Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Brian O'Driscoll & Ugo Monye raring to go against the Golden Lions

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Brian O'Driscoll & Ugo Monye raring to go against the Golden Lions

The British & Irish Lions play their second tour match this evening in as they face the Golden Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg as they look to step up a gear.

Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll has been named as captain for the match, as he gets his first run on tour, leading a side that has 11 new British & Irish Lions players.

After their disappointing display against the Royal XV in Rustenburg on the weekend, tonight is an opportunity for other players to impress the coach. Only three from the weekends match have been retained.

"We were always going to mix it up in the first three matches so that everyone gets a full outing," said Lions coach Ian McGeechan on Monday.

"The first three matches of this tour were set aside so that we could have a look at everyone."

O’Driscoll is looking forward to putting the famous red jersey on again, after his disappointing tour of New Zealand in 2005.

“I always hoped I would get on this Lions tour. The captaincy aspect was something that was out of my hands and Geech went with Paulie, which for my mind was a good a bet as anyone and I am delighted to be able to step up in Paulie’s absence and captain the team.”

Harlequins wing Ugo Monye is raring to go.

"You don't know how many games you are going to play. This could be my first and last game, so you have got to make sure it is a big one.

"We have a big squad and a very competitive squad so every time you get that chance you really have got to grab hold of it."

It should be a cracking match, and one thing is for sure - the Lions will win tonight.

British and Irish Lions team
Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Ugo Monye; Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, Tom Croft, Alun-Wyn Jones, Nathan Hines, Phil Vickery, Lee Mears, Gethin Jenkins
Replacements: Ross Ford, Euan Murray, Stephen Ferris, Andy Powell, Harry Ellis, James Hook, Shane Williams

Golden Lions team
Louis Ludik; Michael Killian, Jannie Boshoff, Doppies la Grange, Dusty Noble; Andre Pretorius, Jano Vermaak; Willem Alberts, Franco van der Merwe, Cobus Grobbelaar (capt); Willem Stoltz, Brad Mockford, Gert Muller, Willie Wepener, Lawrence Sephaka.
Replacements: Ethienne Reynecke, JC Janse van Rensburg, Ernst Joubert, Todd Clever, Chris Jonck, Walter Venter, Earl Rose

Lions are gona get destroyed... and im irish

f1rst

By Anonymous, at June 03, 2009 2:39 pm
Go the lions:) Glad to see hook named, even if he is on the bench If they dont win this they havent got a chance of the boks.

By Matt, at June 03, 2009 2:58 pm
lOl haha if they don't beat the living hell out of this team .. they will definately have no chance again south africa.

By Anonymous, at June 03, 2009 3:08 pm
they will kill south africa bod,rog,poc are legends.

By Anonymous, at June 03, 2009 3:53 pm
The bench looks exciting

By Anonymous, at June 03, 2009 4:00 pm
We heard all this the South Africans back in 1997.

"We are World Champs."
"The Super 12 is far superior, look at all the attacking play and tries."
"The Five Nations is crap compared to our Tri Nations."
"We are going to put 40 to 50 points on the "pussycats."

Wow, could history be repeating itself?

The best thing the Lions have going for them is the arrogance and over confidence that is part of South African sporting culture. They cannot conceive that they could get beaten by the Lions, and that is their achilles heel.

By Anonymous, at June 03, 2009 4:08 pm
andre pretorius cant kick lol. too bad rose isnt starting.

but yeah goodluck to the B&I lions hope they gel well

By bD, at June 03, 2009 4:09 pm
this is almost a lions test-team (3/4 changes and it would be a test team). they most win, and they must destroy the south african scrum. that is the key. to do that they need a fair ref.

By Rui Silva, at June 03, 2009 4:27 pm
D'arcy will add a good physical edge to the centre, hope him and BOD are the test centers, it's already proved a good pairing so far this year! If SA are too cocky we could see a Munster v Leinster repeat! They need to win the first test match though. They lok like their putting an almost full strength team out for this match too

By Conor, at June 03, 2009 4:43 pm
The 2009 springboks are alot better than the 1997 lot, (coming from a Lions fan)So may maybe its us who are the over-confident and arrogant ones...(can't believe some of the posts above - talk about the boks being arrogant, some my own fan base are the most arrogant I have come across) The boks are world champs, give credit where it is due, after the matches, we can boast - but not before as it is tough rugby out there....

