Lions 2009 - O'Connell: We want to prove ourselves

Eurosport - Fri, 03 Jul 16:21:00 2009

Saturday's third and final Test between South Africa and the British Irish Lions is anything but a dead rubber to those involved, despite the series being settled and 17 changes in the two starting teams.

Paul O'Connell - 2009 Lions - 0

Morne Steyn's last-minute, 53-metre penalty in Pretoria last week secured a 28-25 victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead for the world champions following their five-point win in Durban.

Injuries, suspension and, in South Africa's case, experimentation, have led to a raft of changes, with the Springboks keeping only five of their starting team from Loftus Versfeld and the Lions eight for the finale at Ellis Park.

That might point to a devalued match but, with both sides aware that there has never been a series whitewash between them in 118 years and with a huge amount of personal pride at stake, another mighty confrontation is on the cards.

"I think we can show the same intensity. Everything isn't on the line like it was last Saturday but still for a lot of us, it is a chance to pull on a Lions Test jersey again," said Lions captain Paul O'Connell.

"I think we will be eager to prove ourselves. I don't think the last two weekends' results are a true reflection of where we are so I think we will be motivated to show ourselves."

Injuries have forced the Lions to change both centres and both props, with Phil Vickery given the chance to prove himself against loosehead Tendai Mtawarira, who gave him one of the worst 44 minutes of his rugby career in the first Test.

There are first Lions Test starts for prop Andrew Sheridan, centre Riki Flutey and flankers Martyn Williams and Joe Worsley.

The Springboks will look even more different, with scrum-half Fourie du Preez the only backline survivor from last week's epic encounter.

Zane Kirchner will make his debut at full-back and Odwa Ndungane and Jongikhaya Nokwe replaced Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen, tryscorers in Pretoria, on the wings.

Jaque Fourie and Wynand Olivier form a new centre pairing while Steyn's reward for last week's heroics off the bench is a first Test start at fly-half.

There is also new look to the pack, partly due to the suspension of Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha, who are replaced by Heinrich Brussow, who was massively important to the Boks off the bench last week, and former captain Johann Muller.

Burger's gouging of Luke Fitzgerald in the first minute of last week's game has been the hot topic of conversation all week and has left some of the Springboks angry that amid the furore they have not been given due credit for their victories.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers, who also voiced his disappointment that the Lions had yet to formerly congratulate his team, made no apology for the sweeping changes made with an eye on the forthcoming Tri-Nations series.

"The Lions will have their hands full playing against the backline we have chosen," he said.

"I hope Wynand Olivier and Jaque Fourie can create the space we need because then the Lions will know Jongi Nokwe's number. He gives me goosebumps and if you blink you don't see him."

Reuters

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  1. ptothej:
    That's because we are doing the labeling.­
    We just don't like it when you do :)

    From bosvark, on Fri 3 Jul 9:30PM

  2. I distinctly rememeber just about every SA fan refering­ to the team the finished the first test as a second­ string side, now this team with 10 changes isn't?­ Give us a break will you.

    From ptothej, on Fri 3 Jul 7:04PM

  3. From Ian, -- Are you stoned boy? You dont know what yer­ on aboot. Have you seen how you poms treat visitors and­ how you behave when youre visiting. What a biggoted­ yob? Keep your money, dont visit. There are loads of­ (much better ) teams than the Lions, just lining up to­ play the Springboks. Why? Because they are a good­ team. No 1 in the world in fact. Besides, the less Poms­ in SA, the less shoplifting will take place as we do­ not fall victims to the english disease.
    By the way,­ your "FU" comment shows that you may not wish­ to play a game unless youre set up to win it. I doubt­ any of the Lions players or team members support your­ view..

    From Maurice, on Fri 3 Jul 6:51PM

  4. suzjosjan; well said, china.

    From bosvark, on Fri 3 Jul 6:35PM

  5. Ian, its "Japie", not "Yarpie". At­ least get the insult correct if you are going to throw­ it.
    The Lions have toured here before, and there is no­ secret as to which stadia are at altitude and which are­ not. The point is: the tour itinerary was not foisted­ upon the Lions- as with any tour, this was negotiated­ between the unions, as was the appointment of referees­ (with much controversy). You can’t cry foul now that­ things have not gone the Lions way. I for one simply­ cannot fathom the Lions managements’ decision to­ prepare at sea level for the first test. I agree that­ the attendance has been poor in the pre-test and­ midweek matches, and that is regrettable, but the­ ticket prices are expensive for the average South­ African.
    I agree with Jaco in the sense that it is­ folly to underestimate the Bok side for Saturday and­ label them as second-stringers. I also think it is­ ungenerous to infer that this is Bok arrogance and a­ blatant snub to the Lions team. I am not a PDV fan,­ but I have to grudgingly give him some credit and­ really like the look of the side. “Helium Piet” would­ have been crucified by the SA press had he not grasped­ the nettle.
    Make no mistake, this is a very strong Bok­ side, and the guys coming in have all been picked on­ their blistering super 14 form.
    The challenge has­ been thrown, and it is now up to the Lions to show the­ Boks up in the last test.

