Australia vs British and Irish Lions - 1st Test (Brisbane)

[Blue]

Where's Quade?

 

[JSRF10]

Where's Quade?

No idea but you can bet the Fox Sports camera will find him on Saturday in the crowd as soon as JOC (James O'Connor)/Lilo/Folau/Barnes/Beale (delete as appropriate) make a mistake

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Happy for Lilo.

Not all that happy to the #10 allocated to JOC (James O'Connor) but he should be on the paddock somewhere.

Fairly predictable team, and largely signalled well in advance by Dingo.

As the Team has been named and there is stuff all we can do about it, it's time to jump on the Wobs bus and unite for Australia.

TAME THOSE LIONS.

 

[Richo]

If that side is accurate, one can't help but wonder if Deans is really going out of his way to try to piss off Queenslanders after the whole McKenzie/Cooper affair. Three Reds and seven Tahs, really? And Barnes of all people? And at Suncorp, of all places? Way to make it as hard as possible to support your country. If they can't manage a win, Deans is going to have a hard time explaining his way out of this one.

It's an outrage! Just imagine how much he must hate Queensland to risk the biggest series in twelve years and probably his last chance to stay on as coach of Australia -- and at Suncorp, no less! Did Deans find his shower infested with cane toads one time? Did Quade put flour in his petrol tank after training on the Gold Coast one day? Or does he just really hate XXXX? I demand answers!!!

 

[Bullrush]

Or does he just really hate XXXX?

I thought everyone did?!? LOL

 

[Phil]

It's an outrage! Just imagine how much he must hate Queensland to risk the biggest series in twelve years and probably his last chance to stay on as coach of Australia -- and at Suncorp, no less! Did Deans find his shower infested with cane toads one time? Did Quade put flour in his petrol tank after training on the Gold Coast one day? Or does he just really hate XXXX? I demand answers!!!

You've nailed it Richo!

 

[Scoey]

For the record, I'm a Reds and QC (Quade Cooper) fan(duh). I like that team with the possible exception of JOC (James O'Connor) at 10. My answer would not be to put Quade there but.

To be honest I didn't even notice the large amount of Tahs and few Reds until that other guy posted. All I saw was 15 Wallabies.

Giddy up boys. Time to get on with it and smack those big pussies!!

 

[jollyswagman]

Is Kimlin a chance to be on the bench after Tuesday nights performance or has Robbie already let him go so to speak?

Has the Burgess nightmare ended yet?

Beside Beale, FingerS, Slipper....what is the bench going to be?

 

[Tex]

Christ i'm excited for this match!

Great to see form being rewarded in the selections. Congratulations to Mowen, Lilo and Folau for their debut caps. Hopefully it's the first of many (particularly for Folau).

Now it's a matter of convincing the local to dedicate the big screen to the true sport of the gods, and not the usual AFL claptrap.

 

[Richo]

Is Kimlin a chance to be on the bench after Tuesday nights performance or has Robbie already let him go so to speak?

You'd think that it's a contest between him and MMM. Ironically, playing on Tuesday might incline Deans towards putting MMM on the bench. But you'd think a match-fit, battle-hardened, lion-taming ginger ninja is exactly what the Wallabies need.

 

[en_force_er]

Deans is a man who doesn't usually pick based on form.

Yet he decides to now? Personally, I like seeing form rewarded but if there was ANY time that it's not suitable to hand out 3 new starting caps it's now.

Still, I like the team. For me, question marks at 10 (he's simply not a 10) and over the balance of the back 3, but we'll see. No problems here with Barnes at 15 but I can see why people would question it.

 

[jollyswagman]

At least you can walk into a bar past 2am and buy a drink Tex. Spare a thought for us poor bastards in the US where 2am is closing time - 2.30am kick off local time for the record.

 

[Braveheart81]

Is Kimlin a chance to be on the bench after Tuesday nights performance or has Robbie already let him go so to speak?

