The Lions limp out of Sydney, Ireland fire, and Scotland...get so close!

This weekend I caught the Lions, some of the All Black/French match, and the second half of the South Africa/Scotland match. Whoa are the Lions shipping back line injuries! It wasn’t quite their first team but they still looked classy against NSW in attack, although a little suspect in defense. The loose trio looked more potent than the last match, and apart from the injuries, the team performance is growing all the time. Not too impressed with some of the NSW tactics though – you’re playing one of the top teams in world rugby – don’t let yourself down with cheap shots.
France shuffled their pack of cards again for the All Blacks, and went backwards, The team played well last weekend – back them and pick them again! The prospect of a win next weekend is pretty slim.

I watched Scotland go into a absolutely deserving 17-6 lead against the Sprinboks. The Springboks may be my reserve international team, but boy do they play some boring stodgy rugby. Without Jim Hamilton’s silly yellow, a great upset was on the cards. What a bounce back for the Scots after last weekend! It was the reserves for South Africa, mostly young players, who put things right in the end so at least there is a glimmer of hope the Boks will start to reach their potential.

I didn’t see the Ireland/Canada game, but the match report is here http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/29386.php. Fergus McFadden got a hat trick – Trojan work again from one of Ireland’s most solid players, when does he ever let you down? And tries also for Cave Trimble and O’Donnell, the bubbling under pack are finding their feet.

International Match
Sunday , June 16
Canada 14 - 40 Ireland
Saturday , June 15
Japan 23 - 8 Wales 
New Zealand 30 - 0 France 
Samoa 39 - 10 Italy 
Argentina 26 - 51 England 
South Africa 30 - 17 Scotland 
More International Match results
British & Irish Lions
Waratahs 17 - 47 British & Irish Lions