RiverBoyBlues says...

Brilliant victory for the Lions, and telling series statistics. I'm a South African and was appalled by the absence of skill in our backline, boorish posturing by our thick skulled loose forwards, and the fact that brutishness and luck won out over one of the most skilled Lions sides in history. Funny how all the proud bok supporters have squirmed back into the woodwork. If the Boks were now to tour the UK and played three away games against the Lions in Murrayfield, Cardiff and Dublin, I doubt the results would work in their favour.

Posted 23:32 04th July 2009

lawrie says...

at last rugby wins over mindless thuggery thanks for showing us what you are like south africa from your brainless coach to your childish armband protest just grow up !

Posted 19:31 04th July 2009

SpringbokPete says...

A well deserved victory...A good lesson for the Springboks. The Lions have showed up enough weaknesses for us to be pretty concerned with the Tri-Nations coming up.

Regardless of the changes SA made today, we should have been more competitive than this. Scrums were a shambles as it has been throughout the series.( bar the first half of the series ). The back line was ponderous and never really jelled in all three Tests. For me the most alarming part of the series was the lack of possession, the kicking away of good possession when we did get it and the number of turnovers conceded at ruck/maul time. We always seemed to be playing without the ball and defending most of the time. There were bright moments but they were all to brief ..No sustained pressure was applied and we struggled to keep possession through multiple phases.

Still we somehow won this series thanks to incredible character shown by the players and a large dollop of LUCK !!.

It could so easily have been 2-1 , 1-1 or even 3-0 to the Lions. Such fine lines defined this Series

I thought the Lions loose forwards were amazing today ....The teams defense as a whole was awesome. For me Rob Kearney,Riki Flutey and Shane Williams had blinders .. and Mr Vickery and his fellow front rowers had a day to remember.. You can't help but admire the man's character. He became the " The Beast " today.

What a wonderful series !!. Long live the Lions !! It's the ultimate challenge and always a treasured memory !!

Posted 18:21 04th July 2009

abrad says...

Message from a South African. Congratulations Lions of a spectacular win today. Our boks and coaching staff will have quite a bit of thinking to do before Tri Nations. But is good to see some hard rugby - special congrats to Shane Williams and Ugo Moneye who have done very well in the face of considerable recent criticism. I think this kind of spirit of taking second chances and proving critics wrong is the kind of thing parents can point to their kids as what can be done in life with proper determination and I think is a role model for anyone.

I am very proud also of the Boks. They have done very well, and I refute anyone who criticises Div for his selections for this game. They are brilliant players and I support them whole heartedly, but fair dues to the Lions. On the day, their will-power and determination was stronger and a deserved win. Lets keep the Lions tradition to Tri Nations alive!

Posted 18:01 04th July 2009

ryan says...

Well played Lions. They deserved to win. The British media needs to learn to be more neutral in defeat, whenever they lose they are quick to point the finger. They just cannot accept that the Boks won the series. Danny Stephens is saying that Heindrich Brussow was nowhere to be seen today! Was he watching the same game? Brussow should not have been penalized late in the game, where Mike Phillips was clearly guilty of not letting Frans Steyn clear the ball. South Africa has won a World Cup, Super 14 and a Sevens title, and at the moment are best rugby team in the world. Danny Stephens also mentions that it was a ludicrous idea for the Boks to wear armbands. If you look at the tape Bakkies Botha was not guilty. He came from behind the scrum and was clearing the man away, unfortunatley Jones had his arm in the ruck and got injured. Straight after this happened Rees did the same thing to Botha, so why the ban! I would like to ask Danny Stephen's if he can now see why the Boks were trying to make a statement? John Smit had the backing of rugby officials, Lions officials, referee's to this injustice. Do you remember BOD's tackle offside tackle on Danie Rossouw, why was there no penalty for this! At the end of the day, the media likes to look at the stats, well here is a stat for you, 2-1 to the Boks and maybe we should leave it at that, maybe PDV should not make 10 changes to the team, just because he wants everyone to play against the Lions. Well played Lions, wish the British media could get there facts right and not have sour grapes. We lost today to a better team. Well done Lions. Great series!

Posted 17:39 04th July 2009

mcgoo says...

Oh my god you really have out done yourself Danny, just when I didn't think your reporting could get any worse you have proved me wrong.

Posted 17:33 04th July 2009

leslie42 says...

The South African coach must be fired. An international match is NOT a warm up trial game in order to give players a chance or figure out your combinations. The South African pack in the 1st half was totaly underpowered and disjointed. No front row. No driving locks and 3 backrowers who play totally different and non complimentary styles of rugby. The SA wings also had no finish. The Lions played very well make no mistake but evryone was terrified at the breakdown of the cleanout law that no one including the law makers have a clue about. You cant play rugby terrified and it showed. Anyway the Lions really and easily deserved their win but the BOKS were very poor oppostion indeed.

Posted 16:36 04th July 2009

rugger1234 says...

What a joke, "the stats tell a little tale"

smacking of bias, bar room chat, not objective journalism. So swinging your arm through the air is the same as deliberate knee to a grounded player.

Posted 16:14 04th July 2009