British and Irish Lions vs Combined Country XV, Tues 11th June, 10.40 am, Sky Sports

TheKeenMachine

British and Irish Lions|Combined Country XV
15 Sean Maitland|15 Nathan Trist
14 Alex Cuthbert|14 Alex Gibbon
13 Brian O'Driscoll CAPTAIN|13 Lewie Catt
12 Jamie Roberts|12 Tareta-Junior Siakisini
11 George North|11 Tom Cox
10 Stuart Hogg|10 Angus Roberts
9 Conor Murray|9 Michael Snowden
1 Alex Corisibiero|1 Haydn Hirsimaki
2 Richard Hibbard|2 John Mann-Rae
3 Dan Cole|3 Tim Metcher
4 Richie Gray|4 Phoenix Battye
5 Ian Evans|5 Blake Enever
6 Sean O'Brien|6 Richard Stanford
7 Justin Tipuric|7 Jarrad Butler
8 Jamie Heaslip|8 Tim Davidson CAPTAIN
Replacements
16 Rory Best|16 Tom Kearney
17 Ryan Grant|17 Dylan Evans
18 Matt Stevens|18 Rikki Abraham
19 Alun Wyn Jones|19 Rory Arnold
20 Toby Faletau|20 Trent Dyer
21 Mike Phillips|21 Adam McCormack
22 Jonathan Davies|22 Shaun McCarthy
23 Leigh Halfpenny|23 Dale Ahwang

And so, four days on from a stern test against the Queensland Reds, the Lions arrive into Newcastle to take on a combined Queensland/NSW team, a traditional pit stop on a Lions tour. However, this Combined Country team are totally lacking in the experience or ability to take on the Lions. Only 9 of the matchday 23, including captain Tim Davidson and lock Phoenix Battye, who has the honour of facing the Lions for the second time, are inolved in Super Rugby squads, the rest of the team made up of part timers. Consider, then, the team that they face in Newcastle tomorrow. All hardened Test veterans, we all know what this Lions team is capable of. In O'Driscoll and Roberts, they possess the centre partnership that tore South Africa to shreds four years ago, and the back row of O'Brien, Tipuric and Heaslip is one that most teams in the world would kill to have. As if that's not enough the Lions can call from the bench the likes of Leigh Halfpenny, Mike Phillips and Rory Best. The one weakness for the Lions may be at out-half, where Stuart Hogg has been given a chance. A brilliant talent he may be, but an out half he is not. Should Davidson and his back row colleagues Butler and Stanford be able to get under Hogg's skin, the Lions could endure some prickly moments. However, this match should be virtually a stroll through the park for the tourists, and I would be surprised if they did not rack up at least 60 points. Hogg's place kicking, which despite his many gifts, is not unerring, is my only deterrent from raising that scoring bar higher. The question is not how much will the Lions win by, it is will they reach a century of points?
Predicition: Carnage

Swiwi

Prediction: Golden Oldies scrums by the end of the match

totallegend

The question is not how much the Lions score but can they get in and out with no injuries.

trouttrout

Combined Country are 90/1 with PP, fill the pockets lads

duckysauce

Has 1/2p played outhalf ? If Hogg gets injured who will cover him ?

Tox56

duckysauce wrote: »

Has 1/2p played outhalf ? If Hogg gets injured who will cover him ?

Remember him filling in for Wales against England last year when Priestland got a YC, actually looked pretty good but he's never going to be an option there in a Lions test, ditto Hogg. Total madness to bring only 2 tens

Leslie91

duckysauce wrote: »

Has 1/2p played outhalf ? If Hogg gets injured who will cover him ?

I've heard Conor Murray mentioned as a possible!. As many have said having only 2 specialist 10s is v odd.

P_1

trouttrout wrote: »

Combined Country are 90/1 with PP, fill the pockets lads

The handicap is 77 points, cant remember seeing such a high handicap in some time.

