2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa
The 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009.
2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa | |
---|---|
The 2009 Lions tour logo | |
Date | 30 May – 4 July |
Coach(es) | Ian McGeechan |
Tour captain(s) | Paul O'Connell |
Test series winners | South Africa (2–1) |
Top test point scorer(s) | Stephen Jones (39) |
Top point scorer(s) | Stephen Jones (65) |
Top test try scorer(s) | Tom Croft (2) Shane Williams (2) |
Top try scorer(s) | Ugo Monye (5) |
The British and Irish Lions played a three-match Test series against South Africa, with matches in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg, as well as matches against six provincial teams, and a match against South Africa's A team, the Emerging Springboks. The Lions won all six provincial matches and drew with the Emerging Springboks, 13–13.
South Africa won the Test series, defeating the Lions 26–21 in the first Test, and then 28–25 in the second Test. The third Test was won by the Lions 28–9. The highlight of the series was the second Test, which the Lions had led until the 76th minute, when they fell 25–22 behind. Two minutes later, Stephen Jones scored a penalty to draw the sides at 25–25 with only two minutes left. However, two minutes into injury time, Morné Steyn scored a 52-metre penalty kick to win the match 28–25.
The tour followed the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and preceded the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
Background
The tour was confirmed by the South African Rugby Union on 21 September 2007. The Lions chief executive John Feehan stated in November 2007 that no home Test match would be played prior to departure, as had taken place in 2005, and that fewer players and personnel would go to South Africa than had gone to New Zealand in 2005.[1]
The tour manager was Gerald Davies,[2] the head coach was Ian McGeechan,[3] and the captain of the squad was Munster captain and Ireland lock, Paul O'Connell.[4]
The tour schedule was announced by the Lions and the South African Rugby Union (SARU) on 10 April 2008.[5] The final fixture confirmed was the game in Port Elizabeth; on 22 January 2009, SARU announced that they had received permission from the South African government to hold the match on the Youth Day national holiday on 16 June.[6] This match marked the debut of the Southern Kings, a franchise formed in the Southern and Eastern Cape region, following the failure of the Southern Spears.
Head coach Ian McGeechan had planned to take the Lions squad to the Spanish city of Granada, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains for a high-altitude training camp, but on 27 April he announced that it had been cancelled because of problems over player availability.[7] The Lions flew to South Africa on 24 May, arriving the following day.[8]
The format was similar to that of the Lions' 2005 tour of New Zealand. As in 2005, six games were played before the first Test, and a mid-week game between the first and second Tests; unlike 2005, there was no mid-week game between the second and third Tests. Due to its unpopularity, The Power of Four anthem was not used on the 2009 tour.[9] The Bulls were denied the opportunity to play the Lions, even though they were arguably the strongest provincial side in the world at the time, defeating the Waikato Chiefs with a record score of 61–17 in the Super 14 Final a couple of months earlier, as well as being the last South African provincial side to beat the Lions in 1997.
Test series
First Test
South Africa won the first Test in Durban 26–21. Leading 19–7 at half-time and 26–7 after 50 minutes, the Springboks had dominated the scrum until the Lions made several substitutions. The Lions mounted a strong comeback, scoring late tries through Tom Croft and Mike Phillips, but South Africa held on. Inside the last ten minutes of the game, the Lions had two tries disallowed by the TMO. It was later described as an "unbelievable" Test match.[10]
Second Test
The second Test at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria was won by South Africa 28–25 with the last kick of the game – a penalty by Morné Steyn from inside his own half. The Lions had led 19–8 after an hour, but tries from Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie allowed South Africa to tie the score before Steyn's series-winning kick. It was described as "devastation" for the Lions, with the team ending the game "looking more like a scene from [American television series] ER as opposed to a rugby team".[11]
Controversy
The week of the third Test was marked by controversy and intense media interest surrounding the suspended Springbok players Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha after a very physical second Test.
