Australia v British & Irish Lions, 3rd Test (Sydney)
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Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
Not at all. However, progress towards the opposition try line is important, more so when it's dominant, since it means you're consistently getting over the gain line. When your back row makes almost as many meters with the ball in hand as the opposition team in total then you obviously have a substantial advantage. If the backs had been more able to convert that forward progress into points then we'd have won comfortably.
JSRF10
Dick Tooth (41)
You have a very high opinion of Davies, even the Welsh don't rate him that highly. Put it this way if you were Robbie Deans who would you rather face? I bet Dingo is delighted that BOD isn't playing. We'll have to agree to disagree on his abilities.
BOD isn't anywhere near his peak I agree, but he still attracts a lot of attention in defense. Add to that his leading of the defense, his breakdown work, his ability to offload and his leadership, I think Gatland has made the wrong call.
Tex
Greg Davis (50)
Wow big call, what a fairytale!
Still not sure McCalman offers much spark, especially compared to the in-form Kimlin. That bench selection isn't quite as baffling as Tuilagi over BOD. I'd have thought they'd want a bit of subtlety to get around the solid pair of AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Lilo, Tuilagi offers little more than brute power.
Still not sure McCalman offers much spark, especially compared to the in-form Kimlin. That bench selection isn't quite as baffling as Tuilagi over BOD. I'd have thought they'd want a bit of subtlety to get around the solid pair of AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Lilo, Tuilagi offers little more than brute power.
Tex
Greg Davis (50)
1. Benn Robinson.
2. Stephen Moore
3. Ben Alexander
4. James Horwill ©
5. Kane Douglas
6. Ben Mowen
7. George Smith
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Will Genia
10. James O’Connor
11. Joe Tomane
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Israel Folau
15. Kurtley Beale
Reserves
16. Saia Fainga'a
17. James Slippper
18. Sekope Kepu
19. Rob Simmons
20. Ben McCalman
21. Michael Hooper
22. Nick Phipps
23. Jesse Mogg
That's a really strong starting 15, IMO. *If* those combinations gel they'd be able to run most teams ragged.
2. Stephen Moore
3. Ben Alexander
4. James Horwill ©
5. Kane Douglas
6. Ben Mowen
7. George Smith
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Will Genia
10. James O’Connor
11. Joe Tomane
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Israel Folau
15. Kurtley Beale
Reserves
16. Saia Fainga'a
17. James Slippper
18. Sekope Kepu
19. Rob Simmons
20. Ben McCalman
21. Michael Hooper
22. Nick Phipps
23. Jesse Mogg
That's a really strong starting 15, IMO. *If* those combinations gel they'd be able to run most teams ragged.
Bardon
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Gatland's plan B is normally to do more of Plan A. So if bashing it up in the centres isn't working he's need Tuilagi to come on and bash it up in the centres.
Not a very inspiring overall selection. BOD out is a big mistake in my opinion. I think Davies and BOD have been the 2 best centres on tour, a real pity both are 13s. I hope Davies has a stormer and justifies his selection.
I can see Aus bossing the breakdown with Warburton & BOD out of the team and to a lesser extent Heaslip and Vunipola. Corbs in for the scrum makes sense and Toby has been in great form all tour.
This team has to hang on to the ball. Kicking away possession like last week will result in a 20 point loss as it will be very difficult to turn the ball over with the start 15. If we do hang onto the ball the back row has to make plenty of ground.
The most bizzare pick for me is Phillips coming back into start. He was terrible in the first test and is carrying an injury. Murray deserved a crack at a start as he's performed the best over the 2 tests.
My biggest concern is that with so many players coming in carrying injuries that the Lions physio will make it into our top 5 for number of minutes on the field.
No4918
John Hipwell (52)
Kimlin is hard done by there. The call between McCalman and MMM is a lot closer due to the latters lack of game time.
