‘The Boks are slowly spoiling it’

SOUTH AFRICA’S blatant go-slow spoiling tactics against the British and Irish Lions must force rugby chiefs into taking urgent action to stop the game becoming a boring turn-off.

That’s the view of former Wales and Lions forward John Taylor, who felt the Lions’ 2-1 series loss proved things cannot carry on the way they are.

Taylor said: “The gamesmanship in this series was taken to another degree and you have to do something about it.

“Games are taking longer and longer and longer... too many reviews of decisions.

“It all played into South

Africa’s hands because they like to play a very structured, phased game and rely very heavily on dominating things with their very big forwards.

“But if you get hightempo, fast games with some free-flowing rugby, it would have suited the Lions better.

“I was appalled by what I saw. The whole series was fairly turgid.

“It’s a reflection on the way the game is going.

“I am in favour of going back to the days when replacements were only for injuries. Now you get giants sitting on the bench.

“So just when you think you have won your battle against your opposite number, you have a new monster facing you!”