[Closed] Rugby thread 2016/2017

scrum penalty on the halfway line?? But which way......

Oh my bloody god. A draw. Dunno how to feel! So happy that I completely underestimated this Lions squad.

So are the Gatland haters going to admit he did a pretty good job.

Wow what a series, what a tour.

Felt like a fair result. Great game.

Oddly I'm gutted.
Fair play to Cementhead though, his boys hung in it!

So are the Gatland haters going to admit he did a pretty good job.

Nah they'd have won had they played fast and loose or picked Robshaw or Russel or blah blah blah

I'm not sure how I feel. Deflated probably...

😡 very true what will TJ say?

Lion of the series. Faletau any other contenders?

The Lions were let off the hook a bit in the first half, but were a lot better in the second, despite never really looking that dangerous.

I'm shocked, not because I don't rate Gatland and his tactics (although I'm not a fan) but because the all blacks are just so bloody good, and yet somehow a loss win and draw which is better than anyone else in world rugby could do. Well done The lions!

All sounds much better after Sam's interview. What a geezer.

The Welsh players on the tour were my biggest surprises - especially Liam Williams and Jonathan Davies. Prior to the tour, I thought Liam's enthusiasm far outweighed his skill and that Davies time had passed. But they were both outstanding. Played a massive part in the success.

Wow.

Odd but fiair result

Great series in the end

Glad my "old fav" AWJ proved me wrong - he was colossal.

England and Wales looking good for 6N !!! 😉

Ah yes, but Scotland will be rested and fresh! 😆

Warbs captaincy saved the lions at the end I reckon. He (rightly) pushed the ref to TMO.
Interestingly the lions were far better in the backs than the forwards which I didn't expect. Howley deserves some praise too.

Lets not forget the Lions contained the AB's incredibly well for 2 Tests which is an achievement in itself.

Draw is probably a fair result in what was a very hard fought, error strewn, pressure cooker of a match.

If I were an AB supporter then I would be pretty unhappy at some of those call at the end though they did get some favour at the start. Don't know what anyone else thinks but with Owens attempting to catch the ball, instinct or not, that is a penalty in any other game (rightly or wrongly to the laws). Brave call!

As with the last Test it was the nous that impressed me compared to being completely rolled over in the first test. Itoje's leg kept the man in the bottom of the ruck about 3 times and Webb was so tragically unfortunate to have accidentally hit the escaping man when he did get free to win the penalty securing the draw for example.

Farrell might have had a shocker but it goes to show the value of having guaranteed points off the tee. NZ have to have to sort that and I'm sure they will.

Lots of players stepped up and vitually none of the Test squad looked out of place. SOB, Warbs, Itoje, Watson, George, Sexton, JD2 lots of great consistent performances. I'd love to see the stats but Faletau must be right up there in almost everything!

True dat, wrecker

Seems a slight anti-climax. Sudden death anyone? 🙂

Seems a slight anti-climax. Sudden death anyone?

Absolutely! Just keep Martyn Williams away from the ball when it goes to penalties!

Minor point - anyone else notice there was no God Save The Queen at the start? Maybe that helped the Lions 😆

Minor point - anyone else notice there was no God Save The Queen at the start?

Not sure if serious!!

10 out out 10 to Faz senior the defence was great true it got done a few times but it needed great play to breach it.

Itoje was great, Warburton was outstanding as was Davies

Those NZ caps are pretty ugly.

Those NZ caps are pretty ugly.

I think Gatland has proved to be an incredible head coach....I did (still sort of do) question his selections for the first test....but then at the time everyone agreed with POM over Warbs. Only really Kruis in the first test has seemed like an odd decision. Took a lot of guts to name an unchanged 23 for today....and what a decision.

Farrell redeemed his relatively poor game in the loose with his kicking.

JD2
Warbs
Falatau
Itoje

All were immense. So impressed with Jamie George too. Thought Murray was great....everyone really. AWJ....what a guy!

Hard to argue with Falatau as man of the series. George, Itoje, JD2 all in contention I guess?

Itoje lions man of series for me or Davies if they need to have had 3 starts.

