British & Irish Lions rugby tour 2009
As when the Lions toured South Africa in 1997, the Springboks are world champions. Whilst the '97 Springboks lost to the Lions, the series unearthed one Percival Colin Montgomery - Percy played the first test of an illustrious career in July 1997 at outside centre. The fixtures are have a similar format to that of the Lions 2005 tour to New Zealand - 6 games before the first test, and a mid-week game between the first and second test.
21 Sep 2007 |
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) confirms the tour. |
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10 Apr 2008 |
The tour schedule is officially announced by the South African Rugby Union & the Lions. |
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22 Jan 2009 |
The date of the tour match in Port Elizabeth is confirmed as the 16th June 2009 (SARU obtained permission from the government to hold the match on the Youth Day public holiday). |
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25 May 2009 |
The British & Irish Lions arrive in South Africa, and move into the Sandton Sun hotel in Johannesburg. After an 11 hour flight from London to Johannesburg, they arrived on a British Airways plane which had been renamed "Air Force Scrum". The slogan on the airport helpers welcoming them read "Welcome to Springbok Country." British Airways is the official carrier of the British & Irish Lions for this tour, and are not only flying the squad and coaching staff to South Africa, but also within South Africa through its branded franchise carrier, Comair.
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26 May 2009 |
The Lions have a full contact training session at St David's School in Johannesburg.
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30 May 2009 1500 |
ROYAL XV |
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS |
Rustenburg |
The first game in South Africa is never easy. With predictions of a cricket score against this Royal XV, this was a wobbly win, with the British & Irish Lions trailing until 70 minutes. Great game for Bees Roux of the Royal XV. Well done Griquas! Refereed by Marius Jonker (South Africa). |
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Russell Jeacocks (Leopards), |
15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales) |
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1 Jun 2009 |
Springbok coach Pieter de Villiers names his squad. The Springbok assistant coach is Dick Muir, and the forwards coach is Gary Gold. The Springbok squad includes 10 players from the Bulls’ victorious Super 14 squad. De Villiers named Johann Muller and Heinrich Brussow as being "very unlucky" to miss out on selection. There is no recognised fullback in the squad, with Jaque Fourie or Frans Steyn tipped to fill the void left by the injured Conrad Jantjies. Deon Carstens will provide cover at both tighthead & loosehead. Zane Kirchner was surprisingly left out (but included in the Emerging Springboks squad). The selection of Earl Rose is controversial (and surprising that he's been selected for the Emerging Springboks as well). |
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Springbok forwards (14): |
Springbok backs (14): |
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3 Jun 2009 1910 |
GOLDEN LIONS |
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS |
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First bottom of the Super 14 log and then a 64 point caning - I wonder how long Xerox & Auto & General associate will be willing to associate themselves with such ineptitude. |
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15 Louis Ludik, 14 Michael Killian, 13 Jannie Boshoff, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Dusty Noble, 10 Andre Pretorius, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Baywatch Grobbelaar (c), 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 Brad Mockford, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Lawrence Sephaka. |
Captained by Brian O' Driscoll, with squad skipper Paul O’Connell taking a break. 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O’Driscoll (c), 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Lee Mears, 1 Gethin Jenkins. |
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Refereed by Craig Joubert (South Africa). |
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6 Jun 2009 1500 |
FREE STATE CHEETAHS |
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS |
Vodacom Park Bloemfontein |
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Corne Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 JW Jonker, 10 Jacques- Louis Potgieter, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Hendro Scholtz (c), 7 Francois Uys, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez. |
15 Lee Byrne, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Luke Fitzgerald, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Joe Worsely, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O’Connell (c), 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Andrew Sheridan. |
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The 11th time the "blikore" have taken on the men in red. Scrums were a mess, with almost every scrum going down and the Cheetahs being frequently penalised for collapsing in the first half. Brussouw had a massive game in the loose - could his omission from the Springboks cost them? The game illustrated that the Lions can be bullied at the rucks (at least by Brussouw) and are struggling to defend the rolling maul. Star for the British & Irish Lions was Welshman James Hook, who knocked over all 6 kicks presented to him. The game was refereed by Wayne Barnes (England). |
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10 Jun 2009 1910 |
SHARKS |
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS |
Absa Park Durban |
15 Stefan Terblanche, |
