Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

kilns

The real mccoy 91 wrote: »

kilns wrote:

The big questions is if Farrell is fit for the next day will it be Sexton or Farrell chosen to start at 10. Sexton is coming back into form but still isnt fully up there yet and I personal think that Farrell is being hyped up and being made to be more a important than he actually is.

He's back training today so will be fit. If he comes down to a decision for the 10 jersey it has to be farrell really he could put him in at 12 but I don't think he will it's unfortunate for sexton as his form has picked up but he is still a way behind farrell

I am still waiting to see the evidence on this tour what has made Farrell undroppable

awec

kilns wrote: »

I am still waiting to see the evidence on this tour what has made Farrell undroppable

Don't think anyone is undroppable but Sexton has hardly blown Farrell away with his performances either.

It's probably a 50/50 call at this point and I reckon he'll go with Farrell. I read a quote in the paper this morning from Gatland where he specifically mentioned his disappointment in Sexton's poor performances for Leinster at the end of the season.

The real mccoy 91

kilns wrote:

I am still waiting to see the evidence on this tour what has made Farrell undroppable

Game 1 of the tour farrell came on and changed the game with better game management and decision making than sexton. I felt from watching sexton in some of the games that he is stuck in his ways in a sense whereas farrell is more adaptable. Plus probably the best game the lions have had on tour against the crusaders was a murray/farrell partnership

dub_skav

I think Sexton showed against the Maori that he is back, the half breaks and some excellent kicking coming on top of a fine distributing display.

Farrell was outplaying him at the start of the tour, but not so any more. It is now an actual selection decision that Gatland has to make.

I would ask myself which has the best chance of putting on a display capable of beating the All Blacks? For me, in my extremely biased opinion, that is Sexton all day long.

The injury may give Gatland a get out to say Farrell isn't quite ready to start. But as we have seen before, he seems to make his selections a long way out and none of us our privy to his thinking

Kanrith

The real mccoy 91 wrote: »

Game 1 of the tour farrell came on and changed the game with better game management and decision making than sexton. I felt from watching sexton in some of the games that he is stuck in his ways in a sense whereas farrell is more adaptable. Plus probably the best game the lions have had on tour against the crusaders was a murray/farrell partnership

Wasn't it a Murray/Sexton partnership for most of the match? Think Sexton came on for Davies halfway through the first half. Either way, I can understand if Gatland goes with either fly half or both for the tests, just glad Sexton has recovered his form to give him the choice.

molloyjh

The real mccoy 91 wrote: »

Game 1 of the tour farrell came on and changed the game with better game management and decision making than sexton.

In game 1 there was a noticeable increase in tempo when a load of replacements came on that got them the try. Then the team went back to the level it had been at up to that point and nearly lost themselves the game. Other than a brief couple of minutes Farrell was no better than Sexton that day.

irishbucsfan

molloyjh wrote: »

In game 1 there was a noticeable increase in tempo when a load of replacements came on that got them the try. Then the team went back to the level it had been at up to that point and nearly lost themselves the game. Other than a brief couple of minutes Farrell was no better than Sexton that day.

That's not really true, Sexton had a poor outing. Passes to the ground, passes overthrown. Farrell steadied the ship and was a lot more assured, he was noticeably better.

Sexton has since improved, I don't think there's a wrong decision that can be made but I'd expect Farrell, if fit, to be starting.

errlloyd

The real mccoy 91 wrote: »

Game 1 of the tour farrell came on and changed the game with better game management and decision making than sexton. I felt from watching sexton in some of the games that he is stuck in his ways in a sense whereas farrell is more adaptable. Plus probably the best game the lions have had on tour against the crusaders was a murray/farrell partnership

I think Farrell came on and was really influential in Watson's try - and then rapidly became crap too.

Dave_The_Sheep

He passed the ball.

Several times in the first half Sexton was involved in moves that could/should have resulted in a try but didn't, not down to the 10 that was on the field.

Farrell got an assist and then was anonymous for the rest of the game. Neither Sexton or Farrell were good that game.

Buer

Farrell has had the better tour but Sexton has come back into form and is performing as well as Farrell did with ball in hand now. His passing on the gain line on Saturday was very good and stretched the Maori defence as guys like Faletau were coming onto the ball at pace right on the gain line.

People aren't talking about the one massive factor that I think will be the defining point and that is defence. That is a huge consideration when facing NZ. With big runners and attacking play coming down the 10/12 channel in floods, Sexton has a clear edge on Farrell who had two bad defensive lapses against the Crusaders leading to 50m breaks.

I'm happy to see either start and whoever doesn't start is going to feature strongly from the bench. I fully expect both to pick up test starts at some point anyway.

irishbucsfan

I really don't think Farrell is as weak a defender as is being made out based on two mistakes against the Crusaders. It's not a regular issue as far as I'm aware.

I thought Sexton was terrible in the first game and pretty average in his second. I think he's probably forced his way in based on the Crusaders and Maori performances, he was really good in both.

I'm guessing 10/12/13 will be Sexton/Farrell/JD, and I wouldn't have any complaints about that.

