British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand (2017)

[Blue]

What the game needed was more fucking box kicks.

Connor Murray's execution of the box kick is sublime to watch. Gatland wad quite right, the kicking had precision and they chased but they did not contest in the air.

Again as per my earlier post. This game was appreciable for lots of reasons.

 

[Blue]

Murray's kicks are spot on at the moment. This must be close to the match day 23 for the Lions surely.

Fatland has a REAL problem.

Sean O'Brien is starting to gain form and when on form he is an absolute bloody beast.

He then will have to play Warbs at blindside at the expense of players who are better in the position.

And Warburton is carrying injury.

HE can't start Vunipola against the AB front row again. No matter how well he carries and tackles, so the other two LH props will fight it out with Mako on the bench.

Also think the locking combination is still undecided.

And Davies should still get a chance to nail down 13.

Hooker is wide open and will be the Irish if he believes that the Irish props should start.

Plenty can still happen which is good for Gatland

 

[Blue]

Itoje with an out and out professional foul. Ref standing 2 metres away, nothing.

You guys are the PROS at committing fouls in the red zone. Not sour grapes. Just fact, and to some extent developed into a well calculated skill, Esp by the Saders and the AB's

How does it feel on the other end?

 

[Blue]

As a scotsman, what's your support like for the BIL?

How much do you care when they feature so few Scots and do most British people get behind it?

They move on. Now imagine we can get the states in Australia to adopt that same attitude. You know, work for the common good and so on.

One can only dream.

 

[cyclopath]

Connor Murray's execution of the box kick is sublime to watch. Gatland wad quite right, the kicking had precision and they chased but they did not contest in the air.

Again as per my earlier post. This game was appreciable for lots of reasons.

Each to their own - I personally find a game of relentless mid-field box-kicks fairly unedifying. I'm not saying it's bad rugby, it's obviously effective if done well, but it's not what I prefer to see. 'Tis all.

 

[RedsHappy]

Not so sure. He gave them no credit. He seemed putting down losing solely to them giving the Lions opportunities. He released it about three times. I don't actually care either way. Just an observation.

I think you missed my sarcasm. We make the same point.

 

[KiwiM]

I thought Connor Murray was outstanding. Lions controlled the pace of the game really well. Their forwards really dominated obviously. Teo and Watson were impressive. Sexton better.

A few Crusaders looked decidedly ordinary when playing behind a tight 5 getting beaten. Taufua, Bedwell-Curtis and the halves to name a few. Goodhue was excellent, can see why he is in the ABs sights.

Obviously a huge win in the context of the tour and the Lions concept in general. Plus it makes the Blues win look even better - brilliant!

There were a couple of weird moments - Whitelock's decision to take a lineout option after the penalty under the posts as opposed to taking the scrum or kicking the 3. And Farrell's decision to throw cutout ball when the Lions had the numbers attacking 5 metres out from the Crusaders line.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Whitelock in defeat, his usual gracious losing Captain self:

'We made mistakes and they exploited them'.

The inestimable dignity of a Kiwi losing side.

If we made less errors, we would have conquered all. One of the laws of the sporting universe, close to the laws of gravity in its predictability.

I reckon that's being extremely generous to the visitors, including Mathew the Ref.
the massive looping cut out pass from Farrell when hands were the only option sums up the attacking threat in this team.
Subject to Sexton, who's touch was deft, thus almost guaranteeing he won't start.

 

[aeneas]

Murray and Farrell were amazing. The rest of the match should be consigned to the dustbin of history as quickly as possible.

 

[Dan54]

Harsh. I found this game every git as compelling as one where both teams score four tries. Tactically it was great to watch.

Not all rugby has to be helter skelter. This was really good to watch as a neutral.

I as a kiwi enjoyed watching the game. For one it will shut up some of the idiots trying to write Lions off so early in tour, also I have no trouble watching a game where a team has to grind out a win, and not play touch. Will help get the Lions' confidence up, which will make for tougher games for rest of tour.

 

[teach]

I took great delight in needling my brother during the game, a die hard Canterbury man. He reckons if the Crusaders had played like that last week, the Highlanders would have won. It was like they thought all they had to do was to turn up. Good to see the Lions starting to look like a team.

Can't believe the next game is so soon. The Clan won't have the luxury of all their ABs so not overly confident. I am betting they will cross the line though, something the boys up the road couldn't do.

Unavailable due to injury: Liam Squire, Matt Faddes
Unavailable due to All Blacks selection: Ben Smith, Aaron Smith
Unavailable due to NZ Maori selection: Elliot Dixon, Ash Dixon, Joe Wheeler, Rob Thompson, Tom Franklin


Liam Coltman, Lima Sopoaga and Waisake Naholo have all been made available. The Barracuda is at fullback. Sopoaga starting at 10.

 

[teach]

The Highlanders team to play
Richard Buckman, Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Teihorangi Walden, Tevita Li, Lima Sopoaga, Kayne Hammington, Luke Whitelock (captain), Dillon Hunt, Gareth Evans, Jackson Hemopo, Alex Ainley, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Reserves: Greg Pleasants-Tate, Aki Seiuli, Siosiua Halanukonuka, Josh Dickson, James Lentjes, Josh Renton, Marty Banks, Patrick Osborne.

 

[Blue]

Teach I suspect that pack is going to get smacked around a little.

 

[zer0]

Conversely the Highlanders backs should be far more dangerous than what the Crusaders fielded.

 

[KOB1987]

Lions team to face the Highlanders
1. Joe Marler
2. Rory Best
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Courtney Lawes
5. Iain Henderson
6. James Haskell
7. Sam Warburton (C)
8. CJ Stander
9. Rhys Webb
10. Dan Biggar
11. Tommy Seymour
12. Robbie Henshaw
13. Jonathan Joseph
14. Jack Nowell
15. Jared Payne
Reserves
16. Ken Owens
17. Jack McGrath
18. Dan Cole
19. Alun Wyn Jones
20. Justin Tipuric
21. Greg Laidlaw
22. Owen Farrell
23. Elliot Daly

 

[bigmac]

I reckon that's being extremely generous to the visitors, including Mathew the Ref.
the massive looping cut out pass from Farrell when hands were the only option sums up the attacking threat in this team.
Subject to Sexton, who's touch was deft, thus almost guaranteeing he won't start.

Good win to the lions but is based on a very restrictive game plan. Its like they are scared to score tries and prefer the safety of inside crash ball or pen kick.

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[bigmac]

The Lions bombed at least 3-4 likely tries in the Cru's red zone; if their combinations and short passing game (which was atrocious) were better the score would have blown out in their favour, big time.

I'd say Hansen would be just a tad more nervous than at his last departure from Eden Park mid-week. New nervousness factor perhaps at 4/10 vs 1.5/10 after the Blues match.

Was like they didnt know how to score tries. To scared to cross the white line?

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[teach]

Teach I suspect that pack is going to get smacked around a little.

Yeah I know. Too many starting players out with NZ Maori and ABs. BUT: We also had a lot of games earlier in the season without topline players, and they know how to play as a pack and work for each other, so I think it will be interesting. Like I said, they should cross the line at least once. I am going to place a wager on the Barracuda dotting down. Looking forward to some Tony Brown inspired magic in the backline.

Lions 28-15.
I try and 7 penalties to the visitors

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Crusaders match review is up:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com

 

[Highlander35]

Gardner: What is in from the side? What is hands in the ruck?

Edit: BILs need to start playing to the ref. Landers getting away with murder at ruck time, need to be exploiting that as well.