Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

the.red.baron wrote: »

Buer wrote: »

Barrett isn't a test level goal kicker but it's a complete fallacy to think that NZ score so many tries under the posts.

They score a hat load of their tries out wide. If they manage to get around the last defender to run it back under the posts, so be it, but I'd say well over half of their tries are dotted down outside the two 15m lines.

All of their RC tries are there on YouTube, a large proportion of them are tricky conversions.

What we need here is more stats

They score a hat load of tries full stop, some out wide, a load in the middle, when you score 9 tries against South Africa in Durban in a 15-57 whitewash you aren't squeezing them all in at the corner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-33rIhWPVA

The video speak a thousand words, you can be well sure number 10 is going to run it in under the posts

You'd think there'd be somewhere you could look all that stuff up. There are so many painful NZ tries to think of. I can recall many of both the sauntering in under the post ones and the Savea-style corner flag steamrollers.

I too am a Northsider.




Of the Cork variety.

Deleted User wrote: »

Don't understand the pushback on AWJ over Itoje. Itoje is liable to give away silly penalties in such a big game, he's not experienced enough despite his talent. He has done some great things on the tour so far but also done some sloppy things in the first couple of games that I think always meant he would get the bench at best. I think the coaching staff are looking at who are the most disciplined guys who won't make critical errors at crucial times - (the reason Best is not in the 23 with his lineout throwing, and North is not in the squad after his inexplicable mistake against the Maori)

AWJ is very reliable, monstrous in defense, carries well, great in the lineout. Probably been carrying niggles which is the reason he's been rested the last couple of weeks like Farrell. No brainer for me! Lawes can feel unfortunate not being in the 23, his poor old head has taken some beating on this tour.

The only thing that worries me about this side is Williams at FB, who had that shocking game under the high ball, and could potentially do the same again. Seems like a different set of rules for Williams then the rest of the squad, but I suppose his running skills could be the difference. Trying to beat the Kiwi's at their own game seems a bit risky, and games like this you need people like Halfpenny. I remember Jenkins in the 97 tour who had zero ability to run the ball, but got his spot for his kicking ability and the Lions would have never won it without him. Halfpenny has a lot of ability and is very brave under the high ball. This could either be a stroke of genius or a major calamity!

Been reading that Halpenny had taken very little part in training this week after the knock to his head so that may have swung the decision Williams way

Basil3 wrote: »

After lengthy negotiations with my boss, I've given him a 14 point start for the Lions in our bet. Still not sure whether he got the good deal, or I did. Should've probably looked up what the bookies are saying.

That bet will be lost by at least 15 points I'm afraid

and all this big talk about...'Oh the Irish players know how to beat them blah blah blah.'

The team in 2005 contained English WC winners (and Lions tour winners from 1997) who had also beaten the All Blacks in the previous two years...

We all know how well that tour went.

partyguinness wrote: »

and all this big talk about...'Oh the Irish players know how to beat them blah blah blah.'

The team in 2005 contained English WC winners (and Lions tour winners from 1997) who had also beaten the All Blacks in the previous two years...

We all know how well that tour went.

Past performance is a poor indicator of future performance, especially when you are talking about vastly different time frames.


Reality is the All Blacks are deserved favourites and even winning one game will be good for the lions, but they are definitely capeable of that.

Former Former wrote: »

And all this only came to you this morning?

I've been in denial....:(

Excellent stuff awec!

partyguinness wrote: »

and all this big talk about...'Oh the Irish players know how to beat them blah blah blah.'

The team in 2005 contained English WC winners (and Lions tour winners from 1997) who had also beaten the All Blacks in the previous two years...

We all know how well that tour went.

The English team peaked at the RWC. Two years is a long time in rugby. The pack that took the field in the first test had a back row aged 31, 32 and 36 who was past its best. Neil Back (the 36 year old) had retired from international rugby a year beforehand and was miles off where he was in 2003. Richard Hill had torn his cruciate ligaments in October 2004 and had a couple of dead rubber league games at the end of the season which was supposedly sufficient for a test against NZ.

The tour was a complete ego trip for the coach who absolutely demolished the concept of the Lions in the space of 3-4 months. It also coincided with the emergence of arguably the two greatest players the world has seen in Carter and McCaw who showed the world what they were now capable of.

It was the absolute perfect storm. A completely ill prepared and ill chosen Lions selection coming up against a NZ side filled with guys who were just coming into their peak and made up of units that had just gelled for the first time (So'oila, McCaw and Collins, Mauger and Umaga, Carter and Kelleher).

This tour is very different although I do expect it to finish with the same series result. The Lions are picking the guys who have been playing this season, are fully fit and have been the best in their positions on the tour (there are judgement calls but nothing clear cut, really).

NZ, for their part, are not the side that were just about to explode and go on to dominate world rugby for the next decade. They're the best in the world but. for me, that raises more questions about the standard of the other nations than it does about the quality of this NZ team. Is there a Carter or McCaw in the side? I don't think so.

Kieran Read has a few games played in 7 months. Ryan Crotty is a minor surprise as he was supposedly struggling with injury. Jerome Kaino hasn't played a match since the start of April.

NZ will win, I'm sure. But the Lions will give them a fight and meet them with as much physicality and instensity as they've experienced since the RWC. It should be a great series.