South Africa v British & Irish Lions, 31 July

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SOUTH AFRICA v BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
Saturday 31 July
KO: 18:00 SAST / 17:00 UK / 20:00 Dubai  
Cape Town Stadium (Newlands), Cape Town
Sky Sports Main Event

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Mathieu Raynal (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker ( )

TEAMS:

SOUTH AFRICA:
15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 63 caps, 60 pts (12t)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse) – 15 caps, 40 pts (8t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 16 caps, 15 pts (3t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Munster) – 48 caps, 30 pts (6t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 15 caps, 70 pts (14t)
10 – Handré Pollard (vice-captain, Montpellier) – 50 caps, 477pts (6t, 78c, 93p, 4d)
09 – Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks) – 31 caps, 25 pts (5t)

08 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 1 cap, 0 pts
07 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers) – 57 caps, 25 pts (5t)
06 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 52 caps, 30 pts (6t)
05 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 41 caps, 5pts (1t)
04 – Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 87 caps, 15 pts (3t)
03 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 40 caps, 5pts (1t)
02 – Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers) – 38 caps, 40 pts (8t)
01 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 49 caps, 5pts (1t)

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 35 caps, 30 pts (6t)
17 – Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls) – 44 caps, 5 pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Saracens) – 21 caps, 0 pts
19 – Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks) – 46 caps, 25 pts (5t)
20 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 0 pts
21 – Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 8 caps, 5 pts (1t)
22 – Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 12 caps, 25 pts (5t)
23 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 8 caps, 5pts (1t)

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS:
15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland) #783
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) #816
13. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland) #844
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #824
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #841
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) #821
09. Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790

01. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England) #787
02. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) #851
03. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #818
04. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825
05. Alun Wyn Jones – captain (Ospreys, Wales) #761
06. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England) #826
07. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) #853
08. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #839

16. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829
17. Rory Sutherland (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #840
18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814
19. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #838
20. Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales) #779
21. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #843
22. Owen Farrell (Saracens, England) #780
23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822

PREVIEW:

Daly still sat on the bench? Waste of an option, if you’re not going to bring him on.

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:Downward pressure if the ball is on the ground - if off the ground need to have control ..

Pretty sure not. The ball can touch down using downward pressure from the hand, arm, or any part of the front of a players body from waist to neck.

I've not reffed for 3 years so may have missed a law change but to my knowledge control has never been in the laws. "It's simply been repeated over and over again by incompetent commentators until it's become part of rugby lore rather than rugby law", a favourite quote from a former international ref I first heard during a reffing course I did back in the day.

If there's been a change to the laws and I'm wrong then I'd be genuinely interested in being pointed to it as the laws are all available online.

The ball needs to be on the ground for downward pressure. If you take it in the air you have to be 'in possession' before you ground it. Knocking it forwards then pushing down on it with your arm is a knock on as you've knocked it forwards and failed to bring in under control again before it hit the ground. I wouldn't call Nigel Owens an incompetent commentator as he said essentially the same thing - even said not in control - may not be the actual words used in the laws but it's essentially what they mean.

Will you lot listen to yourselves whinging about the ref! Jeepers

Duty281 wrote:6-1 to the Lions in penalties conceded in this half. That's the story, a mirror of the first test. Watson's had a terrible test.

French referee for the third test.

The Lions back three collectively had a good first test but have collectively had a really poor second test.

I think we will see significant changes for the third test.

Makes for a really exciting third test anyway.

Warburton is really hard to listen too. Such a yes man.

TJ wrote:Will you lot listen to yourselves whinging about the ref!  Jeepers

Red card offence with no mitigation to be brought down to a yellow is still a red card.

RiscaGame wrote:Daly still sat on the bench? Waste of an option, if you’re not going to bring him on.

He came on for Harris a bit back didn't he?

shows how effective he has been

Well done SA two good tries, bit of sh1t game but third test should be good.

No issues with the result, we were awful in the second half, but boy has this been an awful game!

Well…. Well done SA, I guess. And to Biltong / Old Man, congratulations but I think you’re actually Rassie Erasmus?

Well that was dismal, but SA by some distance the better side so congrats to them on the win.

I’m staying well away from social media this week it’s going to be utterly embarrassing

king_carlos wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Well that was a try for me

Not in control - you can't just put downward pressure on when the ball starts off in the air - it was a knock on.

