The Lions - How to stop Pierre Spies and Morné Steyn

[appleboy72]

A country that's so fat..

[macafricascot]

Greenwood is a true gentleman.

[hookerdiferente]

best number 8 when it comes to power and beastiality is without doubt, Henry Tuilagui

[xXxS3NS3IxXx]

Wtf? Are you kidding? Spies isnt that amazing. Any polynesian dude will rip this wanker apart. Don't even bother responding. It's a fact. Just go and fuck ur keyboard instead

[uChakide]

@xXxS3NS3IxXx - then why haven't they then...because they can't! He is not a particularly good 8th man but as an athlete he is in a league of his own.

[BushMaster71]

I watched Spies play wing at school. thats where he gets his speed and finishing ability. unbelivable

[bob7man]

@BushMaster71 no way. did he have a bush back then?

[RandomGanker]

Nothing less than a bullet between the eyes can stop Spies

[jprincehouston]

Spies is obviously on Steroids, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was on growth hormones as well which is undetectable.

[00mtig3r]

And you are obviously a cunt. Now fuck off sunshine.

[wynandcalitz]

@jprincehouston Yes he is, and we are getting away with it, all of us, and im fucking your mother and thats undetectable...............

[3mnanmar]

@jprincehouston Rugby Player's get tested for steroids before every game...No chance bud...Your just jealous cse u don't hve a Spies!!!!

[vinniechan]

Imagine a Babaa's team with both Spies and Croft...

[somerandomer]

@vinniechan

6. Elsom

7. McCaw

8. Spies

now THAT would be something.

[vinniechan]

@somerandomer

Yup, hands down.

But I'm interested to see a back row of:

6.) Neil Best

7.) Mad Dog Moody

8.) Burgar

This combination is picked on their insanity.

[conjonorama]

@vinniechan maybe Mike Tyson as a reserve, just to keep the opposition honest...

[bob7man]

@vinniechan not lewis moody ur crazy

[vinniechan]

@bob7man

That was like 2 or 3 years ago bro.

As said, players were picked for their insanity

[wynandcalitz]

@somerandomer

6. Schalk Burger

7. Heinrich Brussow

8. Spies

[Conero08]

Amazing how they didn't analyse Fourie, Habana and Pietersen, the 3 guys who actually got tries lol

[NZfootballfan666]

Not a big Spies fan. Morne Steyn is really good though, underrated by New Zealanders.

[xpat73]

The fact is that Spies, for all the hype, did abolsutley nothing in the Lions tour. he had one good run where he broke a few tackles in the 1st half of the second test in Pretoria. Heaslip actually had more yards carrying the ball than Spies did in the series....so it just goes to show that athleticism as tested in the lab is one thing...playing the game is another. Spies is a great athelete, but would you pick him before you picked McCaw or Brussouw in your team?.....of course not!

[DexStanT]

Actually, McCaw wouldnt be in my team

For losse forwards

My list goes something like

Heinrich Brussow

Schalke Burger

Pierre Spies

:D

[oocdbrown]

Well most of the highlights seem to be on the field, and anyone should be able to see that Spies has it in him. If he didn't shine in the B&I Lions tour, well done to the B&I, but it doesn't mean Spies is any less of a great player.

[xpat73]

@oocdbrown

u r comparing apples and oranges....these highlights are from S14 which is fast and loose....you can't comapre it to high level tests.

[johnnic27]

McCaw and Brusswouw are flankers...Spies is 8th man. Totally different position

[sikks28]

Lions are a joke, they did all this analysis on our players and came here to do crap, what a joke

[blackbuj]

haha evans is such a legend, hunting down his prey on the african plains! love it when we play the lions

[mhuman18]

Attacking Stats 169 Ball Carries, most for Bulls(2nd most in Super 14) 11 Line Breaks, 2nd most for Bulls Tackle Breaks, most for Bulls Counterattack Start : 11, 5th for Bulls Rucks Set-Up 143, most for Bulls Passes Made 87, 4de most for Bulls Made 926 Meter in contact, most in Super 14 and for Bulls Made 14 off-loads, most for Bulls 89.9% Handling Effieciency Made 323 Cleans, 2nd most for Bulls

[Badassbok]

And those who say he does nothing are clearly just ball watchers and dont watch the big picture.

