Lions restore pride with victory

The Lions gave themselves something to cheer about with a deserved 28-9 victory in the third and final Test, ensuring in the process that they avoided a first ever series whitewash against South Africa.

But in truth it was a mismatch from the start as Springbok coach Peter de Villiers blooded a series of inexperienced players for the finale, some of whom massively underperformed and helped the Lions' cause in the process.

However, that is to take nothing away from the Lions, who played like their lives depended on it despite the fact the series was lost. Simon Shaw was once again phenomenal, and probably sneaks the Lions player of the entire series award - if any gongs are being dished out. In addition, Phil Vickery refused to get bossed around in the front row like the first Test while the new-look back lines and back rows both produced near-perfect defensive performances.

To the Lions' immense credit, they made a fight of it in the previous two Tests too but it wasn't quite enough to give the grandstand winner-takes-all final match. In the end, there were three great Tests but the Lions will pack their bags tonight breathing a communal sigh of "what if".

What did you make of the Lions victory in the third Test and should they have done more to win the series? And who was your man of the series? Post your comments below...

Comments

[mark12]

funny how tours always go and how people always bark on about individuals, reading back through the blogs before tour,same names come up,scrum half-blair,cussiter,peel, no mention of mike phillips and centres dont think nobody realised jamie roberts was on tour, not much talk of rob kearney but up there with lee byrne. shane williams probably the first time since becoming WPof YEAR that he hasnt been man marked and thats what happens funny how quickly people forget. all welsh front row,shame we didnt see more of it,welsh pack caused sa problems in last sa tour last year which they should have won. shalk berger ,brilliant player but has obviously taken one to many knocks to the head.

[rod]

great series but there had to be a winner this time it was sa. lets face it rugby not a game for sissies so lets keep it like that. you win some and lose some be gratious in defeat.the springboks are not the world champs for nothing you should be proud that you gave us(SA) such a good go but it was not your day

[Task - True Rugby Fan]

God all you on here are Tunnel Visioned, going on about the same thing all the time.
What if Shane Williams Had Started The 1st Test, the right decision was not to start him. His form as been sketchy at best and Monye has outshone him in every aspect leading up to the Tests, full stop. Williams finished off other people's effort, thats it, he has not created anything him self and when he does decided to make a break he's only pummled into the floor by Smith and Brussow, he was not the Man Of The Match, that honour went to either Heaslip, Kearney or Martian Williams, with the latter getting it.

Monye as finished and created his own tries and efforts, my point exactly shown by his decision to go for the intercept, turning over balls at the break down twice, you dont see Williams doing this, teh right wingers for the tests have always been Bowe and Monye end of.

In response to Jon, 2 tries were not disallowed seeing as the first was knocked on by Bowes superub defending. Sheridan was defending himself seeing as he got punched and the breakdown before the incident, and Croft's shoulder charge? it is True that the Lions have performed stupid acts in the Tests, but noting compared to South Africa, what about Smit taking Vickery out in open play when he's no where near the ball or Fouries late charge on Jones which rightly got us the penalty where the ball landed.
Also in response to Jon, South Africa sent out a second string ?, im sorry but their back line with the inclusion of Mone Stayne at Fly Half and the two centres as been better in the Third Test than it has been in the previous 2 Tests, not to mentioned that we didnt exactly send out our strongest side with Bowe having to slip to centre and with the inclusion of Flutey, how did play well but still not our first choice centres. So before you start with the excuses on that one just have a think about it, PDV wouldnt have included them if they didnt think they were up to the challenge, thats what the Emergining Springboks are for.

Lions provided that South Africa still have some bulding to do in order to defend their title come 2011, and 2-1 test series isnt a true reflection on how both teams played Jon, sounds to me you are a sore looser South African who probably condones Burgers gouging, the most horrendous act to be commited all tour, along with the stupid armbands with "Justice" on them, something i really hope they get cited for. If you are British or Irish, you should hang your head

[tony]

not exactly what we wanted,but a good win yesterday.Shane williams excelled,(why not play 1st two tests?)and simon shaw player of series.Never mind wat ifs,time to move on,not look back.

[Joe Webb]

The dirty dirty boks, there is hard play and then there is pure dirt. And then to ware those arm bands afterwards, they let the whole rugby world down with their behaviour.

The lions through away the first test and should of at least drawen the second only for a try that was not.......

some questions over selection though?

[Martyn]

Jon, sounds like someone went on the internet before having their Cornflakes. How can you get that cross before eight am.

Back to the game, I actually thought the likes of Shaw were out played by the backs. Shane Williams was the man of the match in my opinion and the likes of Kearney and Flutey were also exceptional.

[Jon]

Clearly Alex Mortimor suffers from tunnel vision or igonores fact. Only PDV condoned Burger, have not heard any other saffer condone it, indeed PDV was forced to apologise. 2ndly even the lions management could not understand why Botha was cited and especially banned. I am curious to know what Alex said to his son when Croft shoulder charged Du preez in test 1, when Sheridan was throwing punches for fun in test 2 and when Shaw kneed Du preez yesterday.There was quiet a bit of niggle in this series and off the ball incidents by both sides.

I have not hear any saffer whinging about 2 tries being disallowed, obstruction for williams first try and blah blah yesterday so lets talk about what ifs.

Good series, a lot closer than people thought,the Boks made 10 changes for the 3rd test at the end of the day and effectively started with a 2nd string. Today,tomorrow and for ever more the Boks won 2-1 thats it.

[Henry Gibbs]

What if Simon Shaw had played from the start, what if the selectors had trusted Shane Williams, what if the cheating Schalk Burger had been sent off in that second test? We've got to let the what ifs go. There are a hell of a lot of them that's for sure but the series is gone and there's no point griping anymore.

[marc]

so why did Shane Williams not play the first test? You need to play your quality players to have any chance away from home.

[Iain]

Another brilliant game but McGeechan let us down with some of his early appointments. He should have gone with experience with the likes of Shaw and Martin and Shane Williams. Oh well ain't hindsight a wonderful thing. We can't complain that we lost to the best rugby side out there right now.

[Alex Mortimer]

I'm fed up with the South Africans. First there was the dispicable act by Schalk Burger when he put his digits in Luke Fitzgerald's eye socket. Then Bakkies Botha gets banned for dangerous play. And what do they do in response? First, the coach says Burger's a good guy and did nothing wrong. And now the whole squad where bands with "justice for Bakkies" or something like that on them. What sort of message does that send. My son asked me to explain that one. What do I say? Don't worry Sam, they're just encouraging foul play. I can't wait until they get knocked off the top spot in world rugby. They are not good ambassadors.

[TagRugby]

All too little too late. It could have been epic but it wasn't sadly, unless you're South African.

[Jez]

South Africa didn't care so the Test result doesn't really count. They would have demolished the Liopns had they started with their best team, no question about it.

[Erik]

If there is a better lock or come to mention it a more underrated player in the game right now than Simon Shaw then name him. The big what if of the series will be what it Shaw had played in that first Test. I know one player can't win a game but he very nearly did in the second and I think he would have helped sneak it in the first. Hopefully he now gets the credit he's deserved for so long.

[Rob]

Who cares? The Lions lost the series. They are not winners. They beat a second-string South Africa side and all of a sudden they think they are the best in the world.