Lions Tour

We have seen some great rugby already from this Lions Tour.

Vs. Higveld VX

This was a joke of game for the Lions but was fun to watch a bunch of nobody's try and be Giant Killers in the End Ronan O'Gara pulled it with his boot and Irish Charm.

Vs. Lions

This game was a joke. It was similar to the Golden Lions season in the S14. Granted they lost their coach 3 days before and we missing most of their first chioce forward pack. That being said the Lions were on Fire. The wanted to avenge the Poor perforance against the Highveld XV and they certainly did. They played faster and hard and stephen jones, Jamie Robinson and Brian O'Driscoll formed quite a partnership with Ugo Monye looking like a blur every time he had the ball. Congrats to Todd Clever for being the first American to play against the B&I Lions.

Vs. The Cheetahs

The Lions were super lucky to get away with this one. The Cheetahs played with a fericious never say die attitude and gave the Lions more trouble than they Imagined. This game is slowly but surely proving my point - the Lions sturggle to play a middle table team - with out thier best players how are they going to beat the springboks?

Vs. The Sharks

The Lions got away this won easier than they should've helped by a very poor sharks performance. The sharks weren't helped by the loss of 10 springboks - but should have made this one closer.

Vs. Province

Again another close game for the Lions against and average provincial side. The Lions seem to have a hard team dealing with teams that play well at the breakdown and kick well - I can tell you this is exactly what the Spingboks will look like. But they most likley will not give up much in the scrum, I expect them to put enourmous pressure on the Lions in the Line out.

The interesting matchup shaping up here for me is with the Midfield Combinations - can Jean DeVilliers shut down Jamie Robinson? Will it be Jacque Foure or Adi Jacobs against BOD?

The Games where Jamie Robinson hasn't been contained the Lions have run wild. If they can get over the gainline, Brian O'Driscoll is capable of running wild and can link up with anybody - even me! If the Lions get this consitent go forward we will see a few things

- Tries from the lions
- Huge hits
- Games much closer than many anticipate.

Without Jamie Robinsion the lions lose their go forward ball an attacking platform.

Eagle Game

As I am watching the Eagle Gmae a few things are coming to mind

The Officating is a total and complete Joke
- Ireland is getting away with Murder at the Breakdown
- All the line throws were straight as can be
- Penalty try? Who are you kidding
- Why do they even have touch judges?
- Too much talk? Your useless ref why wouldn't we tell you?
- When the ball is two feet from your face how the hell do you miss the hands in the ruck you are uselss? Thats 14 points for the ref.

This is best forward performance in open play I've seen in years from the US. Its encouraging but is producing nothing.

They Eagles are breaking the gainline with regualrity again something new in the last few years.

While the Eagles are putting together phase after phase they're playing way too much rugby in the middle of the field.

Mike Hercus can't kick for post or from hand, his up and unders are useless, and he should be able to clear the ball and extra 15-20 meters with every kick. With Gaving Debartolo in the side why are you wasting time with a goal kicker who has never been consistent?

What a suprise as soon as he leaves the Eagles are on fire? Hercus is capeable of fantastic rugby - anyone who debates this must look no further than the EDF Energy Cup in 2006 where he cut up Wasps. We haven't seen this form from him since the second half of the Samoa game in the RWC. He has the ability to be a world class 10, but that isn't how he played today.

Kevin Swiryn Belongs in the centers, he should play 13.

The scrum has held up well all day.

There was very very little rugby played today thanks to an offical who cares more about his whistle than test in front of him. What a joke.

All in all the Eagles have improved many things that lacked in their performances from last year, most importantly getting over the gainline. They fought for the ball and put together many phases, and did not give away a lot of turnover ball from first phase - something that has been a habitual problem for the Eagles in the last season. I am looking forward to the Churchill Cup as we have to take baby steps in USA Rugby. With some goal kicking, some kicking to the corners, and some competent officating this becomes a very close game.

If the Eagles pack can keep building on this game we just may have a shot at Canada for the Rugby WC Qualifiers.

I am eagerly awaiting the Wales game next weekend. Good Luck boys.

Blue Bull Rampage

Bulls 61 Chiefs 17

As predicted - The Bulls ran away with this one. Some smart play in the start of the match quickly put the Chiefs behind and the Bulls never looked back. It seems like the Bulls got every bounce and every break and they took advantage of it all.

The Bulls had the advantage in the forwards - and with the lead they kicked the ball all day and kept the Chiefs out of the game. Playing behind for virtually the entire contest the Chiefs were forced to try and run it at all costs and the Bulls Punished them over and over for it.

This was the most lopsided victory in S14 history - I hope the Lions are ready.

For the Bulls:
Tries: Du Preez 2, Habana 2, Matfield, Olivier, Spies, Rossouw
Cons: Steyn 5, Francis
Pens: Steyn 2
DG: Steyn

For Chiefs:
Tries: Masaga, Muliaina
Cons: Donald 2
Pen: Donald

Eagles Name Team to face Ireland

Mike Petri comes in as captain for the Eagles against Ireland in Eddie O'Sullivan's first match in charge of the team. Hopefully he can lift the team like the small child about to great performance and build on his own solid performances he made in last years internationals. GO USA!!! More to come on this game later - but I can't wait to see how Petri plays against Peter Stringer.

