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Originally Posted by BBC Sport
Golden Lions 10-74 Lions
The Lions laid down a firm challenge to the Springboks as they put the Golden Lions to the sword in Johannesburg.
The tourists were a totally different proposition from the side which stumbled through their opening match. A Jamie Roberts brace and tries from Brian O'Driscoll, Ugo Monye and Tom Croft helped them into a 39-10 half-time lead at Ellis Park. Tommy Bowe grabbed a double after the break and Monye, James Hook and Stephen Ferris completed the 10-try rout.
And although there was no one moment which stood out as dramatically on Wednesday night, the tourists produced many marvelous passages of play to put Saturday's shoddy opening display against the Royal XV firmly behind them.
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The game was over as a contest by half time. As good as the British & Irish Lions were, the Golden Lions were equally as poor.
Mike Phillips, Stephen Jones, Jamie Roberts & Brian O’Driscoll were all superb. If they aren’t 9, 10, 12 and 13 for the test side then I’ll be very surprised. Tommy Bowe and Gethin Jenkins also put in good shifts, and are also looking likely for a test starting places.
Jamie Roberts’ two tries pleased me. He’s a great lad, and deserved all the opportunities he’s getting at the moment. I’d never have thought he’d be a British Lion when I lined up with him for our school rugby side 7 odd years ago. Those were the days!
Hopefully we’ll see more of the same from the Lions on Saturday against the Free State Cheetahs.
And in other news…
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Originally Posted by LionsRugby.com Ian McGeechan and Gerald Davies have called up Gordon D'Arcy to the 2009 Lions squad.
The Ireland centre has been added to the current touring party as a precaution because of injury concerns among the backline.
D’Arcy, who toured New Zealand with the Lions four years ago but did not win a Test cap, will arrive in South Africa this Thursday and will immediately join up with his new team-mates in Johannesburg.
"Gordon has been called up due to the fact that we have had a few injury concerns in the backs," explained head coach McGeechan
"While the injuries are being treated by the medical team we felt it prudent that we call up Gordon to provide us with extra cover in midfield." |
McGeechan should have just included him in the initial squad. Lions squads always get injuries, and as much as people lambasted Sir Clive Woodward for taking a huge squad to New Zealand, but it was the right thing to do.