1st Test : Lions v All Blacks

zAbbo

All Blacks have named a strong side, with a few changes from the Fiji game

New Zealand: Leon Macdonald; Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga (captain), Aaron Mauger, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Daniel Carter, Justin Marshall; Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Carl Hayman, Chris Jack, Ali Williams, Jerry Collins, Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo.

Replacements: Derren Witcombe, Greg Somerville, Jono Gibbes, Sione Lauaki, Byron Kelleher, Mils Muliaina, Rico Gear.

MacDonald getting in on the back of a strong super 12's

No sign of Ma'a Nonu

Lions will announce team tomorrow

BolBill

Lambs to the slaughter, whatever team Woodward names it ain't gonna be good enough.

sleepwalker

new zealand are a very good team but the way people have been going on about them the past 3 weeks you would swear there from another planet

i think the lions are going to shock alot of people on saturday

tap28

I agree the lions could do well on Saturday, but they must cut out all the handling errors.
Where are they going to find an inside centre, the welsh wonder boy is overrated and wilko just is not one. I would have thought shanklin was the best option.

JuliusFranco

what odds are been given for Shane Horgan to be named at no 12??

vorbis

I think we're doomed. The AB are not that good but the english bigot is shaping up to pick a god awful team. Man I thought Graham Henry showed favouritism to the welsh in his lions squad.

rugbug86

JuliusFranco wrote:

what odds are been given for Shane Horgan to be named at no 12??

i said that last week, big ups to him, he deserves it! think he's playing well.

also cant believe nonu isnt in the squad for the ab's, he played brilliantly in the probables -v- possibles game a few weeks ago.

tap28

i would agree horgan can do a job but he went on the trip to the southpole, so i don't think it is likely.
As for nanu i henry thinks he is to loose especially in defence. I would be happy to take him off his hands for Ire.

rugbug86

he only went as support though... shane williams was there too.
even if he doesnt start he deserves a place somewhere...

CJhaughey

I can think of a few places to put Shane Williams!!

emm.....


like in a very small box??

rugbug86

he's so small and tiny!

CJhaughey

Stuff him up Steve Thompson and send 2 home for the price of 1!!

rugbug86

and throw cooper in the suitcase, bobs your uncle, charlies your aunt and everyones happy

Souless

rugbug86 wrote:

and throw cooper in the suitcase, bobs your uncle, charlies your aunt and everyones happy

Heh can the suitcase also fit Dawson in it?

damnyanks

Souless wrote:

Heh can the suitcase also fit Dawson in it?

Not with those ears

youcancallmeal

so whens the team announced, it'll probably some time in the middle of the night our time i'd imagine???

zAbbo

British & Irish Lions: Jason Robinson; Josh Lewsey, Brian O'Driscoll (captain), Jonny Wilkinson, Gareth Thomas; Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel; Gethin Jenkins, Shane Byrne, Julian White, Paul O'Connell, Ben Kay, Richard Hill, Neil Back, Martin Corry (vice-captain).
Replacements: Steve Thompson, Graham Rowntree, Danny Grewcock, Ryan Jones, Matt Dawson, Will Greenwood, Shane Horgan.

Don't be surprised if Will Carling makes a shock entry as number 10

MarVeL

bazH wrote:

Don't be surprised if Will Carling makes a shock entry as number 10

More like front row (although given the last time I saw him it may now be his natural position)

kenmc

has wilco ever player at centre
- ever?
- internationally?
- internationally in the last 3 years?
wouldn't be surprised to see horgan on early when wilcos shoulder goes again making a tackle on Umaga

Trampas

little johnny started his career in centre.

He will have to make some tackles now.

The ambulance will be on stand by

CJhaughey

kenmc wrote:

has wilco ever player at centre
- ever?
- internationally?
- internationally in the last 3 years?
wouldn't be surprised to see horgan on early when wilcos shoulder goes again making a tackle on Umaga

Wilko used to play at centre 6 years ago.
I can see Jerry Collins looking at Wilko the way a Cat looks at a mouse.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

I really hope Wilco gets injured early on, cos otherwise they are going to run over him all day. I would have no problem having him there if he had been playing centre recently but we are playing the All Black on saturday, not some ****ty second string team we can mess about it.

jobless

the bookies are giving the lions a 9 point start here at around even money...would you take it?

zAbbo

I've got the AB's at 1.5/1 for the first test.

hmm bet the house ?

Souless

bazH wrote:

I've got the AB's at 1.5/1 for the first test.

hmm bet the house ?

Lol sounds like a plan and hopefully wilkinson will F-up his shoulder in the fisrt 5 mins

Davey Devil

jobless wrote:

the bookies are giving the lions a 9 point start here at around even money...would you take it?

