it happening, boks to win by at least 7, and for them to win the series 2-1. What does everyone else think??
Cheers

By Carson1091, at June 19, 2009 6:29 pm
I think the lions are only stronger in the centre and fullback. but all the Springbox are a class act. it'll be a tight affair though i think.all on the day with 30 outstanding players. We'll miss Ferris.

By Anonymous, at June 19, 2009 6:40 pm
won't miss ferris, ryan jones is a far better player esp. in such a big match, big loss.

Agree with carson Vickery is just poor esp. in the loose, he gives away too many lazy penalties. murray would have been better, I don't know why adam jones is on the bench

By mat, at June 19, 2009 6:46 pm
Carson, Monye has an official 100 metre timing of 10.6.

How sure are you that Habana is faster? All I've seen are non factual claims. I'm sure his official best timing is 10.8.

If you want to go off unofficial times Monye claims to have run a 10.4... Which is faster than anything Habana can run.

Monye can match him for speed.

The Boks will win though, is my prediction.

By Chris, at June 19, 2009 6:49 pm
Sorry Chris i dont actually know for sure that Habana is faster, i just based it on seeing them on the field really, Habana just seems to look that bit faster(although he nearly got caught scoring an intercept recently... think the highlights are on here actually), just my opinion tbh m8, not a very good basis i know. Your probably right, your figures certainly put my guess work to shame, what about chavanga? I know he's not in the squad is he injured or what? But out of curiosity do you know his 100m time?
cheers

By Carson1091, at June 19, 2009 7:06 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3muAkT0K9Y ...chavanga faster than both..not gonna get into that debate..i think the lions are looking awesome..boks must respect.. jamie roberts is monster..jdv better tackle low or he gna get smashed
im bok befok

By Alain, at June 19, 2009 7:14 pm
I hate to kill the 100m time debate, but 'rugby speed' is measured over 40m, as the theory is that thats the most you'll be required to sprint at full speed on average in a rugby match. At one stage Brent Russell, Bryan Habana, and I think it was Joe Van Niekerk, all shared the same time for that. In fact even James Dalton (hooker in 95) was one of the quickest over 40m in his prime.

Regarding Chavhanga, it's common knowledge that him and Jongi Nokwe are both faster than Habana.

So while Monye MIGHT (I'm still not convinced, based on what I've seen) be quicker officially over 100m, it's not often that you'll see Habana and Monye have a 100m flat sprint race. So those figures are fairly ineffectual in my opinion.

Its Habana's speed off the mark and extreme acceleration and finishing that make him so potent.

Great matchup though. Cant wait.

By Shaft, at June 19, 2009 7:16 pm
Its all about acceleration and habana's gonna make monye look like the average player he is. Fitzgerald should be there instead, atleast he offers something in attack.

By BeatDown, at June 19, 2009 7:19 pm
wow tomorrow is going to be epic. the lions holds something special for everyone, i remember at 12 years old watching gibbsy smashing oz durant. and alan tait scoring in the corner. gusscot's drop goal. and how well all the forwards played they had a big 8 in gary teichman. and an aggressive pack.

Tomorrow will be the same, we have to smash botha in every ruck and juan smith. we have to carry more ball. we gotta smash spies too. i respect the boks, but tomorrow as telfer put it 12 years ago will be thier everest, not many people get to climb it. but when they do they have that feeling for the rest of thier lifes.
so here's to a great match and more memories for the future.
Bring it on!!!

By Anonymous, at June 19, 2009 7:42 pm
Monye could have been in the olympics.
and hes said that hes quicker now then his pb of 10.6 at 16.
habana might be quicker at acceleration but i think when he gets one of his trademark intercepts that monye could just catch him or get close and scare him like chavanga.

By Back Line Boy!, at June 19, 2009 8:01 pm
The 100m sprint means jack shit when you've got some crazy south african about to put you on your arse I'm afraid boys....Thee days a winger needs much much more than pace...

By themull, at June 19, 2009 8:31 pm
Even if Habana is 10.8 and Monye is 10.6, 0.2 seconds is hardly enough to burn a player.

By Anonymous, at June 19, 2009 8:34 pm
Regardless... its amazing how fast these guys are. Its amazing to see how far rugby has come since we last saw the Lions in SA. I want the Lions to win. I just hope its going to be a cracker.

By Cheech, at June 19, 2009 9:16 pm
Oh MY GOD that springbok side is about to explode. Ive NEVER seen a backline that talented, jeez

By Unknown, at June 19, 2009 10:13 pm
Nearly every newspaper in ireland is saying that habana is the fastest winger in the world..

but didnt he get cleaned by some lad from USA in the last world cup......

just remembered that now!!

