British and Irish Lions vs Waratahs, Sat 15 June 10:30am; Sky Sports 2

thomond2006

British and Irish Lions:
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Michael Phillips,
8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Tom Croft, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Mako Vunipola.

Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Alex Corbisiero, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Rob Kearney.

Waratahs:
15 Drew Mitchell, 14 Cam Crawford, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Peter Betham, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Brendan McKibbin,
8 Dave Dennis (capt), 7 Pat McCutcheon, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Ollie Atkins, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 John Ulugia, 1 Jeremy Tilse.

Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Richard Aho, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Lopeti Timani, 20 AJ Gilbert, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Tom Kingston.

preddy

This really could be the 1-10 starting in the first test.
Real audition for Tom Youngs and MV and AWJ and Croft, i can see all them being replaced early in second half.

Cant wait this is the first real "test".

-24 seems big in the betting imho.

totallegend

That's a decent enough Waratahs team, I'd expect a good strong challenge but the Lions to pull away in the second half.

I'm off to do a Novena that Sexton comes through uninjured.

pickarooney

I only found out what a Waratah was yesterday.

Rightwing

Traditionally the Lions test team plays on the Saturday before the Test, that pack (excl Heaslip maybe) looks like test material, half backs too are in, also Halfpenny and Roberts.

conf101

Rightwing wrote: »

Traditionally the Lions test team plays on the Saturday before the Test, that pack (excl Heaslip maybe) looks like test material, half backs too are in, also Halfpenny and Roberts.

Why would you exclude Heaslip? He looks fairly certain to start the first test

Rightwing

conf101 wrote: »

Why would you exclude Heaslip? He looks fairly certain to start the first test

I've no problem with that pack, Gatland may go for 2 Welsh in the back row, but then again he may prefer to give the 1-10 a run out together before the test.

SlickRic

Munster are a nation, apparently.

Spudmonkey

Damn right!

LeeroyJones

SlickRic wrote: »

Munster are a nation, apparently.

I can live with that. Luckliy there was no

11. Simon Zebo (Crk)

NB: This is a joke
(Sometimes I feel it's appropriate to verify that on here!)

sydthebeat

wow i was expecting a much weaker waratahs team, thats pretty decent alright
mckribbens a super vx regular, and will keep philips on his toes... foleys a decent footballer

theyre a little in experienced in the second row, decent enough backrow, dennis and mccutcheon are seasoned

im surprised to see timani on the bench, is he carrying a knock? if not he'll pack quite a punch when sprung.

Looking forward to thsi now, im expecting a good test... but seeing as its probably 75% of teh test lions side, im expecting a lions victory, probably somewhere near 20 - 40

Rightwing

sydthebeat wrote: »

wow i was expecting a much weaker waratahs team, thats pretty decent alright
mckribbens a super vx regular, and will keep philips on his toes... foleys a decent footballer

theyre a little in experienced in the second row, decent enough backrow, dennis and mccutcheon are seasoned

im surprised to see timani on the bench, is he carrying a knock? if not he'll pack quite a punch when sprung.

Looking forward to thsi now, im expecting a good test... but seeing as its probably 75% of teh test lions side, im expecting a lions victory, probably somewhere near 20 - 40

Good shout, the bookies have it at + 24 for Waratahs. I think they're worth a bet at that.

matthew8

Not a bad team for the Waratahs. Many people down in Australia think Horne should be Australia's starting 12, while McKibbin and Foley are 2 very good halfbacks. Front 5 is weak however. Still, a very nice backline that could cause the Lions some problems.

Swiwi

sydthebeat wrote: »

wow i was expecting a much weaker waratahs team, thats pretty decent alright
mckribbens a super vx regular, and will keep philips on his toes... foleys a decent footballer

theyre a little in experienced in the second row, decent enough backrow, dennis and mccutcheon are seasoned

im surprised to see timani on the bench, is he carrying a knock? if not he'll pack quite a punch when sprung.

Looking forward to thsi now, im expecting a good test... but seeing as its probably 75% of teh test lions side, im expecting a lions victory, probably somewhere near 20 - 40

Different Timani.

sydthebeat

Swiwi wrote: »

Different Timani.

oops

is this one any good then??

Swiwi

sydthebeat wrote: »

oops

is this one any good then??

No idea, sorry!

sydthebeat

Swiwi wrote: »

No idea, sorry!

just did a bit of reading, hes signed to the reds from next season so they must rate him....

yimrsg

sydthebeat wrote: »

just did a bit of reading, hes signed to the reds from next season so they must rate him....

He's signed for the Rebels not Reds. He'd get very little game time with the Reds and there'd be far less of a challenge for a berth in the Rebels backrow as only Higginbotham is a definite.

Don't think much of the Tah's scrum and pack, I've watched Paddy Ryan a fair bit and he really isn't that great there, I think he'll get a pasting. Look out for Skelton though, there was an interview with Palu saying that the Tah's visited a school and were shocked that they had a heavier scrum than the Super Rugby side. Skelton had a large part to do with that.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/rugby/big-will-skelton-sheds-puppy-fat-and-is-muscling-his-way-to-the-top/story-fnbzn7td-1226653313183

digzy

conf101 wrote: »

Why would you exclude Heaslip? He looks fairly certain to start the first test

Hope you're right. I've been critical of him here for a while but both o Brien and him should make the test squad at least.heaslip's form has been top drawer for a while.
I'm pretty sure they'll go with an all welsh back row though.
Thought tipuric was decent in the previous game but you'd have to factor in the opposition.