Peregrine

Phoenix Battye

Out-half looks really weak. Should have brought a 3rd full time out half on the tour imo.

durkadurka

Looks like Drico has his work cut out


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/britishandirishlionsrugby/10111355/Lions-2013-Electrical-engineer-aiming-to-spark-against-Brian-ODriscoll-for-Combined-Country-XV.html

thomond2006

durkadurka wrote: »

Looks like Drico has his work cut out


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/britishandirishlionsrugby/10111355/Lions-2013-Electrical-engineer-aiming-to-spark-against-Brian-ODriscoll-for-Combined-Country-XV.html

Shocking stuff



I'll get my coat

totallegend

Nimrod 7 wrote: »

Out-half looks really weak. Should have brought a 3rd full time out half on the tour imo.

They could put Matt Stevens at outhalf tomorrow and still walk this.

If Sexton and Farrell stay fit, it's going to be a great call

thomond2006

While it's a complete mismatch, the Aussie players must be in dreamland to play this. Once in a lifetime stuff.

Kiwi_knock

Have the Combined Country team even trained together. Interesting though that the 10 for Combined Country Angus Roberts has been preferred to and started ahead of O'Connor at the Rebels at times this season.

awec

What level of amateur are we talking about here? Presumably these guys will have the conditioning to take the hits at that level?

Swiwi

awec wrote: »

What level of amateur are we talking about here? Presumably these guys will have the conditioning to take the hits at that level?

It would be like starting a thread on boards "Players wanted to face travelling rugby team"...

I think these games were great in the days of amateur rugby, in the modern era it's a joke.

I guess I should reserve judgement until after the match tomorrow, but I recognise not one name on the country team, although a few players apparently have appeared at SXV level.

boschmaster

Does anyone else think that this will be a 100 point+ win for the Lions? It seems pretty futile

awec

Swiwi wrote: »

It would be like starting a thread on boards "Players wanted to face travelling rugby team"...

I think these games were great in the days of amateur rugby, in the modern era it's a joke.

I guess I should reserve judgement until after the match tomorrow, but I recognise not one name on the country team, although a few players apparently have appeared at SXV level.

So really they're going to be in a lot of pain going in to work on Wednesday?

Imagine one of these guys getting nailed by SOB or the likes?

Is their front row amateur? If so, how is that even allowed?


It's bad when you google a hookers name and the first result is this very thread. :pac:

swoody

Combined Country XV

Nathan Trist, Alex Gibbon, Lewie Catt, Tareta-Junior Siakisini, Tom Cox, Angus Roberts, Michael Snowden, Tim Davidson (captain), Jarrad Butler, Richard Stanford, Blake Enever, Phoenix Battye, Tim Metcher, Josh Mann-Rae, Haydn Hirsimaki.

Replacements: Tom Kearney, Dylan Evans, Rikki Abraham, Rory Arnold, Trent Dyer, Adam McCormack, Shaun McCarthy, Dale Ahwang.

Melbourne Rebels No.8 Tim Davidson will captain the Combined Country side. Davidson is one of eight Super Rugby players in the starting XV alongside Brumbies hooker Josh Mann-Rae, Force lock Phoenix Battye, Reds lock Blake Enever, Reds flanker Jarrad Butler, Force scrum-half Michael Snowden, Rebels fly-half Angus Roberts and Brumbies winger Tom Cox. The team also includes local favourite Lewis Catt who plays for Newcastle Wanderers Rugby Club. Local lad and centre Lewie Catt has said it will be a dream to face the Lions' Brian O'Driscoll who he considers the best centre of the past decade

The bench includes one other Super Rugby player in back-row forward Trent Dyer, five Qld Country players, and two NSW Country players, including Singleton local and Wanderers Rugby Club representative, Dylan Evans.

irishbucsfan

Lewie Catt driving a knife into the heart of Tim Horan

.ak

Really couldn't care how much the Lions win by so long as there's no injuries.