Buer

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I really don't think Farrell is as weak a defender as is being made out based on two mistakes against the Crusaders. It's not a regular issue as far as I'm aware.

He isn't. He's a good defender generally but they're playing in new systems against teams that have a real cut at them. It's learning on the go and trying to be as error free as possible.

You get a very short window to show your talents and, if areas of your game aren't clicking, they aren't clicking. Sexton's distribution was horrendous a couple of weeks ago but he appears to have rectified that. Farrell's tackling in the defensive line has been dubious. Goal kicking for both of them has been very questionable.

They're both top quality at all of the above generally but if they're not clicking at it right now, it's going to be a factor come the selection meeting.

I think Sexton will get it based on:

- Past performance for Gatland and the Lions
- Defensive solidity and his choke tackle ability where he excels with the likes of SOB and POM
- The fact that he was named as starter for the last match ahead of Farrell before Farrell had copped his injury.

I'm completely happy with either though. Anyone but Biggar.

stephen_n

The real mccoy 91 wrote: »

Game 1 of the tour farrell came on and changed the game with better game management and decision making than sexton. I felt from watching sexton in some of the games that he is stuck in his ways in a sense whereas farrell is more adaptable. Plus probably the best game the lions have had on tour against the crusaders was a murray/farrell partnership

And better scrumhalf, no 10 has looked even remotely good outside Laidlaw on this tour.

pickarooney

I would laugh if Finn Russell ended up starting a test.

Ardillaun

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Ardillaun wrote: »

He's a brave defender, more than adequate against most teams, but I would prefer a specialist centre for this.

A specialist like Ben Te'o, who was playing rugby league until a couple of years ago.  Or Robbie Henshaw who was playing 15 and 13 until a couple of years ago.

I would prefer either of them to Farrell at centre. The other thing is that he's taking the kicks. You want to minimize the trauma for that guy.

Ardillaun

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Ardillaun wrote: »

He's a brave defender, more than adequate against most teams, but I would prefer a specialist centre for this.

A specialist like Ben Te'o, who was playing rugby league until a couple of years ago.  Or Robbie Henshaw who was playing 15 and 13 until a couple of years ago.

I would prefer either of them to Farrell at centre. The other thing is that he's taking the kicks. You want to minimize the trauma for that guy.

irishbucsfan

Ardillaun wrote: »

I would prefer either of them to Farrell at centre. The other thing is that he's taking the kicks. You want to minimize the trauma for that guy.

Surely Halfpenny is taking the kicks.

Ardillaun

Having Murray, Sexton, Farrell and Daly and HP in a backline together would be fun for the kicks they could produce but I don't think Sexton and Farrell should be risked at the same time (which is a third argument against Farrell at 12).

Ardillaun

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Ardillaun wrote: »

I would prefer either of them to Farrell at centre. The other thing is that he's taking the kicks. You want to minimize the trauma for that guy.

Surely Halfpenny is taking the kicks.

The place-kicking.

irishbucsfan

Ardillaun wrote: »

The place-kicking.

I'm referring to Halfpenny taking the place kicks!

Bazzo

Ardillaun wrote: »

The place-kicking.

If you're talking about kicks from hand that's bread and butter to any outhalf. If Farrell was in the centre it's likely whoever was at 10 would be doing it anyway.

irishbucsfan

If Farrell starts at 12 he'll be at 10 fairly often throughout the game I'd imagine

Ardillaun

Assuming HP is picked and is taking the place-kicks, I would still prefer Farrell at 10 rather than 12.

bilston

I thought Sky and others underplayed Sexton's performance against the Maori. I thought he passed, kicked, ran and tackled really well. It was hard to think of any weaknesses in his performance.

bilston

I thought Sky and others underplayed Sexton's performance against the Maori. I thought he passed, kicked, ran and tackled really well. It was hard to think of any weaknesses in his performance.

.ak

He had one poor kick but Lowe knocked it on so nobody really noticed. Other than he had a tidy game, he's really linking up well with those around him, and players are realising how good his half break and read if the game is. Furlong, T'eo and Davies all took advantage of his lines and got on his shoulder.

I'd be surprised if he doesn't start now, I really think Farrell has devoloped as a quality player but he hasn't put that kind of performance on yet on this tour.

Clegg

Robert Kitson of the Guardian is suggesting that PoM may captain the test side as AWJ and Warburton are no longer guaranteed selection. Seems to be a speculative piece rather than a confirmatory one however.

D14Rugby

What do people think about this team
Vunipola George Furlong
Itoje Kruis
O'mahony Faletau O'brien
Murray Farrell/sexton (no real difference between them)
T'eo Henshaw
Watson halfpenny North
Wingers are best of a bad bunch but the rest of the team was a mix between what I'd like to see and what I think we'll see

Morris Moss

D14Rugby wrote: »

What do people think about this team
Vunipola George Furlong
Itoje Kruis
O'mahony Faletau O'brien
Murray Farrell/sexton (no real difference between them)
T'eo Henshaw
Watson halfpenny North
Wingers are best of a bad bunch but the rest of the team was a mix between what I'd like to see and what I think we'll see

Take out Henshaw and put in Davies and I think that's it.