SOUTHERN KINGS 8 V 20 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS - LIONS WIN!!!
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth Date: Tuesday, 16 June Kick-off: 1400 BST (1500 local time)
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Kings 8
Tries: Mbiyozo Pens: Van der Westhuyzen
Lions 20
Tries: Monye, penalty Cons: O'Gara 2 Pens: O'Gara 2
MATCH REPORT
The Southern Kings turned up to play the Lions with one objective in mind... hit and hurt the players rather than win the game.
Hook and Murray were taken off injured during the rough game at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium within the first 12 minutes of a bruising game
O'Gara said "They were more interested in kicking lumps out of us than scoring or keeping the score down," he told BBC Sport.
The Lions have kept a 100% record on the warm up matches which is no easy task. The full touring squad has been amazing, from performance and moral, and helping players recover. Some key players have been lost in injury already, and we wish Hook & Murray a quick recovery.
The ref was pretty crap, not penalising or red carding the Kings even though fly-half Jaco van der Westhuyzen being sent to the sin-bin in the 18th minute for his hit on Flutey. Allowing players to get away with dirty tactics like that is extremely dangerous.
The Lions were rattled, even though they expected a tough battle, however it was very noticeable that the key players were left out of this match. The Lions defended very well as the Kings kept on coming at them.
Lions first points where scored with O'Gara coming on for Hook after the 27th minute, but the Lions line out struggled and were not coping well up front. After the interval the Lions had more vigor about them, and O'Gara landed an excellent penalty from 40m after 45 minutes, with 10 minutes later his cross-kick to the right corner led to the opening try which was collected by Monya.
Monya remains favourite for the left wing for the test spot in our opinion, but not many other players made a shout out for the test team.
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British Lions Team:
Earls (Munster & Ireland);
Monye (Harlequins & England),
Flutey (Wasps & England),
D'Arcy (Leinster & Ireland),
Fitzgerald (Leinster & Ireland);
Hook (Ospreys & Wales),
Blair (Edinburgh & Scotland);
Sheridan (Sale & England),
Ford (Edinburgh & Scotland),
Murray (Northampton & Scotland),
Shaw (Wasps & England),
O'Callaghan (Munster & Ireland) (capt),
Hines (Perpignan & Scotland),
Worsley (Wasps & England),
Powell (Cardiff Blues & Wales).
Replacements:
Rees (Scarlets & Wales),
Jones (Ospreys & Wales),
Croft (Leicester & England),
Wallace (Munster & Ireland),
Ellis (Leicester & England),
O'Gara (Munster & Ireland),
S Williams (Ospreys & Wales).
Standby: Bowe (Ospreys & Ireland)
Southern Kings: Mangweni; Human, Welsh, Wet Barry, Turner; Van der Westhuyzen, Hougaard; Engels, Kuun, Vermeulen, Wentzel, Skeate, Mbiyozo, Tyibilika, Nell.
Replacements (from): Westraadt, Buys, Payi, Stride, Fowles, Stick, Watts, Fortuin, Grimes, Coetzee.
PRE-MATCH REPORT
Shane Williams is out of the last tour match and replaced by Ugo Monya.
Williams ill with a stomach bug, has not been able to impress selectors for a test spot and will miss his last opportunity against the Southern Kings.
The team selected to face the Kings has shown a lot of test match players are being rested for the big game on Saturday against South Africa.
O'Callaghan has the honour of captaining the Lions against a relatively week Kings side, however we are sure they will bring the fight to the Lions.
Monye's late step in for Williams, will help him McGeecan decide if the English winger should be in the starting 15, as he has impressed so far and works will with Bowe is a definite test player.
Powel gets another run out after a balanced performance against Western Province, but doesn't seem to have the edge on Heaslip and may have to live with being on the subs bench on Saturday.
Still, a few players can make their mark today as there are spots open for some positions for the Lions.
