Hello everyone! Welcome back to another presentation on IN THE WHITE. Hope you all are fine. Today, I will be bringing you part 3 of the writing series focused on the CASTLE LAGER LIONS SERIES 2021. In this article, I will look to provide an overview of second match between the SPRINGBOKS and the BRITISH & IRISH LIONS, alongside the importance of the third match of this series from the perspectives of both sides, see how the two teams lineup against each other and conclude with my expectations and prediction.  

Overview of Game 2

 To start things off, the second test saw a massive turn around by the Springboks as they overturned a 9-6 halftime lead of the British & Irish Lions into a 27-9 victory.

It was quite a physical and intense battle as the referee had to intervene and warn both sets of players on a couple of occasions as emotions of players ran high with some pushing and shoving taking place.

Both teams were penalized for their ill-discipline in the first half, with Duhan van der Merwe of the Lions taking a trip to the bin for a foot-trip on Cheslin Kolbe, then a few minutes later Kolbe copped himself a yellow card warranting 10 minutes on the sideline for tackling Conor Murray in the air. At this point I must say Kolbe was lucky to escape with just a yellow while the nature of the incident suggests red would have been more appropriate. I would not be surprised at all if he is unavailable for the third test this weekend as a result of suspension.

In another sad incident, South Africa’s Piter-steph du Toit had to leave the field due to a shoulder injury after being hit in a crunching tackle by Duhan van der Merwe, which went unchecked by the Television Match Official.

A try saving tackle from Springbok captain Siya Kolisis just before halftime was the main highlight of the first 40 minutes as he denied Robbie Henshaw and the Lions five points or potentially seven had the try been awarded.    

Three penalty goals from Dan Biggar of the Lions and two from the boots of Handre Pollard of the Springboks saw the visitors lead 9-6 at the interval.

The second half got off to a sparkling start with a try from Makazole Mapimpi, who caught a pin-point cross kick from fly-half Handre Pollard.

Close to the hour mark, the Boks dominance with ball in hand and territorial advantage were rewarded when they drove a 25 metre maul into the Lions 22, where Faf de Klerk’s grabber kick was clinched by Lukhanyo Am just before it crossed the dead-ball line.

Further to the two second half tries, Pollard added five penalty goals and one conversion for his 17 points contribution in the second spell, which was certainly in the much needed win.  

The Lions failed to add points in the second 40 minutes as they could not hold the ball for long and even if they did so, it was kicked away under pressure.

There were too many penalties given away by the tourists at scrum time and during the breakdowns.

What does it mean for Game 3: The Decider?

Well, the Springbok win last weekend means the CASTLE LAGER LIONS SERIES is now tied at 1-1 and whoever wins the next one takes out the series.  

Having won the first test and taking a three point lead in the first half of the second test, the visitors would be eager to lift the trophy for fifth time, with last series win in 1997.

For the hosts, the recent victory should be boost to them, the Boks desperately needed a win to keep the series alive, which they have done.

Now it’s about retaining the series which they won in 2009.  

An interesting point to note is that this is the first time the series will be decided in the third test as all previous series were decided in the first two tests.

SQUADS

South Africa

British & Irish Lions

Expectations & Prediction

I expect a physical and close contest given the series title is at stake and the squad depth could come in handy which could tip the game in either direction.

Talking about consistency, neither team has been pretty consistent when you look at the two tests.

The opening test saw the Springboks throw away 12-3 halftime lead and the Lions failed to build on from a 9-6 interval lead in the second game.

No doubt that emotions of players will be high and it will come down to who controls them best and concentrates on the task at hand.

I expect the usual kicking battle as seen in the past two games and it may come down to the two fly-half’s to decide the winner.

Given how the Springboks played the second half of the second test, if they pick their game from where they left off, I believe it will be a tough game for the victors.

However, f the hosts are to retain their crown for the next twelve years, they must leave last week’s win behind and focus their game because one thing is for sure, the British & Irish Lions will come roaring back at the Springboks.

As far as my prediction for game three is concerned, I strongly believe the SPRINGBOKS will edge the BRITISH & IRISH LIONS in the series decider this weekend.

With that being said, I wish both teams the very best and leave with the word of acknowledgement and the highlights from game 2 of the CASTLE LAGER LIONS SERIES 2021 for my lovely readers.

