Highveld XV - May 30, 09

LIONS TOUR 2009 FIXTURES
30 May: Highveld XV; Royal Bafokeng, Rustenburg
3 June: Golden Lions; Ellis Park, Johannesburg
6 June: Cheetahs; Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
10 June: Sharks; ABSA Park, Durban
13 June: Western Province; Newlands, Cape Town
16/17 June: Coastal XV; Port Elizabeth (Venue TBC)
20 June: South Africa (first Test); ABSA Park, Durban
23 June: Emerging Springboks; Newlands, Cape Town
27 June: South Africa (second Test); Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4 July: South Africa (third Test); Ellis Park, Johannesburg


1st Test prediction of team Eddie Butler - May 28.

15 Lee Byrne; 14 Tommy Bowe 13 Brian O'Driscoll 12 Riki Flutey 11 Shane Williams; 10 Stephen Jones 9 Mike Phillips; 1 Gethin Jenkins 2 Lee Mears 3 Euan Murray 4 Nathan Hines 5 Paul O'Connell 6 Stephen Ferris 7 Martyn Williams 8 David Wallace



Backs:
Lee Byrne (Wales), Rob Kearney (Ireland), Shane Williams (Wales), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Ugo Monye (England), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland), Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Tom Shanklin (Wales), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland), Keith Earls (Ireland), Riki Flutey (England), Ronan O'Gara (Ireland), Stephen Jones (Wales), Mike Phillips (Wales), Harry Ellis (England), Tomás O'Leary (Ireland).
Replacements: Mike Blair (Scotland) for O’Leary, Tom Croft (England) for Quinlan, James Hook (Wales),


Forwards:
Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Andy Powell (Wales), David Wallace (Ireland), Stephen Ferris (Ireland), Alan Quinlan (Ireland), Joe Worsley (England), Martyn Williams (Wales), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O'Connell - captain (Ireland), Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland), Simon Shaw (England), Nathan Hines (Scotland), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Andrew Sheridan (England), Phil Vickery (England), Euan Murray (Scotland), Jerry Flannery (Ireland), Lee Mears (England), Matthew Rees (Wales).

Royal XV 25-37 Lions

The blundering British and Irish Lions narrowly avoided an embarrassing defeat as their South Africa tour spluttered into life.

Not a great start to the Tour and only one reputation enhanced - Lee Byrne.
O'Gara as usual saved the bacon - kicked three penalties and four conversions for a 22-point haul.




1st Match V. Royal Highveld XV. Royal Bafokeng, Rustenburg

Lions: Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland), Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales); Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland), Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland); Andrew Sheridan (Sales Sharks/England), Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales), Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England), Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland - captain), Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales). David Wallace

Replacements: Lee Mears (Bath/England), Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Ferris (Ulster/Ireland), Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales), Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England). Jamie Heaslip
For the unavailable IN: David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip

Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa).
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/rugby/lions-2009/2009/highveld-xv-lions-280743.html