Rugby Union 2009

**pete** · 02/07/2009, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

Is Fitzgerald injured?

From BBC:

Four players were ruled out for the rest of the tour following the ferocious contest in Pretoria, props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones as well as O'Driscoll and Roberts, forcing head coach Ian McGeechan to make changes.

Seems Fitzgerald was dropped which is bizarre.

Very poor Lions team. Shane Williams has been living on reputation all tour but nothing to show he has any form despite loads of changes.

The only reason the Lions have a chance is bacuse of all the SA changes.

**endabob1** · 02/07/2009, 1:25 PM

Can't believe Fitzgerald was dropped on the basis of his performance, I would assume it's a prevention thing with his eye and/or fearing repercussions from other friendly Boks

**OneRedArmy** · 02/07/2009, 3:09 PM

Midfield and wings are the opposite of whatever a form team is.

If the Boks have any appetite on Saturday (with 10 changes and Tri Nations upcoming they should have), it could get really, really ugly.

**paul_oshea** · 02/07/2009, 3:40 PM

5 forwards, im assuming they are hoping no backs get injured!!

we play them in the autumn don't we, i reckon with a full strength squad ave a good chance beleive it or not!

**jbyrne** · 02/07/2009, 4:11 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

5 forwards, im assuming they are hoping no backs get injured!!

wallace has played in the backs for munster before

**joeSoap** · 03/07/2009, 8:00 AM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

wallace has played in the backs for munster before

In the Magners League....this would be an unreachable step up. I think the logic behind it is that Hook can cover Out half and centre, Bowe can cover centre, full back and wing, Kearney wing and full back etc therefore he went heavy on forward cover.

**joeSoap** · 03/07/2009, 8:02 AM

Talk about trying to deflect what Burger did...this is a joke

**endabob1** · 03/07/2009, 8:08 AM

If I was O'Gara I would sue for defamation, show evidence or shut the f-ck up.
Living here I am astonished at the propaganda that goes with the Bok's the tv coverage is something else, they are constantly implying that the only reason Burger was cited is beacuse the Lions are bad losers..... it does my head in.

**jbyrne** · 03/07/2009, 8:11 AM

Originally Posted by endabob1

If I was O'Gara I would sue for defamation, show evidence or shut the f-ck up.
Living here I am astonished at the propaganda that goes with the Bok's the tv coverage is something else, they are constantly implying that the only reason Burger was cited is beacuse the Lions are bad losers..... it does my head in.

isnt there an independant citing officer? nothing to do with the lions that he got cited other than it was one of their players that got attacked

**joeSoap** · 03/07/2009, 9:19 AM

True. But perhaps the South Africans still suffer from the belief that they can do whatever they want to whoever they want....Burger being the alpha male, blonde, 6ft 4 and all that crap....

**endabob1** · 03/07/2009, 9:30 AM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

isnt there an independant citing officer? nothing to do with the lions that he got cited other than it was one of their players that got attacked

Yes, it was Kiwi, Steve Hinds who did the citing not the Lions, this is a country built on propaganda, never let the truth get in the way of a good story!

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_i...4351379C517282

**pete** · 03/07/2009, 1:59 PM

Originally Posted by endabob1

If I was O'Gara I would sue for defamation, show evidence or shut the f-ck up.
Living here I am astonished at the propaganda that goes with the Bok's the tv coverage is something else, they are constantly implying that the only reason Burger was cited is beacuse the Lions are bad losers..... it does my head in.

Amazing it took almost a full week to come up with that gouging accusation. O'Gara should not let that stand without some action.

Lions are to some extent bad losers (well TV supporters anyway) but that doesn't take away from Boks persecution complex.

There will be punch up within minutes of the start tomorrow. It will require a strong referee.

**IsMiseSean** · 03/07/2009, 6:44 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

Talk about trying to deflect what Burger did...this is a joke

I cant wait for the boks to come to Croke Park now... I wonder what sort of reception Burger and Fourie will receive??

As for the team tomorrow...
Monye deserves another shot
Im glad M. Williams gets a start
S. Williams and Flutey have been awful this tour
Flutey only gets the nod in my opinion because of the wasps link as does Worsley...
Earls, Fitzgerald barring injuries will probably be part of the next series, they should be involved... Earls deserves a start or at least a place on the bench, he was offered more than Flutey on the tour!!
Glad the Bull got in there....

**Rovers fan** · 04/07/2009, 1:47 PM

Great stuff so far

Brilliant play by heaslip and flutey to set up williams for 2 run in tries. Did shaw deserve a yellow? I missed the replay 'cause by stream cut out...

**elroy** · 04/07/2009, 1:52 PM

A score for SA before half time AGAIN, could turn out to be a big score. I very much expect SA to come back in the second half, Lions are playing well so far but its almost inevitable that they will struggle in the second half. SA are 5/2 on betfair, very tempting.

Shaw led with his knees in the tackle so I think the yellow probably was the correct call. Kearney, Flutey and Williams playing very well so far.

**IsMiseSean** · 04/07/2009, 2:29 PM

Its looking good now...
O'Connell outplaying Matfield

**Schumi** · 04/07/2009, 2:40 PM

25-9 with 10 minutes to go. Game over. South Africa giving away silly penalties now.

**OneRedArmy** · 04/07/2009, 2:43 PM

I'll bet all those who say it's a dead rubber and meaningless wouldn't say the same if the Boks got the whitewash.

**shakermaker1982** · 04/07/2009, 3:17 PM

Heaslip impressed today. His interview in todays guardian means the game against the boks this November will be very tasty. Cannot wait.

The lions were outclassed four years ago but this time around the series was there for the taking. I still cannot believe they threw the second test away.

**endabob1** · 22/07/2009, 8:33 AM

Jean De Villiers signing for Munster, very good signing, top class inside centre.
They reckon there will be 3 or 4 more Bok's leaving after the Tri Nations so it'll be a much weakened Bok squad that comes in November