[mhuman18]

Most tries for a forward in Super 14 2009: 6

Tied for 2nd most tries in Super 14 2009: 6

Played in all 15 games, for 80 minutes for the Bulls in 2009, missing 10 minutes for an injury

Minutes playedl: 1182 where 541 was Active Time

Defensive Stats

140 Tackles in 2009, 5th most for Bulls

Made average 9.8 Tackles/Game

Tackle %: 85%

Made the most Counter Ruck Attempts for the Bulls

[mhuman18]

In Pierre's dvd his dad tells him not to enter the ruck in loose play, thats why he'll normally tackle however gets the ball when it is recycled

[fibbernatchie]

Some of you seem to forget that the Bok coach and the Bulls coach use Spies in different ways. Bulls let him run more, but the Bok coach makes him stay in with the forwards more. Thats why in the Lions/Tri nations games he did not run as much from back of lineouts or with the backline, but when he did 9 out 10 times he always got past the gain line beating one or two tacklers. Remember he is only been play 8th man a for a couple years now and he's only going to get better

[nungu99]

@fibbernatchie - I have to agree with you. I think the Boks could be more inventive with using Pierre's talents.

[tmawman31]

iv gotta agree with rugbygodnum8 he doesnt do that much around the field on international level. Heaslip outplayed him in the lions tour. And henry tuiagi is a more destructive runner. Btw in no way am i slating spies he is phenomenal, especially athletically

[rugbygodnum8]

i have seen nothing that special bouth spies he does not that much on the field and kankowski would be better cause he is quicker and explosive so i think he should be the bok num 8 and henry tuilagi would run through spies and knock him back in the tackle 5 metres so i think that henry is by far the most destructive runner in world rugby

[sikks28]

Jerry Collins is crap compared to Spies, you cant compare any no.8 or loose forward to the brilliance of Pierre Spies, and by the way European Rugby sucks, damn what a load of crap

[kdeasy08]

stephan ferris would split spies in half

[rugbygodnum8]

yh ferris is a animal an di wish that he and joe worsley both played against him for the lions cause they would slice the fucker in half and e is overated cause he has done nothing special since the tour of 2007 when england came to south africa

[loachflava]

im a kiwi and i wish spies was hes the jerry collins of SA so big and he runs like a back

[riocia18]

Yea I am Bok fan but Spies is very one dimensional while Collins is a better thinker, as far as power and speed is concerned I would opt for Spies.

[rugbygodnum8]

i think that collins is a more destructive runner and he would chop spies in half and knock him bck

[MATAKUKUYOU]

Fucken SPIES owned the fucken CRUSADERS!! FUCKEN No8 RIPS THE BACKS OFF!! FUCKEN OWNED!!

[SixStepKevyKutBak]

He owned England too brother

[bigtriece100]

Spies can't tackle to save his life. He couldn't even bring down Mortlock.

[romikop]

i wish americans would stop being so opinionated, if your team if not involved, shut the fuck up mate, real rugby is being discussed here!

[willikes]

mind you, mortlock is quite a hard man to tackle

[jonny8pie]

I bet he'll pummel the living shit out of you tho...

[mowag123]

Sexton's drop goal was better it was further away and not at altitude

[AucklandRulez]

yea that try is a try you'd want to watch over and over again... unless you're a kiwi like me

[krumper894]

speed and power

[Uaoufiaai]

crusaders only lost because they played wide, keep it in the grind and you wont see this man as good a player he is, he is only effective in open play.

