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This Week In Rugby 🏉
🤬 TMO Fury? Lions Head Coach Warren Gatland is said to be furious after South African Marius Jonker has been announced as the Television Match Official for the first Test. The decision came after New Zealander Brendon Pickerill was unable to travel due to Covid restrictions.
🔄 Lazarus Wyn Jones? 35 year old Alun Wyn Jones will captain the Lions on Saturday following a remarkable recovery for a dislocated shoulder only 4 weeks ago.
🏠 Staying On The Cape? All 3 Lions Tests will now be played in Cape Town due to concerns over the Covid pandemic. They had previously been due to travel to Johannesburg for the 2nd and 3rd Test.
🐓 Cockerill Moves On? Richard Cockerill has left his role as Edinburgh Head Coach “by mutual consent to allow him to pursue other opportunities.”
7️⃣ Seventh Heaven? The Olympic 7’s kicks off on Monday, set your alarm though as the initial round of games starts at 1am BST.
Match of the Week 🔥
⚔️ South Africa vs British & Irish Lions - Sat 5pm, Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Main Event, Lions Tour
It’s been 4 years since the Lions last played Test rugby, it’s been 12 years since the Lions and the Springboks last faced each other, on Saturday this iconic rivalry will finally be reignited. The Springboks are expected to bring their signature brand of intense physicality and siege gun kicking game. The Lions have picked a lineup that suggests attack is high on the agenda, they will be hoping use their offloading game to get to the outside of the Boks intimidating but sometimes narrow blitz defence.
The game is surrounded by question marks, some of the Lions combinations have barely played together on tour, can they gel on the big stage? The Springboks should be a more cohesive unit with their lineup almost identical to that of the 2019 World Cup final. However they played only a since match together since then and that was a canter to victory against Georgia. The Lions players have been through multiple 6 Nations campaigns in the same time period and should undoubtably be Test rugby fit. The Boks will come out all guns blazing but is there a risk of a 2nd half fade?
A key matchup will be Faf De Klerk vs Ali Price at scrum half. On his day De Klerk is one of the best No.9’s in the world, his accurate box kicking is integral to the Boks game plan, he drives tempo and belies his size with his aggression in defence. Price is the form pick for the Lions with many having believed Conor Murray had the Test spot locked up. Price has brought pace to the Lions attack in the warm ups and uses his intelligent darts around the ruck to create gaps for his forwards to charge through. Their battle promises to be fiesty, nuggety, and highly entertaining.
What’s On? 📺
Lions Tour
South Africa vs British & Irish Lions - Sat 5pm, Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Main Event
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Have a Ruck & Roll Weekend 🏉