British and Irish Lions vs Western Force, Wed 5 June 11am; Sky Sports 1

thomond2006 · 04-06-2013 11:09am #1

British and Irish Lions:
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 George North, 10 Jonny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray,
8 Jamie Heaslip; 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.

Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Toby Faletau, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Sean Maitland.

Western Force:
15 Sam Christie, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Ed Stubbs, 12 Chris Tuatara-Morrison, 11 Corey Brown, 10 Sam Norton-Knight, 9 Brett Sheehan,
8 Richard Brown, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Phoenix Battye, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 James Hilterbrand, 1 Salesi Manu.

Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Sione Kolo, 18 Tim Metcher, 19 Ben Matwijow, 20 Lachlan McCaffrey, 21 Alby Mathewson, 22 Nick Haining, 23 Junior Rasolea.

keith16 · 04-06-2013 11:10am

A walk in the park for the Lions.

thomond2006 · 04-06-2013 11:13am

keith16 wrote: »

A walk in the park for the Lions.

Sexton vs Norton-Knight sums it up!

04-06-2013 11:32am

Who in that team should we be keeping an eye on?

Any?

trouttrout · 04-06-2013 11:41am

Norton Knight, easily one of the worst tens I've seen in the S15

Sheehan is a decent 9 though

bilston · 04-06-2013 11:44am

keith16 wrote: »

A walk in the park for the Lions.

The only thing going for them is that they'll be a bit more organised than the Barbarians so a 51 point win may be a bit of a push for the Lions.

Buer · 04-06-2013 12:02pm

bilston wrote: »

The only thing going for them is that they'll be a bit more organised than the Barbarians so a 51 point win may be a bit of a push for the Lions.

Indeed. It's not a good WF side but they'll be fairly pumped and the Lions have an entirely new team playing together for the first time. I think the bookies spread of 37 is a bit generous to the Lions. Can see them winning by about 20.

Taco Corp · 04-06-2013 12:02pm

will be interesting to see what happens if/when the Force LH replacement comes on.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/rugby/rookie-sione-kolo-has-been-drafted-into-the-wallabies-squad-against-the-lions/story-fnh5q2eu-1226655077011

colman1212 · 04-06-2013 12:28pm

Very Disappointing to be honest.
The lions are going to tear them to pieces.

Xavi6 · 04-06-2013 2:38pm

I'm going to this and the combination of the Force team plus the venue has really soured any excitement I had.

On the one hand it looked like Rugby WA wanted to make the most of the game by moving it to Subi Oval to get a bigger crowd but then the Force send out this half arsed side because they want to prioritise a dead rubber at the weekend :rolleyes:

Good thing I only got the cheapest tickets going.

irishbucsfan · 04-06-2013 2:42pm

Ah this is in the Subiaco?

Could be a real dour atmosphere unless the Lions lads get drinking early! Hopefully you enjoy it though!

Buer · 04-06-2013 4:44pm

I might be wrong but I think BOD becomes the first man ever to captain the Lions on three separate tours tomorrow. I'm probably forgetting someone very obvious...

wicklowwonder · 04-06-2013 4:53pm

Buer wrote: »

I might be wrong but I think BOD becomes the first man ever to captain the Lions on three separate tours tomorrow. I'm probably forgetting someone very obvious...

Did he captain them in South Africa? I can't remember.

errlloyd · 04-06-2013 4:55pm

wicklowwonder wrote: »

Did he captain them in South Africa? I can't remember.

Against the Golden Lions he was captain

Buer · 04-06-2013 4:56pm

wicklowwonder wrote: »

Did he captain them in South Africa? I can't remember.

Yup. Along with DOC, POC and ROG.

http://www.lionsrugby.com/history/match_archives.php?section=lineups&fixid=56513

davidpfitz · 04-06-2013 4:59pm

wicklowwonder wrote: »

Did he captain them in South Africa? I can't remember.

Yes - in the second match of the tour against the Golden Lions, I think

matthew8 · 04-06-2013 5:38pm

I was surprised they even named a team that strong. Their captain is playing, and the whole team is pretty awful anyway. Besides they're trying to avoid last place in the S15.

Swiwi · 04-06-2013 6:14pm

matthew8 wrote: »

I was surprised they even named a team that strong. Their captain is playing, and the whole team is pretty awful anyway. Besides they're trying to avoid last place in the S15.

