We have been counting down the days for ages now and finally we have reached zero. The Lions are here and they mean business.
The Lions have named a very strong team that with a tweak here and there could for all intents and purposes be the test side to face the Springboks on 20 June in Durban.
The Royal XV is a bit of a patchwork side made up of Leopards, Griquas and Pumas. There are a few names with S14 experience amongst them, but with the limited time they have spent together and the quality of the opposition we can expect them to spend most of the afternoon putting in tackle practice.
The Lions last tour may have been 12 years ago but expect similar results for the non-test matches. The 1997 British Lions walked away with only one loss from the 10 non-test matches played.
Venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
Kick-off: 15:00 Local time
Referee: Marius Jonker
ARs: Jaco Peyper, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
British & Irish Lions:
15 Lee Byrne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Ronan O’Gara, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Paul O’Connell (captain), 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Andrew Sheridan
Replacements:
16 Lee Mears, 17 Phil Vickery, 18 Alun-Wyn Jones, 19 Stephen Ferris, 20 Mike Phillips, 21 Stephen Jones, 22 Riki Flutey
Royal XV:
15 Russell Jeacocks, 14 Egon Seconds, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Hanno Coetzee, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jonathan Mokuena, 7 Devon Raubenheimer, 6 Wilhelm Koch (captain), 5 Jacques Lombaard, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 Bees Roux, 2 Rayno Barnes, 1 Albertus Buckle.
Replacements:
16 Pellow van der Westhuizen, 17 Stef Roberts, 18 Rynard Landman, 19 RW Kember, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Riaan Viljoen, 22 Jovan Bowles.
Tweet
Lions by a WHACK.
30 plus.
But I am not interestec in the score, just glad this thing is finally underway. 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : What is the Royal team?
@Lyndy_in_Mtl (Comment 2) :
it is a team that is only being put together for this Lions tour.
they could draw from the teams in the Highveld Region and it was originally the Highveld Xv. The match is being played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in and has taken on the name Royal XV
Robbo – please check your sharksworld email.
Superbru picks for this game.
Picks for Royal XV 1049 (6.4%)
Picks for British & Irish Lions 15339 (93.53%)
Picks for draw 12 (0.07%)
I’m NOT 1 of the 12 or 1 of the 1049. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : neither am i 😛
@JarsonX (Comment 6) : 😆
Molly’s pick STILL confuses me.
She has the Royals to be in the lead at H/T and to score the most tries yet she has the Lions to win by a very large margin. ❓
@KSA Shark © (Comment 3) : You know, I really should learn to read the actual articles/posts as the information was right there and I needn’t have bothered you at all. Next time you can ask me a stupid question if you like. 🙄
Okay how’s this one then.
Why don’t you support the Sharks. 😆
Quite sad to see how empty the stadium is. 🙁
Owen Nkumane has had a lot to drink it seems.
He believes the Royal XV are going to win 😯 😯 😯 😯 and Naas Olivier has a chance of making the Boks. 😯 😯
Just showing Marius Jonker doing the toss. O’Connell is HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE!!!!!!!!!!
I picked the lions by 31 and I think it will not be enough.
Lions look lean and mean. Almost every Royal XV player has a little bit of a spare wheel around the waist.
And the tour is underway!!!!!!!!
@Lyndy_in_Mtl (Comment 2) : 21 of the 22 come from Griquas and Leopards!
Are there, like, more than ten people in the stadium?
MILES forward pass missed by officials!! 😯
@Lyndy_in_Mtl (Comment 16) : I think about 15….but most people have probably stayed at home to watch the Bulls in the Super 14 final later!
@Lyndy_in_Mtl (Comment 16) :
Only just. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) : Oh, is that your question? Hmm, I like the Sharks, there’s nothing wrong with them but since I don’t come from a CC or S14 town I can pretty much pick any team I want. I tend to follow players rather than teams.
@Villie (Comment 17) :
I think it is because the pass was straight after a loooooong kick and all the officials were down the other side of the pitch.
@Villie (Comment 18) : Oh, right.
900kg v 846 kg Pack weights with the lions having the advantage.
O’Gara takes a shot at goal after 7min
Over
Royal XV 0 – 3 Lions
What has gone wrong with scrumming in SA? I think the Sharks and at a push the Lions are the only half decent scrummaging teams. The rest are so poor. Even the Bulls, don’t have a great front row anymore.
Mokuena pulls off an AWESOME tackle 😛
PK Royals and Naas Olivier goes at goal.
Over
Royal XV 3 – 3 Lions
10min
Lions # 13 knocks on a bread basket pass for the 2nd time. 😀
Whatever happened to Egon Seconds’ dreadlocks?? 😎
Old age?? 😆 😆
😆 😆 Keith Earls…lovely hands!!
Earls is having a NIGHTMARE game. now he knocks on a highball under no pressure in his 22. 😆
Wilhelm Koch TRY!!!!!!!
tackled short and a GREAT reach for the line.