Burger was yellow-carded in the first minute, after he appeared to gouge Luke Fitzgerald's eye. Burger was subsequently banned for eight weeks for "making contact with the face in the eye area." He was cleared of gouging, as his action was found to be "reckless" but not intentional.[12][13]
Burger was widely criticised, with many commentators believing he should have been sent off for the incident.[14][15] Brian O'Driscoll was among many who criticised South Africa coach Peter de Villiers after he said Burger's actions should not even have led to a yellow card.[16]
Bakkies Botha was banned for two weeks for a dangerous charge on prop Adam Jones, which left Jones with a dislocated shoulder.[17] SA Rugby expressed their confusion over the reasons for Botha's ban with the coach calling it a "textbook cleanout". An appeal was lodged but the initial ruling was upheld. Coaches and players expressed concern about the impact such an interpretation might have on a core component of the game, with Lions player Phil Vickery and forwards coach Warren Gatland lending their support to Botha's case.[18] The injured Jones himself later came out in defence of Botha saying:
- "Botha shouldn't have been banned for it, nowhere near it. I don't have any complaints. He just cleared me out of the ruck and I got caught. Everyone counter-rucks nowadays and, if anything, I was in the wrong place. He just hit me and I was unlucky. So I was surprised to see he got banned. I know we didn't cite him so I don't know why the independent commissioner did. It was just a fair ruck from a hard player. When I have met him before he seems like a tidy enough bloke so I'm not seeing it as anything malicious."[19][20]
The Springboks came out for the third Test wearing white armbands with the words "Justice 4" on, in protest over perceived inconsistencies in the citing process.[21] This protest was investigated by the IRB for allegedly "bringing the game in disrepute", and the team and management were fined accordingly.[22]
Third Test
The Lions won the third Test on 4 July at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, beating the Springboks 28–9, in what The Times called "one of the best and most heroic performances in the history of the Lions".[23] Having already won the series, the Springbok squad saw 10 changes from the previous week, and the Lions also saw substantial changes. The Lions led from the start, and Shane Williams scored two tries.[24] England lock Simon Shaw was sin-binned for striking Springboks scrum-half Fourie du Preez with his knee in this test and received a two-week ban as a result.[25] This was the first Test victory for the Lions in eight years, their last being in Brisbane in 2001.[26][27]
Jamie Roberts was voted 'Player of the Series' by the British and Irish media.[28]
Results
- All times are local (UTC+2)
30 May 2009 15:00 |
Royal XV | 25–37 | British and Irish Lions |
---|---|---|
Try: Koch 17' c Barnes 26' m Roux 65' c Con: Olivier Viljoen Pen: Olivier (2) 9', 23' |
Report[29] | Try: Bowe 38' c Byrne 67' c A.W. Jones 75' c O'Gara 79' c Con: O'Gara (4) Pen: O'Gara (3) 6', 42', 72' |
3 June 2009 19:10 |
Golden Lions | 10–74 | British and Irish Lions |
---|---|---|
Try: Frolick 36' c Con: Pretorius Pen: Pretorius 14' |
Report[32] | Try: Roberts (2) 6' c, 40' c O'Driscoll 10' c Monye (2) 21' m, 68' c Croft 29' c Bowe (2) 47' c, 57' c Hook 74' c Ferris 80' c Con: S. Jones (6/7) Hook (3/3) Pen: S. Jones (2) 12', 17' |
6 June 2009 15:00 |
Free State Cheetahs | 24–26 | British and Irish Lions |
---|---|---|
Try: Demas 25' c du Preez 33' c Uys 72' c Con: Potgieter (2) Strydom Pen: Potgieter 41' |
Report[33] | Try: Ferris 10' c Earls 16' c Con: Hook (2/2) Pen: Hook (4) 5', 19', 37', 49' |
10 June 2009 19:10 |
Sharks | 3–39 | British and Irish Lions |
---|---|---|
Pen: Kockott 29' |
Report[34] | Try: Mears 22' c Phillips 41' m Fitzgerald 59' c Byrne 67' c Heaslip 80' c Con: O'Gara (3/4) Hook (1/1) Pen: O'Gara (2) 48', 52' |
13 June 2009 15:00 |
