International Rugby Match: Lions Must Win

27.06.2009
British and Irish Lions v South Africa in Pretoria

Venue: Loftus Versfeld,

Preview
The greatness of this British rugby team hinges upon the result of this match. A win for the Lions will give them the opportunity to win the series and repeat their performances of 1997. Another loss to South Africa will reduce the Lions to just another defeated British Isles team on tour.

South Africa are at the top of their game right from the start of the season. They dominated in most aspects of the game last weekend and only some folly in substitutions saw the Lions came within a..er..Lions roar. I can't see this happening again this weekend.

Lions Results on Tour So far
30 May Lions 37, Highvelt Royals XV 25 at Rustenburg
3 June: Lions 75, Golden Lions 10
6 June: Lions 26, Free State Cheetahs 24 in Bloemfontein
10 June: Lions 39, Natal Sharks 3 in Durban
13 June: Lions 26, Western Province 23 in Capetown
16 June: Lions 20, Southern Kings 8 in Port Elizabeth
20 June: South Africa 26, Lions 21 in Durban (1st Test)
23 June: Lions 13, Emerging Springbox 13 in Capetown

GWC Rugby Rankings do not apply.

Prediction: South Africa to continue to dominate as World Cup Champions, and to win by 14 points.

Teams

South Africa
15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adi Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (captain), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Heinrich Brüssow, 21 Jaque Fourie, 22 Morné Steyn

British & Irish Lions
15 Rob Kearney (Ireland),
14 Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
13 Brain O'Driscoll (Ireland)
12 Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11 Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland)
10 Stephen Jones (Wales)
9 Mike Phillips (Wales)
8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
7 David Wallace (Ireland)
6 Tom Croft (England)
5 Paul O'Connell, Capt. (Ireland)
4 Simon Shaw (England)
3 Adam Jones (Wales)
2 Matthew Rees (Wales)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
Replacements
16 Ross Ford (Scotland)
17 Andrew Sheridan (England)
18 Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
19 Martyn Williams (Wales)
20 Harry Ellis (England)
21 Ronan O'Gara (Ireland)
22 Shane Williams (Wales)
Head Coach: Ian McGeechan

Team lists from, with some adaptions, http://www.planetrugby.com/lions-09/story/0,25883,3551_5401963,00.html