Has the Burgess nightmare ended yet?

Beside Beale, FingerS, Slipper..what is the bench going to be?

My guess is that the bench will be Slipper, Kepu, Fainga'a, McMeniman, Gill, Phipps, McCabe and Beale.

I doubt Kimlin will be on the bench. After last night he is perhaps a stronger chance of playing in the series than Dennis or McCalman though.

 

[jollyswagman]

You'd think that it's a contest between him and MMM. Ironically, playing on Tuesday might incline Deans towards putting MMM on the bench. But you'd think a match-fit, battle-hardened, lion-taming ginger ninja is exactly what the Wallabies need.

Absolute GOLD Richo!!!!

 

[barbarian]

Word is the bench is:

Fainga'a
Slipper
Kepu
Simmons
Gill
Phipps
McCabe
Beale

Not too many surprises there, no MMM maybe but not sure his fitness levels.
.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Personally, I like seeing form rewarded but if there was ANY time that it's not suitable to hand out 3 new starting caps it's now.
.

Why is this test any more important than say, a Bledisloe game? Justin Harrison debuted in a Lions test didn't he? You've got to start them some time and IMHO every test is equally important, so I have no problem with three guys getting their first cap on the weekend.

 

[jollyswagman]

Word is the bench is:

Fainga'a
Slipper
Kepu
Simmons
Gill
Phipps
McCabe
Beale

Not too many surprises there, no MMM maybe but not sure his fitness levels.
.

Hmmmmm......wondering if the two benches might be the difference on the night. After reading those names I can't help but get a flash of "what could have been" had we not lost Pocock, Smith, Higgers, TPN & White.

 

[Scotty]

There is aspects of this backline that I like. Two strong ball-running wingers who we'll want to make use of should see us spread it wide on occasions. A steady hand at 15 is fine with me.

JOC (James O'Connor) seems like a weird, unnecessary gamble at 10, but I'm crossing my fingers that he rises to the occasion. I do like the fact that our 10/12 is JOC (James O'Connor)/Lilo. I think it was always a given that if we were going to play O'Connor at 10 we needed another playmaker outside him. Both guys can play 10 and 12. Hopefully Lilo has been encouraged to join in directing the team around.

I'm sort of expecting JOC (James O'Connor) to be moved to the wing in the second half, with Beale or Barnes taking over at 10. I think that would be the better way to go.

I expect that it will depend on the game situation, how JOC (James O'Connor) is playing at 10 and whether Barnes can last 80.

It is most likely that Beale will come on for Barnes for fitness reasons but if JOC (James O'Connor) is struggling we could see Beale at 10 and JOC (James O'Connor) at 14 or 15.

 

[Braveheart81]

I expect that it will depend on the game situation, how JOC (James O'Connor) is playing at 10 and whether Barnes can last 80.

It is most likely that Beale will come on for Barnes for fitness reasons but if JOC (James O'Connor) is struggling we could see Beale at 10 and JOC (James O'Connor) at 14 or 15.

The backline has a fair bit of flexibility.

If Beale ended up at 10 for example, McCabe could play wing and Folau to fullback if Barnes had to come off.

I agree with you that the likely swap is for Barnes to come off and Beale to come on though.

I like McCabe on the bench because he covers 11-14 without requiring any player reshuffling.

 

[Tex]

At least you can walk into a bar past 2am and buy a drink Tex. Spare a thought for us poor bastards in the US where 2am is closing time - 2.30am kick off local time for the record.

Oh it's definitely a first world problem! It should be fine, the pub has a jolly Irishman behind the bar who's helped eke out a rugby bulkhead among all of the AFL people.

If you find yourself in Melbourne it's worth a look. Reasonable meals, excellent beer list and a good crowd. Great Northern Hotel if your'e interested.

As others have said, this announcement should mean some of the banter about team selections can evolve to some passion and excitement about the game. Go you good thing!