Grandpa Hassan

The lineout has not been great so far. If it goes well tomorrow, and they have decent games, I see Youngs and Croft starting the test. They will come as one package IMO, given they have been playing together for so long. If Youngs starts, Croft will start. If Hibbard, then we'll have the welsh backrow

Tox56

Grandpa Hassan wrote: »

The lineout has not been great so far. If it goes well tomorrow, and they have decent games, I see Youngs and Croft starting the test. They will come as one package IMO, given they have been playing together for so long. If Youngs starts, Croft will start. If Hibbard, then we'll have the welsh backrow

I don't know the stats but my perception was that Youngs wasn't the most solid lineout thrower, or at least not as solid as Hibbard. Given the emphasis Gatland puts on the lineout Id have thought that would play into Hibbard's hands more than anything

Buer

Tox56 wrote: »

I don't know the stats but my perception was that Youngs wasn't the most solid lineout thrower, or at least not as solid as Hibbard. Given the emphasis Gatland puts on the lineout Id have thought that would play into Hibbard's hands more than anything

He's not but he's the one who has delivered on this tour so far. The game against the Reds was as close to what Gatland wants as we've seen thus far. It's Lee Mears again but, luckily for Youngs, he doesn't have a monster S.A. pack to contend with.

Tox56

Buer wrote: »

He's not but he's the one who has delivered on this tour so far. The game against the Reds was as close to what Gatland wants as we've seen thus far. It's Lee Mears again but, luckily for Youngs, he doesn't have a monster S.A. pack to contend with.

Didn't Hibbard not miss a throw against the Baa baas? I know we lost 1 lineout but that looked a bad lift more than anything. Bit harsh on him, Best was responsible for at least one of the mistakes against Country and he had a fairly poor day against the Force too, which maybe makes the lineout look more of an issue than it has been with Hibbard. I remember Youngs having an absolute shocker against us in the 6 Nations, maybe i'm wrong to hold that against him but he didn't exactly inspire confidence that day, to say the least

Buer

Tox56 wrote: »

Didn't Hibbard not miss a throw against the Baa baas? I know we lost 1 lineout but that looked a bad lift more than anything. Bit harsh on him, Best was responsible for at least one of the mistakes against Country and he had a fairly poor day against the Force too, which maybe makes the lineout look more of an issue than it has been with Hibbard. I remember Youngs having an absolute shocker against us in the 6 Nations, maybe i'm wrong to hold that against him but he didn't exactly inspire confidence that day, to say the least

You're right. But then Hibbard didn't go well at all the other day. It was mostly down to a complete breakdown but the throw as well off on a couple. Youngs was crooked with his very first throw against the Barbarians too so nothing is set in stone. I think tomorrow will be a play off for the jersey. There's the added bonus of throwing to POC and Croft also so no excuses for Youngs.

WorldRugby99

looking forward to tomorrows game.Going to be plenty of nerves among the lions players knowing a great game and you likely to be in,a bad or mediocre game,you may be out of the test side.

lot of talk about test XV-for me its a test 23-when these players come on around the 50-60 mark,games will surely still be in balance so likes of ben youngs,sean o brien,dan cole etc may all have a big impact on the outcome one way or the other,so its not all just about the starting XV. guys from the bench could prove just as crucial.

Kiwi_knock

The Tahs will put up a challenge. Dennis and Horne will be particularly pumped, they will have a point to prove to Deans after he released them from the squad. Foley will have a point to prove to the NH media after being cited absurdly incorrectly as an example of the disrespect the Australian sides were showing to the Lions.

Podge_irl

Grandpa Hassan wrote: »

If Hibbard, then we'll have the welsh backrow

If the Welsh backrow start en masse I will be literally angry with rage.

Hell, just starting Lydiate, Warburton and Faletau would leave out the best Welsh backrower on the bloody tour.

Kiwi_knock

Bryn Palmer @BBCBrynPalmer

Lions players out on pitch doing warm-ups. Rob Howley working with scrum-halves Phillips & Youngs. Halfpenny & Farrell kicking. #bbclions

A probable sign that Sexton will not kick today and will not be kicking in the test series.

JRant

Not long to go know. Looking forward to seeing Sexton and Phillips playing together.

Think this will be a 10 point game.

JRant

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

A probable sign that Sexton will not kick today and will not be kicking in the test series.

Seems strange that he wouldn't be warming up for kicking duties.

.ak

JRant wrote: »

Seems strange that he wouldn't be warming up for kicking duties.

Makes sense if his hammy is fecked.

Tigerandahalf

Lads trying to get radio stream for this on itune radio app. Says game is on radio 1 extra but some nature stuff on it now??

JRant

.ak wrote: »

Makes sense if his hammy is fecked.

Very true actually, must not be 100%.

JRant

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Lads trying to get radio stream for this on itune radio app. Says game is on radio 1 extra but some nature stuff on it now??

Try talksport or bbc radio 5 live. One of them should have the game on.

Tigerandahalf

Thanks lads but it is on now.

Chabals Beard

Hon Zebo, would make my weekend to see him run in a couple of trys!

[Jackass]

Hope the likes of Sexton and Kearney are over their recent injury problems, because any Cheika coached team is going to go out to absolutely bate the bejayzus out of you first and foremost. He turned Leinsters "soft-touch" on its head - his home team now, I'd say they'll be like Bulls coming out of the pen on that pitch.

Rightwing

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Thanks lads but it is on now.

10:40

JRant

AWJ is only 27!

He looks about 40.

Aidric

Pumped for this.

ScissorPaperRock

Excited to see Zebo!

Kiwi_knock

What a start. Go on Zebo

CoDy1

'mon Zebo and Kearney!

thomond2006

ZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEBO

Taco Corp

so close...

Kiwi_knock

No try, great defence

[Jackass]

ugggh, unlucky Zebo!

Rightwing

Great start for Zebo!

Burgo

ZEBOOOOOOOOOO

thomond2006

damn it

Burgo

ah damn