Two Games of Four Halves

So the Springboks have got the revenge they were after, 12 years on.

But with comparison to their last tour, the Lions can take lot of pride from their performance, and they have still have one test left to take something home with them.

We will asses the tour over the next couple of weeks, but the first thoughts lie in the quality of rugby and the contest that these two teams have produced.

Both games were games of two halves.

The Facts:

1st half 1st test - Boks 19 - 7 Lions - HALF WINNERS - Boks
2nd half 1st test - Boks 7 - 14 Lions - HALF WINNERS - Lions

FULL TIME 1st test - Boks 26 - 21 Lions
GAME WINNERS - BOKS

1st half 2nd test - Boks 8 - 16 Lions - HALF WINNERS - Lions
2nd half 2nd test - Boks 20 - 9 Lions - HALF WINNERS - Boks

FULL TIME 2nd test - Boks 28 - 25 Lions
GAME WINNERS - BOKS

So two halves each, the key was the Springboks were able to express their dominance with more dominance and more precision.

The mark of the world champions and a team that have played together as a unit many teams before.

People talk about the idea of the Lions being in doubt....are they joking?

Two of the best international rugby games in a long time. Long live this great tradition!

Did anything Emerge from last night?

Not the greatest game of the tour.

Credit must be given to the Emerging Boks.

My prediction of the the Lions by seven was looked pretty good until a cheap pen (the Ref said "Hands out, Hands out, Hands out" Callaghan did NOT listen) was given away at the breakdown by the Lions.... again.

And the rest is history.

After the whistle, I felt any hope of a Lions fightback in the Test Series quickly evaporate. The look of Rohan O'Gara face when he led the team off the pitch showed how important, for the squad, a victory was.

Anyone make a case for a test spot?

I don't think Shane Williams did enough, he didn't get the chance really. I would still go with Ugo Monye, the power against the Boks.

Simon Shaw, gave a good reason to replace Alan Wyn Jones on Saturday. Nothing against the Welsh Second Row, but a good point was made by Stuart Barnes in the commentary the power that Shaw posses behind the front row at the scrum could be the answer to the first half problems experienced in Durban.

Again I was surprised that Martyn Williams got all 80 minutes. It looks now, unlikely that he will start on Saturday.

If I was picking the team:

15 - Rob Kearney (Is Bryne fit? He is report to be taking pain injections)
14 - Tommy Bowe
13 - Brain O'Driscoll
12 - Jamie Roberts
11 - Ugo Monye
10 - Stephen Jones
9 - Mike Phillips
8 - Jamie Heaslip (If Williams had not played all 80mins, I would have picked him at 7 and maybe Wallace at 8)
7 - David Wallace
6 - Tom Croft
5 - Paul O'Connell (c)
4 - Simon Shaw
3 - Adam Jones
2 - Matthew Rees
1 - Gethin Jenkins

A Table Topping Performance Needed

British and Irish Lions vs. Emerging Springboks
23th June 2009
KO 7.10 Local Time
Newlands, Cape Town

All eyes on Newlands, Cape Town tonight as the British and Irish Lions prepare for the final mid-week game of the tour against the Emerging Springboks.

Lions' coach Ian McGeechan has underlined the importance of this game, to get the Lions tour back on track after the disappointing defeat on Saturday.

A loss tonight under Table Top Mountain could be disastrous for the Lions confidence ahead of a make or break game against the senior Boks on Saturday.

Key Lion:

I was surprised to see Martyn Williams in the starting line up. If Geeks was thinking of starting him on this Saturday, I doubt he would have started him. But the McGeechan has given Welsh veteran a chance to prove his worth. He will be key to the game tonight and a solid performance may get Geek's to rethink.

Who else is pushing for a place?

The whole front row! Well nearly all. Who will start with Gethin Jenkins on Saturday? Anything is up for grabs.

Shane Williams? Some magic from the IRB player of the year could give him a chance to make at least the bench on Saturday.

Alan Wyn Jones test is place could be up for grabs. All three second rowers will be pushing.

The Emerging Springboks

The Emerging Springbok's are a team made up of uncapped South African future stars.

The side includes Earl Rose and Morgan Newman, who are currently in the South African squad.

One to Watch:

Full Back - Zane Kirchner - One of the shining lights of the Blue Bull's Super 14 winning team. The 24 year old was unlucky to miss out on the senior squad.

Prediction

A tough first half battle, which the Lions will come through by 7 points.