    From bosvark, on Fri 3 Jul 6:34PM

  6. Damn the unnecessary insults! We are proud that Lions­ are here and entertaining us with good rugby. This­ sport is not for the faint hearted. In my lifetime I­ am privileged to have experienced three Lions tours. ­ Billy Beaumont came over here and his team gave us a­ good drubbing, but it was hard and entertaining. ­ Although we lost that series we looked forward to the­ next tour. Martin Johnson with his team gave us­ unforgettable encounters and although we lost that­ series we looked forward to the next one. This team­ played excellent rugby and gave as value for money even­ in the week games (all wins and one draw). When this­ Lions depart it must be with fond memories and everyone­ must be looking forward to more!! Yes, it is sorry­ about Burger and de Villiers, but this tour must not be­ remembered for this. We had hard rugby with excellent­ tries and both tests had great comebacks. I cannot­ wait for tomorrow and in the same breath for the next­ Lions tour.

    From suzjosjan, on Fri 3 Jul 4:24PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Arrogance comes in all shapes and sizes,Ian the­ perfect(prat)
    The original arrogance comes from the­ Brits anyway.
    AND there are still loads of pockets of­ Neanderthal/tribal "little mentality" people­ lurking under the guise of supporters of cricket/rugby­ etc you only have to look at the behaviour of the­ football hooligans to confirm this.

    From donkey, on Fri 3 Jul 12:05PM

  8. What are you talking about Jaco? The Lions arrogant?­ Guests in your country? As guests they should have been­ treated a bit better. Their coming to South Africa has­ generated Millions for your economy; has probably­ encouraged hoards of SA youngsters to the game;­ provided SA with an additional challenge comparable to­ the World Cup and the Tri-Nations. And what do they get­ in return? A schedule that takes them from sea level to­ altitude and back to sea level; half-empty stadia for­ the first five games (apart form the loyal Lions fans);­ really poor and inconsistent refereeing in every match;­ an opposing coach who baldly states that any means­ available to injure the Lions is okay, is part of the­ game, Next time the Lions tour (Aus, but also future­ tours to NZ & SA) I hope they demand a longer­ pre-tour, a schedule that sees them at their peak for­ the Tests, and a refereeing panel that isn't so SH­ biased. If not forthcoming, then f* ck you. We­ won't come and your economy and National Rugby will­ suffer as an effect. A Yarpie calling the Lions­ arrogant! You have got to be f* cking joking

    From Ian, on Fri 3 Jul 11:46AM

  9. Wel this weekend wil be interesting. I think Peter de­ Villiers has a win win situation,having put the series­ in the bag he wil have the chance to prep for the­ tri-nations with new combinations and what better test­ than a formidable lions side(specialy with them having­ to lick some serious wounds).Throwing caution to the­ wind he stil keeps the odd big gun on the bench for­ plan b,but losing wont end his rugby career-instead­ given the chance to loose it would better his fortune­ in the prep for the tri-nation.If he wins wel that­ speaks for itself. In my opinion Peter de Viliers is­ the luckyest coach in the world(he was given a world­ cup winning springbok team on a silver platter-GOD­ GIVIN GIFT MORE THAN TALENT?.As for the lions,they­ complain about the changes?I think they should shut up­ and accept the gift! If you have the chance to redeam­ some glory after losing two games straight you­ DON'T complain about your opponents not having a­ full strenght side?! Considering the massive dent in­ the lions squad due to injury and there recent 12 test­ history,I sugest they keep there mouths to themselves­ and go get a reason for there arrogance. My respect for­ the lions as individuals of the field is lost and I­ feel truly appaled by there recent bad sportsmanship­ and reaction to South Africa,they seem to forget that­ they are the geusts and its an honor for them (1)to­ play for the lions and(2) against the world champs!not­ the other way around.. The game on saturday wil be a­ rilling bone cruncher as my liking for captain Paul­ O'Connell as captain and player increases,I am­ truly impressed in him-leading in example and not­ playing the ref on the field,not trying to get his way­ with every call being exactly the oposite of john smit­ the dabating champ, he's more of a silant­ captain.But I dare not loose respect for the lions as­ individualy extremely talented rugby players.They are a­ pride of lions and they have the pride to play for!

    From jaco.delarey, on Fri 3 Jul 8:59AM

  10. If the game on Saturday is half as entertaining as the­ previous 2 I'll be very happy. After all isn't­ that what rugby's about for us fans?
    Well done to­ both sets of teams for the excellent viewing we've­ had so far. And to the players who got injured on our­ behalves I wish them a speedy recovery and thank and­ applaud them for being so committed.
    Good luck on­ Saturday to those left standing.

    From ptothej, on Fri 3 Jul 8:44AM
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