Steve
06-18-2009, 02:18 PM
Pick the winner...
British & Irish Lions v South Africa: Durban Sat 20 Jun 15:00 (local time)
South Africa v British & Irish Lions Sat 20 Jun 15:00 ABSA Stadium, Durban
Pienaar picked as Bok flyhalf
2009-06-16
Ruan Pienaar
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers on Tuesday named a squad of 22 players with a combined total of 707 caps for the first Test of the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series, at 15:00 on Saturday, 20 June 2009, at the Absa Stadium Durban.
John Smit, the most experienced member of the team, will lead the Springboks out in their first duel against the British & Irish Lions since 1997.
Sixteen players in the match 22 participated in the Springboks’ previous test, against England at Twickenham in November 2008.
The Test will be the 44th encounter between the Springboks and the Lions since 1891. South Africa has won 21, the Lions 16 and 6 Tests have been drawn.
The Test will be the fourth between the Springboks and the Lions to be played in Durban. The Springboks have won two of the previous three (1924 and 1962) and the Lions one (1997).
Free State Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brüssow will make his first Test start after earning his first cap as from the bench against England in November 2008.
Blue Bulls flyhalf Morné Steyn is the only uncapped player in the squad of 22.
Free State Cheetahs flanker Juan Smith needs one try to become the sole record holder for the most tries as a Springbok flanker.
Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis needs one try to become the sole record holder for the most tries as a Springbok hooker.
The Springbok team for the first Test against the British & Irish Lions is (Test caps in brackets):
15. Frans Steyn (27)
14. JP Pietersen (24)
13. Adi Jacobs (21)
12. Jean de Villiers (46)
11. Bryan Habana (46)
10. Ruan Pienaar (27)
9. Fourie du Preez (43)
8. Pierre Spies (19)
7. Juan Smith (54)
6. Heinrich Brüssow (1)
5. Victor Matfield (80)
4. Bakkies Botha (55)
3. John Smit (81) – captain
2. Bismarck du Plessis (21)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (10)
Replacements:
16. Gurthrö Steenkamp (20)
17. Deon Carstens (7)
18. Andries Bekker (13)
19. Danie Rossouw (36)
20. Ricky Januarie (34)
21. Jaque Fourie (42)
22. Morné Steyn (uncapped)
Lions pick team for Durban
2009-06-18 13:53Email
B&I Lions captain Paul O'Connell. (Gallo Images)
Durban - Ireland's David Wallace edged out Martyn Williams for the key position of openside flanker when British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan on Thursday named his team for the first Test against South Africa.
There were no real surprises and few even contentious selections in the team for Saturday's clash in Durban, with Williams named among the replacements after a shoulder injury limited his involvement in the provincial games.
Welshman Alun-Wyn Jones got the nod as the second lock, as his athleticism complements the more solid qualities of captain Paul O'Connell, while Gethin Jenkins and Phil Vickery are the props sandwiching Lee Mears.
The starting Test team have not played together in any of the six tour games to date but McGeechan said he was prepared to accept that for the payoff of giving everyone in the squad enough of a chance to show what they could do.
Lions:
Lee Byrne (WAL), Tommy Bowe (IRL), Brian O'Driscoll (IRL), Jamie Roberts (WAL), Ugo Monye (ENG), Stephen Jones (WAL), Mike Phillips (WAL), Jamie Heaslip (IRL), David Wallace (IRL), Tom Croft (ENG), Paul O'Connell (IRL, captain), Alun-Wyn Jones (WAL), Phil Vickery (ENG), Lee Mears (ENG), Gethin Jenkins (WAL)
Replacements: Matthew Rees (WAL), Adam Jones (WAL), Donncha O'Callaghan (IRL), Martyn Williams (WAL), Harry Ellis (ENG), Ronan O'Gara (IRL), Rob Kearney (IRL)
British & Irish Lions v South Africa: Durban Sat 20 Jun 15:00 (local time)
South Africa v British & Irish Lions Sat 20 Jun 15:00 ABSA Stadium, Durban
Pienaar picked as Bok flyhalf
2009-06-16
Ruan Pienaar
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers on Tuesday named a squad of 22 players with a combined total of 707 caps for the first Test of the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series, at 15:00 on Saturday, 20 June 2009, at the Absa Stadium Durban.
John Smit, the most experienced member of the team, will lead the Springboks out in their first duel against the British & Irish Lions since 1997.
Sixteen players in the match 22 participated in the Springboks’ previous test, against England at Twickenham in November 2008.
The Test will be the 44th encounter between the Springboks and the Lions since 1891. South Africa has won 21, the Lions 16 and 6 Tests have been drawn.
The Test will be the fourth between the Springboks and the Lions to be played in Durban. The Springboks have won two of the previous three (1924 and 1962) and the Lions one (1997).
Free State Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brüssow will make his first Test start after earning his first cap as from the bench against England in November 2008.
Blue Bulls flyhalf Morné Steyn is the only uncapped player in the squad of 22.
Free State Cheetahs flanker Juan Smith needs one try to become the sole record holder for the most tries as a Springbok flanker.
Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis needs one try to become the sole record holder for the most tries as a Springbok hooker.
The Springbok team for the first Test against the British & Irish Lions is (Test caps in brackets):
15. Frans Steyn (27)
14. JP Pietersen (24)
13. Adi Jacobs (21)
12. Jean de Villiers (46)
11. Bryan Habana (46)
10. Ruan Pienaar (27)
9. Fourie du Preez (43)
8. Pierre Spies (19)
7. Juan Smith (54)
6. Heinrich Brüssow (1)
5. Victor Matfield (80)
4. Bakkies Botha (55)
3. John Smit (81) – captain
2. Bismarck du Plessis (21)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (10)
Replacements:
16. Gurthrö Steenkamp (20)
17. Deon Carstens (7)
18. Andries Bekker (13)
19. Danie Rossouw (36)
20. Ricky Januarie (34)
21. Jaque Fourie (42)
22. Morné Steyn (uncapped)
Lions pick team for Durban
2009-06-18 13:53Email
B&I Lions captain Paul O'Connell. (Gallo Images)
Durban - Ireland's David Wallace edged out Martyn Williams for the key position of openside flanker when British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan on Thursday named his team for the first Test against South Africa.
There were no real surprises and few even contentious selections in the team for Saturday's clash in Durban, with Williams named among the replacements after a shoulder injury limited his involvement in the provincial games.
Welshman Alun-Wyn Jones got the nod as the second lock, as his athleticism complements the more solid qualities of captain Paul O'Connell, while Gethin Jenkins and Phil Vickery are the props sandwiching Lee Mears.
The starting Test team have not played together in any of the six tour games to date but McGeechan said he was prepared to accept that for the payoff of giving everyone in the squad enough of a chance to show what they could do.
Lions:
Lee Byrne (WAL), Tommy Bowe (IRL), Brian O'Driscoll (IRL), Jamie Roberts (WAL), Ugo Monye (ENG), Stephen Jones (WAL), Mike Phillips (WAL), Jamie Heaslip (IRL), David Wallace (IRL), Tom Croft (ENG), Paul O'Connell (IRL, captain), Alun-Wyn Jones (WAL), Phil Vickery (ENG), Lee Mears (ENG), Gethin Jenkins (WAL)
Replacements: Matthew Rees (WAL), Adam Jones (WAL), Donncha O'Callaghan (IRL), Martyn Williams (WAL), Harry Ellis (ENG), Ronan O'Gara (IRL), Rob Kearney (IRL)