Australia v British & Irish Lions, 3rd Test (Sydney)

[KOB1987]

He lived and played overseas.

and had officially retired from representative duty.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

If Deans has such a high regard for Smith why the hell was he not a part of our previous world cup.

Because he wasnt playing in Aus

 

[Bardon]

Although I'm obviously very disappointed with the BOD decision I have to say the picture the BBC are using to go with the headline "Gatland defends dropping O'Driscoll" made me laugh.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/

It's on that link atm but the BBC tend to cycle photo's pretty regularly and the story will only be top billing for a little while more.

For those that don't see it, it's a picture of Gatland from training scratching his head is a way reminiscent of Stan Laurel.

 

[Gurz]

Consider too - BILs planning to bring it more direct through mid-field so bench Davies and Tuilagi on... All of sudden AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (who is reportedly not100%) defending against 2x giants... Risk of injury increases more... Hooper may find himself in the midfield again......................

 

[fatprop]

Just received an email from ANZ Stadium, they seem to have a bit going on

.

ARRIVE EARLY TO SOAK UP THE ATMOSPHERE
- THE PRE GAME PARTY STARTS FROM 10AM

If there’s ever a time to soak up the atmosphere, it’s for an international sporting series 12 years in the making – it’s now.

Sydney Olympic Park will be hosting the ultimate pre-match experience for the Qantas Wallabies v British & Irish Lions finale, with a live site throughout Saturday.

The action kicks off at 10am with the Big Brewery BBQ where alliances are sure to be tested, with an Australia v UK and Ireland music battle on the speakers and a BBQ v HP sauce war by the grills.

From 2pm Cathy Freeman Park will come to life with a monster bar – 75m in length – in amongst a range of live music and entertainment, plus more than 30 bars, restaurants and cafes in Sydney Olympic Park village all themed and open early and late for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

Dusk will bring about Sydney Olympic Park’s signature light show – this time in Qantas Wallabies gold. Thanks to Foxtel, a giant screen will also be in play to screen the big match for those who don’t have tickets.

ANZ Stadium will not only host the highly-anticipated series decider, but the venue will welcome sports fans from far and wide in their eateries and bars from when Gates Open at 5pm – including two beer gardens on the northern and southern ends of the venue.

Three Australian Rock legends are set to light up ANZ Stadium from 7:30pm, kicking off what will be an incredible night of Rugby. Performing his Gold hit single One Summer, Daryl Braithwaite will head the Aussie rock line-up before former Black Sorrows front man Joe Camilleri delivers his classic, Chained To The Wheel. Ross Wilson, formerly of Daddy Cool fame, will cap off the massive Aussie rock line up with his chart topping hit – Eagle Rock.

The pre-match show will also include an Acknowledgment of Country, followed by a performance from the Qantas Choir and a specially cut highlights package from the opening two Tests of the DHL Australia 2013 Lions Tour before the Aussie rock trio light up ANZ Stadium.

 

[Set piece magic]

Sounds good, anyone from GAGR want to meet up before?

Looking forward to that Qantas choir, hope they sing still call Australia home

 

[Tomikin]

Also dissapointed for Gill. Also worried re backs cover. Also haven't seen much of Mccalmun apart from a reds/ force game where I thought he went great-- not spectacular, just bloody effective.
Have tossed and turned overnight, and can't come up with a better mix that I like more. So through an embarrissing coincidence in the time space continueum, I'm probably the only person here who so far has only agreed with deans

See I would have gone Kilmin for Simmions and had 3 back cover without McCalmun. Just to me Kilmin covers lock 6 or 8 just a bit more diverse. But what he has picked ain't bad its a fantastic team

 

[Tomikin]

Without knowing the thoughts of Deans, I assume that if a centre goes off - KB (Kurtley Beale) to 10, the others move out 1 and Mogg to 15. Not ideal, but the bigger problem then is if another back goes off. Phipps??? Hooper?

George Smith

 

[Braveheart81]

The catch 22 in selecting George Smith is that we need to have another reserve to cover for him.

Unless Smith got injured we aren't likely to know if he can last the entire game prior to Hooper being brought onto the field for Palu.

If Mowen has also been under an injury cloud this week (he didn't train on Tuesday for example) then an extra forward reserve seems pretty important.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

See I would have gone Kilmin for Simmions and had 3 back cover without McCalmun. Just to me Kilmin covers lock 6 or 8 just a bit more diverse. But what he has picked ain't bad its a fantastic team

The Reason i see that deans didnt pick a 4/6 in kimlin or MMM and the reason simmons has been in the team for both games is that he is the only other lineout caller. If mowen where to go down and simmons was not on the bench then we are stuffed.

aswell as the points made above by Braveheart81

 

[Quick Hands]

I really hope that it ends up working out alright, but jeez Deans seems to make things needlessly complicated.

I started getting worried earlier in the week when he was quoted as saying that both teams needed to pull something out of left field to win.

Like most, I can live with the 6/2 bench, but not where Mogg and Phipps are the 2. I like Mogg as a player, but in this situation it just had to be Horne and Phipps (although I would have preferred Horne and White).

 

[Tomikin]

But we were fucked with a 5-3 split in Brisbane, so in reality if it happens again we will be fucked regardless of who is there.

I don't have qualms with the 6-2 split, just the fact that Mogg is one of the 2. If it was Horne then no dramas. It is very unlikely you are going to lose more than one back to injury, where it is quite likely an underdone George Smith may tire badly at the back end of the game.
.