Control is irrelevant. Downward pressure is all that matters. The ball doesn't leave his arm and touch the ground for it to be a knock on. It's in contact with his hand the whole time from him touching it and gets clear downward pressure. Good try.

Simply not true, clear separation from the hand.

The ball is in touch with both hands, leaves his right hand but never leaves the the left arm for me. Good decision.

Important part there being left arm not left hand.

Terrible advert for rugby. Lions lost their composure after a good first half. South Africa escaped with numerous offences. Horrible game.

Time to roll the dice next week and stop trying to play SA at their own game.

We have got plenty of fresh players with a point to prove, lets bring them on!

Heaf wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:Downward pressure if the ball is on the ground - if off the ground need to have control ..

Pretty sure not. The ball can touch down using downward pressure from the hand, arm, or any part of the front of a players body from waist to neck.

I've not reffed for 3 years so may have missed a law change but to my knowledge control has never been in the laws. "It's simply been repeated over and over again by incompetent commentators until it's become part of rugby lore rather than rugby law", a favourite quote from a former international ref I first heard during a reffing course I did back in the day.

If there's been a change to the laws and I'm wrong then I'd be genuinely interested in being pointed to it as the laws are all available online.

The ball needs to be on the ground for downward pressure.  If you take it in the air you have to be 'in possession' before you ground it.  Knocking it forwards then pushing down on it with your arm is a knock on as you've knocked it forwards and failed to bring in under control again before it hit the ground.  I wouldn't call Nigel Owens an incompetent commentator as he said essentially the same thing - even said not in control - may not be the actual words used in the laws but it's essentially what they mean.

https://www.laws.worldrugby.org/?law=21&language=EN

Nothing there that's changed from when I reffed week in, week out. Also nothing to suggest control when the ball's in the air.

If the ball had left contact with his hand or arm, hit the ground then got downward pressure it would be a knock on. It doesn't leave contact with him and touch the ground though.

Soul Requiem wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Well that was a try for me

Not in control - you can't just put downward pressure on when the ball starts off in the air - it was a knock on.

Control is irrelevant. Downward pressure is all that matters. The ball doesn't leave his arm and touch the ground for it to be a knock on. It's in contact with his hand the whole time from him touching it and gets clear downward pressure. Good try.

Simply not true, clear separation from the hand.

The ball is in touch with both hands, leaves his right hand but never leaves the the left arm for me. Good decision.

Important part there being left arm not left hand.

Downward pressure with hand, arm or any part of the front of the body from waist to neck.

Unfortunately the defensive selections led to what I feared. Some hard decisions for Gatland and the coaches next week including a captain who is going missing in the setpiece.

Offcials were absolutely awful.

BigGee wrote:Time to roll the dice next week and stop trying to play SA at their own game.

We have got plenty of fresh players with a point to prove, lets bring them on!

Yup - which ever of smith and russell is fit to start. Adams Fagerson and the Mish will be chomping at the bit

Waha, well done boys. First half poor. Second half much better.
Baffling where the Lions confidence comes from.

protea438 wrote:Waha, well done boys. First half poor. Second half much better.
Baffling where the Lions confidence comes from.

Lol.

BigGee wrote:Time to roll the dice next week and stop trying to play SA at their own game.

We have got plenty of fresh players with a point to prove, lets bring them on!

I'd probably start Aki and Henshaw together to offer something different going forward.

Sanjay at least to come into the back three. All the back three had poor games so could justify any missing out. I'd probably start 11.Adams 14.Watson 15.Williams with Hogg on the bench. Use the midfield for front foot ball.

Wyn Jones should come into the 23 for Sutherland if he's fit. I really rate Sutherland but he's not taken his chances in T1 and T2.

Once again I felt Conan had a solid game but I still think Faletau offers the same on an average day for Toby but can offer much more on his best days.

No complaints, SA deserved the win after dominating the second half. The margin doesn't really matter so the dodgy grounding doesn't hurt too much.

We need some changes, Williams has to come into the back 3, I've never seen Watson look so poor in the air, but I wish we'd brought May along if we're just spending 80 mins booting it long.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Unfortunately the defensive selections led to what I feared. Some hard decisions for Gatland and the coaches next week including a captain who is going missing in the setpiece.

Offcials were absolutely awful.

Sssshhhh you've mentioned the forbidden topic

BamBam wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Unfortunately the defensive selections led to what I feared. Some hard decisions for Gatland and the coaches next week including a captain who is going missing in the setpiece.

Offcials were absolutely awful.