[Juniorjoker106]

Rocky Elsom would eat this kid for brekfast

best number eight in the world?? ur havin a laugh mate

[CJmalan]

Err, Rocky Elsom?? You gotta be kidding junior matey!! He's a flanker BTW

[TheProtea09]

You clearly are an idiot aren't you?

[icecold158]

hahahahahahahahaah Rocky Elsom

wow well hope he plays in the Tri Nation see who come up on top

by the way Spies would blow him away with speed power and everything

[edtri19]

Tuilagi vs Spies, Henry would win

[rugbygodnum8]

yeh i think that henry tuilagi is a much quicker and more powerful than spies and spies can not tackle so i would rather have henry any day

[patergaskin]

Henry Tuilagi is fucking slow pal.. Quick for his size dont get me wrong, but slow overall.

Spies runs the 100m in 10.6 seconds.

[rugbygodnum8]

yh but he is much more powerful than spies and he is a much better tackler than spies and when he runs he would shouve him  bck ten metres if you have watched the clip on youtube off samoa vs SA in the world cup 2007 tuilagi ran through burger roosoww and smithat the same time and did it all after noon and spies doen not run through many players he did not cause the lions any troubles and he has not done it to any tri nations team

[patergaskin]

Spies never played in the world cup. He was player of the season in the S14 this year and has been in spectacular form lately.

I have 2 disagree about him not giving the Lions any troubles. When he countered from deep he bashed holes in the defense and got over the first tackler every time. Also the first TriNations game against New Zealand, he brushed off Jerome Kaino (who is a huge guy) & made many metres.

Both good no. 8's but I prefer Spies. I think hes quicker, slicker and more dynamic.

[rugbygodnum8]

he may not have played in the world cup but i think that he does not have the power that tuilagi posesis and he did not cause the lions any trouble and i watched every match and he did nothing heaslip outplayed him totally and he is not more dynamic than tuilagi mark my words

[patergaskin]

Tuilagi is big and definitely punches big holes when he runs straight at the defense. Hes an effective player, yes.

But Theres reasons why many ppl believe that Pierre Spies could become the best no8 in the world. He is an incredible physical specimen.. 6 ft 4, 108kg and runs the 100m in 10.6 sec.

Not only that but 4 a loose forward hes got an unbelievable try scoring record at test & club level. If he keeps it up, he will become the top try scorer of any forward in the history of the game.

[rugbygodnum8]

yes and he nearly all ways gets through the holes he punches and spies maybe able to run the hundred metres in 10.6 secs but he is no where near as destructive as tuilagi and he can aford to run in to defencese cause on every occasion that i have seen him with the ball he gets through and all ways gets over the gain line but spies does not do much really he may do the odd thing and i am sure he will be the top try scorer for a forward but i know who i would rather have

[mhuman18]

benches 160kg and dead lifts 230kg ;)

[stark1818]

don't be daft

[patergaskin]

Whats daft? That Spies runs the 100m in 10.6 seconds?

All you have to do is google it.

[xGUILLAUMEx]

How to stop Spies ? it's impossible.

[icecold158]

ture that

[SuperKiwibro]

@xGUILLAUMEx Funny that because Kieran Read made him look like a bitch this year.

[vinniechan]

Very good analysis about short line out. Joe Worsely's ability to tackle low (like he snuffed out Powell, Heaslip and Jamie Roberts) could be a tactical counter.

At his best, Moody's mad dog style chase will

shut down Morne, but sadly he's a bit off.

[GeorgeSavage5]

haha dowie morris is such a clown

[perovic8]

Best no8 in the game if U ask me. And I play no8 ;D

Only thing Spies need to work harder is tackling, he has lots of missed tackles.

[mkwapower]

I agree, unacceptable for a loose forward..

[mkwapower]

To think that South Africa have more pacey loose forwards like Koster, Vermuelen, Deysel, Kankowski.. scarey..

