What?

"Our job was to disrupt the Lions this week going into the Test on Saturday, and I think the boys did a great job there"

.Dick Muir

...What?

Sorry, I mean, ...what? Are you playing the Lions to get them exhausted so the Boks can win?

Are you just trying to lower their self-confidence so it is easier for the Boks later on?

Let's put aside opinions on how fair these aims are. It's up to you. Let's focus only on "what the hell, you are the Emerging SpringBoks", many of you shall play for South Africa sooner rather than later, and when you are given a formidable opposition to test yourself against, all you have in mind is "to ease things for the elders"?????

This I cannot understand.

Praise of the Lions

Not for the first time this season the Lions surprise me. Despite having lost to the Waratahs, they have shown commitment and a will to win the match as if their own chances of classifying were at stake.

The final minutes have been a nail biter. After trailing 17-28 at half time, they were able to come back and take the lead, just to allow the decisive try to the Waratahs with 5 minutes left. A final penalty put the Lions within 5 meters of the aussie line and indeed they seemed they had scored a try when referee Marius Jonker called for a forward pass...

But it was not the end of the story. For three times the Lions put their hearts in the scrum and asked the ref to call for a free kick in their favour... After three resets the Lions loosehead prop (or was it the hooker?) lost his foot in the scrum and the ball was freed for the Waratahs backs to kick it out. The Waratahs won 38-33.

Sharks and Crusaders will have to fight if they want to match the 'tahs.

Lions vs Boks, stop the nonsense talk

John McBride, former player for the Lions:

"I know the game's changed, I know the game's professional and I know that scrummaging has changed but, whether we like it or not, I still believe that the team that can scrummage is the team that wins the match."

Please, someone can stop this nonsense? Can someone explain this old legend that the team who shall govern the breakdown will have more quality possession and therefore, will have more chances to attack? Can someone tell him that line-out mastery is far more important than a slight advantage in the scrum?

In the Super 14, when a free kick is awarded and the ball is not immediately released so the attacking team can take the defending players receding and flat-footed, a scrum is preferred rather than a free kick. Why? because it's more useful than a free kick.

Now, what does make McBride think that with no ELVs sanctioning, the scrums will be so important? I know it is a matter of pride about the scrum more than anything else, but please, we're not back in the seventies, pride is not the key to win. Ability to understand what your team needs is. So, please, pick a pair of halfback, first-five who can rule the game against du Preez and Pienaar, if you want to have a chance to win anything.

Springboks who are injured at this very moment.

This is a list of Springbok players who are currently unavailable to play and, in some cases, won't play against the Lions.

• Conrad Jantjes, fullback
• Adi Jacobs, centre
• Frans Steyn, second five eighths
• Jean de Villiers, second five eighths
• Butch James, first five eighths
• Fourie du Preez, halfback
• Schalck Burger, openside flanker
• Andries Bekker, lock

Shall we review this list on a weekly basis?

Brave Lions should have won

The Chiefs can be pleased. Can be happy, indeed.

8 games gone and 27 points lift them to a place into the top 3. Their bye week comes next and after that, winning 3 games out of 5 should be enough to see them qualify for the semis.

But after impressive wins over Reds and Blues, they can call themselves lucky to have escaped the ropes with which the Lions had tied them early in Hamilton today.

The Lions played great. The Lions played brave. With impressive defense against the expansive approach of the Chiefs, they conceded just 10 points in the first 40 minutes while Pretorius and Fourie dismantled the weak Chiefs defense. Mils Muliaina did have trouble with the number on his jersey and more trouble with the tricky balls the Lions played. Fourie was happy. 10-22 at halftime.

The gap was widened through an interception by the Lions and with 20 minutes to go, the Chiefs saw themselves 19 points behind.

Hika Elliot came in for Aled de Malmanche and the recipe worked. Better throwing at the line-out put confidence on the Chiefs, just what they needed to unleash their backs. One, two, three and four times the Chiefs crossed the line as the look on the eyes of the Lions was of resignation.

The Chiefs were again on top, Donald kicking superbly and not even a drop goal could put the Lions ahead again. Game over.

Chiefs 36 - Lions 29

All Blacks vs Irish and British Lions

Ich bin ein Highlander

All strikes come to an end. And by taking advantage of Lions defense, the Highlanders have finally recorded a win that should have come much earlier. Good news for the Highlanders and, we hope, the start of a completely different second leg of the regular season for them

Highlanders 29 - Lions 20