Ian McGeechan has announced his team to face South Africa in the first Test on Saturday. The most notable selections were those of David Wallace and Tom Croft as flankers, with Ugo Monye on the left wing. Martyn Williams joins Irish lock Donncha O’Callaghan on the bench.
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Lee Mears
3. Phil Vickery
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Paul O’Connell
6. Tom Croft
7. David Wallace
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Mike Phillips
10. Stephen Jones
11. Ugo Monye
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Brian O’Driscoll
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Lee Byrne
Replacements:
16. Matthew Rees
17. Adam Jones
18. Donncha O’Callaghan
19. Martyn Williams
20. Harry Ellis
21. Ronan O’Gara
22. Rob Kearney
With the selection holding relatively few surprises, we can turn our attention now to the challenge that faces these players on Saturday. For any decent chance of a series win, it seems imperative that the Lions take the advantage in the first test – a win over South Africa would not only give the Lions the heady drag of confidence that beating mediocre provincial opposition cannot provide, but would also shock a Springbok side that are widely expected to whitewash their touring opponents.
Some things for you to ponder this afternoon over your tea and biccies, which I’ll write about tomorrow:
Heinrich Brussow gave the Lions a breakdown masterclass when playing for the Cheetahs, and will start for South Africa in Shalk Burger’s absence. Pierre Spies is a new breed of athlete, a gargantuan No. 8 who runs faster than most wingers. Will the Lions back row have an answer to these threats?
Many believe the Lions’ greatest strengths are in their backline, with Phillips, Roberts, O’Driscoll, Bowe and Byrne all in good form. But do they outclass a Springbok team comprising the talents of Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana and Francois Steyn?
The biggest factor going into this opening Test is the limited game time that many of the starting Springbok team have had over the past few weeks, with some of their team not having played for up to six weeks. There is no training ground replacement for game time, as the physical and mental demands of a match, especially those of a Test are that much higher. Which I believe gives the Lion's a huge advantage going into this opening Test, which is a must win, with the next to Tests being at altitude.
The biggest factor going into this opening Test is the limited game time that many of the starting Springbok team have had over the past few weeks, with some of their team not having played for up to six weeks.
ReplyDeleteThere is no training ground replacement for game time, as the physical and mental demands of a match, especially those of a Test are that much higher.
Which I believe gives the Lion's a huge advantage going into this opening Test, which is a must win, with the next to Tests being at altitude.