SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 10 hrs 41 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
friendly | International Rugby Union
Aug 7, 2021 at 5pm UK
 
South Africa
19-16
LionsBritish and Irish Lions
Kolbe (56')
FT
Owens (19')

Alun Wyn Jones: 'We will be a different beast in decider'

:Headline: Alun Wyn Jones: 'We will be a different beast in decider':
The Springboks made it 1-1 in the series with a convincing second-Test victory on Saturday.
Sports Mole

Alun Wyn Jones has warned South Africa that his British and Irish Lions will enter Saturday's series decider intent on restoring their wounded pride.

The Lions fell to their heaviest defeat since the calamitous 2005 expedition to New Zealand when they were routed 27-9 at Cape Town Stadium, wiping out the advantage gained from edging the first Test.

Jones accepts that coach Warren Gatland will swing the axe in response to a feeble second-half performance in which 21 unanswered points were conceded, but is convinced the series can be rescued when the tour reaches its climax.

"It's going to be obviously the biggest week of the tour now. It's the last chance to put it right. We're fortunate we've got another week," the Lions skipper said.

"There has been a lot said about a wounded Springbok but I think the Lions have taken a dent and we need to put it right.

"Immediately after the game we got together and said we had to stick together. There was a lot of eye contact.

"Everyone is well aware that Warren will make changes – he's notorious for making changes – and we go again.

"There will probably be opportunities for some and there's definitely a feeling we can probably put it right.

"It will be interesting to see what Warren does with the team. But definitely it's going to be a big week."

A dreadful spectacle marred by repeated stoppages by officials to review incidents was hard viewing and each half lasted over an hour.

After South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus released an unprecedented hour-long video in the build-up critiquing the performance of the officials in the first Test, referee Ben O'Keeffe repeatedly consulted TMO Marius Jonker.

The incessant breaks aided the Springboks after their preparations were affected by an outbreak of coronavirus, while preventing the Lions from injecting any pace into the game.

"We obviously talked about tempo, it's what we saw last week, and we tried to do that. But we weren't able to do it.

"That's because of the Springboks' game management. Ultimately we go when the whistle's on.

"A lot has been said in the week about speaking to the man in the middle so I tried to be as respectful as I could to try and get that tempo in the game, but I obviously failed at that."

Jones insists it was the Lions' failings rather than South Africa's response following their defeat in the first Test that led to their downfall.

"From the the outside it probably looked like a backlash, but from where I'm sitting here we didn't help ourselves," Jones said.

"We were well aware of what they were going to improve on. They probably did to us what we wanted to do to them. They tried to do it last week, they probably just did it better and we saw more of it."

body check tags ::

amp_article__457763 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-08-01 22:44:41:
html db last update - 2021-08-01 21:07:17 :

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
Five talking points from the Lions' defeat to South Africa
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 quoted £86m for "exceptional" Newcastle man?

1

MC

Arsenal 'suffer blow in pursuit of PSG attacker'

2

A'

Friday's Transfer Talk Update: Maguire, Nwaneri, Elliott

3

FT

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

4

MU

Mainoo, Rashford, Palmer handed boost in Euro 2024 hopes?

5

MR

Pochettino calls for "calm" over Sterling situation at Chelsea

6

PC

Preview: Brentford vs. Man Utd - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PB

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

8

A'

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

9

PB

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

10

MC


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