Yeah Farrel is a better centre than fly half! I know Cuthbert was touted for a test birth after the England thrashing, but does running over Mike Brown really make him world class? He was very average for the rest of the six nations and dire in the Autumn. Although he may have been top try scorer in the 6n’s actually? Maybe I am being harsh!

I can’t believe Gatland has selected Lydiate on the bench! He is a defensively minded player (admittedly excellent). If the defense needs shoring up at some point in the game, then the chances are the Lions would be behind anyway, in which case you need attacking impact players. Maybe it would work to protect a lead later in the game, but that is a bit of a gamble. Most of all, SoB covers 6, 7 and 8 (no other backrowers on the bench)!

I guess Lydiate is on the bench as Gatland isnt totally sure about the two Lipizana’s in the backrow.

Heathrow T5 had plenty of Lions fans making their way to oz yesterday, spoke to a Welsh chap who’d organised a trip with flights, accommodation and all three tests for £3k, nice work and very jealous.

duckman – Member
Kryton57 – Member
I’m excited too.
Anyone know of a link that’ll allow me to watch it live in Barbados?
Piss…off…

Lol – I am however quite serious. Nothing shown via ESPN or bbc international or a couple of local sports bars. . Both me and the FIL would like to watch the game…

I’ll post a link tonight.

Cheers AA

Anyone think Gatland is holding a few form players in reserve for the second test? I can’t help thinking he thinks Aus will play better 2nd Test so is holding SoB and grey back a tad. To me this is a team to carry and score through North, Croft and 1/2p after demolishing the forwards, playing in the aus half . 2nd Test they will be wiser so he wants stronger ball protectors.

Why isnt Tuilagi being sent home? I can’t help thinking he’s going to be used as a “sudden” fixed player in 3rd test.

Pretty much as expected really. Lydiate does not deserve a spot in the 23 but he may not be needed anyway. SOB must be feeling very despondent; he deserves a spot and is far more versatile with no Toby on the bench. For all his faults, cuthbert offers a big threat going forward and is still stronger defensively than mainland. Right choice IMHO.

Kryton57 – Member

Anyone think Gatland is holding a few form players in reserve for the second test?

No because there’s no point in losing the first test and trying to win the series later on. I think that he genuinely must think that is his strongest team.

And as I think someone above might have posted, historically the side that wins the first test almost inevitably wins the series.

Fwiw, with Croft able to play 2nd row, I would have put 2 backrowers (Faletau and SoB) on the bench and no Parling. Maybe even playing Parling instead of AWJ. Perhaps. 😕 Anyway, I’m not coach so what’s the point?

EDIT: I forgot about Tipuric! Wouldn’t it be nice to bring him on with 20 minutes left, but who to leave out?? I agree with Wrecker about Cuthbert – he scores tries, so justifies his inclusion, even if he does look like a headlamp-trapped-rabbit while doing so.

Cuthburt/Iione with be balanced by North/Fondant(sp) Aussies will be a lot better than sum of parts, feel sorry for O’Conner mind. I would like to have seen SoB on as he is a traditional back rower in that, quite correctly,he believes smashing the oppo 10 makes you amazingly attractive to the fairer sex.

SoB on as he is a traditional back rower in that, quite correctly,he believes smashing the oppo 10 makes you amazingly attractive to the fairer sex.

😀

Falou is a very talented palyer and North shouldn’t underestimate him. I hope I’m wrong but I think the ozzies will win this tomorrow

BlindMelon – Member

Falou is a very talented palyer and North shouldn’t underestimate him. I hope I’m wrong but I think the ozzies will win this tomorrow

On the form he’s had in S15, Folau is an excellent player who would walk into most NH teams at any level. Imo he completely outclasses North. (And I like North!) Ditto Ioane v Cuthbert.

Kryton57.

RELIABLE LIONS STREAM

BM, Hope your wrong too.
Not as confident as we should be with the quality of players we’ve got.

After all this warm-up, we go into the first test with our (very) predictable 9 and 10 having only played 48 minutes together.
Our 10-12 combo having a combined total of zero minutes together there.
And our 12-13 combo in the centres having played together for another grand total of Zero minutes.
Good work G******

ts4or5, you’re right about the back row cover too.
Looks like G******’s already decided we’ll need a specialist 6 to come on. Wouldn’t want Croft out there for the last 20 minutes when there could be a bit of space opening up?! 🙄
By overlooking Tips and SOB (and even Faletau or anyone else that could play 7) it looks like he’s trying to make the point that his captain Warburton WILL play 80 minutes. It’d be a big gamble under normal circumstances. Against Oz, with Hooper and Gill, it’s pretty massive for a seven made of glass.

