Great Argentina try in that...
So 3 dwarves in the back row doesn't help the lineout does it...with Doris out it doesn't look an easy fix. Much as Pollock is an exciting talent bringing him off the bench didn't help, had a player like Faletau come on it would have given a genuine 3 rd option in the lineout....
I am also not entirely sure why Morgan and Curry were both asked to play on the wing, one or both need to be in the middle.
Genge was great, DVdM I thought looked good in attack but ropey in defence but then he was rusty and playing with new systems etc, Smith is not a 15 despite what anyone says and Tuipoloto is not a 13. Freeman was a mixed bag of brilliant one min and then error the next.
I thought Tomos was better than Mitchel at putting players into gaps on the mainline.
On the Lions' Youtube channel, Episode 1 " The Ultimate Test" .... 4 of the first 6 players to speak have Aussie/Sarf accents.
Hanson, Aki, Schoeman, VderM
Not used to this, feels weird.
How do you as welsh/scots/irishmen make peace with it?
All nations do this including England. There is a subtle difference between " the scots people" (ethnic group) and "the people of Scotland" those who love our lovely country and have made it their home
Duhan for example was injured, out of contract and about to give up rugby when we took a punt on bringing him to Edinburgh. He developed into the player he is in Scotland. Tuipiloto is a similar story IIRC. these folk are proud to play for Scotland. I have no issue with it. I have more of an issue with out and out mercenaries but I do not see any of them now tho we have had them in the past
Bierne at 6 for Lions this weekend.
Unlucky for Tomos Williams - I thought he was looking good. Hopefully not as bad as it looked
Tomos is class, shame he looks broken.
Lions looked better but the opposition weren't up to much.
Pollock looks like he could be the next Ardie Savea but I think this tour is a year too soon for him.
Not sure that game told us much in terms of Test selection. I liked the Williams/Russell half back combo. Pollock was involved in a lot good and less good but a lot of competition for back row.
Daly is always going to be in march day squad though. Maybe on bench, but he's just to versatile and rock solid not to be included
If they don't sort their restarts and gathering of high ball they'll be on the back foot and awful lot
Tuipoloto was much much better at 12.
Tomos is above Mitchell but Faz will pick JGP if he's fit. Neither Irish wing does it for me but I expect them to be picked.
The backrow squad selection is all kinds of wrong imo. Needs a big 6 like Chandler Cunningham South plus a Fagerson, Dempsey or Faletau for 8
If they don't sort their restarts and gathering of high ball they'll be on the back foot and awful lot
Suaalii will be starting to get very excited!
Tomos Williams out of tour, White called up. Gutted for Tomos he was playing really well and has an x factor non of the other 9's have
Yeah real pity for Williams. As I said before I thought him and Russell worked really well together
Farrell " Set for Lions call-up" ... Jeez I hope not 😳
Daly out now as well as Williams. I'm gonna stop giving my test team picks
I'm fortunate enough to be flying out to watch the first and second tests. Just awaiting the call from Andy Farrell about whether to pack my (non-existent) boots.
Daly out too, he's been excellent, shame
Calling up a 10/12 who's not played test rugby for 2 years and been in poor club form when not injured form for an outside utility back is odd. Especially when the other two fullbacks haven't managed to play yet.
Name sounds familiar though
Pretty awful decision... As above, poor year at Racing 92, Cannae tackle without being carded and never a utility back ....
Not sure what Tom Jordan must think.. Blair Murray was touted too be he is shit.
Doesn't look like Owen is there to cover Daly, more like to free up Marcus Smith to be the utility back bench cover. Farrell likes 6-2 split but needs a versatile back. Won't want him getting mullered mid week.
He'll do a good job as the midweek fly half, maybe even midweek captain if all the other captain options are now looking like test players - Morgan, Beirne, Sheehan, genge.
So if they needed a 10 why not choose one who has played an international in the last 2 years or at the very least has some club form?
Not sure i'd want Marcus Smith to be covering any position on his performance so far........b
Good result for Scotland, watched a few mins, one cracking try.