Warburton for the back row masterclass second two tests.

The pace of JD to get the tackle after the interception was amazing.

Who threw the pass? Bit high risk 😯

So proud of the Welsh contribution to this tour.

Pretty sure it was another one of Farrell's first half 'moments' Pigface!

How have people's pre tour predictions stood up?

I went for 3-0 NZ in the tests with a 80-100 points difference!!

...and 3 from 7 for us in the warm ups!

As it's finished:

None test 4w 2l 1d

Test 1l 1w 1d!

[i]Not sure if serious!![/i]

About which bit? I thought they had it at the start of the other tests? Mistaken I guess 😆

Tom plenty of us had it 3-0

I am sure the AB's will kick themselves for not being 27-9 in second test (3 kickable penalties missed although bad conditions) and not taking first half chances here.

In the end a great advert for the Lions as this tour is almost unwinnable.

Whilst sad not to see any game live I wouldn't pay Murdoch for the privilege.

Not really a Gatland fan but this is a laugh out loud responce to the NZ press

[img] [/img]

Not really a Gatland fan

Tell us something we don't know 🙄

JD2 was everywhere. Rucking, tackling, tracking back, running, passing. He was a one man army in that test, very impressive indeed. I couldn't see past Faletau for man of the series. warbs leadership was great, but both of the Irish flankers played just as well.

Not a Gatland admirer but he has been a good coach and this result means he should be regarded as one of the best (undefeated as a Lions coach is some achievement).
Earlier asked who has impressed from other nations, well JD was brilliant today not a player I had watched too closely but he is a very fine player. Faletau and Warburton are just pure class, and Alun Wyn Jones is immense too.
The player that surprised me most was Teo who I thought was lucky to be there but turned out to be a good call. And when will Itoje's rise stop, he's some player at 22!

JD2 was everywhere. Rucking, tackling, tracking back, running, passing. He was a one man army in that test, very impressive indeed. I couldn't see past Faletau for man of the series. warbs leadership was great, but both of the Irish flankers played just as well.

Three things, not sure I saw JD2 pass much!!
I thought Faletau was a little disappointing compared to how he can be tbh.
I thought Warburton was much better than either SOB or POM.

JD gets voted man of the series.

Good effort for someone who shouldnt have been on the tour according to many on here!!

The best thing I saw was a NZer asked him how he felt to be involved in such an amazing try after the first test and he said Well I play for Llaneli Scarlets we score tries like that all the time!

Ive a new admiration for JD.

Farrell butchered a lot.

Many? Don't recall anything about JD, certainly no English centres that weren't there should have been ahead (jj, teo and Farrell were obviously there) Not sure about the Scottish ones, think the best Irish was there and clearly he's the best Welsh one!
Just be happy a Welshman won player of the season - he like all the other lions will now be shite for the rest of the season...

Well we were up in holiday in Orkney when the 3rd test was on so I went along, with a mate, to Orkney RFC in Kirkwall and we got a very warm welcome, free mugs of tea and a cracking fry up at halftime. So many thanks to a great club for hosting us. 😉

Good effort for someone who shouldnt have been on the tour according to many on here!!

Indeed - I was wrong on that score. 😳

Hats off to Gatland. His record of achievements with Wales/Lions is better than Henry or Hansen. You've gotta hand it to him.

I really had it down for a 3-0 whitewash with each loss being greater than the previous one. I think the SBW sending off was the turning point for the whole series.

Farrell butchered a lot.

I think England would function better with Ford at 10 and Slade at 12 but Farrell is the guy you'd want to be lining up that last minute kick to win the match - so he's hard to leave out.

🙄 ah Farrell's shit again now is he!

He was crap in the third test, and was below his best for the entire series.....but as always, he is not crap.....Ford and Slade at 10-12 for England?! Really can't see it.

Farrell will be a favourite for the Lions tour captaincy next time around.

Warburton will still only be 32!

Seriously?! 😯

Well if fit (and it is an if) he'll be in contention too you'd imagine. I see Hovis very much as being at the peak of his game right now though, whereas with Farrell, I still feel that he can improve even more.

