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.

The Blues are Ready

On Sunday the Cardiff Blues take on the Leicester Tigers at the Millennium Stadium, in the regions first Heineken Cup semi-final under the banner of the Blues. (Cardiff RFC got to the final in the first ever Heineken Cup in 1996).

After they demolished Gloucester in the EDF Energy Cup final the Blues take an air of confidence into the game.

They have struggled in recent years, but under the careful leadership of head coach Dai Young the promise of the young sqaud is starting to show.

After the defeat of Gloucester by 50 -12 at Twickenham the rugby world has stood up and took note. The fear for the Blues is that they bolt under this new found pressure.

Sunday will be their biggest test...

Rugby Mad have been in the Blues camp this week to see how preparations for the game are going.

Fronting Up
Head Coach Dai Young is expecting a tough and tight game, that will be 'won and lost upfront'.

He outlined that it is key that the Blues have a good start to game and get points on the board early.

He is weary of the threat that the Leicester will give but believes that if the Blues go out to win the game they can play the kind of rugby that took them to victory at Twickenham.



A big day out
Martyn Williams is looking forward to playing the game at Wales' national stadium.

The veteran flanker, who got the call for the Lions last week, says the winning in contact area as a key part to whether the Blues will be able to come out and perform on Sunday.



Impact Player
Number 8, Andy Powell will be on the bench come Sunday the big Welsh man has been kept out of the starting fifteen by the return from injury of New Zealander Xavier Rush.

Powell believes he is a good impact player and enjoys coming off the bench. Recently picked in the 37 heading out to South Africa in the summer Powell told Rugby Mad that after the injury to Munster's Tomas O'Leary, meaning he will miss the tour, the worry of injury will be at the back of all the Lions players heads before the board the plane in the summer.



There is little doubt that confidence is high in the Blues camp, there is no doubting that, but they are all aware of the big task ahead of them...

Take Care Who You Pick On

Six Nations Round Three Review

A lot of talking points spring up from last weekend's Six Nations.

Ireland - England, a dire game on the whole.

Lets start with the English....well, well, well.

First of all if you have not seen the BBCs post-match interviews with Martin Johnson and Steve Borthwick then I recommend them. Borthwick's manner is very interesting and you begin to feel sorry for the man.

My problem, however, is everyone pointing the finger at Danny Care. What he did was very stupid but he was not the only one giving stupid pens away. Phil Vickery, can't stop giving away pens in his own 22. Come on! Ten yellow cards in four games! This in not one or two players fault, everyone in the set up have to look at themselves and think about what they are doing.

I watched both England and Wales train in front of the media ahead their game in Cardiff, the contrast between the two sides was unbelievable. Gatland's boys were organised and well drilled. They came out as a team did what they were meant to do, like professionally.

England on the other hand, came out in drips and draps (I walked down the tunnel with Andy Goode and Paul Sackey bantering away), it all seemed to be easy and relaxed. I guess there is nothing wrong with that, rugby is fun enjoy it, but when you look at their performances and lack of discipline on the pitch that can be reflected in their lack of discipline in training. At points Johnno just looked like one of the lads! I not knocking his leadership, that is unprecedented and I realise he is not the coach but the manager. I am, however, questioning this approach because it doesn't seem to be working.

The Irish Slam

I still doubt that Ireland will go on to win the Grand Slam. I can not see them winning in Cardiff, but my confidence in the Welsh has come back to haunt the dragons in the past.

Friday Night Highlight

I think that the Friday night game worked really well. I am in agreement with Jonathan Davis, a Friday night game works better then a Sunday game. Kicks off the weekend in style.

It was all helped by a great game of rugby.

On my twitter feed I didn't say - "If the Welsh turn up, they could give the French a lesson in how to play rugby." I am not sure the Welsh totally turned up. There were points when they dominated but the French did too. Wales could have won it but they made too many mistakes and lack calmness.

The French were powerful and got their tactics right, they were all playing for their under pressure coach.

Scots Bore

Well done to Scotland, Frank Hadden's boys needed the win, they got it, not in style but a win is a win. I am concerned for the Italians. A few years ago it looked like they were about to really break into the Six Nations but this year they have offered very little, their strength in depth seems a problem.

All in all yet again the Six Nations is delivering. Great tournament so far.