Lions held by Emerging Springboks

The British and Irish Lions' midweek match against the Emerging Springboks was billed as a chance for some key men to lay down their marker for a place in the Lions Test team on Saturday.

But the 13-13 result did little to put pressure on those that were on the tourists' losing side against South Africa at the weekend.

Martyn Williams had looked in line for a Test call-up after the weekend but was strangely innocuous for a player so normally key to every match he is involved in.

In fact, just three players really stuck their hands up. Wing duo Luke Fitzgerald and Shane Williams gave Lions coach Ian McGeechan a selection headache with two solid performances, and Ugo Monye's late appearance as a substitute would suggest his place in the Test side might be at peril from the above two.

The Test lock pairing of Alun Wyn Jones and Paul O'Connell proved reasonably ineffective for the first half on Saturday at the very least and Donncha O'Callaghan gave the sort of all-round performance so desperately lacking in the set pieces as well as open play.

But McGeechan will be more disappointed that players like Ronan O'Gara, James Hook, Harry Ellis, Nathan Hines and Andy Powell didn't quite give the performances he might have hoped for. And sadly this apparent lack of competition for Test starting places will only add to the Springboks' confidence heading to Saturday.

What did you make of the Lions' performance against the Emerging Springboks? And did any players force their way into the Test side? Post your comments below...

Comments

[david]

Miami Alan, you've clearly let the sun go to your head mate. OGara's been distinctly average and has not really laid down a marker at all. I'd start with Jones as he's done little wrong and have Hook on the bench as an impact player. That's a far better combination.

[Alan Miami]

Rog has been best flyhalf so far, Hook's kicking was not so impressive, Rog reaction to the draw was correct, he'd every reason to be angry, Earl's raised his hand, anyway, whatever the team hope we can win and make the test series a little more competitive,

[George B]

Why knock the Lions? You cant read into that game after conditions that bad. The only telltale thing was the defence which was great bar the last two mins. Williams was top draw for me.

[Manny]

Couldn't agree more. Thought Monye was the better performers in the Test unless I was watching a better game. Williams, Fitzgerald and Kearney have done nothing to suggest the team needs changing. The Lions only just missed out on the win so wholesale changes aren't what's required. We need to change the front row and I think Vickery and Mears know they won't be starting but can't see the change for any more real changes. There's not enough strength in depth to do that as last night's game showed.

[olly]

Why is Monye so under threat credit the Springboks with great defense. Only changes needed are an all Welsh front row bring in Shaw and for the subs Hook in place of O'Gara

[Sam, Maidstone]

James Hook's got to start at fly-half. Stephen Jones is a great kicker and all but he's not an attacking force like Hook. Let's just go for broke and give him a go. I reckon he'll be magic.

I'd make a few other changes. No place for Phil Vickery I'm afraid or Lee Mears.

Here goes, Byrne, Monye, O'Driscoll, Roberts, Bowe, Hook, Phillips, Jenkins, Rees, Jones, Wyn Jones, O'Connell, Croft, Wallace, Heaslip.

[Taff]

I'd make changes for the Test if I was McGeechan. I'dr bring Rob Kearney in on the wing for Tommy Bowe. He's better defensively and adds a stronger defensive option. And I don't entirely agree that Martyn Williams was out of sorts. If that knee of his is ok then he should really play. He's such a brilliant player. Harry Ellis certainly didn't do enough to suggest he's a Test player. How many mistakes can one scrum-half make in a match?

[Martin, Sheffield]

Williams didn't do enough to shift Monye or Bowe. He showed some glimpses but he needed to do a lot more than that. Actually what disappointed me about him was the fact that he tried this one-man crusade to get back in the Test team rather than be a real team player. All in all a bit of a disappointment and no one really and truly stuck their hand up.

[Pete]

I'm not sure I entirely agree. I think James Hook hinted at the sort of creativity you might want from the bench while I really liked Keith Earls' attitude. Sure, he might have messed up a few things but he had a big go at everything, whether it be kicking, running, passing or being the last line of defence. I don't agree with O'Callaghan as being in line for a Test spot. For me he's way too lightweight.