And seeing as this is a fairly amateur team I'd reckon there'll be s few sloppy tackles out there...

GiftofGab

Geez imagine their winger lining up against George North. He's probably only a casual gym go-er. I'd say he would be nervous having North in space running at full speed straight towards him.

Grandpa Hassan

I hope Alex Gibbon, an apprentice plumber, has as good a game as he can against George North. An amazing story. Extract from today's UK Times (not copying the whole article as is subscription only, but I am sure a couple of lines won't bother anyone). I've never seen the swap jerseys, but I'd say they might do after this game

Gibbon was born to a mother with cerebral palsy and the mental capacity of a 13-year-old and a father who, as a teenager, was left brain-damaged by an accident. His parents had been advised never to have children......"I had a lot of problems with school, a lot of anger, fighting because I had so much anger, I also had a few run-ins with the law. Rugby has saved me. Without it, I would probably be in jail. I would never have dreamt of playing against the Lions. Running out will be very emotional"

GiftofGab

Grandpa Hassan wrote: »

I hope Alex Gibbon, an apprentice plumber, has as good a game as he can against George North. An amazing story. Extract from today's UK Times (not copying the whole article as is subscription only, but I am sure a couple of lines won't bother anyone). I've never seen the swap jerseys, but I'd say they might do after this game

Gibbon was born to a mother with cerebral palsy and the mental capacity of a 13-year-old and a father who, as a teenager, was left brain-damaged by an accident. His parents had been advised never to have children......"I had a lot of problems with school, a lot of anger, fighting because I had so much anger, I also had a few run-ins with the law. Rugby has saved me. Without it, I would probably be in jail. I would never have dreamt of playing against the Lions. Running out will be very emotional"

Wow fair play to him. That's impressive. He'll remember this for the rest of his life.

stackerman

Phoenix Battye

thomond2006 wrote: »

While it's a complete mismatch, the Aussie players must be in dreamland to play this. Once in a lifetime stuff.

My Dad played against the All Blacks back in the day, got absolutely stuffed, but he will NEVER forget it. A real honour to play games like this, even if they steam roll you
He still has the jersey, v v small wouldnt fit any of todays players (changed game)

How much the Lions will get out of it ??? I guess a good day, as long as no more injuries to key lads.

Sundy

22. Shaun McCarthy

The same outhalf that spent a season at Wicklow Town and then a few at St Marys?

bilston

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Lewie Catt driving a knife into the heart of Tim Horan

Ah but he is canny, he qualifies his comment by saying "past decade", I can't remember exactly when Horan retired but the last I can really remember of him playing was during the '99 WC.

bilston

I have to say part of me is beginning to wonder about the make up of the centres for the test series. If the test side is going to play on Saturday against the Waratahs then I wonder why BOD is playing today. Of all the players in the squad who you don't want playing twice in 4 days it's O'Driscoll. I'd still be pretty confident BOD will start the 1st test but part of me is beginning to wonder. I know several of these guys will be asked to back up on Saturday but they aren't 34 years old.

Buer

Sundy wrote: »

22. Shaun McCarthy

The same outhalf that spent a season at Wicklow Town and then a few at St Marys?

The same.

Sundy

Buer wrote: »

The same.

Yeah though so. Googled it and seems he is back playing for Townsville.

Gambas

GiftofGab wrote: »

Geez imagine their winger lining up against George North. He's probably only a casual gym go-er. I'd say he would be nervous having North in space running at full speed straight towards him.

I don't get this attitude tbh.

North plays in the Rabo against guys lifted straight from AIL and hasn't trampled anyone to death yet. Just wearing Lions jerseys doesn't bestow superpowers. Anyone want to detail the experience of the Munster side that made a decent fist of it against the AB's in 2008?

I'd imagine the Aussies will be beaten out the gate, but a lot of the comments on this thread are disrespectful.