So Ioum its Gatlands fault Sexton did a hamstring and Roberts and Tuilagi both broke. Meanwhile someone else thinks AW Jones should be dropped for Parling and another thinks Gatland isnt picking his best team so these players dont get broken. The standard of debate on this thread has sunk to all times lows today.
Agree on the point that if Warbs gets broken we are screwed mind. Faletau or SOB would be better bench options imo.

our (very) predictable 9 and 10

I don’t agree with that, Philips is an unusual 9 and Sexton is a clinical 10, that makes for a very difficult opponent.

he believes smashing the oppo 10 makes you amazingly attractive to the fairer sex.

It does. Truefact.

Uwe-r,
(Very) Predictable that they would be the Lions test starting 9 and 10;
– not that they play rugby in a predictable style.
Sorry about any confusion there.

Edit. Wrecker (and BM) +1.
truefact

Krton57
try here also
http://www.wiziwig.tv/index.php?part=sports

or more specifically
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=208103&part=sports

Loum, I get it now. I think I have a bit more faith in gatland though, he gets it right more often than most and knows all these players as well as anyone could.

Whereas Spikey has been told its smashing the opposition forwards that the ladies love

Cheers for the links chaps.

Ioum just for the record, who would you pick for the first test and who should have toured that didn’t?

The standard of debate on this thread has sunk to all times lows today.

Because someone’s having the temerity to have an opinion that’s contrary to yours? Wind your neck in FFS.

Steady on mr internet hardman your frightening me.

Two injury scares this morning with croft and Davies.

So, where is everyone watching it? I’m getting old, it’s a bit early to start drinking for me. Perhaps.

So, where is everyone watching it? I’m getting old, it’s a bit early to start drinking for me. Perhaps.

Round at my Canadian boss’s* house, after a barbie, with a case on the go. I reckon 7pm is late enough for it not to be classed as alcoholic 🙂

*Who used to play for the Canadian U21s, and still dabbles at 50 years old.

Falou is a very talented palyer and North shouldn’t underestimate him. I hope I’m wrong but I think the ozzies will win this tomorrow

Ditto James O’Connor.
And there are a fair few top Ozzie players left out (eg, from Brumbies).
Lions will do well to win this against a lot of young, hungry players.
Pretty excited that it is going to be a real battle.
Nice to see this thread has improved 😆 (pathetic).

Its going to be fascinating IMO. Aussie’s have Falou on the wing who has only played full back, Barnes at full back who mostly is a 10 or 12 and O’Connor at 10 who has mostly played wing. On top of that Gatland has picked a non Gatland ball backrow and doesn’t have huge lumps in midfield. Seems like Phillips will have a pod of tight forwards going round the corner and sexton can have Heaslip and Croft to attack wider channels. Puts huge emphasis on Warburton to secure ruck ball, he’ll also need to be backed up by the tight five coming in to support as the second people to rucks. Defence for Lions is a worry, linespeed and organisation haven’t been up to scratch so far. I cant call it tbh.

anagallis_arvensis – Member
Aussie’s have Falou on the wing who has only played full back,

I may be wrong but I think I saw him on the wing at least once earlier in the season. And I seem to remember him being better there than at 15.

I’ll be working until 3 and watching the game after I get home, but no alcohol because I’m planning a late-night (almost) Solstice ride.

Interesting article in the Sydney Morning Herald regarding no back up 7 on the Lions bench.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/lions-gamble-on-thin-cover-at-allcrucial-breakdown-20130620-2olse.html

The first comment current below the article is a classic, is “Terry” an STW member?

“The team sheets are pretty terrifying reading for Wallabies fans – lions absolutely outclass them in every single area of the field. What’s more – every single one of the reserves would be a guaranteed starter for the Qantas Wallabies. Lions by 20+”

I may call Sky…

I wish I could share Terry’s confidence!

IJ, pretty sure I’ve seen him play there too.
Looks a great player, reminds me a pit of SBW running with the ball. And a bit like Kearney getting up for the high balls. Really exciting talent. Didn’t SBW start out as a wing sub for the ABs? Pretty sure billy whizz did too. IMO it must be the easier position for league converts to learn quickly, to international standards. And it looks like he’s got everything needed to be a success there. Barnes will be a good FB for them too. More of a tactical kicking game and will interchange a bit with O’connor if needed.
But reckon the main reason they’ve gone for Folau there is to do a job on North. He’s our top runner, and the player they’re most scared of. With his size, speed and League background – Folau’s got as good a chance as they can find to stop North. And with no Roberts or Tuilagi, that might be a big step to stopping Warrenball.

Anyone know what the actual score with Manu is?
Earlier in the week he was down as likely to recover, it was only a “sore shoulder”. Is it confirmed anywhere that he’s actually too broken to play, or has JD been picked ahead of him?

Manu has a pinched nerve in his shoulder, if i recall correctly there is a good chance both he and Bowe will be fit for the 2nd test

cheers, thank you

North and Cuthbert will be launched down the ten twelve channel so the wingers wont be involved in defending that too much from set plays.

Anyone know anything about Pollack other than its a more sustainable version of cod? I seem to remember wales hammering the aus scrum last summer and him not giving many pens preferring free kicks. I may be biased though 😉