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I'd agree that at this stage he still has a way to go yet, but it looks like he has the work rate to go with his giant frame, also his defensive work in mauls is superb!

Warburton needs a big game to justify a test place, interesting that Lydiate is on the bench I thought if he was to play the first test he'd get 80 minutes here. Tom Croft will hang out on the wings, hit no rucks, make one tackle, miss two and make some impressive line out grabs. Those two aside...

Lions: Leigh Halfpenny; Sean Maitland, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Simon Zebo; Jonny Sexton, Mike Phillips; Jamie Heaslip, Sam Warburton (capt), Tom Croft; Paul O'Connell, Alun Wyn Jones; Adam Jones, Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola. Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Geoff...

Are you sure about that one? In South Africa in 09 a couple of their franchises got hammered, one was competitive and the rest so so. It didn't change the way people thought about the strength of rugby there, its was merely acknowledged that Boks were missing in those games. If the Wallabies...

Why would the ARU care about making the games competitive? All the games against the franchises will be close to, if not, sold out long in advance of weakened teams being in known. By feeding the second string lambs to the Lions they aren't giving the Lions any help in getting battle hardened...

I'd argue that the Lions lost in 2009 because McGeehan, Rowntree and Gatland made 3 huge selection errors (Mears, Vickery, AWJ) in the tight 5 for the first test. Once these were corrected the Lions were on top, probably a discussion for another day though

Folau deserves to be picked, he has been the outstanding fullback in the Super Rugby competition this year. That's surely one Deans selection that can't be argued with!

Looking forward to seeing Skelton on Saturday up against POC and possibly Grey. I've been preaching to all who will listen back in Ireland that big Will could be the next big thing in the tight head lock world, hopefully he doesn't let me down!

36 should have been in the original party, really good player and would have acted as decent 10/12 cover. Don't get the moaning from the Lions every 4 years, they know what to expect these days. As I've said before why would Australia help the Lions prepare by allowing the Wallabies to play in...

That was in the backs, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and BOD are at similar levels these days. BOD is liable to get caught out on occasions defensively this season, and as I said he has had his most inconsistent season ever. Although BOD has better hands AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) offers more in attack and is probably a better tackler these...

The referring of the scrums was so bad it was funny, during some of them you could hear Isaac Boss directing the ref on what to call.

Lots of ill discipline from the Blues, 12-3 to France after 25. Score could blow out if the Blues don't improve

Nothing riding on the game, big game on Saturday, this is exactly the kind of game the French don't turn up for. Big chance for the Blues if they can stop the French getting on top at scrum time.

I wouldn't expect to see North or Cuthbert to be honest, Kearney will play 15 (again assuming no more hammy issues) so I'd expect to see Halfpenny at 14 and Zebo at 11

Looking forward to this one, first of 4 consecutive Lions Saturdays for me. The Tahs will be doing well to keep it under a 30 point margin I think. The lineout is going to be attacked probably by POC Croft and Parling. Hard to say which test combinations will play but I think we'll see Phillips...

Composite backline probably only Sexton gets in it for me. I think you're over estimating a lot of the Lions players talents and skill levels. Lets not forget most of these players are coming off terrible international seasons. Wales won the 6 nations because they weren't the worst of an awful...

The Daily Heil, what a joke of a paper not even for wiping your ass. On a more positive note fair play to whoever wrote that, nothing is funnier than the English press getting easily wound up around major sporting competitions.

If the Wallabies can get their set piece in order they'll win the series 3-0. The Lions probable test back line still look uninspired with ball in hand, and given they'll be carrying St Sam and Lydiate for this one the Wallabies have to be favourites. The Lions main chances of scoring will be...

His comments at half time were hilarious, the last thing the Force needed to do was to be even more patient and slow it down further. I'd love to see Godwin playing under a coach who plays attacking rugby, he really is going to be a special player.

Have to agree with Marto for once, Cheks and the coaching staff really earned their $ today. Such a shame we missed last minute kicks against the Rebels and Crusaders, we'd be comfortably in the top 6.