The Lions Are Coming

**Loy Toy** · 10-06-2017, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by buriramboy

even got their own team mates elbowing the token one now.

Should have received a red card for that blatant attack against your team mate.

To be fair that frog referee taking at least 4 minutes to pack a scrum is totally unacceptable.

Not saying the Lions did not deserve to win. But seems he helped the recovery process on more then a few occasions.

**buriramboy** · 10-06-2017, 05:29 PM

Don't know what scrums are like in SH club rugby but a joke in NH at club and international level, the powers that be really need to sort it out as it ruins many a game.

**Loy Toy** · 10-06-2017, 05:37 PM

Anyway no tries.

The Lions defended like Trojans and frustrated the Kiwis.

As I said at the start of this series that is the only way the Lions will beat the All Blacks Good example to the coach today!

**Little Chuchok** · 10-06-2017, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by buriramboy

Don't know what scrums are like in SH club rugby but a joke in NH at club and international level, the powers that be really need to sort it out as it ruins many a game.

Just better refs.

That French fucker wouldn't know shit from clay.

**chassamui** · 10-06-2017, 10:05 PM

I think Hogg new he was having another shit game and injured himself deliberately, before Gatland replaced him. Even though there was no recognized FB on the bench.

He might get a midweek game or place on the bench, but for him, the tour is over.

**buriramboy** · 11-06-2017, 12:21 AM

Duncan Taylor he of Saracens had a good game for Scotland today at fullback even though he is normally a centre, another jock who should have been in the Lions squad. Good performance by Scotland today in beating Italy will see how we get on next week against Australia in the pick of next weekends fixtures. Ali Price had a blinder too, think Laidlaw's days as Scotland's first choice 9 are well and truly over.

**Little Chuchok** · 11-06-2017, 12:36 PM

Chris Rattue: Red alert - smashing Lions suddenly reveal All Black squad frailties
11 Jun, 2017 3:00pm

Beauden Barrett's thigh injury is at the top of the worry queue, and again raises the question about why the All Blacks have risked their star players in recent smash ups. And smash the Lions did.

The Kiwi rugby mob has a nasty habit of blaming referees when things don't go to plan. As baffling as Mathieu Raynal was at times, particularly at scrums, the Crusaders were beaten fair and square.

Actually, they were crushed fair and square with Warren Gatland's hefty Lions unveiling the opening salvo in something I dub the 'dirty war', a way of playing which represents their best test plan.

Under the pump after two shabby games, the Lions were bloody brilliant led by their giant prop Mako Vunipolo and what should be their number one halves combo of Conor Murray and Owen Farrell.

There have already been complaints that the Lions didn't score a try, didn't do this and that, played stilted rugby. Well, that's their business: they are not here to wow the Kiwi public. And their inability to finish off tries tends to make them appear more dour than they actually are.

They are here to do a job, win a series, any way they can. Slowing the game down, pushing the offside line, winning over the referee, frustrating their opponents, bombs, drop goals...whatever it takes.

One of the captivating things about rugby is the different styles. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the clinical way the Lions strangled and pummeled the Crusaders would have been a joy to watch for their supporters. They minimised the open field risks, saved attacking bursts for the short side and were far superior than the nine point margin indicated.

Full marks to Gatland. As he said after the Crusaders Capitulation, he's copped some quite personal criticism (guilty here) and quickly emerged with a performance that suggests it is game on for the test series.

The Steve Hansen factor can't be overlooked. He has the magic touch. But with the Lions turning kind-of nasty in Christchurch, the All Blacks suddenly look a little frail.

There are fitness doubts about their tight loosies - Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino and Liam Squire. Kaino might be over the hill, or incredibly close to it. Read - who will have been out for two months - is not the Read of old. The great lock Brodie Retallick has been resting with injury.

The best All Black hooker by a country mile, Dane Coles, is out although he gets to hang around the squad. One of his backups, Nathan Harris, would be due a truckload of bright red jelly if hospitals operated loyalty cards.

As for Ofa Tu'ungafasi, I've got no idea why he is there apart from his alleged propping versatility. Nepo Laulala in particular and Kane Hames - who have already received the All Blacks tick - are surely superior. Indeed, as a general policy, the fewer Blues forwards the better. The best trench warfare troops come from the Crusaders, Highlanders and Chiefs.

Moving on, to the backs...Israel Dagg looked stuffed on Saturday night. Ben Smith has just taken his second concussion ding in the season. Julian Savea? Inconsistent.

