British and Irish Lions articoli | Original articoli on fanpop

2

posted by Sazza

Luke Fitzgerald breaks through during the 13-13 draw at Newlands

The Lions had appeared to be on their way to their seventh straight victory over non-Test opposition until Willem de Waal converted Danwel Demas’ effort with the final play of the match.
An early Keith Earls try and a Ronan O’Gara penalty had dato the Lions a 10-lead before the Emerging Boks closed the gap to a single score at half-time thanks to a penalty from senior Springbok squad member Earl Rose.

Rose then cut the deficit to just four points after 47 minuti but a late penalty from replacement outside-half James Hook seemed to have clinched victory for the Lions at the same ground...

2

News - Disappointment dominates for O'Driscoll

posted by Sazza

Brian O'Driscoll cannot hide his disappointment

A stirring second-half comeback cannot mask the frustration of an opening-Test defeat for Lions centre Brian O'Driscoll.
The Ireland captain set up a brace of tries for flanker Tom Croft in an impressive individual performance but a 26-21 reverse means the Lions now have a mountain to climb if they are win the three-match series against the Springboks.

"With four minuti to go we still had everything to play for,” detto O’Driscoll, after late tries from Mike Phillips and Croft had dato the Lions hope of overturning a 26-7 deficit in Durban.
”We were in the ascendancy, had ball and they...

3

Bok coach criticised at home

posted by Sazza

Peter de Villiers has been widely criticised

Springbok head coach Peter de Villiers has come under criticism from his country's sports minister.
De Villiers led South Africa to a 2-1 series victory over the Lions earlier this mese but has also made headlines for his post-match commenti following the suspensions of Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha.
Burger was banned for eight weeks for making contact with the eye area of Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald during the secondo international in Pretoria, while Botha faced a two-week suspension for illegal rucking in the same fixture.

De Villiers, who took over from Jake White as Springbok coach in January...

3

Lions legend dies

posted by Sazza

Bleddyn Williams has died aged 86

Lions legend Bleddyn Williams has died at the age of 86.
A Lions tourist in 1950, the ‘The Prince of Centres’ was regarded as arguably the most-complete midfield player of his generation.
Despite missing the first four games of that tour through injury, the Cardiff three-quarter played in 20 of the 29 fixtures on the near four-month trip across Australia and New Zealand. He scored 13 tries and set up countless others for his Lions team-mates on a tour that saw a comfortable defeat of the Wallabies after an agonising loss in an incredibly close Test series against the All Blacks.

By captaining...

3

Roberts is HSBC Player of Series

posted by Sazza

Jamie Roberts was the media's choice as HSBC Player of the Series

Cardiff Blues centre Jamie Roberts has been named as the HSBC 'Player of the Series' following the three Tests between the Springboks and the British & Irish Lions.
The 22-year-old played in the opening two Tests before sitting out the third due to a wrist injury picked up in Pretoria. His midfield partnership with Brian O’Driscoll developed into a potent attacking weapon for the Lions.

“I’m delighted to be named as the HSBC Player of the Series. This Tour has been a brilliant experience and I would like to dedicate this award to the hard work and effort put in da a lot of people in...

3

Shaw is left 'devastated' at end of Test debut

posted by Sazza

Simon Shaw's Lions Test debut had a devastating ending

Simon Shaw finally reached his ultimate rugby goal of playing in a Test for the British & Irish Lions, but it ended up being a devastating experience.
The 35-year-old English lock carried off the Man of the Match award on his debut, but saw Morne Steyn ruin his dream giorno with his last secondo kick to give the Springboks victory da 28-25.

“It’s devastating to lose, but especially after that finish. Even if we had drawn the game it would have been some comfort to take the series to the last game,” detto Shaw.

“But that was not a nice way to finish - no one was talking in the changing...

2

Burger and Botha cited

posted by Sazza

Schalk Burger faces a disciplinary committe along with Bakkies Botha

Schalk Burger, the IRB World Player of the anno in 2004, will face a disciplinary hearing in Pretoria today after being cited for the alleged eye gouging incident that led to him receiving a yellow card in the first minuto of the secondo Test.

The Springboks back row man was winning his 50th cap, but now faces a possible 12 week ban after being cited da New Zealand’s Stephen Hinds for an act “contrary to good sportsmanship da allegedly attacking the eyes of Luke Fitzgerald.

