The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

It keeps “us” all happy - we’ve all skin in the game now. Hogg I’m delighted for as he was robbed 4 years ago, the back 3 was so hard to call and Watson has been excellent (Adams is a big call), Daly is the most creative outside centre and kicks well but he is small if the Boks run at him, happy Price is in as he is on better form than Murray and I want to win, we are all wrong in the back row but Lawes will be big and physical as will Curry and two jackals in Beirne and Watson on the bench. Conan is solid and that’s what he wants I guess - must have been going well in training

I now move on from being worried we don’t have any starters to hoping they don’t **** up

Yeah when you see it written down, as a team it makes a lot of sense. Not one that anyone would have had a hope in hell of predicting a year ago.

[Zapater]

Shame Cormack has stopped posting, I’d love to hear his views on this.

Been waiting for his comments myself. I hope he's okay.

I see Jacques has said that Kwagga does the same things as Duane Vermeulen, just in a different way. Don't agree with that, but the public endorsement is always a positive thing. His 7s background and running definitely gives some advantages. Reminds me a bit of Keegan Daniel in some ways who was hugely underused in the Bok set up during his career.

[Irishnev]

I now move on from being worried we don’t have any starters to hoping they don’t **** up

Yeah when you see it written down, as a team it makes a lot of sense. Not one that anyone would have had a hope in hell of predicting a year ago.

DVDM and Hogg will be bombarded + Faf will be in Price’s ear - am sure they’ll step up and two more to be capped off the bench. Daly’s long kicking and versatility allows for the 6-2 bench also

[RichC]

Been watching some of the old lions tests vs SA. What a player Joost Van Der Westhuizen was

[Irishnev]

Been watching some of the old lions tests vs SA. What a player Joost Van Der Westhuizen was

Reminds me of prime Conor Murray





Joost was special and he had the height to go with it

[Buzzo]

Been watching some of the old lions tests vs SA. What a player Joost Van Der Westhuizen was

Yeah - a true Rugby icon. Incredible player.

[Zapater]

Been watching some of the old lions tests vs SA. What a player Joost Van Der Westhuizen was

What a man, great player. Giant for a scrum half too when you consider he started in the non-pro era. Stransky often gets the credit for his dropkick in the 95 WC final, rightfully so but Joost's hands and quick pass was also excellent. I can't believe how frail he was later in life. MND is seriously one of the worst things that can happen to someone. He went from strong to nothing in a few years.

From the last tour the heroes for me were Jacques Fourie, the Beast and Heinrich Brüssow.

[Zapater]

Also, not really sure if it's appropriate given his how it ended up for him. But he went hard and was active on the party scene. Saw him around a few clubs in Joburg at the end of his career and early retirement. Was often ****ed up, apparently had quite the nose for the cat (think you guys in the UK call it m-cat) and was often seen with much younger girls (presumably often strippers and hookers) . Had a well publicised divorce, but his reputation was saved by his disease.

[RichC]

The MND is bloody awful, the pictures of him towards the end are awful to see. Doddy Weir who Buzzo will be able to give far more info about has the same disease.

[Rigadon]

Some recent research suggests a higher rate of MND in elite athletes.

[Buzzo]

Confirmed

[ame]https://twitter.com/lionsofficial/status/1417771205063593987[/ame]

[Buzzo]

The MND is bloody awful, the pictures of him towards the end are awful to see. Doddy Weir who Buzzo will be able to give far more info about has the same disease.

Yeah, Doddie Weir and the Doddie Weir foundation have raised a lot of money and awareness up here.

We also had Fernando Ricksen die a couple of years ago. Locally Marius Zaliukas who captained Hearts also died last year. Hearts have given the front of short sponsor to MND Scotland this year.

A friend of my Mum and Dads has it, she found out last year and is in her 70’s she is in the early stages and is pretty stoic. She has begun to lose her voice and they have tech where you can record a certain amount of words and they can recreate it in the digital voice as you deteriorate.

In terms of Illnesses you just would not want to have it is right at the top.

[Irishnev]

SOUTH AFRICA v THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS

15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland) #783

14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) #816

13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822

12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #824

11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #841

10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) #821

9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #843

1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) #842

2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) #851

3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #818

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825

5. Alun Wyn Jones – captain (Ospreys, Wales) #761

6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England) #826

7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) #853

8.Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #839

Replacements:

16. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829

17. Rory Sutherland (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #840

18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814

19. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #838

20. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland) #847

21. Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790

22. Owen Farrell (Saracens, England) #780

23. Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales) #833

Williams in and Henderson out?

[Buzzo]

Hadn’t noticed that. So a 5-3 as opposed to 6-2 split on the bench. That’s a big call.

Had been previously worried how Wales online would be coping with only 4 Welsh in the squad

As it stands it is a:

England 8
Wales 5
Scotland 5
Ireland Ireland 5

Split.

The most representative lions team in a generation!

[Irishnev]

Nice thread in Beirne - followed him since Scarlets and delighted he ended up at Munster

[ame="https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/status/1417821608845189121"]https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/status/1417821608845189121[/ame]