Just endured a 60min first half Wales v Japan. Both teams look like they would rather be having a siesta rather than play rugby in the blazing sun. Thanks Eddie, great idea. Ref is very very poor too, mostly in favour of Wales tbh but sometimes not...Wales not losing though although I will be out on ride before the end so they still have the chance to make it 18 in a row
Not sure i'd want Marcus Smith to be covering any position on his performance so far........b
Not been given a fair go imo, never a 15 at the top level. I think he will return home frustrated
Wales not losing though although I will be out on ride before the end so they still have the chance to make it 18 in a row
A chance they are grabbing with both hands
NZ v France is a good watch
Just watched last 20mins of Lions first half....I thought Pollock was starting at 6, but it's Bierne again.
Bit worried about Wednesday's match... Brumbies are a level above this.. 🤔
Pollock not available, tight calf
Hopefully Hansen not available.. he’s been awful
The whole of that was pretty awful. Only positive was that a bunch of select internationals brought on after 50 mins can bully their counterparts from the 8th best regional team in the scrum.
NZ v France is a good watch
See the Proctor disallowed try about 15 mins into the second half? Utterly ridiculous how they watch super slo-mo replays to disallow tries like that. Really beginning to piss me off about rugby. (Especially as a ref who has to make split decisions without video!)
He held it against his arm with his finger tips for one thing, but in normal speed that was a try all day long hmph
Hopefully Hansen not available.. he’s been awful
Taking him over Darcy Graham is a joke
Hopefully Hansen not available.. he’s been awful
Taking him over Darcy Graham is a joke
A bit of an underwhelming display today , some good bits ,some poor bits . Furlong getting better, Chesum excellent. Half backs good, centres not overly impressive but don't see Farrell picking Huwipoluto..
Morgan needs to play.
Hope Kinghorn is ok
Was better than I expected tbh!
Tomorrow's match will be fascinating, not sure if I'll be able to watch being away on hols... 😫 Thought the opposition would be a mixture of vets etc, but they aren't messing about. Whole bunch of current ABs in there
1. Aidan Ross
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
4. Angus Blyth
5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (cc)
6. Shannon Frizell
7. Pete Samu
8. Hoskins Sotutu
9. Folau Fakatava
10. Tane Edmed
11. Marika Koroibete
12. David Havili (cc)
13. Ngani Laumape
14. AJ Lam
15. Shaun Stevenson
Replacements
16. Kurt Eklund
17. Joshua Fusitu’a
18. George Dyer
19. Matt Philip
20. Joe Brial
21. Kalani Thomas
22. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
23. Jock Campbell
Not exactly scary is it.
15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Tom Lynagh; 1 James Slipper, 2 Matt Faessler, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Nick Frost, 5 Jeremy Williams, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (captain)
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Tom Hooper, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Andrew Kellaway
Tom Curry over VdF or Morgan given the performances on the tour suggest Faz picked the team before it left.
I see my roundly derided prediction of Bierne at 6 has come to pass
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #881
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England) #858
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) #878
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) #863
11. James Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #870
10. Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland) #835
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #879
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England) #859
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #873
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #818
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (captain) #825
5. Joe McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #871
6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland) #838
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England) #853
8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #839
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #864
17. Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #876
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England) #877
19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England) #875
20. Ben Earl (Saracens/England) #857
21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England) #860
22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) #855
23. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #837
Gday folks! Anyone watching?
Speaking as an englishman, Finn Russell is such an annoying prick.
But by **** he's good.
Lions have definitely got the upper hand but it's been close so far. Aus look good kicking from hand. Lynagh has been impressive.
Not sure if my picture worked, but I'm sat right behind the posts in the end the Lions will attack in the second half. Amazing atmosphere in the ground. Definitely feels different to a six nations game. It's only £5 a pint too!
Tom Curry over VdF or Morgan given the performances on the tour suggest Faz picked the team before it left.
Of course impossible to know what they'd have done but Curry has had a great first half.
That second half defence was squeaky 😬
Interesting game. Lions totally dominate first half. Really strong defence against a predictable Aussie side until Aus switched it up
I think Lynagh hampered Aus offensively, too predictable. I also think Lions have more to give in attack if required, played a conservative game to guarantee win against a generally weaker side