Faletau will only be 30! Not that he's captaincy material

ah Farrell's shit again now is he!

Well he kicked poorly from hand, threw a terrible pass for the interception when the Lions had their best chance to score a try and generally tackled like a girl.

Apart from that, he was great!

Ford and Slade at 10-12 for England?! Really can't see it.

Watch the first test in Argentina.

Watched it, moment of genius to play May in for the try. Otherwise I thought that he was pretty ropey.

Slade hasn't hit the heights of the pre broken leg form, but he's got the ability. I think this year will be his time to shine.
However, Ford is playing great at 10 for England, Farrell just has to be in the team. Teo is surprisingly good, JJ is not exactly shabby and we'll either have Manu back or he'll be done for good (and damn, I want the former!).
I simply can't believe that a few years ago we were playing utter nobbers in the centers, I mean, Jamie Noon, Henry Paul, Stuart Abbott, Andy Farrell, Riki Fluty, Brad Barrett, Billy Twelvetrees, Twinkly eyed ****wit...! Just very pleased that England Rugby is able to have an argument over who's best, not just who's not totally shit.
Still take JD though, and always would have!

Jamie Noon, Henry Paul, Stuart Abbott, Andy Farrell, Riki Fluty, Brad Barrett, Billy Twelvetrees

Shudders at some of those names....Jamie bloody Noon.

The Lions was a success really; I know a draw seems like a bit of an odd way to end it but most were expecting a three nil humping. The AB's made mistakes on Saturday so were proved to be human after all if put under pressure.

It'll be interesting to see what happens now - will Wales adopt a more free flowing game plan under Gatland? Who will loose any form they had this season and who will be broken come September?

England have some interesting calls to make - if Ford keeps playing like he did this summer, surely he is our preferred 10 and if he keeps his kicking stats like that do we keep Farrell at 12 or opt for a natural 12? Will Te'o get more starts? Will George displace Hartley and if he does, will Itoje take over the captaincy?

It'll be interesting to see what happens now - will Wales adopt a more free flowing game plan under Gatland?

They already had if you look at Gatlands last games in charge of Wales.

Kieran Read was 3 yards ahead of the kicker for the last kick off, it should have been a penalty to the Lions, plenty of photos of it on social media.
Thought JD was immense, I thought Gatland's selections were brave and on the most part right. I am certainly not a fan of his but credit where it is due. I love watching the Lions, I don't support them like I do Ireland but the games and concept are fantastic.

Here people still seriously questioning Farrell's ability? One ropey game out of probably 20 or 30 where he's been nothing short of excellent?
I'll allow him that. Ford won't be good enough until he learns to play on the back foot. Breezing through a seriously sub-par Argentina is hardly a great example to use.

Like feeding refs seemed to have given up on being behind the kicker.

Don't forget OF wears a white shirt, nothing more needs to be said.... 😉

[img] [/img]
😀

😀

I thought Gatland's selections were brave and on the most part right. I am certainly not a fan of his but credit where it is due.

AA won't believe this but I'm fully behind that statement now we are at the end of the Lions tour.

AA won't believe this but I'm fully behind that statement now we are at the end of the Lions tour.

I was a never a Gats fan, but I never doubted the quality available to him. Far from not crediting him, I thought his selections were pretty much right. I did, however volunteer that we could beat the AB's after the first test and that they weren't that good. Opinions which were met with broad derision!!!
Can I get on with banging on about england now please?
Just looking at the young talent around;
Genge, George, Sinkler, Itoge, Kruis, Curry (2No), Underhill, Wilson, Billy V, Lozowski, Ford, Farrell, Marchant, Daly, Watson, Nowell. Most of these players haven't even reached physical maturity yet.

Can I get on with banging on about england now please?

Yep, we need to start a new thread so I can get over excited about Gavs return to Wales with the mighty Dregs!!

The privilege is all yours, a_a!

I was explaining the Lions to a German friend of mine who is sports mad, he said "cool, like an all stars team"

I was quite offended but then I guess he is right.

Here people still seriously questioning Farrell's ability?

