Rugby Notes

So the Lions finished their non-Test games with a 13-13 draw against the Emerging Springboks at Newlands. BBC report here.

And so now the management has to pick the team for Saturday’s 2nd Test. Tempted though they may be to hold faith with most of last Saturday’s team, the fact that the subs made such a good impression can’t be ignored and a few of them are going to get starts this time around.

My team: Byrne (if he’s fit, if not Kearney), Shane Williams, O’Driscoll, Roberts, Bowe, Jones, Phillips, Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Adam Wyn Jones, Paul O’Connell (capt.), Croft, Heaslip, Wallace.

And I predict a Lions win.

Rugby Notes

Don’t say that Vealey don’t know rugby. I got the Test team right.

Here’s a link to the BBC website with the official news. I had Wallace for his physical presence ahead of Martyn Williams and Monye was the prime choice to partner Bowe even before a strong showing against the Southern Kings on Tuesday.

Rugby Notes

Just ahead of the Lions last “warm-up” game before the first Test on Saturday, here’s my pick for the starting XV…

Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Ugo Moyne, Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Lee Mears, Phil Vickery, Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O’Connell (capt.), Tom Croft, Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace

Of course, some of this could change if some marginal players in today's game "put their hands up".

Rugby Notes

So its four wins from four for the Lions. And with 10 days to go to the first test its time for my first guesses at the Lions test team.

The certainties: Lee Byrne at fullback, Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Roberts at centre, Lee Mears (pictured scrong against the Sharks) at hooker. Er, and that’s it.

Probables: Tommy Bowe at wing, Stephen Jones and Mike Phillips as half backs, Gethin Jenkins and Euan Murray at prop, Paul O’Connell at 5, Jamie Heaslip at 8 and Tom Croft at blindside flanker.

Remaining battles: little Shane Williams/ Fitzgerald/ Monye, Hines/ AW Jones/ O’Callaghan, Williams/ Wallace.

But what do I know? And of course McGeechan's decision is the only one that matters.

Rugby Notes

It’s a big rugby weekend, with the first game for the British and Irish Lions on their tour of South Africa, 2pm on Saturday on Sky. It’s against a Highveld XV. No, not Ebbw Vale, but the veld of Rustenberg, near Johannesburg. Predictions are for an easy ride against the invitational team.

Confusion will reign the following Wednesday when the Lions take on the Lions. The Golden Lions (used to be Transvaal). To better tell them apart it’s the Xerox Lions vs the HSBC Lions.

Oh, and Wales are playing as well, vs Canada in Toronto, 7.45 on the Beeb.

Rugby Notes II

Wales went down again to South Africa, 15-20, in a game they could have won. They never lead, but had plenty of the ball and lots of opportunities. South Africa, though, were more composed and professional, and when their chances came, they did not miss out.

Andy Powell, on his debut, played like a man possessed, and was rightly named man of the match. Other stand-out players included Lee Byrne and Leigh Halfpenny.

But there were too many mistakes. Three missed penalties and too many mistakes at the ruck (diving in) and line out (poor throws). When the lineout came under pressure Matthew Rees failed to find his jumpers consistently and vitally at the last Wales attack. Little Shane Williams ran up too many blind alleys.

And the kicking game was bizarre: why give Steven Jones just one attempt before handing the ball over to Halfpenny? Halfpenny, of course, doesn’t get to kick goals for the Blues, Kiwi Ben Blair gets to kick goals and block development there.

Scorers: one penalty for Halfpenny and four for substitute James Hook.

Team: L Byrne (Scarlets); L Halfpenny, T Shanklin, J Roberts (all Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Gloucester); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), A Jones, A-W Jones, I Evans, R Jones (all Ospreys, capt), M Williams, A Powell (both Cardiff Blues).