beadyi says...

The 3 incidents?? (missed that admission on 1st reading) - sorry, I would have bet my house on there being only one - but any excuse for a Brit. When you going to go write for News of the World??

Posted 18:04 30th June 2009

choky says...

hi - i am french and have truly enjoyed the game which was a great test match - howver when i see all the british people criticising so heavily the referee this makes me laugh - for years and year and years the french have been many times stolen by british referees who could be very partial at times to say the least (not all of them but quite a lot) - also when i see the british lions getting along so well i wonder how it is still possible to allow bristish referees to refer a game between a british team and france (why dont we have referees frm southern hemisphere) - so only to say to british poeple come on cut the crap about the referee - this said that was a truly great test match and both teams can be really proud of the way they played - and as a neutral person i enjoyed every minute of it - i feel sorry for the lions to loose it at the last minute on a penalty kick so far away for their posts but this article frm this journalist is really a disgrace - yes burger should be punished heavily (more then the 8 weeks he was given) but to blame so heavily the referee and to cry that owise the lions would have won is just pathetic

Posted 13:07 30th June 2009

dirkie73 says...

I agree Danny, that Burger's sent off was a huge turning point in the match. Unfortunately the Lions could not make full use of the opperetunity to seal the match.

Posted 12:53 30th June 2009

beadyi says...

Yes, referees (sigh) .... O'Driscoll going over the maul .... advantage not played when Habana had a clear run to the tryline .... numerous high tackles by the oh-so-clean Britons ... sigh

Posted 18:12 29th June 2009

padolph says...

I think it is all blown out of context, when i last looked it is rugby and rugby is a hard game so a little rough housing is expected in every game. SA need to address the coaching as White was far superior to De Villiers (who can even give a good interview) bring back white!

Posted 14:26 29th June 2009

rugbyspook88 says...

Aye Jimmy! Did you not read the article before you posted your comments. Title.."Ungracious and Hesitant". I dont live in the UK so I don't watch Sky sports. But I saw the immediate post match interviews on SA Super Sports with the captains, and the word Lions did not pass John Smits lips. BTW, Mealamu is not the Allblack captain...(idiot) Its Mils Muliaina.

Posted 10:08 29th June 2009

oela says...

I would admit that Peter de Villiers is an idiot, he's after all an ANC supporter. But sheesh, stop whining! Your going on as if the Burger incident was a major turing point in the game, but Fitzgerald wasn't even seriously injured! Are you implying that the only way the Lions could have won, would have been against 14 Boks?

Posted 05:35 29th June 2009

mkay says...

First comment. Very surprised!

Wanted to clarify a couple of things first: a) I am a South African b)missed the alleged gouging incident as I missed the first 2 minutes of the game. That said I have read what seems like a millions articles on the subject. A couple of things stand out. If he did indeed gouge then he deserved a red card and a big ban. This behavior does not belong in rugby. What an idiot. And De Villiers is an even bigger idiot for his post match comments. These commenst were made post match after he had time to reflect. How can you condone that by saying its part of the game. Someone please get rid of him!!! Boks have been trying to shake this thuggish image for a while. This image, has in the past, cost us numerous penalties which might have gone the other way had it been other teams. Refs penalise on reputation sometimes. Enough Bok bashing. I find it funny that the Lions think Burger only getting yellow swung the game. Surely the idea of a match is for 15 players to play 15 players and test eachother to the full. Surely the Lions would not have wanted to play 14 men. There has been talk that the uncontested scrums gave the Boks the advantage. No-one can predict what would have happened had the scrums continued as normal. I would like to see a replay of Bothas tackle before making further comment but did anyone not notice BOD's shoulder barge on Rossouw?? It is a pity that a couple of incidents have ruined a Lions series.

Posted 23:25 28th June 2009

dave887 says...

Completely agree with article there is no place for gouging or foul play in sport.And the actions of burger botha and the defense by de villiers only sully and throw into doubt given the points scored when burger was off what should have been a great result for s africa.

Posted 21:06 28th June 2009

abrad says...

Danny, I believe the Lions played wonderfully and really brought it to the springboks. They returned the complement to the springboks and played hard, 'in your face rugby'. From John Smit's post match interview, this is really the kind of rugby South Africa respects. I think Schalk Burger's actions were silly and done in a moment of madness. The way it was dealt with however, is quite consistent (so far) with the Parisse incident in the preceding AB vs Italy match on the day. To try and seek more mileage out of this incident is simply to what end? Are we supposing that the way things should have happened, is that it should have been a red card ..and then Lions play 14 instead and then level the series? Where is the glory in that? I was surprised that Sheridan's punch into Danie Rousseau's groin after putting him down at 61:46 minutes of play did not get any follow up - but then again, that would have required someone to make a song and dance of it at the time - which did not happen. I find it somewhat embarrassing for the sport nowadays how the press goes on and on and on. Especially here in the Northerrn Hemisphere. The Lions must now give it one more push, with the courage and deepened determination Wales showed last year. I think De Villiers could have responded with the normal ' it is in the hands of the siting commissioner ' as his Lions counterpart did. De Villier's is his own worst enemy when it comes to the press and I think the press is rather cruel to inteview him, because the scalping is definately one way. But fair play he stands up for his boys. As does Ian McGeecan who himself has refrained from passing any praise or acknowledgement of the Boks' effort. So it is maby just a matter of more sophisticated bias. There is one more match and I will expect nothing less than a fierce contest from both sides - looking forward to great rugby.

Posted 19:13 28th June 2009