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Next Saturday's Bulls vs Lions match under threat of cancellation

(Photo by Roberto Bregani/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Next Saturday’s Lions match versus the Vodacom Bulls is apparently under the threat of cancellation after a report emerged in South Africa alleging that there have been several positive tests for Covid-19 among Jake White’s squad.

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A story on supersport.com in advance of the planned Lions media activities on Tuesday claimed that some players had tested positive for the virus just as they were set to enter a five-day bio-bubble ahead of a match that is the third game in South Africa for Warren Gatland’s tourists.  

With the tour running to a strict schedule, the match would unlikely be rescheduled if it is not able to go ahead as planned next weekend in Pretoria as the Lions are set to move to their Cape Town base following the game as preparations ramp up towards the Test series opener versus the Springboks on July 24. 

Video Spacer

Warren Gatland discusses a potential Lions positional switch

Video Spacer

Warren Gatland discusses a potential Lions positional switch

The Springboks themselves have been in virus trouble this week in the lead-up to this Friday’s scheduled match versus Georgia, a positive test concerning Lood de Jager resulting in their training camp being shut down, everyone getting placed in isolation and the planned Tuesday announcement of their team selection being put on ice.  

The Bulls, who were defeated by Benetton in Treviso in the Rainbow Cup final on June 19, have isolated their affected players and their close contacts, but a decision on the viability of the fixture will now rest with a medical advisory committee comprising of experts from both the Lions and Springbok teams and the CEOs of both the Lions and SA Rugby.

This advisory committee had already been deliberating what the next step was for the Springboks after news of their shutdown emerged on Monday. De Jager had been in England until the end of Sale’s Gallagher Premiership title bid at the semi-final stage last month and his positive test was the second recent outbreak affecting the Springboks.

Vincent Koch and S’bu Nkosi both tested positive when the squad assembled in Johannesburg and close contacts with Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi, were placed in isolation. An initial positive test concerning Herschelle Jantjies was eventually deemed a false positive and he featured in last Friday’s win over Georgia. 

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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