15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales) |
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An emphatic 5 tries to 0 mauling by the Lions. |
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Refereed by Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa). |
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13 Jun 2009 1500 |
WESTERN PROVINCE (WP) |
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS |
Newlands Cape Town |
15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Morgan Newman, 12 Peter Grant, 11 Gcobani Bobo, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewald Duvenhage, 8 Luke Watson (c), 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl ,4 Martin Muller, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw. |
15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Phil Vickery (c), 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Andrew Sheridan. |
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A cold wet and wintery and half empty Newlands Stadium, Cape Town. Lions started the game by peppering Joe Pietersen with the high ball, who knocked on time after time in the swirling wind. The drop goal is coming back into fashion in South Africa, with De Waal & Pietersen helping themselves to one each, before the Lions helping themselves to a soft try (missed tackle by Pietersen on the line), and then another one (also involving a poor Pietersen tackle). Pietersen made up somewhat with a beautiful try, but a late penalty by replacement James Hook won it for the Lions. Game refereed by Mark Lawrence (South Africa). |
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15 Jun 2009 |
Pieter de Villiers announces that Heinrich Brussouw (of the Free State Cheetahs) has been called up to the Springbok squad as cover for Schalk Burger. |
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16 Jun 2009 1500 |
SOUTHERN KINGS |
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS |
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15. Tiger Mangweni, 14. Wylie Human, 13. Frikkie Welsh, 12. De Wet Barry, 11. Mat Turner, 10. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Darron Nell, 7. Solly Tyibilika, 6. Mpho Mbiyozo, 5. Ross Skeate, 4. Marco Wentzel, 3. Ruan Vermeulen, 2. Derick Kuun, 1. Jaco Engels. |
15 Keith Earls, 14 Shane Williams, 13 Riki Flutey, 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 James Hook, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Joe Worsley, 6 Nathan Hines, 5 Donncha O’Callaghan (c), 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Andrew Sheridan. |
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The official debut of the Southern Kings, an Eastern Cape franchise which hopes to eventually take part in Super Rugby. The game opened with a moment of silence to acknowledge the happenings of the 16th June 1976. First blood was to the Southern Kings, put on the board courtesy of a penalty kicked over by Jaco van der Westhuyzen. James Hook left the field injured after 14 minutes, to be replaced by Ronan O'Gara. The game was refereed by Nigel Owens (Wales). Nelson Mandela Stadium had large empty spots and the surface was a bit slippery with sands going up behind the players' boots. |
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20 Jun 2009 1500 |
SPRINGBOKS |
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS |
Absa Park |
15. Frans Steyn (27) |
15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales) |
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Refereed by Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand). |
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With hotels in Durban being sold out, fans were forced to book accommodation up to 2 hours outside Durban. |
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23 Jun 2009 1910 |
EMERGING SPRINGBOKS |
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS |
Newlands |
Jacques Botes – Sharks No player who has appeared for the Springboks was considered for the Emerging Springboks team. Springbok assistant coach Dick Muir coached the Emerging Springboks alongside assistants Jerome Paarwater and Stanley Raubenheimer. |
15 Keith Earls, 14 Shane Williams, 13 Riki Flutey, 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Ronan O’Gara (c), 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Tim Payne. |
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Refereed by Alain Rolland (Ireland) |
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27 Jun 2009 1500 |
SPRINGBOKS |
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS |
Pretoria |
15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adi Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (c), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira. |
15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O’Driscoll, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Paul O’Connell (c), 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins. |
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Refereed by Christophe Berdos (France) |
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4 Jul 2009 1500 |
SPRINGBOKS |
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS |
Ellis Park Johannesburg |
5 Zane Kirchner, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Johann Muller, 3 John Smit, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Beast Mtawarira. |
15 Rob Kearney, 14 Ugo Monye, 13 Tommy Bowe , 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Paul O’Connell (c), 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Andrew Sheridan. |
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Refereed by Stuart Dickinson (Australia) |
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Captain of British Irish Lions
Coach
Ian McGeechan
More info
Official British & Irish Lions website
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