Have you ever seen Smith look underdone ? Even when he came back from Japan, his had a couple weeks training and I know he was hurt, only thing I can see stopping him is another injury it wont be his fitness

 

[Braveheart81]

Out of our reserves, I see that our players are divided into the following categories based both on who the starting player is and how good the reserve is:

Natural Attrition: Kepu, Slipper, Simmons - these guys will all get on the field to replace tired legs at various points during the game.

Impact: Hooper - will be a tactical substitution for Palu to have a more mobile backrow with two 7s.

Injury replacement: Fainga'a, Phipps, McCalman, Mogg

Whilst you could potentially move Mogg into the impact category, in his first test this seems a little unlikely.

If everyone stays healthy and we're not winning or losing by 20 points, I don't see Fainga'a, Phipps, McCalman or Mogg getting onto the field.

 

[Braveheart81]

Have you ever seen Smith look underdone ? Even when he came back from Japan, his had a couple weeks training and I know he was hurt, only thing I can see stopping him is another injury it wont be his fitness

His position is quite different to what it was when he first played for the Brumbies this season. He is returning from an injury where he wouldn't have been able to run for several weeks.

His knee also won't be 100% and at this stage I'd say is likely to be pretty sore and swollen by the end of the game even without another injury.

McCalman is the insurance in case he can't last 80 minutes. I don't think that is a poor decision to have a backup in place.

Like most, I can live with the 6/2 bench, but not where Mogg and Phipps are the 2. I like Mogg as a player, but in this situation it just had to be Horne and Phipps (although I would have preferred Horne and White).

I think the choice of Mogg is so that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) can stay at 13 in the case of any other back getting injured except for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). If Horne was on the bench then AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) probably has to move if 11, 14, 15 and possibly 10 get injured.

I'd guess that the backup plan if JOC (James O'Connor) gets injured is Beale to 10 and Mogg to fullback, not Lilo to 10. That plan would have had to be reversed if Horne was the player on the bench.

 

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

^ The man speaks sense

McCalman is insurance on the Smith gamble.

Mogg is there as he effectively covers 5 backline positions. Horne would cover two.


JOC (James O'Connor) injured: Mogg to 15; Beale to 10
Beale / Issy / Tomane injured: Mogg to swap straight in
Ice-man Lilo injured: JOC (James O'Connor) to 12; Beale to 10; Mogg to 15

ACC injured: Fuck

 

[JSRF10]

In the lead up to each test match I've given a quick overview of where the Lions can attack, still depressed after the team announcement but here it goes:

1- Scrum: Lions have picked a monstrous pack with one thing in mind, attacking the Australian scrum. This is a tactic frequently used by the NH teams but it rarely comes off, Ireland in the WC is one of the few examples in the last few years. As those familiar with Roman Poite know he doesn't care for technique he just goes with the team going forward. This is good news for Alex Corbisiero, who looks like a world beater when referees allow him to angle in. If Poite makes him scrum straight the Lions are in trouble

2- SOB: Huge threat with ball in hand and the only one of the Lions main ball carriers to have some form. The Lions need to get his hands on the ball 2 passes out from ruck where he can run at JOC (James O'Connor) and Lilo. He must be patient at the breakdown and keep his penalty count down.

3- Goal kicking: Halfpenny missed a few kicks in Melbourne but anything within 45m he should nail. Anything outside that, if the Lions want to kick it, Sexton should take he has nailed some massive penalties before and if the Lions want to score in 3s they should utilize him from distance

4- Bosh!: The Lions have plenty of it, I think the game plan will be bosh early bosh often. Its a terrible plan IMO but if they are going to insist on it they may as well do it properly. Phillips must give the ball to Sexton as quickly as possible so he can distribute to the power runners outside him. If the Lions take longer than 5 seconds to recycle the ball they are in trouble.

Ultimately I think a combination of poor selection and tactics will see the Lions lose by a score. They've picked a big pack with a focus on the scrum but still look short a couple of ball carriers. None of the front 5 are that mobile so Genia will look to exploit gaps around the fringes and if the Wallabies get quick ball they are in trouble. In attack the Lions have gone all in on Roberts making a miraculous return to form and consistently getting them 5 to 10 yards over the gainline, and if he can't do that Manu will have a go. There is no subtlety to their plan and certainly no plan B in sight. The Lions should be sending thank you cards to Berrick Barnes because without his loose kick to George North this series would be over. Since the 61st minute of that game the Lions have been getting progressively worse and the Wallabies better. As I said Wallabies by a score, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were by more than that.

 

[Starch]

Only male in the family. Might send the wife and youngest daughter off to hear Daryl Braithewaite sing while I check out the beer taverns

 

[Bowside]

I think McCalman is a poor selection given both Kimlin and MMM are available.

There is nothing he can do they can't, apart from play openside flanker badly.

 

[Zander]

Poite refereed England vs Australia last year. Whilst Marler is not playing on Saturday, he got heavily penalised for his technique, the Wallabies scrum on that day was Robinson, Polota-Nau and Alexander.

Is McCalman on an ARU top up?

 

[ACT Crusader]

I think McCalman is a poor selection given both Kimlin and MMM are available.

There is nothing he can do they can't, apart from play openside flanker badly.

Surely it's Simmons selection that would be questioned if 3M or Kimlin are the options.