Thread: The Lions Are Coming

https://www.rugbypass.com/article/ba...-coles-fitness

This would be a major blow to the All Blacks if he's not fit and ready for selection.

Most other positions are reasonably well covered and not much is lost by swapping player X for player Y, but there's a significant gap from Coles back to the rest of the hookers.

Originally Posted by chassamui

Liam Williams

Read something on him the other day, can't recall where exactly but likely the NZ Herald. Anyways wherever and whoever it was they had big raps on him - something along the lines of not big by modern standards but plays like it.

He's quick and inventive. Just what the Lions need. Occasionally error prone under pressure. Hence my comment on his lack of experience at this level. Not ready for Lions full back yet.

Ok chass (and anyone else still reading/involved in this thread), it's prediction-cock-on-the-block time:

Blues v. Lions... I'm calling it a Lions win by 10 - 13 points.

Lions watch: Blues v British and Irish Lions
6 Jun, 2017 6:44pm

Eden Park, Auckland, 7:35pm kick-off

The match-up between the Blues and the British and Irish Lions tomorrow night will mark the first ever meeting between the two sides.

Both teams head into the clash after performing disappointingly in their recent matches.

Although they are fresh from defeating the Reds 34-29 in Samoa on Friday night, the Blues are out of contention for a Super Rugby play-off spot with just a clash against the Sunwolves in Tokyo remaining.

Despite the pre-season hype surrounding the potential quality within their squad, the Blues are currently sitting on a 7-6-1 record. This season of inconsistency means Tana Umaga's men will finish at the bottom of the New Zealand conference table with 37 competition points to cap off a winless campaign against the other four Kiwi sides.

Similarly, there is also a sense of disappointment within the Lions camp following their lacklustre 13-7 win over the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei on Saturday.

The Lions were heavily expected to dominate their opening match of the tour against a side of semi-professionals that was thrown together a week before the clash.

The Baabaas had different ideas however, with the likes of Bryn Gatland and Luteru Laulala outplaying their star opposites Jonathan Sexton and Stuart Hogg to put up a gallant fight which saw them take an unexpected 7-3 lead at half-time.

Jet lag has been highlighted by Lions midfielder Ben Te'o and coach Warren Gatland as a key reason for the team's underwhelming victory at Okara Park. However, the UK side have had a week in New Zealand, giving them plenty of time to prepare for what should be an entertaining encounter at Eden Park.

Line Ups:

Tana Umaga has named a near full strength side for the Blues' inaugural fixture against the Lions.

All of the All Blacks within the Blues' squad have been named in the matchday 23, with Jerome Kaino (knee injury) and Rene Ranger (tactical reasons) the exceptions, while 12 test All Black lock Patrick Tuipulotu is the only non-starting All Black in the team.

Only four players - James Parsons, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Steven Luatua and Rieko Ioane - have retained their positions in the starting line up from the side that defeated the Reds in Apia last week.

One of the most notable inclusions in Umaga's side is the selection of 20-year-old rookie Stephen Perofeta at first-five. The Taranaki youngster came off the bench against the Reds to make his Super Rugby debut, meaning the Lions match will be his starting debut for the franchise.

Many would have assumed Piers Francis would have been given the responsibility of running the cutter, but he has been called up to the England national side in Argentina, giving Perofeta the monumental task of guiding his side to victory against the Lions in his first ever appearance in a number 10 jersey for the Blues.

Sonny Bill Williams has been bracketed to start at second-five alongside TJ Faiane, although it is thought the former is almost certain to play despite suggestion a knee concern could rule him out. Melani Nanai would drop from the bench should Williams be cleared to play.

Meanwhile, Warren Gatland has made wholesale changes to the starting XV that scraped past the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians on Saturday, with a completely different set of players named to start against the Blues.

Nobody from the starting side has survived from the Lions' last match, while six of those starting players - Rory Best, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Iain Henderson, Greig Laidlaw and Johnny Sexton - have been demoted to the bench.

Welsh hooker Ken Owens will take over the captaincy role from his compatriot Sam Warburton, who has been rested for the midweek encounter.

Owens is one of 11 starting players who will make their Lions debuts, while a further two players - Peter O'Mahoney and Liam Williams - will make their first appearances in the famous red jersey from the bench.

The matchday 23 consists of eight Englishmen, seven Irishmen, six Welshmen and one Scotsman, amassing in a total of 1,008 test caps.