Sssshhhh you've mentioned the forbidden topic

There’s a difference between posting an opinion like this and posting nonsense like AWJ punched himself in the nose to make it look like he did something.

king_carlos wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Well that was a try for me

Not in control - you can't just put downward pressure on when the ball starts off in the air - it was a knock on.

Control is irrelevant. Downward pressure is all that matters. The ball doesn't leave his arm and touch the ground for it to be a knock on. It's in contact with his hand the whole time from him touching it and gets clear downward pressure. Good try.

Simply not true, clear separation from the hand.

The ball is in touch with both hands, leaves his right hand but never leaves the the left arm for me. Good decision.

Important part there being left arm not left hand.

Downward pressure with hand, arm or any part of the front of the body from waist to neck.

Which is true IF the ball is on the ground which in this case it isn't, so it's lose of control forward and therefore a knock on.

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:Downward pressure if the ball is on the ground - if off the ground need to have control ..

Pretty sure not. The ball can touch down using downward pressure from the hand, arm, or any part of the front of a players body from waist to neck.

I've not reffed for 3 years so may have missed a law change but to my knowledge control has never been in the laws. "It's simply been repeated over and over again by incompetent commentators until it's become part of rugby lore rather than rugby law", a favourite quote from a former international ref I first heard during a reffing course I did back in the day.

If there's been a change to the laws and I'm wrong then I'd be genuinely interested in being pointed to it as the laws are all available online.

The ball needs to be on the ground for downward pressure.  If you take it in the air you have to be 'in possession' before you ground it.  Knocking it forwards then pushing down on it with your arm is a knock on as you've knocked it forwards and failed to bring in under control again before it hit the ground.  I wouldn't call Nigel Owens an incompetent commentator as he said essentially the same thing - even said not in control - may not be the actual words used in the laws but it's essentially what they mean.

https://www.laws.worldrugby.org/?law=21&language=EN

Nothing there that's changed from when I reffed week in, week out. Also nothing to suggest control when the ball's in the air.

If the ball had left contact with his hand or arm, hit the ground then got downward pressure it would be a knock on. It doesn't leave contact with him and touch the ground though.

There are two ways a player can ground the ball:

(a) Player touches the ground with the ball. A player grounds the ball by holding the ball and touching the ground with it, in in-goal. ‘Holding’ means holding in the hand or hands, or in the arm or arms. No downward pressure is required.

(b) Player presses down on the ball. A player grounds the ball when it is on the ground in the in-goal and the player presses down on it with a hand or hands, arm or arms, or the front of the player’s body from waist to neck inclusive.

No way was he holding the ball ...

mikey_dragon wrote:

R!skysports wrote:Well this game has cemented my opinion  of Gatland and his tactics

What a load of crap

Two Scottish players haven’t done well mind. 3 if you include VDM.

Eeer. Ok straight there to bring nationality into it ?? It sure any players had a good game

Yes they have not been great under the high ball but the tactically plan from gatland has been terrible and why select attaching runners in the backs and have not intention of using them

This was such a poorly conceived game plan and had no guile or change.

Fully deserved to lose that and I hope we try and play some rugby next week. Even a fing little

king_carlos wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Well that was a try for me

Not in control - you can't just put downward pressure on when the ball starts off in the air - it was a knock on.

Control is irrelevant. Downward pressure is all that matters. The ball doesn't leave his arm and touch the ground for it to be a knock on. It's in contact with his hand the whole time from him touching it and gets clear downward pressure. Good try.

Simply not true, clear separation from the hand.

The ball is in touch with both hands, leaves his right hand but never leaves the the left arm for me. Good decision.

Important part there being left arm not left hand.

Downward pressure with hand, arm or any part of the front of the body from waist to neck.

When the ball is already on the ground

protea438 wrote:Waha, well done boys. First half poor. Second half much better.
Baffling where the Lions confidence comes from.

SA took their chances well so well done to them. To be fair though they needed a lot of help from Jaco Johan and the refereeing team to get the win. Dont think there is much between the two sides.

Lions were woeful and got exactly what we deserved. No idea what Townsend is doing but there's no attack in evidence. The halfbacks offered nothing but a boot and Farrell was lucky the Am try was given because his in at the side of the maul looked very much all shoulder and no wrap and would have been a card had they reviewed it.

You can't have that lack of imagination against the Boks and rely on winning the set piece battle. There's talk of the Boks only having plan A but the Lions are no different. Kick, set piece that's all we'd prepared. Really was probably the worst Lions display since Woodward was in charge.

