Zippy's Player Ratings - Lions vs Southland
By Zippy
June 22 2005
Player ratings for the Lions very disappointing 26-16 defeat against the Southland yesterday morning. As usual marks out of ten, for details read on.
15. Murphy (5) – Looked good, couldn’t catch, pass or tackle.
14. Cueto (3) – Did he bother catching the flight or did he stay at Sale? As I said when he was called up a good club player.
13. Smith (4) – Lacks basic skills.
12. Henson (8) – MOTM by a mile, rose from the general mediocrtity.
11. Hickie (5) – Average, looks to counter but doesn’t ever look like causing the defence a problem. 10. O'Gara (6) – One dimensional negative player, the Lions need to be a modern side and this is not a modern player.
9. Cooper (3) – Tried so hard but was so bad.
8. Owen (4) – Lacking confidence after arriving on the tour full of it, a clever player playing with those with a lack of basic skills.
7. Williams (7) – Linked play well but was far too scrappy for him to have any more of an impact.
6. Moody (5) – So undisciplined and runs round like a headless chicken, I’m sure he must be better than this.
5. O’Callaghan (7) – Best game on tour for him, tough basic player who does tight work well.
4. Shaw (5) – Best game he has had on tour, still a bit average.
3. Hayes (7) – Lasted 80mins and did ok in the scrum, well done.
2. Titterrell (4) – Really don’t rate him.
1. Stevens (5) – Looked tired after a big effort on Saturday, with 44 players why was he required to play 2 games in 4 days?
Replacements of note:
Bulloch – Did the basics well, unlucky to not be in test squad.
Sheridan – Strong runs, impressive
Cusiter – Better than Cooper but not great, which suggests the platform was poor
Shanklin – First game time in the centre and he was great, if Lord Bald does not like Henson then here is your man not the golden one.
Overall Comments:
It was horrendous, some bright lights Henson/Shanklin teaming up but in general this looked like a dirt trackers outfit with a lack of confidence and morale and does not bode well for the rest of the tour.
Southland Comments:
Good brave performance, obviously not a great team but they fought well, special mention to the no7 T-Pole
Match Summary:
Try: T-Pole
Con: Apanui
Pens: Apanui 3
Tries: Henson 2
Cons: O'Gara 2
Pens: O'Gara 4