Sonny Bill Williams had magic moments for the Blues against the Lions, but he's not been connecting with team mates like the SBW of old this season. Anton Lienert-Brown was down on form although his subtle shifts are a marvel to behold and he had something of a breakthrough in the Chiefs' win over the Hurricanes.

Barrett has not been so impressive in the past couple of weeks, and it remains to be seen if the little cement truck Ngani Laumape has the all round game for test rugby. Ryan Crotty and Aaron Cruden are current casualties, and Lima Sopoaga is on the comeback trail. Goalkicking remains an issue, especially when Farrell and co. are on the other side.

And what the heck is Akira Ioane doing in the back-up brigade? He is a ponderous loosie who prefers to skirt around tacklers and is nowhere near ready for test football, despite all the obvious gifts. Maybe he is the latest apprentice, but a Lions series is no place for apprentices. It was a shock to see his name there - has Hansen gone mad?

It actually looks like a bit of an injury and form crisis, now that the Lions have fired up. The tourists will be buzzing, although they are to accepting try-scoring chances what Donald J. Trump is to subtle diplomacy.

Do I sound nervous? Well yes I am, a little. And apologies to Warren Gatland: the Lions were rubbish in the first two games but you deserved more respect, particularly so soon after arrival. And congratulations, for bashing the tour into shape.

**Loy Toy** · 11-06-2017, 12:44 PM

I predicted a win for the lion's and to win exactly as they did.

Tackle, tackle and tackle and frustrate.

Boring as fvck but a win is a win and the series is alive again.

**chassamui** · 11-06-2017, 09:44 PM

I wonder if Gatland will credit Eddie Jones with the monumentally successful new tactic of playing 2 fly halves at 10 and 12. Surprised Hansen hasn't tried it already.

**buriramboy** · 11-06-2017, 11:23 PM

Farrel and Sexton won't work unless play Sexton at 10 but Farrel is best 10 the Lions have in the absence of the overlooked Russel so why would they play Sexton at 10 makes no sense. I see Seymour starting and Laidlaw on the bench for the next game, need more Jocks than that if want to challenge the Kiwi's.

**AntRobertson** · 12-06-2017, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by buriramboy

need more Jocks than that if want to challenge the Kiwi's

So they can bring all that experience of never having beaten the All Blacks?

Oh wait no, do you mean the Kiwi-convert Scots who have experience of playing in NZ?

**AntRobertson** · 12-06-2017, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by Little Chuchok

Chris Rattue: Red alert - smashing Lions suddenly reveal All Black squad frailties

Rattue is such a giant turd, that man could find fault with the All Blacks winning the World Cup... which he has actually done.

Anyways he (and anyone else who follows that line) are making a mistake if they think an out of sorts Crusaders = the All Blacks.

All credit to the Lions who forced the Saders into playing that way and errors, but it's hardly a blueprint.

**AntRobertson** · 12-06-2017, 10:43 AM

My team*, the Mighty Highlanders, named to take on the Lions tomorrow:

Highlanders:

1. Daniel Lienert-Brown
2. Liam Coltman
3. Siate Tokolahi
4. Alex Ainley
5. Jackson Hemopo
6. Gareth Evans
7. Dillon Hunt
8. Luke Whitelock (C)
9. Kayne Hammington
10. Lima Sopoaga
11. Tevita Li
12. Teihorangi Walden
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. Waisake Naholo
15. Richard Buckman

Reserves

16. Greg Pleasants-Tate
17. Aki Seiuli
18. Siosuia Halanukonuka
19. Josh Dickson
20. Jimmy Lentjes
21. Josh Renton
22. Marty Banks
23. Patrick Osborne

Interesting - though not unexpected - that Banks has gone back to the bench, dunno why Osborne's not starting though?

The lack of Smiths is noted, and Buckman at fullback??

*Unless they're losing, then I switch allegiance to the Chiefs.

**prawnograph** · 12-06-2017, 12:40 PM

^ Highlanders missing first-choice players Ben Smith and Aaron Smith – All Blacks. Elliot Dixon, Ash Dixon, Joe Wheeler, Rob Thompson, Tom Franklin – New Zealand Maori. Liam Squire and Matt Faddes – injured.
Expect a 'gallant fight' but predict a handy Lions win

**AntRobertson** · 12-06-2017, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by prawnograph

but predict a handy Lions win

That reminds me, here's the BIL team:

British & Irish Lions

15. Jared Payne
14. Jack Nowell
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Tommy Seymour
10. Dan Biggar
9. Rhys Webb
8. CJ Stander
7. Sam Warburton (C)
6. James Haskell
5. Iain Henderson
4. Courtney Lawes
3. Kyle Sinckler
2. Rory Best
1. Joe Marler

Reserves

16. Ken Owens
17. Jack McGrath
18. Dan Cole
19. Alun Wyn Jones
20. Justin Tipuric
21. Greig Laidlaw
22. Owen Farrell
23. Elliot Daly

I'd like to think that my* team could get one over the Lions, but yeah, you're probably right.