Blues: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, Rieko Ioane, George Moala, Sonny Bill Williams/ TJ Faiane, Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu, Steve Luatua, Blake Gibson, Akira Ioane, Scott Scrafton, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons, Ofa Tu'ungafasi.

Reserves: Hame Faiva, Alex Hodgman, Sione Mafileo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Kara Pryor, Sam Nock, Ihaia West, TJ Faiane/Melani Nanai

Lions: Leigh Halfpenny, Jack Nowell, Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Elliot Daly, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, CJ Stander, Justin Tipuric, James Haskell, Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje, Dan Cole, Ken Owens (c), Jack McGrath

Reserves: Rory Best, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Greig Laidlaw, Johnny Sexton, Liam Williams.

Odds:

Lions $1.49


Blues $2.60


Draw $21

I watched one of the best defenders playing the game and that is Ben Smith get brushed aside like a fly by one huge Crusader last weekend.

I hate to think what the AB's will do to the likes of Halfpenny.

Yes a solid player and good kicker but is that enough to have him in the Lion's side.

The only way the Lion's will win is defend, defend and defend and frustrate the AB's.

I believe they have the scrum to win the game but defense is a real concern.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Blues v. Lions... I'm calling it a Lions win by 10 - 13 points

I will go for Lions by 5 -7. Still early days yet and I expect another fast attacking game, from the Blues this time.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

I hate to think what the AB's will do to the likes of Halfpenny

Like I said LT, his all round game is great especially defence. He lacks attacking pace and mobility coming off the high ball.

I expect Hogg to get another crack on Saturday against Crusaders.

Lions 21-10

The matchday 23 consists of eight Englishmen, seven Irishmen, six Welshmen and one Scotsman, amassing in a total of 1,008 test caps

Oh noes... bboy's not going to enjoy this game!

I'm currently enjoying it a lot with the Blues winning 12-10, just hope they can close it out.

Come on the Blues, 15-10 and an extra man now. Lions should have brought some Jocks.

Brilliant try, come on the Blues.

Originally Posted by buriramboy

I'm currently enjoying it a lot with the Blues winning

For the life of me I've no idea where some people get the stereotype of the dour, bitter, miserable Scots from?!

I stopped watching at 60 minutes.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Originally Posted by buriramboy

I'm currently enjoying it a lot with the Blues winning

For the life of me I've no idea where some people get the stereotype of the dour, bitter, miserable Scots from?!

I'm happy and cheering as my prediction of a Blues victory is just 20 seconds away.

If only the Lions had brought more Jocks.

Looking forward to watching Gatland squirm in the post match interviews.

They'll be going home with their tails between their legs at this rate.

"Cheer up, Mr Gatland! Things could get worse." said the water boy after the Provo BaaBaas match.
So he cheered up & sure enough! Things got worse!

A great scrum and one rolling maul.

Sad.........3 tries to one and fuck knows what the Crusaders will do to these Imposters.

If the Lions control the pill, they will do much better.The problem that they have is the pace of the game here.

All Blacks squad named, some interesting ones in there:

Forwards:

Hookers

Dane Coles (Wellington, 49)
Codie Taylor (Canterbury, 15)
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty, 4)

Props

Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury, 58)
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland, 46)
Owen Franks (Canterbury, 90)
Joe Moody (Canterbury, 24)
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland, 4)

Locks

Scott Barrett (Taranaki, 4)
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay, 60)
Luke Romano (Canterbury, 26)
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury, 84)

Loose Forwards

Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty, 40)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland, 74)
Kieran Read, captain (Counties Manukau, 97)
Ardie Savea (Wellington, 12)
Liam Squire (Tasman, 8)

Backs:

Halfbacks

Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato, 25)
TJ Perenara (Wellington, 29)
Aaron Smith (Manawatu, 58)

First five-eighths

Beauden Barrett (Taranaki, 49)
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu, 47)
Lima Sopoaga (Southland, 6)

Midfielders

Ryan Crotty (Canterbury, 26)
Ngani Laumape (Manawatu, uncapped)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato, 9)
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau, 33)

Outside backs

Jordie Barrett (Taranaki, uncapped)
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay, 61)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland, 2)
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki, 12)
Julian Savea (Wellington, 52)
Ben Smith (Otago, 60)

Call up for Laumape who has been destroying defenses in Super Rugby, and as if two weren't enough now a third Barrett brother in there!

Good to see Coles named, presumably he's over the injuries.

Personally speaking I'm happy to see Sopoaga in there but a little disappointed that Fekitoa missed the cut for midfield.

Cant find anything to moan about in the way the Blues played so pick on the Haka.


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