1. Mike MacDonald (Leeds Carnegie)
2. Chris Biller (California) (Debut)
3. Will Johnson (Oxford University) (Debut)
4. John Van Der Giessen (Denver Barbarians)
5. Hayden Smith (Saracens)
6. Lou Stanfill (New York Athletic Club)
7. P Dahl (Belmont Shore) (Debut)
8. Nic Johnson (Denver Barbarians) (Debut)
9. Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club), captain
10. Mike Hercus (Sunshine Coast Stingrays)
11. Kevin Swiryn (Old Puget Sound Beach) (Debut)
12. Roland Suniula (Pearl City) (Debut)
13. Junior Sifa (Middleton)
14. Justin Boyd (Dallas Harlequins)
15. Chris Wyles (Saracens)

Replacements: 16. Joe Welch (Belmont Shore) 17. Mate Moeakiola (Park City Haggis) 18. Courtney Mackay (Counties Manukau) 19. JJ Gagiani (Univ. of Cape Town) 20. Tim Usasz (Nottingham) (Uncapped), 21 Ata Malifa (Belmont Shore) (Uncapped), 22. A Tuilevuka (Provo Steelers)

Lions Tour 1st Match vs. Royal Highveld XV

For all of the Lions fan out there this will be a great match to watch - because they are playing a team of second division rugby players in SA. As you will soon find out on continual basis I don't rate the Lions to highly but this game will be a joke. The Leopards and Griquas and second rates sqauds who get pumed by the other unions - even without their springboks. If the Lions win by less than 50 this is a failure for them. None the less it will yet another great spectacle of Rugby on this rugby awesome weekend!



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Royal Highveld XV: Russell Jeacocks (Leopards); Egon Seconds (Griquas), Deon van Rensburg (Leopards), Hanno Coetzee (Griquas), Bjorn Basson (Griquas); Naas Olivier (Griquas), Sarel Pretorius (Griquas); Albertus Buckle (Griquas), Rayno Barnes (Griquas), Bees Roux (Griquas), Rudi Mathee (Leopards), Jacques Lombard (Griquas), Wilhelm Koch (Leopards, capt), Devon Raubenheimer (Griquas), Jonathan Makoena (Griquas).
Replacements: Pellow van der Westhuizen (Leopards), Stef Roberts (Griquas), Rynard Landman (Leopards), RW Kember (Leopards), Jacques Coetzee (Pumas), Riaan Viljoen (Griquas), Jovan Bowles (Bulldogs).

Lions: Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland), Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales); Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland), Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland); Andrew Sheridan (Sales Sharks/England), Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales), Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England), Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland - captain), Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales).
Replacements: Lee Mears (Bath/England), Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Ferris (Ulster/Ireland), Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales), Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England).

Super 14 Final Bulls vs. Chiefs

Tomorrow is easily one of my favorite days of the year - so much intense rugby I almost don't know what to do - some how I will manage.

First we start with Bulls & Chiefs in the S14. As you see above the Bulls poses one of biggest freak shows in world Rugby - Pierre Spies. He just one of many world class players on the Bulls at the moment. To give you guys some stats on him to display his freakish abilities here we go

- 2 meters tall or 6'6"
- Weight 110kgs/242lbs and 6% body fat
- He can Bench Press 365lbs/165KG
- Deadlifts 530lbs/220kg
- Can do a standing jump onto a platform 1.4 meters high (4.6 Feet)
- Does Chin ups with 50kg/110lbs on his waist
- The most impressive stat is that he can sprint 835m before slowing

There is no one in world rugby even close to this, maybe even the world period. Did I mention he has already won the S14 once?

His try last week was easily the try of the season as the bulls simply thrashed the greatest rugby franchise in the world the crusaders.

I am sure the chiefs will come to play, but the bulls forwards will feel Fourie DePreez and Morne Steyn on the front foot, and the two half backs kicking will keep the Cheifs back pedaling all day. Also the Cheifs just flew 20 hours to play at attitude at Loftus Versfeld - I'm sorry no matter how good the Kiwis are there are just too many things going against them here.

I see another rugby spectacular tomorrow with the bulls coming out on top!

As a massive sharks supporter it pains me to talk up the bulls - but lets face it - this season they are awesome.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Rayno Gerber, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Pedrie Wannenburg, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Marius Delport.

Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (captain), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Dwayne Sweeney, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Toby Morland, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 James McGougan, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Joe Savage, 18 Toby Lynn, 19 Serge Lilo, 20 David Bason, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Sosene Anesi.

Equipment Upgrade

The Blogging will continue again this evening with the new Laptop I have received today!

Out of the Loop!

Sorry - Due to technical difficulties I have been out of the loop for a couple months but we are now back and better than ever!

Stay tuned for new and continued updates!

Timmy Little in Italy

Timmy Little (Picture above on right), aka that wierd 6'6" Aussie guy who freaks everyone out, has now made a man of himself and is currently a full time rugby professional playing his Rugby in Sicily for San Gregorio Catina. This past weekend they had huge win against Treviso's A-Side in Italy's first division. It was a historic win as it is the first time ever a Sicilian team has beaten any grade of Treviso. Timmy was man of the match and ruffeled some feathers. I had a few minutes to speak to him via email.

R&L: Timmy why did you get a yellow card?

Timbo: Mate for being a C*** - I had been warned 3 or 4 times and I think i threw some one at the half back after the play.

R&L: Wow - you must be popular?

Timbo: Actually got punched in the face about 10 times, I had mutual friend of the opposing coach so I went to say hello after the game but he refused to speak to me!

R&L: How's the Pizza?

Timbo: Treating me well mate!

Here is a link to the write up translated by google;

"The victory of the heart, the group's victory, the victory of David against Goliath. It is a historic day for San Gregorio Catania Rugby who succeeded in defeat with a great merit over Benetton Treviso"

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.siciliatoday.net/quotidiano/sport/Rugby_San_Gregorio_Catania_-_Benetton_Treviso_25-13_11546.shtml&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=4&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DSan%2BGregorio%2Btreviso%2Brugby%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff

Another Bonus Pic! Here is the big man trying figure out the line calls in Italian! Good Luck!

Maha Rushie!

Great Article by Maha Rushie - read it and check it out!

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123318906638926749.html