If Roberts is broken I think Gatland will want Cuthbert in to help punch holes, not sure Zebo is any better a defender than Cuthbert.
bench
Corbisero
Hibbard
Cole
Grey/Parling
SOB
Youngs
Coaches kid
Tuilagi or maybe Zebo or Maitland
Line out ball was pretty quick for the most part, breakdown could have been quicker and I think philips was cruising a bit.
Tom_b pretty much how I see it but faletau at 8 and corbisero to start purely for his scrumaging mako as impact sub.
Would like to see zebo or maitland start but not sure gatland wont go with Cuthbert.
Edit: they need to look at the defensive setup in the backs, against reds and waraths the wingers have been exposed/outnumbered at times...unless what we have seen is all a decoy
Double edit: Farrell sat too deep when he came on and kicked a bit too much and aimlessly, hogg as 10 cover and manu for me
woohoo
Mainland wasn't very good at all today. It was ok, but I feel they lacked aggression. The waratahs were missing 6 first team players and still had dominance at the breakdown for a lot of the game. I'm starting to feel less confident about the tests........
Wouldn't let Hogg anywhere near the tests.
Watched first half, Warbs working hard, Croft playing well, Heaslip completely awol. Warbs talked to the ref more in first ten mins than the entire of last weeks game.
Cheers for the link a_a watched most of it. My thoughts.....1-7 were all very good Youngs AWJ and Croft really put their names in the mix for a start. Warns very good too. Heaslip was pretty quiet....maybe Toby will start at 8. Half backs are nailed on starters as is 1/2p. Centres are the biggest call for me. I thought that the Roberts Davies partnership was excellent today but surely BOD starts? Zebo and North on the wings for me if fit.
Wade been caled up
The scots are having a bloody good go at the boks!
Glad laidlaw isn't on the lions tour though.
Gahh is Wade not playing today for England then? Edit...no he isn't. Hopefully this must spell the end of Gashton's England career. Jonny May set to replace Wade tonight.
Kvesic didn't impress last week. Not sure he's an international standard 7, we'll see how he gets on tonight. Surprised no spot for Burrell with 36 called to aus. Looking forward to seeing eastmond and may.
So could be without north and roberts for first test!?
Losing North would be a big blow. There's plenty of talent available in the centre.
If Roberts, North and Tuilagi are all broken Gatland Ball is ****ed!
If Wade is being called up they must want to not play Cuthbert on Tuesday and dont want maitland and zebo to double up.
How bad is Manu? Davies and 36 are available. Still not bad options!
Shame for Scotland today. So close but came down with a case of stupid rugby syndrome in the 2nd half. Pity as they were the better team in the first. Strokosh was immense!
Barritt on his way as well, can we say scrapping the barrel?
Barrit will be fine for mid week cannon fodder but in a test! God no. How many mid week games are left?
anyway have watched the second half, good job that Skelton fella is good at rugby because if he tried show jumping like his brother he'd need a ****ing big horse!
Aussies are horrible niggly ****s aren't they
Heaslip only came into the game when Croft went off, I don't think they work together
Did anyone replace Roberts or did they play the last 5-10 with 14 men
a_a thanks for the link, will,watch that after England game. No I think they played with 14 according to match write-up I saw.
Eastmond wonderful try
Is he the new Billy the whizz
Eastmond is going to create some selection headaches!
Yarde was very good, chuffed for him. Joseph not so good.
Eastmond !
Pack was impressive
Centres and wings some issues for the world cup
So glad Eastmond scored, will be a talking point at work on Monday for sure. He and Yarde had fantastic debuts and the pack were pretty good. Some nice prospects for the future there i think.
Eastmond and Yarde were excellent. Marler must have been man of the match though-absolute machine.
**** me Barritt called up 😯
Wonder how bad that argentine lad's knee is?
Shane Williams is named in squad to face Brumbies!! Holy ****
North and Cuthbert must still be buggered and Gatland obviously doesn't want to have to play Zebo and Maitland in case they have to play in the 1st test.
Some work for the Lions I think, too many turnovers at the breakdown and they leaked a bit in defense - the Wallabies will be far better and the Lions need to improve.
Ickle Shane 😯 I didn't see that coming.
Lions team:Â Rob Kearney, Christian Wade, Brad Barritt, Billy Twelvetrees, Shane Williams, Stuart Hogg, Ben Youngs; Ryan Grant, Rory Best (capt), Matt Stevens, Ian Evans, Richie Gray, Sean O'Brien, Justin Tipuric, Toby Faletau
Replacements:Â Richard Hibbard, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Conor Murray, Owen Farrell, Simon Zebo
Ickle!!!! Christ thats a new low!
Could that be the test bench too?
Test 15 must be
1/2p
Cuthbert
Bod/Davies
Tuilagi
North
Sexton
Phillips
Heaslip
Croft
Warbs
POC
AW Jones (Thats AlunWyn Jones not **** Wyn-Jones Barnes you ****wit oh and its Davies Not Daviiiieeees too)
Adam
Youngs
Vunipola
looks ok would prefer a harder working back row and more defensive nous at 15.
Why have you got broken people in that side AA?
Because thats the most likely team. I expect Tuilagi, Bod and North to recover and so does Gatland otherwise more cover would be called up. Barritt, 12trees wont play in the first trst barring a disaster. Maitland and Zebo may. Anyone starting tuesday wont start Sat. The bench is likely to be the test bench.
I think one of those three isn't going to make it. If I was pushed I think North wont be ready.
I suppose that is likely which is why Maitland and Zebo are available. And hopefully one of Roberts Bod and Tuilagi will be fit to partner Davies if not two of the three.
Hope Shane doesnt make an arse of himself.
Shane 😯 .....I wonder how far down the pecking order Ashton is? 😀
Swap Cuthbert for Zebo and that would be my team a_a.
Shane is in because he's in the same timezone and will be happy to bring his boots, play, have a few beers and head home again. Others wouldnt want to do that.
Zebo for all his attacking threat defends worse than Cuthbert at least Cuthbert will tackle players who run at him. Zebo leaving that kick off to bounce was unforgiveable too imo. Bloody ace to watch though him wade and eli walker show some real hope that Shane type players will still be around in the future
A 3/4 line against the Brumbies of Wade, Barritt, Twelvetrees and Shane Williams?
Who could have predicted that at the start of the tour? 😯
Should just put Farrell on at 10 rather than playing Hogg. Then at least the mostly English back line will have some understanding of each other. Worried after an easy ride against CC that Hogg will have a mare against more quality opposition in a position he doesn't play regularly.
If the wings are that thin on the ground I would have put him or 1/2p on the wing/ full back interchange. Still think we could see North as a centre too.
Back row is rough for Tips who I still think is playing better than Hovis.
Bruk. Repear after me "thou shall not play two games in a week" why risk 1/2p or the only ten back up? If yhe centres werent all broken 12trees might have played ten. N
Sorry meant for the 1st test re 1/2p and Hogg on the wing. Re the 10 it does highlight the daftness of only taking 2.
Don't think youngs will start the first test and looking at injuries bod and Davies at centre.
For all his first half exuberance, Zebo really should have put that try away.
Regardless of wether Shane is the best available, I'm completely chuffed for him. What a brilliant swansong to an extraordinary career. I hope he has a great game.
It's now clear why barrit has been called up, just to protect the test options. I expect to see BOD and Davies to start the test with Manu coming off the bench.