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another presentation on IN THE WHITE. Hope you all are fine and coping well with the new normal. Today, I am glad to bring you part 2 on LIONS TOUR of SOUTH AFRICA 2021. In this part of the writing series, I will be providing an overview on Game 1 and see what the results mean for each side ahead of game 2 this weekend. Then, I will provide lineups for both sides and conclude with my expectations and prediction for second game of this series.

Overview of Game 1

The CASTLE LAGER LIONS SERIES 2021 officially kicked off last weekend at Cape Town Stadium where the BRITISH & IRISH LIONS emerged victorious over the SPRINGBOKS by 22-17.

A strong 2^nd half from the visitors saw them overturn a 12-3 halftime deficit.  

In general, the game started off well with both sides battling for territory. It was an old fusion kicking battle as I had expected and mentioned in my match preview earlier on.

Looking at the two halves, the first half definitely belongs to the South Africa with four penalty goals from the boots of Handre Pollard, the man who captained the Springboks for this particular test as it marked his 50^th test match for his country.  

A lot of penalties were being considered by the Lions with handling errors especially while contesting the ball in the air and normal passing, alongside a couple of lineouts that were scrappy at the beginning as well.

A couple of penalty goals were also missed by the visitors within the first 40 minutes, apart from just the one that went between the posts earlier in the half by Dan Biggar.  

The second half got off to a flyer with Luke Cowan-Dickie scoring the first try of the match and the series, after which the hosts responded with a try of their own by Faf de Klerk.

A key point for the Springbok defeat could be attributed to a couple of decisions that did not go their way in the second half, with two tries being denied by the Television Match Official (TMO) reasoning one as a “knock on” and the other being described as “player was in front of the kicker”, this one was a 50/50 call as it look that way.

Despite the denials, South Africa’s performance in the second 40 minutes was totally opposite the first as they constantly lost the ball, missed two penalties and a conversion, which meant dropping 8 points that certainly made the difference I can say.  

The restarts, high balls and lineouts were not going as planned. Even a number of penalties were given away at the breakdowns and during scrums. Basically whatever was happening to the Lions in the first half, the same happened to their opposition in the second half.

What does this mean for Game 2?

For the Springboks it’s back to the drawing board, working on major error that really let them down in the series opener.

It’s also about getting the discipline right and staying focused is key, knowing that they are 1-0 down in the series, it is necessary that players remain consistent, work on their individual game, learn from their mistakes of the previous game and remain committed to the very important task ahead.

For the Lions, the win was a welcome boost given how well they have performed on the tour so far.

The second half was ecstatic, given how they kept the ball, contested brilliantly at restarts, lineout and even one or two scrums. There’s no doubt the visitors will look to start from where they left off.

There’s also no two ways about the fact that this second game is as crucial as it is for South Africa because a win gives them the CASTLE LAGER LIONS SERIES TITLE and puts them 2-0 up in this three match series.

SQUADS

SOUTH AFRICA

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS

Expectations & Predictions for Game 2

I expect the Boks’ to come out firing in this second test with emphasis on a lot that’s at stake, especially the point I made earlier on that only win can keep the series hopes alive for the hosts, while a defeat means the trophy is going out of South Africa.

I have a strong feeling that the Springboks are going win this weekend and level the series at 1 apiece.

I know the BRITISH & IRISH LIONS will be determined to get the double bubble over their opponents but this time I give the edge to the SPRINGBOKS. 

With that being said, I wish both sets of players the very best for this crucial encounter.

Thank you and relive the moments from game 1 by watching the highlights below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-g-1KGAbNI

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another presentation on IN THE WHITE. Hope you all are in good health. Today, I have opted to start a new series which will be dedicated specifically to the three match series between the SPRINGBOKS and the BRITISH & IRISH LIONS that kicks-off on the 24^th of this month and set to conclude on the 7^th of August with the third and final test in Cape Town

Throughout this three games I look to provide my point of view before and after every fixture involving the two teams.

To start things off for this series, I wish to build up a platform by providing a match preview of Game 1 scheduled for this weekend in Cape Town.

