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Western Force v Lions, Saturday, 28 June @ Optus Stadium 8pm AEST

Mr Pilfer

Ron Walden (29)
The force were never going to stay with them longer than 40-50 mins. They have guys who have played 30-50 tests coming off the bench vs guys like Tauakipulu, Princep and Burey.

Reds and Brumbies would be a chance if they were full strength but that is not going to happen so lions should win easily.

The AUSNZ and First Nations games could be an absolute bloodbath if they don’t get some big game NZ players
 

rugbyAU

Chilla Wilson (44)
The force were never going to stay with them longer than 40-50 mins. They have guys who have played 30-50 tests coming off the bench vs guys like Tauakipulu, Princep and Burey.

Reds and Brumbies would be a chance if they were full strength but that is not going to happen so lions should win easily.

The AUSNZ and First Nations games could be an absolute bloodbath if they don’t get some big game NZ players
Waratahs game I think should be the most concerning
 

Backintheolddays

Johnnie Wallace (23)
Force competed better than expected in first half then fell away. Scrum and lineout would have had Farrell concerned.
Hamish Stewart will not be watching any reels from this game, awful.
 

Tomthumb

Ken Catchpole (46)
Certainly not a surprising result, Force battled hard

If they had of taken a few more of the early chances they created t it would have made it a bit more interesting
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Rod McCall (65)
Very unlikely, aside from the fact the he would have to cancel his retirement he has a broken toe:

I don't think playing another year or two is entirely off the cards, but I think anything more involvement in this series is going to be a hard ask.
If he was looking to settle down back in Perth they'd be mad not to have a chat to him and throw out a contract. He's an instant upgrade on some of the current guys.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Rod McCall (65)
Very unlikely, aside from the fact the he would have to cancel his retirement he has a broken toe:

I don't think playing another year or two is entirely off the cards, but I think anything more involvement in this series is going to be a hard ask.
If he was looking to settle down back in Perth they'd be mad not to have a chat to him and throw out a contract. He's an instant upgrade on some of the current guys.
 

Strewthcobber

Michael Lynagh (62)
Who were the Brumby wingers keeping Hansen out of regular play when he was there? Muirhead and ?
He started the first 5 games in 2021 before he announced he was leaving but Brumbies had Tom Banks and Andy Muirhead on the books to 2022 already, and re-signed Tom Wright in 2021.

It's not like he wasn't wanted, Bru,mbies wwere trying to keep hiim, but he and they recognised he needed a larger contract, but he just fell into a contract logjam, and then went for more money in IReland
 

parkfootyenthusiast2

Ted Fahey (11)
My thoughts:

Impressed primarily by Pietsch, Grealy and CdC. Pietsch gets a lot done and bends the line nicely, Grealy was active and worked hard, whilst CdC was imposing in a short stint. I think with a better pack around him he could be a real difference maker in Gold.

I thought Swain was good at set piece but I still think he lacks a bit of muscle against bigger packs.

Echoing the sentiments around the Lions defensive line speed, it's either excellent or illegal, I can't pick one at this stage, let me judge the next few games.

Joe McCarthy is a great footy player isn't he. Very impressive work rate and physical nature. I was also impressed by Porter when we came on, scrummed really really well.

Pollock is a funny guy. You want to love him but he's such a pest. Impressed by his go forward for a young guy, plays a lot bigger than his frame and gets stuck in. Kindve guy I can see being a real villain on this tour, then he smiles and gets along with everybody after the game and you second guess yourself. Certainly a fantastic young talent.

I still like the idea of Donaldson off the bench for the wallabies, think he can break a game open late.

All in all, an entertaining game, Force could do NOTHING once the Lions picked up their line speed in the second half, just shifting it around and getting driven backwards until an inevitable turnover and some EXCELLENT counter attack against some tired bodies from the Lions. The reds and brumbies games should be a better indicator of where we're at, Tahs could be a similar story.

Im buzzing for the next couple weeks, Wednesday and Saturday games back to back, what's not to love. Les goh.
 

Wilson

John Eales (66)
Yeah Stewart was the solid reliable type who is no longer at all reliable.
Players like Stewart excel in settled, stable teams - it's where they work best as glue and help the team deliver as more than the sum of it's parts. He definitely hasn't been great this year or on the weekend, but he's played with a rotating cast of new 13s (Tomkinson, the most common was new to the side), and it was at it's worst on the weekend with Proctor playing his first game for the Force and a 10 who joined the squad mid year in Harford. It would've been a minor miracle if he excelled.
 

RubixCube

Peter Burge (5)
I thought the Force were excellant for 50min but realistically they were playing against an International team filled with WORLD CLASS players, was it ever gonna anything other tahn what we saw in the 2nd half! I can see the Lions putting 50 on all the Super teams, the Lions odds for the Reds game is $1.001 - INSANITY!!
Pietch was exceptional, give him the wing spot now and wrap him up in cotton wool. I thought Ringrose was excellant for the Lions, he put in 2 hits which were bone shuffering (the one on Harford was soooo good)
 

Backintheolddays

Johnnie Wallace (23)
I thought the Force were excellant for 50min but realistically they were playing against an International team filled with WORLD CLASS players, was it ever gonna anything other tahn what we saw in the 2nd half! I can see the Lions putting 50 on all the Super teams, the Lions odds for the Reds game is $1.001 - INSANITY!!
Pietch was exceptional, give him the wing spot now and wrap him up in cotton wool. I thought Ringrose was excellant for the Lions, he put in 2 hits which were bone shuffering (the one on Harford was soooo good)
I’ll take those odds. They’ll improve but Lions didn’t set the world on fire.
 

Brumby Runner

Jason Little (69)
Who were the Brumby wingers keeping Hansen out of regular play when he was there? Muirhead and ?
As I recall, he hadn't really cemented his spot as a winger at that stage. More a No 15 and was behind Tom Banks, and a sometimes No 10. I think he really developed as a winger after he moved to Ireland.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Rod McCall (65)
Exactly. Stats watchers miss these elements of play.
Happens in every sport when you expose a guy to a higher standard which the Lions bring when they are all the top of Test sides coming together. Some people rise to it like Pietsch did, as well as Grealy and Harris had a good showing but others like Stewart, Harford could do nothing but tread water and do what they could. Limited ceiling players.
 
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