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

[fatprop]

Only 1 out of your back 3 can kick.

Advantage Lions.

Folau, can kick (and well), he just chooses not to

 

[Eternity]

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.

 

[jollyswagman]

Since when has it been a prerequisite for a winger to be a great kicker?

 

[BDA]

Decent team. I think the pack is very well balanced having regard to scrum, line-out and work around the park.

The backline is a nice compromise between defence and attack. definitely capable of scoring some tries.

Really hoping Sharpe has our line-out purring. If we can perform well in the scrum and at line-out, with Genia directing us around the park we are a good chance of getting up.

JOC (James O'Connor) is a question mark but fingers crossed.

 

[Braveheart81]

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.

Aside from you obviously thinking Cooper should have been playing 10, who else should have been selected?

There will be at least three Reds players on the bench (Fainga'a, Slipper and Gill) and possibly a fourth in Simmons.

What is wrong with Barnes at fullback? He has played the last five or six tests there and has arguably produced our best games at fullback since Beale was in excellent form back in 2010.

I find the whole argument that a coach is picking or not picking players to piss off a supporter base absolute tinfoil hat stuff.

I don't think the coach gives a shit where the players are from.

Fans shouldn't care where the players are from either because they're all from somewhere in Australia and that's who they're playing for.

 

[Braveheart81]

Really doubt it's going to be Cuthbert and North on the wings. Halfpenny and Sextons kicking games could just keep pinging Australia into the corners all day.

Who else then? Zebo would be next in line. Does he kick anymore than those two?

I don't think Maitland will be picked. I think North, Cuthbert and Zebo have all looked better than him so far.

 

[BDA]

Much like last night, I expect the Lions to hoist and chase a lot on Saturday. We need to worry more about being secure under the high ball than a supposed lack of kickers. We have JOC (James O'Connor)/Barnes/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)/Lilo/Folau all have a decent boot on them.

If Deans chose a back three purely on their ability to kick the shit out of it, we'd have people on here complaining about a lack of ball runners.

 

[Phil]

Aside from you obviously thinking Cooper should have been playing 10, who else should have been selected?

There will be at least three Reds players on the bench (Fainga'a, Slipper and Gill) and possibly a fourth in Simmons.

What is wrong with Barnes at fullback? He has played the last five or six tests there and has arguably produced our best games at fullback since Beale was in excellent form back in 2010.

I find the whole argument that a coach is picking or not picking players to piss off a supporter base absolute tinfoil hat stuff.

I don't think the coach gives a shit where the players are from.

Fans shouldn't care where the players are from either because they're all from somewhere in Australia and that's who they're playing for.

Braveheart,you have responded exactly as I would have(but probably better!).Why people still think like this amazes and disappoints me.

 

[Zander]

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.

Nice troll.

 

[JSRF10]

If Cuthbert is picked the Wallabies will have a field day on his wing, he is a great finisher but is sub standard in every other aspect of play. If North is injured Zebo would be the next best option but I wouldn't be surprised if Maitland was picked there

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

well either way, maitland can't kick that well either, certainly no better than folau.
halfpenny is amazing and beats berrick there ,but barnes is no slouch and i think lealiafano has a great kicking game.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

forgot about zebo, he is a sharp player. i'd have him with north.
north is a machine.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Happy with the team. I'm really stoked that Lilo got a gig, because his form over the last couple of seasons has certainly warranted it. The fact that we'll have a ball playing 12 will take the pressure of JOC (James O'Connor) to a large degree and they are both good defenders. The pack is the best we can turn out at present and I'm very happy for Ben Mowen to get a start in a game like this. His line out work will be important and he may even do the calling. Having Kev and Douglas in the second row adds some real starch in there as well.

 

[Blue]

Much like last night, I expect the Lions to hoist and chase a lot on Saturday.

Nothing personal but what have you been watching?

Last night they hoisted because they had nothing in attack and kept getting bitch slapped behind the gainline.

The first test team will give it air like they have in all the other games especially with Davies and BOD in midfield.

They are going to send the backrow up the middle and take it wide with Sexton standing very flat - Warrenball or Gatlandball whatever it's called.

Unless it's pissing rain of course.

 

[ACT Crusader]

With Lilo at 12 I think the space will open up for JOC (James O'Connor) to take the line on a bit more.

Agree with an earlier comment that Lilo has been on Deans radar for some time and only because of injury we haven't seen him.

And with Lilo at 12, he is a very good place kicker so that takes away a bit of the need to have boot reliant wingers.

They will have Barnes and the 1st 5 (JOC (James O'Connor)) dropping back to field kicks just as most Int'l teams play.

Other than Lilo at 12, the other very promising thing in this is side is Douglas over Simmons. Douglas plays a genuine hard man role at the breakdown. Have been impressed with his ability to shift bodies and attack with some reckless abandon. Whereas I think Simmons is less effective in this regard.

Even as a neutral, and even torn on who I should support, I can even feel the excitement building.

 

[JSRF10]

Gatland ball is going to the blindside until you reach the touchline then starting all over again, for it to be successful the Lions need to get some runners over the gainline in midfield, with Roberts out, and Croft and Heaslip expected to be picked they don't have anyone who'll consistently do that.

I can see the Lions having a lot of possession but that Wallabies side should have enough in defense to deal with anything the Lions can throw at them if they keep their discipline. Given how poorly the Lions have defended out wide, and Warburtons poor form at the breakdown and fitness, I think the Wobs could make hay if they can shift the ball quickly and accurately.

 

[Ash]

Folau, can kick (and well), he just chooses not to

Agree. Just needs to get his decision making right. Will come with experience.

I actually think that Folau's got a bigger boot on him Barnes.

 

[Ash]

When Barnes doesn't play at 10 for Australia he seems to chime into first receiver an awful lot, actually a little too much for my liking. Would normally like him a bit wider and let the 10 take the ball first more, but with JOC (James O'Connor) at 10 this may work better, but it then sorts of waste Lelo at 12. Swings and roundabouts.

 

[Braveheart81]

I'll be interested to see who the Wallabies goal kicker is.

Personally I'd go with Lealo for the shorter ones and Barnes for the kicks over 40m. His range seems to be a bit better than JOC (James O'Connor).

If Lealo can slot an early kick it would give him a lot of confidence for the match.

 

[Zander]

Barnes will kick, that's why he's starting.