A 6:2 split is dumb move IMHO but if you guys are right this looks to be it. Mowen won't be taken off so the only reason to carry two backrowers is that Deans is suddenly worried Smith and/or Palu aren't up 80 minutes.
A 6:2 split is dumb move IMHO but if you guys are right this looks to be it. Mowen won't be taken off so the only reason to carry two backrowers is that Deans is suddenly worried Smith and/or Palu aren't up 80 minutes.
Scotty
David Codey (61)
Maybe Gatland got sick of seeing Folau put the big fend on BOD and leave him lying in his wake?!
JSRF10
Dick Tooth (41)
Two very good points there. The tactics have to change, when the Lions have 4 guys who were really good at the breakdown you could see why the let the Wobs have the ball. The Lions can't afford Jones, Sexton or Halfpenny to get injured lets hope the physios have stocked up on their magic sponges
Really strong team picked by the Wallabies, although they'll also need some luck on the injury front. Kind of looking forward (not sure why) to seeing Hooper come off the bench like a man possessed for 30 minutes.
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
So Deans is concerned about the breakdown and our ability to secure the pill, fair enough. The lions got the upper-hand in that area last weekend, but why would you bring one of the most ineffectual guys into the squad? Surely Kimlin or even McMaddness would be the better options?
Try-ranosaurus Rex
Darby Loudon (17)
Or that Mowen was having a rest and they needed someone to call the lineout?
Tex
Greg Davis (50)
Iain Payten @iainpayten
WALLABY-LEAKS EXC: George Smith to start for the Wallabies in decider against the Lions on Saturday @Rugby_Gold bit.ly/12kIzJ1
Scotty
David Codey (61)
It is insanity to go into this game knowing that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is carrying an injury with the reserve backs of Phipps and Mogg. Is Deans seriously considering playing Beale, JOC (James O'Connor), Lilo as our 10, 12, 13 if AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) goes down?
I'd just about prefer a bench of Horne and Mogg with JOC (James O'Connor) as Genia's cover!
I'd just about prefer a bench of Horne and Mogg with JOC (James O'Connor) as Genia's cover!
GaffaCHinO
Peter Sullivan (51)
WALLABIES TEAM TO PLAY THE LIONS
1. Benn Robinson.
2. Stephen Moore
3. Ben Alexander
4. James Horwill ©
5. Kane Douglas
6. Ben Mowen
7. George Smith
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Will Genia
10. James O’Connor
11. Joe Tomane
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Israel Folau
15. Kurtley Beale
Reserves
16. Saia Fainga'a
17. James Slippper
18. Sekope Kepu
19. Rob Simmons
20. Ben McCalman
21. Michael Hooper
22. Nick Phipps
23. Jesse Mogg
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...isive-lions-test/story-fni2g0wi-1226673721681
1. Benn Robinson.
2. Stephen Moore
3. Ben Alexander
4. James Horwill ©
5. Kane Douglas
6. Ben Mowen
7. George Smith
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Will Genia
10. James O’Connor
11. Joe Tomane
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Israel Folau
15. Kurtley Beale
Reserves
16. Saia Fainga'a
17. James Slippper
18. Sekope Kepu
19. Rob Simmons
20. Ben McCalman
21. Michael Hooper
22. Nick Phipps
23. Jesse Mogg
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...isive-lions-test/story-fni2g0wi-1226673721681
Slightly concerned with the 6-2 Bench and not really having cover for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).
Given how hard AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has been playing and he's been down several times this series, the lack of a replacement that can play inside/outside centre is concerning.
If AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) goes off....Beale to 10? and shift JOC (James O'Connor) and Lilo out one?
Given how hard AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has been playing and he's been down several times this series, the lack of a replacement that can play inside/outside centre is concerning.
If AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) goes off....Beale to 10? and shift JOC (James O'Connor) and Lilo out one?
jollyswagman
Ron Walden (29)
Try-ranosaurus Rex
Darby Loudon (17)
Even more concerning when Robert, Tuigali and Davies will be running down that channel all day
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