Thoughts on Game 1

The opening game of any tournament or series is always said to be tough as everyone wants a strong start. This will definitely be the motive for both sets of players when they face each other in the series opener.

In my opinion, whoever wins the first match of the series could possibly go on to win the series itself either 3-0 or 2-1. While a series draw is extremely rare, the possibility of it cannot be completely ruled out given the fact that there have been six draws between them. This includes, a 10-10 and 0-0 draws in 1903, followed by a 3-3 lock-up in 1924 and 1962 respectively. The fifth draw happened in 1968 with 6-6 score line at EPRFU Stadium in Port Elizabeth, with the last draw occurring in 1974 at Ellis Park, Johannesburg where both teams ended-up 13 all. Click here for more stats.

From A Springbok Perspective 

I see 2021 Lions Tour as different from the previous years as we are still stuck in the middle of a global Pandemic which has certainly been a challenge in preparation for this particular series with a few Springbok players and a few coaching staff alongside four Georgian players testing positive for COVID-19 ahead of the second test match in Johannesburg on July 9^th, forcing it to be called off.

This was a major blow to the Boks’ in particular as it disrupted training sessions due to players being isolated for fourteen days.

Another key factor to this year’s Lions Tour is the point that the Springboks have played only one international match so far since their World Cup victory in 2019 in Japan.

The 40-9 win over Georgia in the first of two test match scheduled is certainly not enough game time for players and coaches alike to test player combinations and make alternate changes if required.

Despite the cancellation of the second test, the Springboks were stunned after South Africa A lost their final warm-up match 17-14 to the Bulls in Cape Town on the 17^th of this month.

Prior to their match against the Bulls, a South Africa A side took field against the British & Irish Lions in Cape Town on the 14^th of this month where the Lions were beaten 17-13.

From British & Irish Lions perspective

As for the British & Irish Lions, their tour to South Africa began on a winning note when they beat Japan 26-10 on the 26^th of June at BT Murray field in Edinburgh, Scotland

Upon arriving in South Africa, the visitors outclassed the Lions 56-14 at Ellis Park, Johannesburg on July 3^rd, before thumping the Sharks 54-7 on the same venue four days later.

Three days after, the Lions demolished the same opposition 71-31 at Loftus Versfeld, after which the side lost to South Africa A 17-13, before getting back to winning ways with a 49-3 victory over the Stormers in their final warm-up game at Cape Town Stadium on July 17^th.  

SQUADS

Springboks Line-up

British & Irish Lions Line-up

Expectations & Prediction

Expect top quality rugby from both sides despite the challenges outlined earlier in the Springbok camp and the lack of sufficient game time for players cannot be used as an excuse for not enough preparation.

I understand that a lot of pressure will be on both teams to perform well, especially South Africa as being the hosts and World Rugby Champions will look to defend their 2009 series title in front of their home fans.

While the Lions will try to build on from their last win and just the one loss on the tour so far.

The result is too tight to call, given the fact that the visitors have had very little competition from South African clubs, namely the Lions, Sharks and Stormers.

I anticipate an old fashion kicking battle with game close enough where the fly-halves might need to step-up to decide the winner.

For game one of this series, I give the BRITISH & IRISH LIONS the edge over the hosts as they have played more matches compared to their opposition, which I believe could make a huge difference as the series progresses.

Another point I wish to emphasize before finishing off is that, the SPRINGBOKS must have the capacity to create and convert their chances into points within the full 80 minutes and not just score points in one half and end up defending the next 40 minutes, as seen in their last two outings where South Africa A scored all their points in the first half against the British & Irish Lions and the SPRINGBOKS repeated the scenario in their final warm-up game against the Bulls.

With that, I wish both teams the very best and hope to see good and clean rugby. Thank you for reading.     

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another presentation on IN THE WHITE. I hope you all are well despite the global pandemic certainly affected us all.

Today’s presentation is going to be special for every All Black and Flying Fijian fan as I look to provide an insight ahead of their 2^nd and probably the final test match between the two sides, as much as  2021 is concerned. So for today I will begin with an overview of the last match which took place in Dunedin, New Zealand, on 10^th July 2021, then I will provide the squads for both side and conclude with my verdict and highlights from the last match.

Overview of Game 1

Well, the last encounter between the All Blacks and the Flying Fijians ended in a 57-23 victory for the All Blacks, in what was a physical and thrilling game of rugby.

Looking at an overall performance from the two sides, both sets of players played really well, especially from a Fijian point of view, the game started very well. An early penalty goal was surely a boost to them.

Breaching the All Blacks defense thrice is certainly a bonus given the fact that it’s not an easy task to score a try against a solid defensive All Blacks team.

There were a lot of handling errors and turnovers happening from both sides, something which is expected from an All Black perspective.

One thing I admire and certainly put an emphasis on is the way the All Blacks played the second forty minutes, particularly the last twenty minutes where they really picked up their game and Fiji seemed to have slowed down due to their physical fitness I suppose.

The substitutions made by the Fijian Head Coach, Vern Cotter did not prove strong enough to beat the All Blacks who seemed to have overpowered them in the second half.  

Squads

All Blacks Team Line-up

Flying Fijians Line-up

Game 2 Prediction

Keeping in mind how the first game went in Dunedin, I expect a tight game, similar to the last one but no changes to the result of the match that is, another win for the All Blacks. I do not wish to predict the margin of victory nor indicate that a major upset cannot occur. And if Fiji are to do the unthinkable, that is to beat the All Blacks, they will need to bring their A+ game against the best team in the world.

On that note, I wish both teams the very best ahead of the 2n test in Hamilton.

Thank you for reading and enjoy the highlights from the previous encounter tht took place in Dunedin last weekend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMiVtaywfYc

Hi everyone! Hope you all are in good health in this time of the Pandemic. It is with great privilege that I wish to share my thoughts on the upcoming two test matches between THE ALL BLACKS and THE FLYING FIJIANS which will be held on the 10^th & 17^th of July respectively. For the purpose of this article, I will be providing my verdict on the 1^st test match scheduled for 10^th July 2021.

Before I dive into the history of this eagerly awaited fixture, look into the squad of the two sides and provide my opinion on which way I think this game one of two will go, I must highlight the fact that such fixtures don’t come around very often, which very nicely leads me to look at the history of the two teams.

History of clashes

The ALL BLACKS and FIJI have met each other nine times with the ALL BLACKS winning all of them. The biggest win against Fiji came in 2005 when the thrashed them 91-0 at North Harbor Stadium in Auckland.

The closest encounter between the two sides was in 1974, when they met for the first time in Suva (Fiji’s capital), where the visitors edged the hosts 14-13, unfortunately, this was not given a test status as nine players were backed in Suva.

The last meeting between the ALL BLACKS and FIJI was in 2011 at Carisbrook in Dunedin, New Zealand where the hosts emerged 60-14 victors. https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/history-nz-v-fiji

ALL BLACKS V FLYING FIJIANS 2021

It has been 10 long years since these teams have come head to head with each other which makes this a fascinating clash. It also adds the rivalry factor in the version of the game, as well as the fact that both sides have different sets of players compared to the previous meeting, new coaches which means new approaches and strategies, while the objective remains one for both teams and that is to get a WIN!

Squads

All Blacks Lineup

Flying Fijians Lineup

My pick for this match

I think the All Blacks will win this one, not because they have never lost to Fiji but amount of game time they have had and especially the game against Tonga last week (where they were victorious 102-0) shows how ruthless their attacking can be if it is not contained by the opposition.

Having picked the All Blacks as the winner of this game does not mean that I am ruling Fiji totally out of the contest, no absolutely not, I do know and understand that they are side capable of beating anybody when they are at their best. And they have to bring their A game tonight.

So with that, I’ll leave you with the 2011 match highlights between All Blacks and Fiji. All the best to both the sides.

Hello everyone! Hope you all are doing great despite the situation of the COVID-19 Pandemic in your respective areas of state. I hope you enjoy this presentation because today I will be sharing some light on the upcoming CASTLE LAGER LIONS SERIES which will be hosted by South Africa.

Now, if you follow rugby very closely, you must be aware that the BRITISH & IRISH LIONS commonly referred to as the LIONS, tour Australia, New Zealand and South Africa every four years. This simply means each of these three teams host the Lions Series once every 12 years.

What makes the 2021 Lions tour special for me is firstly, the confirmation that the three match series will take place despite the host country being hit by the Coronavirus Pandemic.