I see Haskell's in there, a home-coming of sorts for him.

*Unless they're losing, then I switch allegiance to the Chiefs.

**AntRobertson** · 12-06-2017, 12:50 PM

Random thoughts time:

1. Conor Murray whom, to be fair, I've not seen a whole lot of personally came to NZ with a fairly high reputation. On the strength of what I saw vs. Saders it's deserved, class player.

2. I've just this minute started to shit-bricks over the Samoa match this weekend. No injuries please!

**prawnograph** · 13-06-2017, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by prawnograph

^ Highlanders missing first-choice players Ben Smith and Aaron Smith – All Blacks. Elliot Dixon, Ash Dixon, Joe Wheeler, Rob Thompson, Tom Franklin – New Zealand Maori. Liam Squire and Matt Faddes – injured.
Expect a 'gallant fight' but predict a handy Lions win

Quite wrong there, as Highlanders win 23-22

Highlanders: Tries: Naholo, Coltman Cons: Sopoaga, Banks Pens: Sopoaga 2, Banks
British and Irish Lions: Tries: Joseph, Seymour, Warburton Cons: Biggar 2 Pen: Biggar

The Lions' Sam Warburton receives a sword from Luke Whitelock of the Highlanders.

After facing haka upon haka on their New Zealand tour, the British and Irish Lions were given a challenge of a different kind by the Highlanders in Dunedin, in the steely shape of a Claymore sword. A symbol of both the Highlanders and the region's Scottish heritage, the sword was carried on to the field by former All Black Clarke Dermody and his 10-year-old son Carter. Now Highlanders scrum coach, Dermody's uncle Gerald Dermody played for Southland against the 1966 Lions, as his father Gus did against the 1983 tourists.

**buriramboy** · 13-06-2017, 04:43 PM

Hogg's tour over I see, leaving just Seymour and Laidlaw (who shouldn't get anywhere near a Lions shirt) as the token Jocks, nice to see Seymour get a try though but being Scottish that will automatically disqualify him from starting in the tests. I really hope the All Blacks put up a cricket score in all 3 tests.

**chassamui** · 13-06-2017, 05:03 PM

^TBF it was the only thing Seymour did right. Scratch side with too many wannabes. Almost repaid Gatlands stupid faith in them.
Too many penalties and too many turnovers. Only need to see the test starters from now on. Rhys Webb did himself no harm as well as Biggar. Dan Cole and Sinckler disappointing. Jaimie George from nowhere to Lions Hooker.
Another great performance from the Kiwi side.
Are all our full backs crocked?

**buriramboy** · 13-06-2017, 05:14 PM

Biggar is lucky to even be on the tour, certainly not there on seasons form but from the matches so far Gatland would have to be mad to play anyone other than Farrel at 10. Even Sexton not looking the player he can be, anyway Australia v Scotland this weekend so the Lions fans can have a look at an inventive 10 who makes things happen in Russel.

**AntRobertson** · 13-06-2017, 05:22 PM

Bet Scotland loses.

**buriramboy** · 13-06-2017, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Bet Scotland loses.

Only been 1 point in it last 2 games admittedly Australia won both though. Australia are there for the taking at the moment and providing we picked up no injuries from the Italy game in key positions we'll give them a game. Go ahead and watch it and you may too also end up thinking how a few of the players aren't on the Lions tour.

**PlanK** · 13-06-2017, 05:33 PM

Minutes to go, what was that decision to try to kick a 55m penalty?

Did they mistakenly think they were on the High Veld instead of at sea level in Dunedin?

Game lost right there.

**AntRobertson** · 13-06-2017, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by buriramboy

Go ahead and watch it

Maybe, maybe not.

Not enough Kiwi players involved.

**buriramboy** · 13-06-2017, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Originally Posted by buriramboy

Go ahead and watch it

Maybe, maybe not.

Not enough Kiwi players involved.

Will be more than there will be Jocks playing in the Lions v AB tests.

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