Western Province | 23–26 | British and Irish Lions |
---|---|---|
Try: Pietersen 63' m Pen: De Waal (4/5) 3', 40+2', 47', 60' Drop: De Waal (1/1) 19' Pietersen (1/2) 27' |
Report[35] | Try: Bowe 28' m Monye 35' c M. Williams 55' m Con: S. Jones (1/3) Pen: S. Jones (2/3) 6', 11' Hook (1/2) 77' |
16 June 2009 15:00 |
Southern Kings | 8–20 | British and Irish Lions |
---|---|---|
Try: Mbiyozo 71' m Pen: Van der Westhuyzen 1' |
Report[36] | Try: Monye 49' c Penalty try 68' c Con: O'Gara (2/2) Pen: O'Gara (2/3) 26', 43' |
- First Test
20 June 2009 15:00 |
South Africa | 26–21 | British and Irish Lions |
---|---|---|
Try: Smit 5' c Brüssow 46' c Con: Pienaar (2/2) Pen: Pienaar (3/4) 11', 32', 35' F. Steyn (1/2) 20' |
Report[37] | Try: Croft (2) 22' c, 67' c Phillips 74' c Con: S. Jones (3/3) |
|
|
Team | Kick % | Line breaks | Defenders beaten | Passes in contact | Mauls won | Possession lost | Tackles made | Tackles missed | Scrums | Lineouts | Penalties conceded |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South Africa | 75% | 0 | 2 | 2 | 28/32 | 10 | 101 | 8 | 7/7 | 9/10 | 9 |
British and Irish Lions | 60% | 4 | 8 | 15 | 78/82 | 11 | 42 | 4 | 11/15 | 9/12 | 12 |
23 June 2009 19:10 |
Emerging Springboks | 13–13 | British and Irish Lions |
---|---|---|
Try: Demas 80' c Con: De Waal (1/1) Pen: Rose (2/4) 37', 49' |
Report[38] | Try: Earls 15' c Con: O'Gara (1/1) Pen: O'Gara (1/2) 8' Hook (1/1) 77' |
- Second Test
27 June 2009 15:00 |
South Africa | 28–25 | British and Irish Lions |
---|---|---|
Try: Pietersen 12' m Habana 63' c Fourie 74' c Con: M. Steyn (2/2) Pen: F. Steyn (1/2) 40+1' M. Steyn (2/2) 68', 80+1' |
Report[39] | Try: Kearney 7' c Con: S. Jones (1/1) Pen: S. Jones (5/5) 3', 15', 61', 70', 78' Drop: S. Jones (1/1) 36' |
|
|
Team | Kick % | Line breaks | Defenders beaten | Passes in contact | Mauls won | Possession lost | Tackles made | Tackles missed | Scrums | Lineouts | Penalties conceded |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South Africa | 55.6% | 4 | 14 | 3 | 56/63 | 16 | 97 | 8 | 5/7 | 8/9 | 11 |
British and Irish Lions | 100% | 3 | 8 | 5 | 83/87 | 11 | 84 | 14 | 6/6 | 12/15 | 12 |
- Third Test
4 July 2009 15:00 |
South Africa | 9–28 | British and Irish Lions |
---|---|---|
Pen: M. Steyn (3/3) 12', 40+1', 68' |
Report[40] | Try: S. Williams (2) 25' m, 33' c Monye 54' c Con: S. Jones (2/3) Pen: S. Jones (3/4) 9', 72', 73' |
|
|
Team | Kick % | Line breaks | Defenders beaten | Passes in contact | Mauls won | Possession lost | Tackles made | Tackles missed | Scrums | Lineouts | Penalties conceded |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South Africa | 100% | 3 | 5 | 12 | 64/69 | 16 | 93 | 5 | 5/6 | 15/18 | 9 |
British and Irish Lions | 62.5% | 7 | 5 | 15 | 66/77 | 10 | 102 | 5 | 6/7 | 9/10 | 16 |
Lions squad
The Lions announced a 37-man squad on 21 April 2009. Before the start of the tour Tomás O'Leary, Tom Shanklin and Jerry Flannery all withdrew because of injuries and Alan Quinlan was suspended. During the tour, Leigh Halfpenny, Stephen Ferris, Euan Murray, Lee Byrne, Adam Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Jamie Roberts and Brian O'Driscoll, as well as Ferris' replacement Ryan Jones, were forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury.[41] Nathan Hines was suspended for one week because of a dangerous tackle against the Emerging Springboks.[42]
Lions management
23 backroom staff were appointed by the Lions, slightly down from the 26 on the 2005 tour to New Zealand. The Lions reverted to having only one management structure, rather than a separate team for the midweek side. The tour manager was former Wales and Lions player Gerald Davies.[43]
Coaches
Name | Role | Home union | Nationality |
---|---|---|---|
Ian McGeechan | Head Coach[43] | Scotland | Scotland |
Warren Gatland | Forwards Coach[43] | Wales | New Zealand |
Graham Rowntree | Scrummaging Coach[43] | England | England |
Rob Howley | Attack Coach[43] | Wales | Wales |