Bit harsh

Bring the lads home, not going to get a fair game out there, clear red cards brushed off. Fake a covid case and get back to your families.

Heaf wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:Downward pressure if the ball is on the ground - if off the ground need to have control ..

Pretty sure not. The ball can touch down using downward pressure from the hand, arm, or any part of the front of a players body from waist to neck.

I've not reffed for 3 years so may have missed a law change but to my knowledge control has never been in the laws. "It's simply been repeated over and over again by incompetent commentators until it's become part of rugby lore rather than rugby law", a favourite quote from a former international ref I first heard during a reffing course I did back in the day.

If there's been a change to the laws and I'm wrong then I'd be genuinely interested in being pointed to it as the laws are all available online.

The ball needs to be on the ground for downward pressure.  If you take it in the air you have to be 'in possession' before you ground it.  Knocking it forwards then pushing down on it with your arm is a knock on as you've knocked it forwards and failed to bring in under control again before it hit the ground.  I wouldn't call Nigel Owens an incompetent commentator as he said essentially the same thing - even said not in control - may not be the actual words used in the laws but it's essentially what they mean.

https://www.laws.worldrugby.org/?law=21&language=EN

Nothing there that's changed from when I reffed week in, week out. Also nothing to suggest control when the ball's in the air.

If the ball had left contact with his hand or arm, hit the ground then got downward pressure it would be a knock on. It doesn't leave contact with him and touch the ground though.

There are two ways a player can ground the ball:

(a) Player touches the ground with the ball. A player grounds the ball by holding the ball and touching the ground with it, in in-goal. ‘Holding’ means holding in the hand or hands, or in the arm or arms. No downward pressure is required.

(b) Player presses down on the ball. A player grounds the ball when it is on the ground in the in-goal and the player presses down on it with a hand or hands, arm or arms, or the front of the player’s body from waist to neck inclusive.

No way was he holding the ball ...

From the laws I sent there (which is the worldrugby.org website) you've added "when it is on the ground" to part b though!

worldrugby.org wrote:
1. The ball can be grounded in in-goal:

a. By holding it and touching the ground with it; or
b. By pressing down on it with a hand or hands, arm or arms, or the front of the player’s body from waist to neck.

If there's another rule not listed there, or an amended rule not listed there I'd be really interested to get a link to it?

I'm not trying to be confrontational with that request either. I am genuinely interested as a former ref who has drifted out of the game. As from the rules when I officiated and those rules I've linked there it seems a clear try.

R!skysports wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

R!skysports wrote:Well this game has cemented my opinion  of Gatland and his tactics

What a load of crap

Two Scottish players haven’t done well mind. 3 if you include VDM.

Eeer. Ok straight there to bring nationality into it ??  It sure any players had a good game

Yes they have not been great under the high ball but the tactically plan from gatland has been terrible and why select attaching runners in the backs and have not intention of using them

This was such a poorly conceived game plan and had no guile or change.

Fully deserved to lose that and I hope we try and play some rugby next week. Even a fing little

Not sure many/any Lions players came out of that match with any credit.

We plyed not to lose the game rsther than to win it.

The coaching staff need to have a good look at their tactics. SA were cold last week, they are not now, should that have been anticipated?

No 7&1/2 wrote:Unfortunately the defensive selections led to what I feared. Some hard decisions for Gatland and the coaches next week including a captain who is going missing in the setpiece.

Offcials were absolutely awful.

Only saw the second half, but during that period I thought O'Keefe did a brilliant job.

aucklandlaurie wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Unfortunately the defensive selections led to what I feared. Some hard decisions for Gatland and the coaches next week including a captain who is going missing in the setpiece.

Offcials were absolutely awful.

Only saw the second half, but during that period I thought O'Keefe did a brilliant job.

In the first half, with the help of the South African TMO, he missed a clear red and two clear yellows.

aucklandlaurie wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Unfortunately the defensive selections led to what I feared. Some hard decisions for Gatland and the coaches next week including a captain who is going missing in the setpiece.

Offcials were absolutely awful.

Only saw the second half, but during that period I thought O'Keefe did a brilliant job.

Wonderful to see you back laurie! A much missed stalwart of the 606v2 rugby boards. I hope you and yours are well?

Biltong (now Old Man) posting regularly, laurie popping his head in. Can one of the rugby mods give LondonTiger the online equivalent of a poke in ribs!