By creggs08, at June 19, 2009 11:03 pm
Lions to lose by over 20 points.
Monye?
Wallace?
Vickery?
Haha good luck, your gonna need it!!

By ConfidentBok, at June 19, 2009 11:12 pm
Always funny to see people lining up Monye & Habana - they are on opposite wings. We'll only see it if Ugo has to cover tackle like on Thom Evans in the 6N, and he moved pretty quick then ...

By MisterDavid, at June 19, 2009 11:19 pm
I like Fitzgerald's style of play - he's a creative wing and does well to move the ball up the field, but Monye has him both on speed and defense...

Just from that last match, when Monye picked up that fat shit of a no. 7 and carried him and the no. 5 into touch...he's got some great physicality that'll be needed against the Boks. If he doesn't just wait for the ball to come to him on wing and comes infield to make things happen, he might do some good attacking as well.

Man, I'm pumped for this match - that SA lineup is stellar, and the Lions are going to have a hell of a time trying to win it.

By Grant, at June 19, 2009 11:50 pm
My bad, that fatty wasn't a 7 (which would've made no sense)...he was a prop with an odd-shaped "1".

By Grant, at June 20, 2009 12:02 am
I'm missing Schalk Burger...why isn't he in the lineup?

By Anonymous, at June 20, 2009 12:17 am
Is it me or is that dramatic music really inappropriate?

When they start telling stories about consulting the union rep or guscott mumbling, it all seems a bit much the music!!!

Funny vid nonetheless

By Anonymous, at June 20, 2009 12:37 am
Carson1091, in the second last sentence of your first comment, you really shouldn't mix up 'can' with 'can't'. They both completely change what you're trying to argue. And ConfidentBok, what the hell is wrong with Wallace? He's an amazing player. Do you think that little fat guy Jacobs is better? I can really see the Lions winning this.

By Kearney for tests, at June 20, 2009 2:14 am
"Blogger Paul Gormley said...

first comment!
come on lions

June 19, 2009 6:19 PM"

co-signed u big gay all.

*pumps fist*

By goodNumber10, at June 20, 2009 2:28 am
May I just ask what this 'First Comment' obsession is about? Seems a tad immature and irrelevant.

Regarding the series, I'll be more than pleased if it is taken to a decider, even if the Lions eventually lose. As much as I want to see a Lions series win, in the era of professional rugby it should be incredibly difficult for a 'scratch' side to beat any of the big three Southern Hemisphere sides.

Here's to hoping though...

By Zavala, at June 20, 2009 11:32 am
Kearney for tests said...
Carson1091, in the second last sentence of your first comment, you really shouldn't mix up 'can' with 'can't'.
___________________________________

Haha, well noticed, anyway regarding the 'whos fastest' arguement i was just saying what i thought, didn't want to start an arguement as thats not what this video is about, and 'shaft' does make some good sense, even as a wing/fullback i rarely find myself sprinting more than 30-40m at one time. But hey, maybe at some point during the game they might come up 1vs1 in a bit of space, should be interesting.

Anyway really looking forward to the game today. Lions have got their work cut out, but you never know.

By carson1091, at June 20, 2009 11:42 am
Absolutely gutted. Thought the game was an example of how much difference props make to the game - the one major difference between the Lions winning and losing was bringing on Jones.

Very disappointing game for Vickery, who seemed unable to make the technical changes needed to stay straight on Mtawira. The ref was a disgrace on that front and should have pinged the beast off the pitch for not scrummaging straight, but if Vickery had got his flankers to keep his arse in, and worked more to stay straight on the hit, he would have shafted the beast.

Also, despite his try, I was really disappointed in Philips - slow service and really poor decision making. I mean, the Bokkes have some of the best forwards in the world, so why keep hitting the blindside, especially when Jamie Roberts (MOTM IMO)and BOD were having a stormer in open play.

By HM, at June 20, 2009 6:07 pm
I've been reading the book "once were lions" which is a history of every single lions tour, immense. interviews and facts about the great tours of the past, if you liked these videos i highly recommend it.

By goodNumber10, at June 20, 2009 8:30 pm
I would like to hear what people think of keith earls. Being from limerick i saw him single handedly winning the senior schools cup for munchins two years ago. In limerick he is regarded as nothing short of a champion, and as a first year as a professional rugby player he has finished top try scorer for munster, scored a try on his debut for ireland and was called up to the lions tour, now i know roberts and fitzgerald are of similar age and have achieved more in the game but earls was a surprise call-up and even though he had a shocker in the first match he has scored two great tries. Ronan o gara has gone on to compare his impact in his first season to johnny wilkonson and while i dont see earls dropping a goal off his weak foot for ireland in a world cup final i genuinely think he will be a world beater in the next few years. drop a comment to what ye think.
Paul

By Paul Gormley, at June 24, 2009 8:55 pm