By Anonymous, at June 03, 2009 4:45 pm
6th from top- if you can actually read, none of the posts suggesting a bok win are actually from bok fans, its always your media and your fans who big us up...talk about arrogant - you fit the tag!

By Anonymous, at June 03, 2009 4:47 pm
Of course the 2009 Boks are better than the 1997 Boks.....but that's a meaningless comparison. The 2009 Lions would beat the 1997 Lions.

The game has been professional for another 12 years so you would expect that.

The comparsion has to be between the Lions and Boks in 1997 compared to the Liosn and Boks now.

If you are old enough to remember the 1997 tour, the 5 Nations that year was mediocre and the Lions were not expected to be very competitive.

The Boks still had a number of World class players in 1997, Teichman, Kruger, Venter, Du Randt, Andrews, Garvey up front....and Van De West, Honnibal, Mulder, Small, Montgomery in the backs.....and they had played with each other for a few years.

Now the Noks have a simialir number of proven class players and are favourties. It's a similair situation.

By Anonymous, at June 03, 2009 5:18 pm
It would be nice to win this.

On the other hand, losing a provincial game would not be a disaster as long as the teams gives a good account of itself.

A slaughter like the Lions loss to Otago in 1993 would not bode well. But even then the Lions still gave a much better account of themselves in the actual test series.

By Anonymous, at June 03, 2009 5:48 pm
I fully expect the Boks to win this series by 2-1. I do not think it will be 3-0 because sport psychology shows that teams who absolutely must win often do.

Another thing is that the team that wins the first game of the series does not make adjustments, the team that loses does.

I expect the Boks to win the first test. The Lions to wina dod or die 2nd and the Boks to win the final.

The scores will be relatively close.

By Anonymous, at June 03, 2009 5:53 pm
it's great to see d'arcy heading out!he's on fine form and could get himself a test place if anything happens roberts.the lions should win comfortably tonight..the british and irish ones that is;)

By mark, at June 03, 2009 6:35 pm
"the Lions will win tonight."

Haha, nice one RD...

By Lions and Tigers and Bears, at June 03, 2009 6:44 pm
Will darcy be playin now gainst golden lions it would be ratty on Roberts bt still???

By Chank, at June 03, 2009 6:54 pm
who wud be the best golden lion im doin fantasy rugby r any them gonna play for SA??
Plz reply thnanks in advnce

By ASDF, at June 03, 2009 6:56 pm
Out of interest, as an Irishman, what do Souther Hemisphere people and especially New Zealnders think of Brian O'Driscoll? DISCUSS

By Brick Shithouse, at June 03, 2009 7:12 pm
Can soemone tell me of if the Golden Lions team is their regular strength team fro the S14 or a weak version???? thx

By Anonymous, at June 03, 2009 7:28 pm
Well 3 tries to nothing so far. How great is the Super 14 again??

By Anonymous, at June 03, 2009 7:45 pm
Golden Lions played super crappy. Missing a few players to the Boks, but just looked useless on the night. Not sure why, but had no 'oomph'. Jamie Roberts had free reign in the midfield.. massive gaps. Very disappointing, but nicely done by the B&I Lions. Will be a good confidence boost for them, with some key players looking good.

By Shaft, at June 03, 2009 9:33 pm
Was that very poor defense by the Golden Lions or high octance Super 14 play by the BI Lions ;)

Perhaps the SAFFAS better wake up....if the Lions stay healthy they have the players to make this a good series.

By Anonymous, at June 03, 2009 9:39 pm
No wait, that was poor defence, not good play by the NH'ers? Hmm.. ?

Gonna take all the credit away from your side and simply blame the defence?

Personally, as a saffa, I thought the Golden Lions were effin useless on the night. Highly disappointing. :( Massive gaps in the midfield, and just looked like they werent interested. Poor showing.

By FrankyH, at June 03, 2009 10:08 pm
Monye - nice guy, but he does sound brain-dead.

By Anonymous, at June 04, 2009 12:12 am