Lions 2009 - Shaw bemoans injuries

Eurosport - Sat, 27 Jun 21:58:00 2009

Simon Shaw said injuries hindered the British and Irish Lions in their last-gasp defeat to South Africa that saw the Springboks seal a series victory.

RUGBY British and Irish Lions lock Simon Shaw is dejected after a 28-25 defeat to South Africa in Pretoria hands the series to the hosts - 0

Injuries forced the England lock to play in the front row for the final half an hour of his Lions Test debut, an experience he never wants to re-live despite impressing hugely in the 28-25 loss.

"It was difficult for me today, but I just hung in there," he said afterwards.

"It was hard to slot into the front row, I've played there a couple of times and I never want to do it again.

"Every match against the Springboks is tough, you have to meet them up front.

"The injuries we had in the front row helped them because we had the edge in the scrums and when it went to uncontested scrums, it made it easy for them."

Kenya-born Shaw, 35, was the last survivor of the 1997 squad who won 2-1 in South Africa.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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  1. Adam Jones tammed the beast, valley boy did good

    From stephen w, on Sun 28 Jun 7:20AM

  2. Well said Colin. Not only the goolie bashing but also­ the tackle on Rossouw that left him reeling like a­ drunk. But those are OK, because it is your lads­ handing out the heavy stuff, and, as the world knows,­ that is OK. When it is the other side doing the­ handing, then ...... WHINGE

    From klipkap, on Sun 28 Jun 12:15AM

  3. You guys(Brits.) always complain....last weekend it was­ the ref..this weekend the ref ..foul play,,,whats­ next??? im sure next weekend will answer that to us..ok­ Fair enough excuse must be over now??

    From theunsc, on Sat 27 Jun 11:00PM

  4. Lornaw07 how true. Listening to some of these Poms,­ you'd swear the Lions got every bad decision and­ the Boks every good one, every tsckle the boks made was­ dirty and every Lions tackle was in the spirit of the­ game. I guess you do only see what you want to see.­ Funny how earlier today I was reading a comment from a­ Lions fan saying how much he enjoyed watching one of­ the Lions punch a Bok in the groin. He is probably also­ now moaning at how dirty the Boks are.

    From Tim, on Sat 27 Jun 10:41PM

  5. Well done lions, lucky boks !

    From COLIN, on Sat 27 Jun 9:23PM

  6. Replay the tape and see one of the Lions punch a guy in­ the groin, with no yellow card. Beggars belief as you­ say. I suppose we only see what we want to see.

    From lornaw07, on Sat 27 Jun 9:10PM

  7. Shaw played really well but my lions man of the match­ was Rob Kearney by a country mile. He was simply­ outstanding in everything he did! O.k we lost the­ series but we played outstanding rugby! Im proud of you­ lions!!!

    From keith.mehaffey, on Sat 27 Jun 7:34PM

  8. Wow, unlucky lions, but the real winner was the game of­ rugby itself! This is the best team sport in the world­ and that shone through today! We had pride, passion and­ unbelievable commitment, are you watching premiership­ footballers!!!???

    From keith.mehaffey, on Sat 27 Jun 7:27PM

  9. Great game by both teams.Just a pity the ref wasn't­ up to it, so one sided (and it wasn't on the Lions­ side)it begged belief.Still well done SA

    From Pete T, on Sat 27 Jun 6:56PM

  10. never rated shaw as an england or wasps player. inabale­ to read a game and a bad temper
    BUT
    today, he was a­ inspiration to any potential rugby players , solid and­ consistent and passonate to the end, his interview on­ sky broke my heart, a 20 stone 6"6 chisselled­ piece of granite choked up with tears , shows rugby to­ be wat it really is; the best sport around

    From moggie2727, on Sat 27 Jun 6:17PM

  11. As small consolation, Shaw was by far the most­ impressive man on the field today.

    From John L, on Sat 27 Jun 6:12PM
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