They did beat the Crusaders

:o:o

Swiwi · 04-06-2013 6:17pm

19543261 wrote: »

Who in that team should we be keeping an eye on?

Any?

Most of their good players are rested or on Wallabies duty. Alby Matthewson in the reserves played a few tests for the ABs at scrumhalf, and has been having a good season.

toomevara · 04-06-2013 6:20pm

Xavi6 wrote: »

I'm going to this and the combination of the Force team plus the venue has really soured any excitement I had.

On the one hand it looked like Rugby WA wanted to make the most of the game by moving it to Subi Oval to get a bigger crowd but then the Force send out this half arsed side because they want to prioritise a dead rubber at the weekend :rolleyes:

Good thing I only got the cheapest tickets going.

Plus Origin is the only game in town in Oz tomorrow, nobody really gives a monkeys about this game...

Swiwi · 04-06-2013 6:23pm

toomevara wrote: »

Plus Origin is the only game in town in Oz tomorrow, nobody really gives a monkeys about this game...

That's true, alright. From bitter experience having lived in Aussie myself, you'll find 5 pages devoted to the league and 1 paragraph in small font next to the classifieds dealing with the rugby.

Swiwi · 04-06-2013 6:24pm

Xavi6 wrote: »

I'm going to this and the combination of the Force team plus the venue has really soured any excitement I had.

On the one hand it looked like Rugby WA wanted to make the most of the game by moving it to Subi Oval to get a bigger crowd but then the Force send out this half arsed side because they want to prioritise a dead rubber at the weekend :rolleyes:

Good thing I only got the cheapest tickets going.

Do post a review!

toomevara · 04-06-2013 6:27pm

Swiwi wrote: »

That's true, alright. From bitter experience having lived in Aussie myself, you'll find 5 pages devoted to the league and 1 paragraph in small font next to the classifieds dealing with the rugby.

Ah, I can but dream...;) It's all about Origin for me tomorrow...consistently some of the greatest rugby, of either code, I've ever seen. (recent QLD dominance notwithstanding)...anyway I digress....

Swiwi · 04-06-2013 6:29pm

toomevara wrote: »

Ah, I can but dream...;) It's all about Origin for me tomorrow...consistently some of the greatest rugby, of either code, I've ever seen. (recent QLD dominance notwithstanding)...anyway I digress....

That Ray Warren and his fairytale/Cinderella spiel when Alfie Langer made his glorious comeback is some classic commentary. Can't find it on youtube, though.

JustinDee · 04-06-2013 6:49pm

Swiwi wrote: »

That's true, alright. From bitter experience having lived in Aussie myself, you'll find 5 pages devoted to the league and 1 paragraph in small font next to the classifieds dealing with the rugby.

Even with unlimited support from Fox, Fairfax and NewsCorp, this tour barely registers with anyone outside of Syd and Brissie and the rugby union playerbase. I don't even think its on anything but Fox for live coverage. Maybe it is on channel7, but in my years of living in Australia, it's a fairly select game, even during the Eales stewardship.

Swiwi · 04-06-2013 6:53pm

JustinDee wrote: »

Even with unlimited support from Fox, Fairfax and NewsCorp, this tour barely registers with anyone outside of Syd and Brissie and the rugby union playerbase. I don't even think its on anything but Fox for live coverage. Maybe it is on channel7, but in my years of living in Australia, it's a fairly select game, even during the Eales stewardship.

Yeah, I remember well when I touched down in Ireland from Aussie, and the relief, pure relief, to find out the newspapers actually covered rugby! And not too badly either!

In Aussie, if it's not league, it's Aussie rules, and it's not Aussie rules, it's soccer.

matthew8 · 04-06-2013 6:56pm

JustinDee wrote: »

Even with unlimited support from Fox, Fairfax and NewsCorp, this tour barely registers with anyone outside of Syd and Brissie and the rugby union playerbase. I don't even think its on anything but Fox for live coverage. Maybe it is on channel7, but in my years of living in Australia, it's a fairly select game, even during the Eales stewardship.

Isn't it pretty big in Canberra too?

Stev_o · 04-06-2013 7:05pm

Lions 60+. Empty stadium with only Lions fans there.

Swiwi · 04-06-2013 7:08pm

Stev_o wrote: »

Lions 60+. Empty stadium with only Lions fans there.

