Comments on: Lions vs Western Province

By: Bock

Bock — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:36:54 +0000

I'd agree with Russ. Let's not get too defensive here, lads. There's nobody who'd like more than I would to see Keith achieving his full potential. He's a gifted player, who in my opinion shows echoes of Campese and Blanco, but he's not producing all that he has to give. I don't know why.

By: Saint Russ

Saint Russ — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:23:39 +0000

I think it's easy to be slightly one-eyed when wanting to see your own in the best light, I've done it myself. The fact of the matter though is that Keith hasn't played to the best of his undoubted abilities, but to say that's an anti-Irish snipe is stretching it a bit far, wouldn't you say. I've got no problem with the number of any nation in the Lions squad. They're Lions after all and that's the team that I'm behind, not an individual nation. Funny though that this tour seems to have brought out more of a Nationalistic stance from the representative nations fans than previous ones. Hope it's not a trend.
Agree with Gary regarding the ambition of the sides they've played up to now. Having said that, it always happens, the host nation put out at least one side that seem intent on doing damage rather than win. Remember Australia eight years ago ? There was a young Australia side that did it, not forgetting the Waratahs and Duncan McRae (and now I need to spit out having said his name). Then NZ four years ago, I distinctly remember the side captained by Paul Tito doing exactly the same, not forgetting the job the national side did on BOD. Then the NZ press say we whinge and the host Union do nothing with regard to reprimands and doing nothing is giving the green light to keep doing the same. You can't win that battle, but you can certainly do the job on the pitch and, I'm not confident, but hopefully we can do something come the next few Saturdays. Not sure how long the Lions can continue to take this sort of punishment in the professional era though.

By: Gary Ireland

Gary Ireland — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:04:52 +0000

In my opinion the South African teams to date are not interested in winning the game, or rugby for that matter. The object seems to be to cripple as many of the Lions as possible. Before they meet the Springboks. For this reason I hope the Lions kick seven kinds of shite out of the Springboks when they meet.
As for the English commentators! What can we expect from dogs but a yelp?

By: Abdul

Abdul — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:10:40 +0000

O'Gara, who was clattered by a number of late and high tackles, wasn't very happy with the robust approach of the Southern Kings at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last night – Lions won 20-8.

"They were more interested in kicking lumps out of us than scoring or keeping the score down," he told BBC Sport.

Elsewhere on the BBC, the sniping at Irish players continued.

(Below report takes a swipe at Keith Earls – 14th par)

There seems to be an under current of resentment at the amount of Irish players in the Lions squad on this tour.

I can't understand how so many Irish players made the panel myself to tell the truth.

I mean, Irish teams only won the, Six nations, Triple Crown, Grand slam, European Cup and Magniers league this season. Other than that, their useless.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8100533.stm