Munster and Ireland back row man Alan Quinlan had his Lions tour wrecked when he was handed a 12 week ban for a similar...

2

Heartbreak on the High Veld

posted by Sazza

South Africa clinched series victory with a 28-25 win in Pretoria

An early try from the rock solid Rob Kearney had seen the Lions race into a 16-8 half-time lead but a 75th-minute converted try from Jaque Fourie set the scene for Steyn's dramatic finale.

The Bulls fly-half had replaced Ruan Pienaar after the Sharks pivot had twice missed kickable penalties in quick succession and he repaid coach Peter de Villiers with an outsanding display with the boot.

Steyn's touchline conversion of Fourie's try gave the world champions a 25-22 advantage before Stephen Jones slotted his fifth successful penalty to level the game with just two minuti remaining.

A draw would...

2

News - Shaw to start secondo Test

posted by Sazza

Simon Shaw wins his first Lions Test berretto, tappo

Simon Shaw wins his first Lions Test cap

Simon Shaw will finally add a British & Irish Lions Test appearance to his outstanding rugby cv when he makes his debut against the Springboks in the must-win secondo Test at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Londra Wasps and England lock is one of three changes to the Lions pack following their 26-21 defeat in the first Test in Durban and one of five changes complessivamente, generale to the starting line-up.
Head coach Ian McGeechan has also made four changes to his replacements bench as he goes in cerca of the victory that will keep the three-Test castello Lager series alive.

The changes are as follows:

OUT...

2

News - Hines handed seven giorno ban

posted by Sazza

Nathan Hines has 24 hours to appeal against his ban

Nathan Hines has been handed a seven giorno ban for a dansgerous tackle in the secondo half of the 13-13 draw against the Emerging Springboks in Cape Town on Tuesday night.
it means the Perpignan and Scotland lock will miss the opportunity to be selected for the secondo Test, unless he can successfully appeal against the decision. He has 24 hours in which to lodge any appeal.
Hines was singled out da Citiing Commissioner Steve Hinds (New Zealand) for a dangerous tackle in the ninth minuto of the secondo half at Newlands. He had a formal disciplinary hearing in front of Judicial Officer Alan Hudson (Canada) today.

The lower end scale of punishment for a dangerous tackle in ususlly two weeks, but Mr Hudson only ruled him o0ut for one week. That means he could come into contention for the thrid Test in Johannesburg successivo week.

Hines becomes the first player on the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to suffer a disciplinary sanction.

taken from the official site: www.lionsrugby.com

2

News - Ellis says Lions ready to bounce back

posted by Sazza

Harry Ellis says the Lions are remaining focussed on winning final Tests

England scrum half Harry Ellis says the British & Irish Lions are ready to sposta on from last weekend's first Test defeat to the Springboks and bring più success to the tour.
Ellis was among the replacements in Durban last weekend and gets another chance to impress ahead of the secondo Test in Pretoria on Saturday when he plays against the Emerging Boks in Cape Town tonight.

He will be partnering Ronan O’Gara at half-back and both players know that a big game could push them into contention for a call-up for the crucial game at Loftus Versfeld.

“It was very disappointing last weekend, but...

2

News - Disappointed captain sees positive signs

posted by Sazza

Paul O'Connell saw encouraging signs

Lions skipper Paul O'Connell says that, despite the overwhelming sense of disappointment after Saturday's defeat to the Springboks, there are plenty of encouraging signs to take inoltrare, avanti into the remaining two Test matches.
The Munster secondo row Lost his fourth successive international with Britain and Ireland’s elite but he says there are enough positives in the 26-21 reverse to suggest a better outcome against the same opposition successivo weekend in Pretoria.
"We are playing a good brand of rugby,” detto O’Connell, after the Lions outscored the world champions three tries to one in Durban....

2

News - O'Callaghan leads Lions

posted by Sazza

Donncha O'Callaghan captains the Lions

O'Callaghan will captain the Lions when they take on the Southern Kings on Tuesday evening.
The Munster lock becomes the fourth man to skipper the Lions in 2009 following fellow Irishmen Paul O'Connell and Brian O'Driscoll and England omaggio Phil Vickery.
Tuesday's clash against South Africa's newest franchise is the final match before successivo Saturday's first Test against the Springboks in Durban.

Lions head coach Ian McGeechan has re-iterated that Test selection will not take place until after tomorrow's game, meaning each and every member of the matchday 22 still has everything to play for.

"This...