It was 75+ yesterday, Stev_o. Is there something in that Force team that's made you pull it back a bit

subfreq · 04-06-2013 7:15pm

The Force will be well beaten but I expect a few fireworks and big hits along the way as well.

I prefer the look of this BIL back line to the one that played on the weekend so am looking forward to watching.

Stev_o · 04-06-2013 7:15pm

Swiwi wrote: »

It was 75+ yesterday, Stev_o. Is there something in that Force team that's made you pull it back a bit

I am convinced the ref will blow up the match 10 minute early in sympathy for the Force.

artvandelay48 · 04-06-2013 7:57pm

Is this game on the radio? I heard rte had radio rights but I can't see it in any schedule...

totallegend · 04-06-2013 7:58pm

artvandelay48 wrote: »

Is this game on the radio? I heard rte had radio rights but I can't see it in any schedule...

Lw 252 maybe? Talksport doing it in the UK if you have Internet

Swiwi · 04-06-2013 8:26pm

This is an interesting comment from a fan on GAGR, he has a point.

"The Lions are to blame. They opted to play in a stinking sauna in Hong Kong against a nothing team on the weekend instead of playing in Perth, Why? Simply because they are sponsored by HSBC. Dreadful Rugby.

The tour should have started in Western Australia on Saturday. The Force had the weekend cleared and would have been at full strength! Total disrespect from the B&I Lions because they snubbed the weekend fixture as originally planned."

andrewdcs · 04-06-2013 8:38pm

Isn't it part of every Lions tour for the host nation / Lions management to set up a sequence of matches of less than expected intensity pre first Test?

And to generally play 'phoney war' nonsense for giggles?

andrewdcs · 04-06-2013 8:43pm

Swiwi wrote: »

This is an interesting comment from a fan on GAGR, he has a point.

"The Lions are to blame. They opted to play in a stinking sauna in Hong Kong against a nothing team on the weekend instead of playing in Perth, Why? Simply because they are sponsored by HSBC. Dreadful Rugby.

The tour should have started in Western Australia on Saturday. The Force had the weekend cleared and would have been at full strength! Total disrespect from the B&I Lions because they snubbed the weekend fixture as originally planned."

I think he's forgetting about that whole money thing! Dont disagree on the match.

AFAIK was always planned to do a non-Australian continent match.

I thought it'd be in Tokyo for extra dollars but by the by.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 04-06-2013 9:23pm

Swiwi wrote: »

This is an interesting comment from a fan on GAGR, he has a point.

"The Lions are to blame. They opted to play in a stinking sauna in Hong Kong against a nothing team on the weekend instead of playing in Perth, Why? Simply because they are sponsored by HSBC. Dreadful Rugby.

The tour should have started in Western Australia on Saturday. The Force had the weekend cleared and would have been at full strength! Total disrespect from the B&I Lions because they snubbed the weekend fixture as originally planned."

Sure Lions could have began their Australian tour a week earlier but Australia wasn't offering an extra game. Were the Lions supposed to play one game less?

toomevara · 04-06-2013 9:53pm

subfreq wrote: »

The Force will be well beaten but I expect a few fireworks and big hits along the way as well.
.

I worry about this aspect of tomorrows game..you may get a few hatchet men trying to make a name for themselves in all the wrong ways...

The Aussie · 04-06-2013 10:01pm

toomevara wrote: »

I worry about this aspect of tomorrows game..you may get a few hatchet men trying to make a name for themselves in all the wrong ways...

What, like Brain Fart McRae........

"MORE than a decade after raining blow after blow on the face of Irish five-eighth Ronan O'Gara, Duncan McRae still can't say for sure what triggered the infamous boilover at Allianz Stadium.
The former Waratahs utility, who was sent off and banned for seven weeks after leaving O'Gara with a bleeding wound under his left eye, can only refer to a ''running battle'' between the five-eighths during that fateful game of the British and Irish Lions tour in 2001.
''I'd love to be able to explain it, but it just sort of tipped over the edge,'' McRae said this week."

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/i-was-a-twit-says-mcrae-and-thanks-his-lucky-stars-there-was-no-twitter-20120914-25xqa.html

duckysauce · 04-06-2013 10:01pm

toomevara wrote: »

I worry about this aspect of tomorrows game..you may get a few hatchet men trying to make a name for themselves in all the wrong ways...

yep one of the meat heads Quote's from PR

Matt Hodgson. Saying "...if we can't get the win, we can hopefully get a solid performance and hopefully hurt a few of their bodies" :eek:

irishbucsfan · 04-06-2013 11:55pm

The Aussie wrote: »

What, like Brain Fart McRae........