Duty281 wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Unfortunately the defensive selections led to what I feared. Some hard decisions for Gatland and the coaches next week including a captain who is going missing in the setpiece.

Offcials were absolutely awful.

Only saw the second half, but during that period I thought O'Keefe did a brilliant job.

In the first half, with the help of the South African TMO, he missed a clear red and two clear yellows.

Thats hardly "Absolutely awful"

king_carlos wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Unfortunately the defensive selections led to what I feared. Some hard decisions for Gatland and the coaches next week including a captain who is going missing in the setpiece.

Offcials were absolutely awful.

Only saw the second half, but during that period I thought O'Keefe did a brilliant job.

Wonderful to see you back laurie! A much missed stalwart of the 606v2 rugby boards. I hope you and yours are well?

Biltong (now Old Man) posting regularly, laurie popping his head in. Can one of the rugby mods give LondonTiger the online equivalent of a poke in ribs!

And cheers to you KC, I come on here every now and then but its only for a quick pint and a look round, also a big shout out to Biltong, Rassie has done such a complete preparation job on that Bok team, I was most impressed with that SA front row that finished that game today and part of that was the role played by the run on front row.

aucklandlaurie wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Unfortunately the defensive selections led to what I feared. Some hard decisions for Gatland and the coaches next week including a captain who is going missing in the setpiece.

Offcials were absolutely awful.

Only saw the second half, but during that period I thought O'Keefe did a brilliant job.

In the first half, with the help of the South African TMO, he missed a clear red and two clear yellows.

Thats hardly "Absolutely awful"

How is it anything but absolutely awful? What a strange thing to say.

mikey_dragon wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Unfortunately the defensive selections led to what I feared. Some hard decisions for Gatland and the coaches next week including a captain who is going missing in the setpiece.

Offcials were absolutely awful.

Only saw the second half, but during that period I thought O'Keefe did a brilliant job.

In the first half, with the help of the South African TMO, he missed a clear red and two clear yellows.

Thats hardly "Absolutely awful"

How is it anything but absolutely awful? What a strange thing to say.

Jeez there's more to rugby than the colour of the cards, in fact if I had my way I'd get rid of the cards well apart from for biting, headbutting and kicking(including leg tripping).

SA played the game the way they wanted it played. We just went along with that and tried to play the same game, only not effectively.

The big question for us is do we try and do the same thing next week, assuming that they can't back up that level of intensity two weeks in a row, or do we try and change things up.

I really would like to try and see us play a bit, which means bringing some of our flair players into the mix and a good injection of fresh blood.

Next week will be interesting!

aucklandlaurie wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Unfortunately the defensive selections led to what I feared. Some hard decisions for Gatland and the coaches next week including a captain who is going missing in the setpiece.

Offcials were absolutely awful.

Only saw the second half, but during that period I thought O'Keefe did a brilliant job.

In the first half, with the help of the South African TMO, he missed a clear red and two clear yellows.

Thats hardly "Absolutely awful"

How is it anything but absolutely awful? What a strange thing to say.

Jeez there's more to rugby than the colour of the cards, in fact if I had my way I'd get rid of the cards well apart from for biting, headbutting and kicking(including leg tripping).

That is just nonsense.

But having said that, we managed to lose that game without any help from the ref!

aucklandlaurie wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Unfortunately the defensive selections led to what I feared. Some hard decisions for Gatland and the coaches next week including a captain who is going missing in the setpiece.

Offcials were absolutely awful.

Only saw the second half, but during that period I thought O'Keefe did a brilliant job.

In the first half, with the help of the South African TMO, he missed a clear red and two clear yellows.

Thats hardly "Absolutely awful"

How is it anything but absolutely awful? What a strange thing to say.

Jeez there's more to rugby than the colour of the cards, in fact if I had my way I'd get rid of the cards well apart from for biting, headbutting and kicking(including leg tripping).

Red cards are in place to help protect the players. It’s an awful decision.

Did the wingers get any passes all game?

Not sure if they did

Let’s just put second rows on the wing for the high balls next week. Pointless have skilled players their with our tactics

On the cards

The take out in the air was a red all day long but I was glad that it was not given as wanted a Mach 15 v 15.

Looking at the analysis of the calls with Nigel, SA were very lucky with the try and the tackle on Murray!

Nige was talking out of his hat for the try

Whatever the implications of the ref calls, that is not why we lost the game.

Good teams take refs call out of the equation, we simply not do that!