Shaun Edwards | Defence Coach[43] | Wales | England |
Neil Jenkins | Kicking Coach | Wales | Wales |
See also
Preceded by 2005 Tour to New Zealand |
Tour to South Africa 2009 |
Succeeded by 2013 Tour to Australia |
References
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- "Davies named 2009 Lions manager". BBC Sport. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- "McGeechan given Lions coach role". 14 May 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
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- "Lions announce itinerary for 2009 tour to South Africa" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 10 April 2008. Archived from the original on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
- "Final British & Irish Lions tour date confirmed" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 22 January 2009. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- Mairs, Gavin (27 April 2009). "Lions cancel altitude training camp in Spain". The Daily Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- Austin, Simon (24 May 2009). "Lions squad land in South Africa". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
- "S Africa 26-21 Lions - Live". Sky Sports. 20 June 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014.
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- Chillies Website Architects. "OFM Sport | Schalk Burger cleared of eye-gouging". Archived from the original on 31 July 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- "Saru, De Villiers apologise for eye-gouging comments – Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source". Archived from the original on 31 July 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- Edwards, Shaun (29 June 2009). "Schalk Burger's gouging was despicable and he should have been dismissed". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- "O'Driscoll blasts de Villiers". RTÉ. 1 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- "Botha banned for charge on Jones". RTÉ. 28 June 2009. Archived from the original on 1 July 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- "Lions offer solace to Springbok Botha over ban". MSN sports. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- "Planet Rugby | Rugby Union Tournaments | British & Irish Lions | Botha exonerated by Adam Jones". Archived from the original on 17 August 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
- "WalesOnline – RugbyNation – News – Bakkies Botha hit was just one of those things, says Adam Jones". Archived from the original on 17 August 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
- "IRB to investigate Springboks' Bakkies Botha protest". The Guardian. 5 July 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- "Springboks fined over 'Justice for Bakkies' armband protest". The Guardian. 25 August 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
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- "South Africa 9–28 Lions (RTÉ)". RTÉ. 4 July 2009. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- "O'Connell proud that Lions 'dug deep'". RTÉ. 4 July 2009. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- "Roberts awarded top Lions honour". BBC Sport. 5 July 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- "Royal XV 25-37 Lions". BBC News. 30 May 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- "Heartbreak on the Highveld". 27 June 2009. Archived from the original on 24 July 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
- "Referees for Lions' tour". sareferees.co.za. SA Rugby Referees. 28 April 2009. Archived from the original on 25 July 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
- "Golden Lions 10-74 Lions". BBC News. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- "Cheetahs 24-26 Lions". BBC News. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- "Sharks 3-39 Lions". BBC News. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
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