SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 5 hrs 31 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Lions assured over South Africa officials after Warren Gatland fury

:Headline: Lions assured over South Africa officials after Warren Gatland fury:
Marius Jonker was chosen to replace New Zealand's Brendon Pickerill, who withdraw due to coronavirus-related travel issues.
Sports Mole

The British and Irish Lions have been assured by the officials overseeing Saturday’s first Test against the Springboks that the correct decisions will be made despite the appointment of a South African television match official.

Warren Gatland is known to be furious that the neutrality of the officiating team has been compromised after Marius Jonker was chosen to replace New Zealand’s Brendon Pickerill, who withdraw due to coronavirus-related travel issues.

Gatland and his coaching lieutenants met with referee Nic Berry on Thursday to discuss any concerns ahead of the series, which begins at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

Marius Jonker is a former referee from the Northern Cape who now works as a TMO (David Davies/PA)

Complicating Jonker’s appointment is the fact that he was the TMO for the South Africa ‘A’ game last week when Faf de Klerk was shown only a yellow card despite making contact with the head of Josh Navidi.

The Lions felt that de Klerk, the Springboks’ star scrum-half, should have been sent off for the first-half incident and they have strong misgivings that Jonker is in place for the critical opening clash between the rivals.

“It was a bit unexpected. We only found out on Wednesday. There’s a slight lack of foresight because there’s a reason why that position is neutral. There’s no plan B put in place. You’ve just got to get on with it really,” forwards coach Robin McBryde said.

The Lions felt that Faf de Klerk should have been sent off for his challenge on Josh Navidi last week (Steve Haag/PA)

“We met the three officials who are officiating on the weekend. We went through everything that’s happened up to date. They were reluctant to pass any opinion on what’s happened.

“They’re aware of it and they’re confident in the comms they’ll have on the weekend that between the four of them, they’ll come to the right decision.

“The role of the TMO….his say is pretty final with regards to communication between him and the referee. It’s a very important position. I’m sure there will be no issues on weekend.

“The impression I got really was that they wanted to move on and that they trust in their own decisions and communications and the understanding between the three of them, so hopefully that will come to the fore on the weekend.”

Although they were edged 17-13 by a shadow Springbok side in the penultimate match before series, the Lions have drawn great confidence from their performance at the scrum and maul, which are pillars of the South African game.

Gatland said they had “dented the ego” of the world champions and it is a theme McBryde is happy to continue ahead of the ferocious forward collision expected in Cape Town.

“Physicality is an area of the game the Springboks pride themselves on. I’m sure they’ll be frustrated after the ‘A’ game when they didn’t get any advantage from a mauling point of view and didn’t get anything out of the scrums,” McBryde said.

“There are a few changes on both sides, but it was a Test team essentially from a South African point of view. We’ve got to step things up and build on that performance.

“We want to scrummage. We feel that technically we’re very good. We’ve been great to date.

“But I expect them to come a lot harder again in the same areas. If anything, that’ll make them a bit hungrier again. They’ll rise to the challenge again. We need to step that up and make sure we don’t rest on our laurels.”

Following a series of routine wins against modest provincial opposition in 2009, the Lions were ambushed by the intensity of the first Test and went on to lose the series.

The warm-up games this time have been similarly one-sided, but they insist that in 2021 they are ready for the Springboks.

“I know Warren can draw on the experience of 12 years ago when he was out here and the level of intensity that caught them cold in that first game. He’s making sure we don’t fall in that trap again,” McBryde said.

“As much as we can take a lot of positives out of that ‘A’ game, we do know there’s another level in the Springboks. But there’s another level in us as well.”

body check tags ::

amp_article__456626 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-07-23 09:42:19:
html db last update - 2021-07-23 09:18:15 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Warren Gatland

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!
Read more about Warren Gatland Robin McBryde Nic Berry Josh Navidi Rugby Union
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Liverpool, Bayern suffer huge blow as Alonso confirms Leverkusen stay
Man City vs. Arsenal: Head-to-head record and past meetings
Wolves boss Gary O'Neil comments on Man United rumours

Page options

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

Ten Hag confirms vital Man Utd player could return against Brentford

NEW

1

TH

Man City vs. Arsenal: Head-to-head record and past meetings

2

MC

Fluminense president claims Chelsea defender will leave club this summer

3

FP

Preview: Estoril vs. Porto - prediction, team news, lineups

4

PE

Preview: Inter Miami vs. NY City - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PI

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

6

PB

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

7

A'

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

8

MC

Preview: Chelsea vs. Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PC

Key Man City duo miss training ahead of Arsenal title clash

10

KM


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