SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 20 hrs 22 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
friendly | International Rugby Union
Jul 31, 2021 at 5pm UK
 
South Africa
27-9
LionsBritish and Irish Lions
Mapimpi (45'), Am (61')
FT

Alun Wyn Jones sends warning to South Africa

:Headline: Alun Wyn Jones sends warning to South Africa:
The tourists will be looking to claim an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series in Cape Town this weekend.
Sports Mole

Alun Wyn Jones has warned South Africa that the British and Irish Lions are ready to step up a gear in their pursuit of taking an unassailable lead in the series.

The Lions staged a second-half fightback to edge the world champions 22-17 in a tense first Test and the rivals clash again at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

South Africa were hit by a significant Covid outbreak that disrupted their preparations for the opener and are expected to attack the tourists with greater intensity this weekend.

But Jones,  who will be appearing in an 11th successive Lions Test, insists there is also more to come more Warren Gatland's tourists as they chase their place in the history books.

"A lot has been said about how South Africa are going to improve on the loss. We are expecting the game and the intensity to go up a notch across the board," the Lions captain said.

"From our point of view, we look at that first half and see how we put ourselves under pressure and where we can improve our game, probably not just from that first half but for the full 80.

"We do feel we've got a few gears to go up and that's been a large part of our focus this week. We probably didn't execute as well as we'd have liked in that first half.

South Africa are determined to rescue the series against the Lions (Steve Haag/PA)

"Early on we were probably disappointed with the way we started at scrum time. I felt we were under pressure.

"But our set-piece came through and our management improved drastically in the second half.

"We did well to turn the scoreboard around and we just want to make sure that we don't give ourselves too much of a deficit in that early area of the game."

A feature of the first Test was the Lions matching the world champions in the pack, taking away a pillar of their game to help claim a famous victory behind closed doors in Cape Town.

“We are expecting the game and the intensity to go up a notch across the board.”
- Alun Wyn Jones

South Africa have opted for a six-two split between forwards and backs on the bench to indicate they intend asserting themselves up-front to avoid a first series defeat to the tourists since 1997.

"The second Test is going to be more of the same. They have got a six-two split which is more of what they're used to in the way they select their squad," Jones said.

"I'm sure there will be an increased emphasis on the set-piece from them and they'll be trying to get more set-pieces.

"It will be help, in simple terms, for more forwards to come on and try to get authority in that area in the game.

"A lot of it on our part is execution and game management early on in the game. We've got elements of game management around the set-piece and a couple of 'comms' areas that we need to sort out early on in the game."

Jones confirmed that fly-half Ban Biggar has resumed training with the Lions. The Wales fly-half has been undergoing the return to play protocols for concussion.

body check tags ::

amp_article__457339 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-07-29 14:59:58:
html db last update - 2021-07-29 14:43:17 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!

Click here for more stories about Alun Wyn Jones

Click here for more stories about British and Irish Lions

Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Rassie Erasmus offers to step back from Lions series
Liverpool 'resigned to missing out on top managerial candidate'
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man City injury, suspension list vs. Arsenal - De Bruyne, Stones and more

1

MC

Key Man City duo miss training ahead of Arsenal title clash

2

KM

Liverpool 'resigned to missing out on top managerial candidate'

NEW

3

L'

Barcelona could be missing seven players for Las Palmas clash

4

BC

Man Utd could raise £105m through player sales this summer

5

MU

Real Madrid 'priced out of move for Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold'

6

RM

Arsenal 'optimistic over triple injury boost for Man City clash'

7

A'

Key midfield trio 'absent from Real Madrid training on Thursday'

8

KM

Man Utd, Spurs 'alerted to cut-price fee for in-demand defender'

9

MU

Preview: Barcelona vs. Las Palmas - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PB


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .