Blues v BI Lions
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Stander was trying to play the Billy V role but without much success. Plenty of carries but for little gain and no threat off the offload etc. Blues 8 comfortably outplayed him.
Toby, please don't get injured.
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@MiketheSnow said in Blues v BI Lions:
Thoroughly deserved from the Blues. Stuck to the task and clinically and brutally exploited the Lions lack of pace and spatial awareness.
With a bit more precision and YCs being shown it could easily have been 5 tries to 1.
5 mins either side of halftime killed the Lions.
Luatua, Williams and Ioane played themselves into contention.
As mentioned earlier Owens, Tipuric, Webb, Halfpenny in the box seats for test match 23.
Big competition for prop.
Itoje will be in test 23, Lawes won't.
Stander had a good match but not good enough to oust Faletau.
Biggar shithouse. Sexton not much better. Gatland's decision to select Farrell as an outside half borne out.
Centres never got a chance and you still have to fancy Te'o, Joseph and Davies to be vying for the test spots
Daley is class
Nowell played himself out of contention
Liam Williams will have to do something remarkable to even get a look inStill a bit early with some guys yet to play a fun game or play at all in some instances, however those guys haven't done themselves any harm. I wouldn't rule out Daly making a case for the 13 shirt, certainly a good bench option. Nowell straight to the dirt trackers sadly. Best's line out frailties in a Lions jersey have come back to haunt him, so likely a scrap between Owens and George - happy to see Owens start and George make an impact. Likely to be Itoje, Kruis and AWJ in the test 23 with AWJ lucky on form. Back row will be interesting, we have yet to see anything much of SOB and I think it is between him and Stander to break up an all Welsh back row. Prop is looking to be a real fight.
@Catogrande said in Blues v BI Lions:
@MiketheSnow said in Blues v BI Lions:
Thoroughly deserved from the Blues. Stuck to the task and clinically and brutally exploited the Lions lack of pace and spatial awareness.
With a bit more precision and YCs being shown it could easily have been 5 tries to 1.
5 mins either side of halftime killed the Lions.
Luatua, Williams and Ioane played themselves into contention.
As mentioned earlier Owens, Tipuric, Webb, Halfpenny in the box seats for test match 23.
Big competition for prop.
Itoje will be in test 23, Lawes won't.
Stander had a good match but not good enough to oust Faletau.
Biggar shithouse. Sexton not much better. Gatland's decision to select Farrell as an outside half borne out.
Centres never got a chance and you still have to fancy Te'o, Joseph and Davies to be vying for the test spots
Daley is class
Nowell played himself out of contention
Liam Williams will have to do something remarkable to even get a look inStill a bit early with some guys yet to play a fun game or play at all in some instances, however those guys haven't done themselves any harm. I wouldn't rule out Daly making a case for the 13 shirt, certainly a good bench option. Nowell straight to the dirt trackers sadly. Best's line out frailties in a Lions jersey have come back to haunt him, so likely a scrap between Owens and George - happy to see Owens start and George make an impact. Likely to be Itoje, Kruis and AWJ in the test 23 with AWJ lucky on form. Back row will be interesting, we have yet to see anything much of SOB and I think it is between him and Stander to break up an all Welsh back row. Prop is looking to be a real fight.
True. All guesswork at this stage.
But
Owens to start, George to finish as you said
Props a lottery at the moment
Itoje and Kruis, with AWJ to replace Kruis. Or AWJ and Kruis, with Itoje to replace Kruis.
Warburton, O'Brien, Faletau, Tipuric, MoriartyAs it stands todayWebb, Farrell, Watson, Te'o, Davies, North, Halfpenny
Murray, Sexton, Daley on anywhere back threeIf direct isn't working, Sexton to 10 and Farrell to 12
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From two days ago http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/40161042```
But Gatland says his side will play expansive rugby in New Zealand, and that critics of his methods have been jealous of his past success.
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Just really plodding and dumb/slow rugby for the Lions. It was really obvious in the first half when they were dominating possession in the blues half, how easy it was for the Blues to just tackle and regather while they waited for the next phase of....one off runner.
Most players not even looking test level and really lacking any cohesion.
Surely there must be a high level of foxing going on here, they just really can't be that bad?
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At 16-15 I thought the Lions would close it out and would take some much needed confidence moving forward. They were a lot better tonight, the Blues would slap the NZB side every day, but that try from West was not just a killer in this match, but the tour in general. Gatland has a pretty big task ahead of him keeping the group together and focussing on the positives now, as they'll be copping it from all sides.
A tour like this always reinforces how important the team aspect of rugby is, it's a hell of a task pulling together a team on short notice, and I always expected the Lions to start slow and build into the tour. They're doing that, but losing this match is a set back.
As for the Blues, that was a pretty standard performance from them. Up and down all game, some incredibly frustrating stuff mixed in with some genuine quality. The performance will be remembered for the West try, and so it should that was fucking magic, but the three players that got them over the line were Luatua, SBW and Ioane. They were a class above everyone else on the park.
I'm very keen to see 11. Ioane and 12. SBW for the first test. And I'm a Savea fluffer from way back, but Rieko's class is undeniable now. SBW is a douche but I want that douche at 12 if he's gonna play like that.
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Really enjoyed that. Lions much better than I expected. SBW, Reiko & Luatua playing themselves into an AB jersey, Moala & Patty T the opposite. From this game I can see the Lions getting better. I see Crusaders are clear favourites now, I missed out on Blues 13+ but did collect on the crazy $3.35 odds on a blues win. Will be unlikely to see any more good odds.
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@Tim said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Crucial Lawes is the most overrated.
Who's better than Scrafton? The three Crusaders, Retallick, maybe Franklin? Bird has faded this season.
It was a rough count based on ABs pecking order.
Whitelock
Rettalick
Romano
Barrett
Tuipolotu
Fifita
Bird
FranklinThen you've got Wheeler, Fatialofa, Scrafton
Agree that on current form Scrafton is higher up the rankings but all these guys are all as good as Itoje
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The UK equivalent of Radiosport is covering the Lions post match atm. For anyone who is interested...
http://talksport.com/radioplayer/live/talksport2.html?popup=1
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Wow , lions go into the crusaders game under the pump now , would not want to lose 2 in a row
@kiwiinmelb said in Blues v BI Lions:
Wow , lions go into the crusaders game under the pump now , would not want to lose 2 in a row
Cmon easy game. Only the ... err .. Crusaders...
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@Tim pretty to watch. I love how the BIL's players all around Luatua just had no idea how to defend that.
West should fuck super rugby off and head (Back?) to the 7's. He'd kill it.
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@Crucial he didn't have any energy left after all the chest pumping or was it jet lag
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Great win Blues. But Lions to burst Christchurch bubble. They'll be much more comfortable handling a structured, more tight based game. You heard it here first!
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What a cracking game. Blues were the Blues and mixed some jaw-dropping magic with jaw-dropping crap. Poor Tana. I wonder if those dreads will last his contract. That West try was insanely good, bloody hell did he show some speed. Thing is also, but for a heel, could have easily been another try for the Blues. They looked good on attack, especially Reiko burning it up down the wing, and SBW showing nous to follow up on that penalty kick that bounced off the post.
There was some shit passing at times, really shit, and some weak grubber kicks that would make any coach want to punch a kitten. But they manned up on defence, and to be honest, the Lions never really looked threatening try-wise.
For the Lions, Halfpenny was excellent, and that boot of his will always punish transgressions. Worst player was that fuckface Williams. Learn how to contest a ball in the air, you wankpuffin.
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What a cracking game. Blues were the Blues and mixed some jaw-dropping magic with jaw-dropping crap. Poor Tana. I wonder if those dreads will last his contract. That West try was insanely good, bloody hell did he show some speed. Thing is also, but for a heel, could have easily been another try for the Blues. They looked good on attack, especially Reiko burning it up down the wing, and SBW showing nous to follow up on that penalty kick that bounced off the post.
There was some shit passing at times, really shit, and some weak grubber kicks that would make any coach want to punch a kitten. But they manned up on defence, and to be honest, the Lions never really looked threatening try-wise.
For the Lions, Halfpenny was excellent, and that boot of his will always punish transgressions. Worst player was that fuckface Williams. Learn how to contest a ball in the air, you wankpuffin.
@Mokey For what it's worth I think yellow was bit of a turning point, in particular because it made Lions wary of attempting contestable kicks, a staple of theirs. Thank goodness Blues gave up in second half on those chip kicks, which always handed ball back to opposition.