[MetYsJa]

Frans Steyn kicks them from 15 meters into his own half.

Spies is a monster.... definately my new favorite rugby player.

[katpiering123]

Whatmakes Spies so good is that he can play as part of the team, and when the opportunity presents itself he could be devestating in attack.I think he is a good tackler as well. A player even better than him is Juan Smith at no. 6 or 7.

[theycallmedubey]

Johnny Sexton kicked a dropgoal further back in the Heineken cup Final and it wasnt even at altitude. all these dropgoals dont really impress me really

[iluvboyzndgirlz]

You've a very good point there. DGs from halfway aren't that unique anymore and they're overrated. The guy that does score some impressive ones is Francois Steyn. DGs from 65m are impressive

[theycallmedubey]

Ye Steyn has dropped some beauties but 65 meters is really pushing it. And hes always at altitude

[iluvboyzndgirlz]

Steyn isn't always at altitude. He plays for the Sharks, in Durban, which isn't at altitude.

[00mtig3r]

Steyn plays for the Bulls, in Pretoria, which is at altitude

[iluvboyzndgirlz]

I was talking about Francois Steyn, who plays for the Sharks in Durban, which isn't at altitude.

[vinniechan]

It might not be impressive anymore, but it still pisses people off I assure you

[Hassan09876]

jonny sexton...haha

[hakametal]

The Lions have the ability and talent in the back row......................... but that man has been officially clocked at 10.7secs in the 100m sprint.

Cant wait to see Powell against them too!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[matthewjamesheath]

The Lions will be excellent tactically they have some world class coaches and possibly the best defense coach in the world. they also have some massively physical players, if there was a team who could stop Spies then the Lions it will be.

[smokiejkl]

Another frightening south african backrower but the Lions have some quality there too. Stephen Ferris is going to be the star of the tour, an animal and athletic.

It all starts today, come on the B&I LIONS!!!

[oneminutetomidknight]

jesus...

[scrubmacdub]

spies tends to disappear in tight games. also poor in defence. a joy to watch in other facets of the game though. not even worth mentioning steyn, the SA coach will pick earl rose, the more politically attractive option for a political pawn of a coach.

[iop333]

Good to hear! from a Lions point of view, Is Mornye Steyn much better then him? Will Pienaar defo not be fit for the first test? u think he'll come in for the 2nd and 3rd?

[scrubmacdub]

morne steyn is head and shoulders above the rest. pienaar should be fit but probably only just in time. so he'l have had little practice before the first test. my money is on the lions to win, not because they have better players (they dont, man for man) but because they have coaches who can communicate effectively to the players and formulate reliable and reasonable strategies. our coach wants to play the opposite brand of rugby to the one which has made SA such a force in world rugby to date.

[iop333]

Really!? i thought Morne was 3rd choice behind Butch and Pienaar, also who do think will start FB and who would u want? You are right about better players, there's no denying that. Is PDV that bad? was his appointment purley a political one then?

[scrubmacdub]

butch is injured and pdv wouldnt pick him anyway cos hes based overseas. i would love terblanche to start at fullback cos he has been the best fullback in the s14 this year. kirchner is a more likely option though, and he is pretty good. pdv's appointment was purely political really, just do a google search if you want to find out more. looking forward to the series!!

[iop333]

Ye mate really looking forward to it! think u will beat us 2-1 though, just cant see us stopping you at high altitude.

[iluvboyzndgirlz]

Terblanche has been ok but there are much better fullbacks in the S14, eg Muliaina, McDonald, Louis Ludik, etc.

[iluvboyzndgirlz]

Butch may have been 1st choice but he's injured now so it doesn't really matter now

[kpgilly]

my favourite number 8 in the world...what a rugby player.....great to see him back :D:D hopefully he'll have 3 off days against the lions hahaha

[iop333]

Wow! he does look pretty impressive! but in a pressure Test match...... who knows (Well we hope)