What a LOVELY try from Koch!!
Conversion over by Olivier
Royal XV 10 – 3 Lions
18min
@KSA Shark © (Comment 33) : Youngest player in the Lions squad. Wonder how strong he is mentally!
@Villie (Comment 37) :
I may sound like Bladen now, but his performance here could be a make or break performance for his tour.
Is the lurker still here? 😉
Olivier slots a PK from the 10m line
Royal XV 13 – 3 Lions
23min
Geez. 😯 These nonamers are handing the Lions therir asses to them!!
13-3
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Ryno Barnes!! 18-3
Rayno Barnes TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a second string Lions team right? 😕
@klempie (Comment 42) : Conversion missed.
A little bit of blocking by the Royal Xv player breaking off the front of the maul there, but who cares. 😀
The Brit press will be ALL OVER it if the Lions lose this game.
Conversion missed
Royal XV 18 – 3 Lions
28min
I will piss myself if the Lions lose to a 1st division CC side. LOL
@klempie (Comment 48) : that’s never played together…
@klempie (Comment 44) :
NOPE!!!!!!!!!! 
@KSA Shark © (Comment 46) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 50) : 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 50) : I am starting to look more and more forward to two Wednesdays from now. 😈
@klempie (Comment 48) : Yup…effectively Griquas!
@klempie (Comment 53) :
SAME HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!
@klempie (Comment 53) :
This performance will be giving the other SA teams so much more to play for. 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 56) : The Sharks will munch them up if Plum decides NOT to kick the ball back at them. 🙄
@KSA Shark © (Comment 56) : Yeh. Loffie’s ex-Lions might believe they can actually win something significant this season. 🙂
Try Bowe. 🙁
Bowe try!!!
Converted.
18-10
Conversion over
Royal XV 18 – 10 Lions
39min
HT 18-10
Go Royals!
HALF TIME
Royal XV 18 – 10 Lions
I really rate Jamie Roberts as a player. He’s a big guy and enjoys the physical side of the game. Will be an important player in the tests
Good match , the Lions will comeback in the 2nd half I reckon.
Must be struggling cause they not use to playing in a empty staduim.
Rekinek, Stefaans, Dee & Molly have secured 0,5 SB points for having the half time leader correct.
@Villie (Comment 65) :
sure is reminds me of Jonno Gibbs.
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 66) :
😛
Never mind the empty stadium, they are going to meet the altitide brick wall in about 20minutes time. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 69) :
Itcertainly looks like some are already hitting that wall.
Is there a bru comp for the Lions series ? too late to join..?
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 68) : You mean Scott Gibbs…Jonno Gibbs was a loose forward/lock who played for Chiefs 😉
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 70) :
Not to late to join, might not be able to make the pick for this round though. Gimme a sec i will post the pool code here for you.
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 70) :
Here you go.
To join up, just visit:
http://www.superbru.com/lions/login_form.asp?referer=join_pool.asp&poolcode=sawnduff
New pool: Sharksworld
Pool code: sawnduff
@Villie (Comment 71) :
😳 thanks yea thats him.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 72) :
Thank you!
Seconds intercepts and as he looks back expecting something, the whistle goes to bring him back for the backs being offside.
O’Gara going at goal.
Over
Royal XV 18 – 13 Lions
43 min
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 74) :
You have been approved.
Geez their faces are now nearly as red as their jerseys! 😯
@klempie (Comment 78) :
Embarrassment, exertion, and altitude all combined. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 77) :
woohooo!
there will be bllod 👿
blood 😳
Olivier misses a PK
Royal XV 18 – 13 Lions
48min
@KSA Shark © (Comment 82) : Hey boet I forgot to get you to include 50 bucks each for you and kette for the braai but you can just give it to me on the day if you want.
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 80) :
Have you tried making a pick for this game?
@klempie (Comment 83) :
Will do, cool.
And Earls takes a GREAT ball this time and then some other Lions messes it up with a KAK pass to rob them of a try.
Yea too late ..but I should score points of the Royals pull this off 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 85) : On that note, what transport will you have in SA? A bakkie per chance?
Shane Williams drops it as he stretches for the line.
MWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! S Williams fluffs one ON the tryline! 😮
@klempie (Comment 88) :
Nope i will be hiring a Nissan lavina for the month.
Hey where is O’Driscoll? 😕
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 87) :
Hehehehehehe
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 87) :
No you won’t 🙁
No default picks
This tournament is so short that allocating any default points will have an adverse effect on the outcome. If you do not make a prediction, or you join the tournament late, you will not be eligible for any points for missed games.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 91) : That’s like a family station wagon type thing right?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 94) :
bugger 🙁
@klempie (Comment 95) :
Yes but only the 5 seater version not the 7 seater version.
Why do you ask.
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 96) :
If the Royals do win then there will only be two players in our pool with win points so you will still be level with MOST of us.
3rd try in 8 mins duffed up within 5m of the line.
Now a knock on robs the lions of another try.