There were massive concerns at the beginning of the year for the series to be called-off (https://www.rugbypass.com/news/report-lions-tour-on-verge-of-cancellation/) because of increasing case numbers in the country and the United Kingdom, as well as South Africa were uncertain of getting vaccines for its citizens at that time.

There were also talks for the event to take place behind closed doors (https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210514-south-africa-planning-to-stage-lions-tour-behind-closed-doors), which would mean no spectators be allowed in the stadium. 

But I am glad to write that the games will go ahead starting on July 24^th to 7^th August with fans permitted to enter match venues.

Secondly, I have been a fan of South African rugby since 2007, not only because they won the Ruby World Cup that year but I somewhat began to understand game itself. Plus, I adored their style of play, particularly their goal kicking from distance and the physical aspect that the team displays on the pitch.  

Brief History of Lions Tour of South Africa

Looking at the history of the two sides, there have been 13 series meetings since 1891 with South Africa winning 8 of them to the Lions 4 alongside the one drawn in 155.

The last Lions tour of South Africa was in 2009 with the Springboks winning the series 2-1.

This includes a 26-21 win in Durban followed by a 28-25 victory in Pretoria before going down 28-9 in the final series match in Johannesburg.

Squads

2021 Lions Tour Schedule    

 Expectations & Final Words

I expect a fascinating series regardless of the winner, given both sets of players have not had much game time due to the global crisis.  

This means we can expect a few handling errors at least in the opening fixture scheduled for 24^th July.

A lot of hopes are with the hosts and Rugby World Cup Champions as they look to defend the series.

Finally, I wish both teams “all the best” in their preparations and may the best team win. Click link below for more details https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rugby_union_matches_between_South_Africa_and_the_British_%26_Irish_Lions

I leave you with the 2009 games 1,2 & 3 highlights. Hope you enjoy reading and reliving the moments by watching the videos of the previous meetings of the two teams.

Hi there everyone. I am doing fine and hope you all are doing the same. Today’s topic is a lot different from my previous ones because it is filled with a lot of sadness and grief. In this session I will be talking about an incident that not only shock the world with its news but also dashed the dreams of some of the finest footballers together with their lives. If you guessed it correct, then yes I will be highlighting the story of the Munich Air Tragedy, which took place 63 years ago.  

6^th February 1958, went down into the history books both in the word of football and in the field of aviation after British European Airways flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport, West Germany.

The crash that took 23 lives included 8 Manchester United plays labelled as the Busby Babes as a result of their sporting success had no idea that this journey back home would turn into a nightmare. 

A day after the Busby Babes made it through to the European Cup Semi-final the club squad, staff journalists and other passengers boarded the British European Airways flight to Manchester.

The aircraft was refueled and failed to take off twice due to engine problems. Since it began to snow heavily and was likely the journey would be delayed till the next day, the crew were eager to be on schedule forcing a third attempt.

However, by now the snow had caused the runaway to be carpeted in thick blanket of slush, which did not allow the plane to gain its maximum speed to take-off causing it to skid at the end of the runaway, crashing through a fence surrounding the airport and went into a nearby house.  

Thick flames caught the plane as the house engraved in fire, before a hut filled with tires and fuel exploded.

Twenty passengers died immediately, with three dying in hospital three days later followed by another in hospital fifteen days after the incident.

Legal actions against pilot, James Thain and airport authorities were taken, bur were cleared a decade later when findings revealed that the crash occurred as a result of the slush on the runaway causing the aircraft to slow down.

Source: https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/munich-air-disaster-plane-crash-manchester-united-a4355526.html

Before I end this write up, I would like to provide an insight about a clock installed at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United Football Club which has been placed as a memorial symbol for the Munich incident. It has the full date and time at which the plane crashed.   

Click the link below to read more about the Munich clock. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/sports/04iht-soccer.1.9721764.html#:~:text=The%20clock%20at%20Old%20Trafford,word%20beneath%20it%20is%20Munich.&text=Ironically%2C%20it%20is%20just%20over,with%20applause%20rather%20than%20silence.

So with those words, I conclude today’s session as well as hope and pray that such incidents never happen again.

Thank you for reading.