JUst watched the third test again and I couldn't believe how pish Farrell actually was.

5 times he attempted a high tackle and was brushed off. Twice he came in high as the second tackler and contributed nothing. In sharp contrast to Sexton who bravely threw himself into everything. He makes Dan Parkes look like Jonny Wilkinson.

He kicked twice out of hand - once out on the full and once an up-and-under that didn't go nearly far enough.

Twice he threw poor long passes - one leading to the intercept which ultimately led to the first AB's try.

He also threw a poor offload wasting a promising attack and watched Savea catch a cross-kick then stood there as he ran off.

If you take away his place kicking - as a 12, what does he bring?

Lots. He's bloody brilliant. Warren, Eddie and pretty much everyone with an informed opinion on rugby agrees.
You are right in a way, he does bring mare at 10 though, more (and more consistently) than Ford does.

One bad performance v the best team in the world doesnt make him a bad player even I can see that and now the the Lions are over I can happily state I cant stand the squinty eyed ****!!! 😉

Haven't even seen the 3rd test yet. Controversially, on s MTB forum, I've been riding my bike in the Alps! (Tignes - bloody brilliant btw!)
Hopefully get to watch it today as I recover from the monster drive home.

I'm not saying he's a bad player - he's actually pretty good but he's not world class.

If you took away the kicking he wouldn't be selected.

He really can't tackle though. If you look back over recent years the number of times he gets handed off or brushed aside as he goes in too high is astounding.

He really can't tackle though.

Sinkler arrested in Auckland, typical Englisher on tour 😆

Farrell's tackling is a bit poo; he does tend to go too high and often gets bounced off.

I was a big detractor, but in the last season or so I think he's developed into a pretty good player had has developed his attacking game. He usually has a pretty good pass on him (his pass was key in the try that beat Wales in the 6N). He wasn't at his best in the third test, but he's young and played a shed load of rugby.

Then England better start looking hard for a 10 who can

Yeah but England don't play him at 10 do they? They play him at 12. It's handy if your 12 can actually tackle.

Seriously though, if England had, say, a fullback who kicked 90%+ would Farrell get picked at 10 or 12 for the rest of his skills?

Farrell was all at sea in the third Test but is a bloody good rugby player. Sexton is the only better *proper*, complete 10 of the home nations but will probably have to be carefully managed to prolong his career and is likely to be a bit more up and down (as he has been recently). Farrell might not run a game or keep a defence on its toes in the same way but is ridiculously consistent and if kicking all one's points were so easy then NZ would have comfortably won the series 3-0. He cops a lot of flak for his tackling but isn't usually [i]that[/i] bad and is one tough mofo! I actually like Ford and Farrell together and think we need a bit of a Scotlandish view on things to pick the best team rather than the best individuals in a position 😉 🙂

Just watched the match. Wow. Kieran Read & Warbs obvs have huge respect for each other.

Good article here;
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lions-tour-2017/2017/07/lions-tour-opinion-let-the-media-put-their-hands-up-as-one-we-failed-you-nz.html#.WWZ9Mrwgmgw.facebook

Wow. Kieran Read & Warbs obvs have huge respect for each other.

Apparently, during a break in play, Read turned to Hovis and said, "Wow. THIS is rugby!" and Hovis nodded in agreement.

I didn't get to see the 2nd and 3rd test and haven't bothered to watch them.

Fair play to Gatland and the lions - Warrenball and a dead eye kicker was [i]almost[/i] enough. Superb defence to restrict the ABs scoring. Warburton proved Gatland right in picking him from what I hear as well.

I didn't get to see the 2nd and 3rd test and haven't bothered to watch them.

Fair play to Gatland and the lions - Warrenball and a dead eye kicker was almost enough. Superb defence to restrict the ABs scoring. Warburton proved Gatland right in picking him from what I hear as well.

Sour grapes anyone?
Oh and they didnt really play Warrenball which you would know had you watched or indeed if you you had a clue!

And we're off 😆

HTF you get sour grapes from that AA is a bit odd.

Congratulating them and accepting that Gatland met his aims.