😯
Earls having a much better 2nd half.
Naas Olivier is KAK..thank goodness he has been replaced!
Tackles missed
Royals 16
Lions 2 😯 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 97) : I only have a Polo hatchback with 4 okes in. Need something to get like a cadac and cooler boxes etc to the ground. My mate from Durbs who is coming to the game has a bakkie but it is a week day and I don’t know if he’ll be able to get away early enough to get a spot at stables. Just need a plan B in case he can’t.
@klempie (Comment 104) :
Lemme see what i can do.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 101) : Couldn’t have been any worse!! 😆 😉
@Villie (Comment 106) : 😆 😛
Lee Byrne has been excellent aswell
TRY for Bees Roux!!
Bees Roux OVER!!!!!!!!!!
TMO pending
This Raubenheimer guy is awesome!!
Roux try!!
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Hey guys! What’s happenin??
Score please! 😕
Awarded.
What a day for these okes if they win.
Conversion Over
Royal XV 25 – 13 Lions
65min
@KSA Shark © (Comment 114) : Converted!
25-13
@wpw (Comment 113) :
See above 😉
Ag no man…try for Lee Byrne
Byrne excellent individual try!!!!!!!
Fortunate try Byrne.
25-18
@KSA Shark © (Comment 118) :
Go ROyals!!!!
Conversion over
Royal XV 25 – 20 Lions
67min
@KSA Shark © (Comment 105) : Back of Livina will be fine if we need it.
The Lions are SWEETING!!!
Flutey fucked that up chronically! Had support everywhere!
brilliant scrambling defence by the Royal XV keeps the Lions out. 😯
Ag no man. Royals off their feet.
O’Gara to kick.
O’Connell points at the poles as Jonker gives the Lions a PK.
Right in front….25-23
@klempie (Comment 128) : Over.
25-23
7 mins to go.
Over
Royal XV 25 – 23 Lions
73min
Royals cockup a good chance of getting into the Lions 22 by preventing a Lions kick from going out on the full. 😕
Shit. Try after a long maul.
25-28
Alun-Wyn Jones TRY!
Royals have blown this game.
@klempie (Comment 134) : Converted.
25-30
@KSA Shark © (Comment 135) :
That try was from the messed up attampt to catch the kick.
Conversion over
Royal XV 25 – 30 Lions
77min
O’Gara Try!!!!!
Converted
FULL TIME
Royal XV 25 – 37 British Lions
Aai nee… 😥
Well at least the other provincial teams know what they need to do…take out Lee Byrne and Jamie Roberts! 😆 😆
@Villie (Comment 142) :
And kick the ball to Earls.
almost at hell of alot of SB picks was wrong 😆
Maak allie Royals Cheetahs of Leeus…. 😉
Try count
Lions 4
R XV 3
Why in the name of all that is holy did I check out KEO now?? I will never learn will I??
The regulars on that site have to be the dumbest rugby supporters in the world.
@JarsonX (Comment 144) :
Almost as many as the SB guys have entered wrong. They have stuffed up some of the scores.
i hate it when they try new things and cock it up.
According to some of them JDV does not deserve to be a Bok and neither does Burger. 😕
well i get the point for lions win and most tries but not halftime lead 🙁 not even a margin point
@wpw (Comment 147) : What are they on about.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 148) : come again?
How’s THIS for an SB score.
1 robdylan 2.70000004768372
😕
Maak die Bulle almal Bokke, etc… 🙄
@JarsonX (Comment 152) :
Look at the post above, that is Rob’s score on the “log” yet on the results page he only has 2,20.
The 2,70 is correct but they have different points in different places so depending on where you look it will depend on what you think a guy scored in that round.
it is obvious now when there is only one round to compare, but once you get a few rounds into the game then small erros like this go unnoticed. That was why i stopped doing Guiness premiership update threads a few months ago becasue SB cocked up the scores as they have done here.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 153) : oh! 😛 i’ll go check mine
@KSA Shark © (Comment 155) :
And let’s not even mention the “93.53%
of all players in SuperBru correctly predicted a win by the British & Irish Lions” graphic obscuring the score of the players next to it. (well under it now) 😳 👿
@JarsonX (Comment 156) :
You have 1,5 on the results section and 2,0 on the “log” 😕
Your correct score should be
1.0 Win point
0.0 Half time leader
0.5 Most tries
0.0 margin
0.0 closest pick BP
1.5 TOTAL
@KSA Shark © (Comment 158) :
And Rekinek has the mistake the other way around.
Her score on the results section is 2,5 and her score on the “log” is 2.0
Her Correct score is
1.0 Win point
0.5 Half time leader
0.5 Most tries
0.5 margin
0.0 closest pick BP
2.5 TOTAL
@KSA Shark © (Comment 159) : well i hope they sort it out quickly can we mail them?
@JarsonX (Comment 160) :
yes there is a contact us tab on the top right. If they haven’t sorted it by tomorrow i will send them a mail