McGeechan laments injuries but remains proud of team

Published on Saturday 27 June 2009 19:40

LIONS head coach Ian McGeechan was proud of his team's performance in Pretoria, despite losing the match and the series in the closing stages of a thrilling match yesterday.

He said: "I thought the boys were outstanding. We got in a winning position but didn't finish it off and some of the injuries have probably helped that. I have told them I'm proud of their performance and their whole attitude through the game. I don't think anyone expected us to be as competitive as we were in both Tests. With some luck we could be stood here with two wins or one win – but that's how it goes.

"We had a couple of chances, but needed a bit of composure to put them away. We could have been almost out of sight by half time, but in the second half we didn't make the best decisions sometimes to keep the pattern we want, which causes problems. We needed more possession and territory."

The coach revealed there were injury concerns about Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Jamie Roberts and Tommy Bowe.

He explained: "The sad thing is there are some significant injuries we'll have to review. We'll know a bit more later, but it disrupted us and stopped the flow of a team that was playing very well."

As for Schalk Burger's early gouge on Luke Fitzgerald which saw the South African flanker escape severe punishment, McGeechan said: "That's for the citing officer to look at. You heard the conversation between the ref and touch judge and I think it'll probably be taken on from there. We've all seen it, but it's not up to me to judge."

South Africa captain John Smit paid tribute to the character of his players after their stirring comeback.

"I have to apologise for us raising the blood pressure of the country by 20 per cent, but this is a special crop of players who find victories in the darkest of rooms," Smit said.

"Not many teams could have come back from 10-0 down and one man down and I'm very proud of them," he added. "I said 'wake up' at half time. We were down on physicality and intensity, but we managed to step it up. This was a far bigger test than last week."