Next Lions game

bear66 said:
Hopefully they try width next time as they played into 13 men's hands. Should have gone for a scrum against 13 as well at the end of the first half.

Itoje was neck rolled late on prior to SA turnover. A penalty and yellow might have changed the result.

Farrell is not a fly half at this level and a needless kick was the difference in the end. Poor kicking throughout gave SA the impetus.

Hopefully we try and some play width against a side that can smother forward play all day long.
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more often than not you have to win the battle in the middle to earn the right to play wide, or at least thats the thinking over here.

SA are a great side, as shown with their World Cup win, should be a cracking series, what Lions tests are all about.
 
NZBoro1 said:
more often than not you have to win the battle in the middle to earn the right to play wide, or at least thats the thinking over here.

SA are a great side, as shown with their World Cup win, should be a cracking series, what Lions tests are all about.
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They won the right to play wide with 62% possession and 62% territory. They just didn't press home the advantage. Biggar, Harris and Henshsw would be the three I'd go for to open up the back line.
 
Solid start for Marcus. I was worried the double step up from whims to England to lions in such speed might be a bit too much but he seems to be doing OK.
In case @bear66 isnt watching, your man Alun Wyn Jones is on and pretty much throwing his damaged shoulder into everything. I guess he needs to try it out!
 
SmallTown said:
Solid start for Marcus. I was worried the double step up from whims to England to lions in such speed might be a bit too much but he seems to be doing OK.
In case @bear66 isnt watching, your man Alun Wyn Jones is on and pretty much throwing his damaged shoulder into everything. I guess he needs to try it out!
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Smith had a good game. Looks better than Farrell in most respects. Didn't miss a tackle today, but his stature means he's often taken backwards. Made a nice try for Rees-Zammit and then starts the move for the Simmonds try to cap things off.

Alun Wyn Jones didn't seem to be trying to protect himself!

Going to be a tough selection for Gatland for next week as there have been a lot of faultless displays. There are only a few players that look dead certs. Until today I thought Ken Owens was one but Cowan-Dickie had an excellent game. Haven't a clue which pair of centres he'll pick. Looking like Aki and Daly might be the pair but I'd like to see Harris and Henshsw.
 
bear66 said:
Smith had a good game. Looks better than Farrell in most respects. Didn't miss a tackle today, but his stature means he's often taken backwards. Made a nice try for Rees-Zammit and then starts the move for the Simmonds try to cap things off.

Alun Wyn Jones didn't seem to be trying to protect himself!

Going to be a tough selection for Gatland for next week as there have been a lot of faultless displays. There are only a few players that look dead certs. Until today I thought Ken Owens was one but Cowan-Dickie had an excellent game. Haven't a clue which pair of centres he'll pick. Looking like Aki and Daly might be the pair but I'd like to see Harris and Henshsw.
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Yeah it’s a pretty wide open selection isn’t it. I was the same as you with Cowan Dickie. Didn’t expect him to be a starter but he’s certainly shown how hungry he is for it today. Marcus and his goose step. Gets me every time.
 
A few surprises for me in the Test 15

15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland)

14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England)

13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England)

12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland)

10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales)

9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)

1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales)

2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England)

3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England)

5. Alun Wyn Jones – captain (Ospreys, Wales)

6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England)

7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England)

8.Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
 
LC-D made it? wow that last warm up must have really swung Gatland. I'm also still not convinced by Daily at Centre.

Not sure bout the back row either. I'd have had Faletau over Connan. I do love Lawes mind, but wonder if the walking yellow card may be too much of a liability in a test against such a physical side?
 
bear66 said:
A few surprises for me in the Test 15

15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland)

14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England)

13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England)

12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland)

10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales)

9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)

1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales)

2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England)

3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England)

5. Alun Wyn Jones – captain (Ospreys, Wales)

6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England)

7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England)

8.Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
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Wow.
Once again something I know nothing about!!! 😁
I predicted he would avoid the English and there's 6 of them!

Happy with that exept for Daly. Williams is a better player IMO and I'd have swapped the two with Daly on the bench.

Can't wait for this. The Boks have had a terrible build-up but they are world champions and have enormous pride on their home patch. The forward battle will be immense!
 
I didn't think Hogg played particularly well in the last match, so Williams may still have the head injury issue.

Adams exclusion is the biggest surprise to me. van der Merwe started like a house on fire, but has flattered to deceive as the games progressed. I'm surprised Faletau isn't even in the squad either.

Hopefully Biggar kicks us to victory. Gatland is clearly a winner and knows more than me, but I'd be surprised if there weren't a lot of changes for the second match as we try to get back even!
 
I support his choice of Daly at Centre. He plays well under Gatland and has also played together with Henshaw which is key.
Elliot Daly presents a different picture to the Boks and his change of angle will force them to think.
 
I think Josh Adams and Liam Williams are extremely unlucky not to be in the starting lineup.

They’ve picked a first half team to take them on physically, which may backfire. The game could be won off the bench but I can’t see them scoring tries to beat SA.

The game will be won or lost in the scrums, defence from arial bombardment and the physicality around the breakdown.
 
bear66 said:
Normal Gatland in the days before a match. Usually mind games with opposing coach as well.
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Yeah it's just his thing. I have no issues with a Springbok 4th official. I actually wonder when the lions started using neutral officials for it's tours, I imagine for along time they were locals.
 
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