"MORE than a decade after raining blow after blow on the face of Irish five-eighth Ronan O'Gara, Duncan McRae still can't say for sure what triggered the infamous boilover at Allianz Stadium.
The former Waratahs utility, who was sent off and banned for seven weeks after leaving O'Gara with a bleeding wound under his left eye, can only refer to a ''running battle'' between the five-eighths during that fateful game of the British and Irish Lions tour in 2001.
''I'd love to be able to explain it, but it just sort of tipped over the edge,'' McRae said this week."

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/i-was-a-twit-says-mcrae-and-thanks-his-lucky-stars-there-was-no-twitter-20120914-25xqa.html

The old story is ROG was chatting up his missus before it. Probably bollocks

Xavi6 · 04-06-2013 11:55pm

toomevara wrote: »

Plus Origin is the only game in town in Oz tomorrow, nobody really gives a monkeys about this game...

It's the opposite in Perth thankfully, no one gives a monkey's about Origin

Swiwi wrote: »

Do post a review!

Will do.

errlloyd · 05-06-2013 12:17am

artvandelay48 wrote: »

Is this game on the radio? I heard rte had radio rights but I can't see it in any schedule...

Tune in to RTÉ Radio 1 Extra for live coverage of Western Force v British & Irish Lions from 11am. Listen on RTÉ Radio player, UPC, Saorview and on LW252.

GiftofGab · 05-06-2013 1:59am

I have to admit the state of origin would be a better event than this Lions match. Not as much about it in Melbourne compared to Queensland but still a big event. The best players in the rugby league world competing against each other. Any union fan that says they can't learn anything from a state of origin game is lying. I'll be keeping an eye on both games at the same time.

Swiwi · 05-06-2013 7:16am

GAGR has put together a compilation of punch-ups through the years.

Xavi6 · 05-06-2013 7:58am

We had a good bit of rain overnight here and it's starting to spit again now, could make things interesting!

artvandelay48 · 05-06-2013 8:51am

artvandelay48 wrote: »

Is this game on the radio? I heard rte had radio rights but I can't see it in any schedule...

Radio 1 Extra is covering the game and the 5 other non-test matches. The tests will be on 2fm.

rockbeast · 05-06-2013 9:02am

Swiwi wrote: »

GAGR has put together a compilation of punch-ups through the years.

That brings back a few memories.

I hope the standard of punching improves this year. Although forgot how well ROG took that assault, wouldn't be shaking hands after that, do that on the street and you'd do time.

Off the sports pitch the Aussies are great but they are the team I most like to see get a few slaps and beaten(result-wise) on it:eek:

Will they be softening up us today?

preddy · 05-06-2013 9:07am

Any live streams ?

wonderfullife · 05-06-2013 9:25am

Obviously disappointed with the Western Farce team selection. Sure, they have a Super 15 game upcoming but this is a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity to face the Lions and even a lot of Southern Hemisphere players describe it as the biggest games of their careers.

That being said, exciting line-up and that back-line is scintilating. It really would not look out of place in the Test side. Maybe i'm nostalgic for '09 but i still think the Roberts-BOD centre axis have the tools to be the test pairing but very interested to see how Tuiliagi performs.

I can see Tommy Bowe scoring a brace or hat-trick today, he's had a tough old season with injury and will be raring to go today.

There are some out and out beasts on that pitch, O' Brien, Tuilagi, North and Healy will all be punching huge holes in the Force and should theoretically allow Sexton & Murray a lot of time and space to pull the strings.

Perfect intro for Healy and Best too, and alongside Cole i really see them having pure dominance up front. Healy and Cole may not be as technically proficient as the Jenkins/Jones pairing but they could throw a spanner in the works, especially if Healy has another strong game in the loose.

Given the strength of the Force side on show and the strength of the Lions, it's hard not to envisage a 45 point plus victory.

Perhaps for the benefit of the Tour they really need to embarrass the Force with a heavy win, it might deter the other Super 15 sides from fielding weakened teams. This result will be seen around the world and an embarrassing loss would do little for the Super 15 brand.

stackerman · 05-06-2013 10:32am

Live stream anyone ?

British and Irish Lions vs Western Force, Wed 5 June 11am; Sky Sports 1

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