I have NZ at -8 at evens from a few days ago. Also got NZ 3-0 series win at 6/5. I only wish Clive the Tossbag had to hand me the money personally.

Davei141

I think the lions will win but it most certainly wont be pretty.

amacachi

lions have absolutely no chance in hell whatsoever

Davey Devil

Davei141 wrote:

I think the lions will win but it most certainly wont be pretty.

Even the most fanatical Lions fans are dreading Saturday. I can't imagine what scenario could come about that would bring a Lions victory. Maybe the IRB will allow the geriatrics to bring their zimmers onto the field and they can use them as weapons. Apart from that there is not a hope in hell for the Lions,

RuggieBear

i thought the odds on paddypower.com were better than those.....well they were when i put money on....

Fearo

I'm a lions supporter living in Auckland for a year. I think they do stand a chance, have enough of the Kiwis telling me they dont stand a chance! Have to wait and see but I think they could get a win! The All Blacks arent as good as everyone is saying.

Fearo

Souless wrote:

Lol sounds like a plan and hopefully wilkinson will F-up his shoulder in the fisrt 5 mins

Why the hell would you want that??

RuggieBear

Are you the prop from the dream team, fearo...?

Fearo

heehee yeah that would be me! Do I know ya?

RuggieBear

nah..might have some mutual friends and you might know my brother...he was on the house 2nds that you guys used to train against.

I was never in Blackrock, but I might have played against you at JCT level (but who remembers that long ago)

Fearo

Yeah it was a while ago! Well say hi to your bro Ok time for me to go to bed. I have to deal with all the Kiwis in work tmrw telling me how badly the Lions will loose! Dont write them off yet! God help me in work on monday if they do get badly beaten, its casual friday in work tmrw and Ill be wearing my Lions Jersey

RuggieBear

have a good one....you got tickets for any of the games?

Fearo

yeah, was at the Bay of Plenty and Maori matches. Have tickets to the Auckland and 3rd test matches. Was dissapointed with the rugby in the 1st two matches but man were they good weekends!! I was dressed as st.Patrick for them! CLICK HERE TO SEE ST. PATRICK!!

omb0wyn5ehpij9

I personally still think we will win the tests 2-1...................COME ON THE LIONS!!

Davei141

Haha awesome picture

Fearo

hehehe, glad you liked it! Ill be putting st.Patrick through it all again for the last 2 matches! Hope they are still in it by the 3rd test

zAbbo

Heading home early today, as i have to go back to my home home to watch it(got no sky up here)

Can't wait actually, cause theres some good sport on tv tomorrow as well, starting early opf course

Gwan The Lions

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

BogOak

that sounds suspiciously like the voice of reason. thanks dave.

while i may have my problems with a few selections i must say i am getting excited about tomorrow and i certainly will be cheering on the lions and hoping that robinson and wilkinson prove me wrong. can't wait to see a ginger giant, a flying mullet and Captain Smug doing us all proud as they surely will. COME ON THE ****ING LIONS!

Fearo

Is good to hear that guys, I thought I was by myself in thinking the Lions might win and wondering why someone would want wilko to get injured! It had started to feel as if Ireland had become big Kiwi supporters! Cant wait for tomorrow Will be wearing my lions Jersey with pride around Auckland tomorrow, cant wait for the 3rd test

Davei141

daveirl wrote:

This post has been deleted.

I 100% agree, about time people got over the selection. Im sure all those wanting wilko to get injured and hoping we get trashed will be screaming for the lions as loud as the rest of us in the morning though. Its just a way of them letting frustration out over the selection. Im very confident of a win.

Fearo

10min to kick off!!! Sitting in my apartment in Auckland with a few mates. Going to enjoy this then down to the pubs to celebrate, hopefully Wow there looks to be a massive crowd of Lions supporters in the ground. COME ON THE LIONS.

cgf

6-0 Kiwis

BOD stretchered off in 1st min. Looked like he was double teamed off the ball.
O'Connell yellow carded after 14 mins.

Ref missing off-sides, fwd passes & knock-ons against the Kiwis :mad:

PowerHouseDan

Lions Line outs are shocking, Robinson isent fairly well at all his kicking is terrible.

Fearo

This has been a bad 40min for the Lions. Lucky to be only 11 behind. Worst possible start to loose O'Driscoll. Im watching this on New Zealand TV so the commentators are for the kiwis but from what Im seeing the ref has made some bad decisions all in favour of the kiwis! They need to come out all fired up for the second half or we are in trouble. Still not over but not looking so good