Saturday, June 04, 2005

FT - Bay of Plenty 20 Lions 34



well the Lions got the win they wanted but boy did they have to work for it.. full marks to the BOP players, all of them played their heart out and were worth the 6 bucks that the TAB handed out to them before the game.. and they deserved to get the reception from the Lions players outside the tunnel after the final whistle..

i think the British press will get their knives out and pick out what went wrong tonight, ignoring the Bay's brilliant performances.. so i'll talk abt the Bay first.. brilliant performances from Cashmore, Tehana, McQuoid, Bourke, Ormond, Castle, Lutui, Davison, Sorenson, Upton, but my man of the match is Nili Latu.. and if you're wondering why he's not playing for NZ when he should be on this form, well it's because he's Samoan.. i think.. or Tongan.. either or.. but on the night he was clearly on top of Martyn Williams and got to every breakdown.. special mention for Murray Williams.. a Jimmy Gopperth in the making.. on his provincial first-class debut, he was superb.. his kicking was far better than O'Gara's, territorial and goal..

it would have been wonderful if the Bay had won but i think class and experience came out on top in the end.. and the fact that key players like Lutui and Bourke had come off and their subs weren't as good as them.. in fact the lost lineouts by the Bay prob cost them the game in the end coz their substitute hooker - can't spell his name - couldn't throw to save his life.. partly nerves though.. why did they come off? the answer is easy.. they had played the game of their lives and the Lions were slowly coming on top with their fitness..

a memorable night for the land from Waihi to Whakatane and south to Rotorua.. and many questions to ask about the Lions..

is Ronan O'Gara really world-class? on tonight's performance, i think he'll find it hard to dislodge Jonny Wilkinson or Stephen Jones for that coveted no. 10.. his territorial kicking was his only strong point.. but this guy can't kick at goal, can't tackle, can't pass.. in the end, Sir Clive was forced to protect him, which we will prob see in future midweek matches..

how bad is the injury to Lawrence Dallaglio? well usually when u need the stretcher it's not a good sign.. he should stay on the tour coz of his experience but his presence on-field will be missed by the Lions.. the difference before and after he left the field was as big as daylight.. the Lions were not as effective at the breakdowns and ruck and mauls.. Latu and Ormond were all over them.. only a strong resurgent performance from Richard Hill compensated for the lost of Dayglo.. it looks like an ankle injury to the right leg i think.. prob a fracture.. but it was nasty that fall.. looked like something collapsed.. seen it in league and this Mallorca player.. never a good sight..

where's the so-called Northern Hemisphere domination of the scrum? the BOP scrum had the measure and was at times on top of the scrum.. Uncle Henry will be smiling..

good points? Josh Lewsey was the pick of the backs.. he looks sharp and pacey.. his tries were excellent.. Dwayne Peel was solid even though he dint get any help from his forwards.. Richard Hill and Ben Kay look in good nick.. Gordon D'Arcy scored a good try at the end, running the straight line.. Gavin Henson reminds me of David Beckham at the 2002 World Cup.. he was pummelled over the place.. but since i'm talking abt good points, i'll say he had a strong 2nd half.. not sure whether he'll start against the All Blacks though..

there will be changes for the Taranaki game on Wednesday.. no doubt abt it..whether this team lost or not.. everyone needs a chance to face the New Zealand style of rugby.. Taranaki will be no different from the Bay.. the crowd will be as partizan, which on that note, i should ask where was the "You'll Never Walk Alone"? i saw the usual Harchester RFC union jack flags, but i think the Bay of Plenty crowd won over our British fans..

i think SCW will be reasonably happy rather than disappointed.. maybe at half-time but i think with his players getting a taste of the NZ way of rugby, they'll be better for it.. i think the Maori game is the first real examination of the Lions side.. but if we're gonna get 9 more games like this, this will be a series to remember..

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