There have to be a few doubts after Saturday

Kriel in particular looked feeble at times. Savea literally carried him for 20 metres on one occasion. He was a non  factor at the breakdown, easily shifted off the ball.
Mostert was good in the loose, but unable to provide anything in the tough stuff.
Combrink launched one disastrous clearing kick and badly missed Jane on his first 'try', fortunately reversed by the knock on. He did do some good things though and was dangerous in space.
Whiteley was a non factor, probably not quite match fit, a bit overpowered. But the decision to go for poles at minute 62 was also disappointing. Jantjies was not looking confident....and they were 10 points behind. It was time to take a chance.

Redlinghuis  was destroyed in the scrum near the Canes line near the end of the half and again early in the second.

Mapoe was a non factor as he was in the tests and he made that stupid kick.
As for Jantjies, he was Captain Confusion....from the kickoff, to the wobbly misdirected tactical kicks, knock ons and the hospital passes. The excuse offered by one groupie that Faf put him under pressure is BS, almost every pass was spot on ....his style puts him under pressure.

I thought Faf was magnificent. Taking a sweeping high ball, crash tackling the Canes loosies, adroitly stepping out trouble...always on the spot....playing with real heart.
The only other Lion to add to his reputation was Rohan , powerful runs, good reads a brilliant pick up......the only guy who looked dangerous and Coetzee leaves him out, go figure. I worry about Redlinghuis, Kriel and Mostert at test level

 Well then, Mozart ... perhaps it's best to exclude them altogether ... maybe we should return to Schalk and Louw. Throw in a Morne Steyn and a Jannie Du Plessis and go fetch Matfield for another stint. 
Why not bring Fransie Steyn in and perhaps even see if Pienaar's available.
At least we'll have a thousand plus caps on the field. 

 Mozart with respect, those guys had been through a couple of tough tests and then traveled to NZ and played it absolute atrocious weather. 
When a player performs for 10 games and falls down in one game he is not all of a sudden a bad player. Honestly now, how consistent is your golf?  I play off a single number and some days I simply cannot make par for no real reason.  Maybe the mental and physical tuning is out.
@CleanCut, that's cynical play - off with a yellow for you.  But I do understand the frustration.

 Time to bring back our mate Matfield ?

Well no CC that's not what I'm saying. We need players that will make the next WC to build a team that will make the next WC. I was in favour of maintaining as much of our old team through the last WC, because they were a team with a consistent playing style. I thought they had the best shot of winning and despite all the vitriol they came damn close against NZ.

It's a new day.....so we have to look at our resources, many of whom are Lions. But the final is an important data point. Away from Ellis Park against a test like defence. Some players faded.....perhaps as Mac says because of wear and tear.....but perhaps because they couldn't take the next step up in physicality.

I'm not saying thats  the case ....but it may be the case. In that group I include Mapoe, Jantjies, Redlinghuis, Kriel, Mostert and Whiteley. Players about whom I have a doubt. Kriel is a mega talent and will win tests....but is he suited for up north. Mapoe and Jantjies have issues that are obvious....as does Whiteley. Mostert continues to perform against the odds. Redlinghuis looked a bit stressed on Saturday, but. Is probably our best option....Koch is not a power scrummager.

It's not a black and white thing.....just shades of grey.

 Mozart no doubt stirring the pot. and knocking class players. Of those mentioned Whitely was the one who had a quieter game than usual.Most important is that the oaks recognise the difference between genuine line speed and camping offsides.

 The worst comment was Redlinghuys was destroyed in the scrum. Amazing how the Lions won the scrum battle and won by far the scrum penalty count! 
Beeno keeping it real!

 HasBeen .....puleeze, stop deluding yourself here are the facts. The Canes on the left....no need to apologize, just use this as a learning experience.

• Lineouts WonHurricanesComparisonLions733.3%66.7%14Lineouts LostHurricanesComparisonLions125%75%3Lineouts Won (%)HurricanesComparisonLions87.5%51.5%48.5%82.4%Scrums WonHurricanesComparisonLions646.2%53.8%7Scrums LostHurricanesComparisonLions00%100%2Scrums Won (%)HurricanesComparisonLions100%56.2%43.8%77.8%

Action Areas

 Did you take the conditions into consideration, Mozart? Conditions that we found more of a challenge to overcome than we did the opposition.
I know that at times rugby is played in these conditions and that we need to learn how to go about it ... but to be fair it gave the Canes a massif advantage over us.
What would have happened were we to have played the match in Johannesburg? I'm not saying we would have won but I am saying we would have given a much better account of ourselves ... and then chances are that your assessment of our boys would then have been a little different. You agree?
We have a host of inexperienced youngsters coming through ... and one of the first things we need to give them is a break ... a proper chance to pick up experience ... a chance to mature ... and that takes time.
We cannot expect these boys to suddenly become world beaters. Give us till end of next season and then make a judgement call. 
Something else that I'd just like to mention ... we have another big challenge in our current coach, his selections and his inability to actually coach a side to success.
Fraid our backs are to the wall but a few good decisions could change things dramatically.

 Conditions, the opposition, travel etc all played a role in the loss. I'm more concerned with individuals in making this point. Certainly it put Jantjies in perspective....and raised questions about a few other Lions. Things to watch ...not necessarily knockout factors.
That said, I do think it says at Bok level we need some additional forward power to augment the system. That and a controlling intelligence that can vary tactics when Plan A isn't working. Jantjies just kept doing the same thing, while Barrett varied his game.
I still believe our team this year has have a Lions core....but not all these guys wil make it in my view.

 Well ... we must remember that the Lions have bought into Ackerman's way of playing rugby. They made a success of the Kiwi style and are currently favourites to be selected ahead of the usual boring dullards.
We have already heard Coetzee confess that he's not skilled enough to couch the Boks into playing Lions style rugby and that leaves with the question ... how well will the Lions adapt to playing the predictable "bash em up front" and "kick everything aimlessly away when under pressure" style that we saw Coetzee favour against the Irish?
The way I see it is that for the Lions to be effective they need to continue with the style they've been taught ... and the only way that's going to happen is if Coetzee's replaced with Ackerman and his crew.
That's not going to happen.
We have the talent to take it to the next level but unfortunately this talent is going to be suffocated by the ignorant quota at the helm.
Once this happens everyone's going to question whether the Lions are indeed as good as first thought. 
I think Coetzee should rather select the chumps that suit his foolish way of playing rugby and leave the Lions to continue on their way to greater things.
Coetzee's just going to stain them with his idiocy. We can do without this.