Yeah look I’ve calmed down a bit now so I’d back McReight in but both of those guys have played 7 before. At the end of the day though, teams like the Lions and Boks have huge dudes with six packs who can run all day and that might have something to do with their success.
Not necessarily true Adam. Other than bringing in Valetini, Gleeson and Skelton who would have been in the first test XXIII anyway most if not all of the changes proposed by posters here are simply rearranging bench and starting players. The evidence of the first test suggests cohesion was better late in the game when the bench players took to the field.
Which part dont you think is true? I said wholesale changes, barring those related to injurie's is a knee-jerk reaction that wont improve cohesion. Bringing Valetini and Skelton back into the starting XV is not the wholesale change i'm referring, that's under those injury related substitutions which i thought would be obvious, especially given it's a role they've both played reguarly in the past with this squad.
He has a forced change to make at lock with McCarthy injured, Chessum likely comes into start there. Beyond that I'd only be looking at the back 3 who weren't great for them. The simplest would be Kinghorn in for Keenan if fit, but he must be tempted to swap out Lowe after he has been pretty inaccurate for his last two games. That likely comes down to Hansen vs Lowe, again depending on Hansen's fitness. I wouldn't be going near Duhan on his form in the lead up games, even with a hattrick against AU/NZ, he has just been too vulnerable to kicks in behind.
Definitely drop Curry. We know how highly the English value the spirit of the game. I'm sure they're not happy winning a game in that fashion.
Ikitau at 13 is eerily reminiscent of Smith at blindside. He's indisputably the better 13 of the two, but is playing out of position because he's more versatile than Sua'ali'i, and because there just aren't any real contenders at 12. I'd love to see him moved back, but I just think Paisami will be too much of a liability and won't redress the issue of the choking of the backline. Ikitau/Sua'ali'i seems to me to be the least worst option, but I really don't like it.
We got pretty good play out of the kicking game when it was done well, and that was without using JAS's ability much other than at kickoffs. If anything I'd say we will see more of it in the second test.
Planet rugby player rating:
It's harsh, but I wouldn't say it's especially unfair. I just think it would be unreasonable to expect too much more of him at this stage. It would be great to be in the Lions' position of having three international standard flyhalves to choose from, but we've got what we've got and I don't think there's a strong argument that we've a better option that Lynagh.
Yes. I understand what you are saying. They also gave Tom Wright a 7! Hardly touched the ball till the final quarter when Tate and Donno came on! It was more that most Aussies are talking up Lynagh and I feel it is way over the top. They started badly. I question Schmidt starting a guy in such a big game with a 9 he had never played with. Donaldson deserves a chance to cement a starting position not Lynagh. He has a bigger boot and likes to run the ball which we saw in the final quarter. The backs actually got some ball. Noticed from broken play he passed a cut out to get the ball to space. Lynagh just shuffled it along like Lolesio was a special at. From what I saw, Lynagh will only be under more pressure if they select him to start again. The Lions will smell blood. Not fair on him as he is just not ready imo. Helps I suppose to have a Test legend Dad?
