Lions squad named

[Sandydragon]

I don't especially rate Lawes at 6 and I have no particular desire to see it ever tried for England again, but IIRC he's been playing that position near exclusively for Northampton this year and last. It's not hard to argue that he's a full-time 6, even if not one that I'm a fan of.

Puja

This. I struggle to see him as a 6 regardless of what he does for Saints. I think there are better options available almost everywhere else.

I suppose Faletau could have moved to 6 and Simmonds gone to 8, but that doesn't feel terribly well balanced either and if Faletau.

Time will tell, this isn't unusual for the first game especially where players were unavailable for the first match and Gatland is trying to give everyone a start early on.

[Spiffy]

Russell and Farrell as the 10/12. That should be... cohesive?

Puja

It is going to be interesting. In theory it gives lots of opportunity to do something different in attack as both can play 10 and 12. They wont but in theory they might

Can't remember seeing Russell play 12. I hope Gatland does not just repeat the old Jones routine and move Farrell to 10 halfway in. Nothing much to be learned there. Not too optimistic that the back three will see much of the ball in hand in this game with the starting centre combination, and could spend a long day chasing.

[Big D]

Russell and Farrell as the 10/12. That should be... cohesive?

Puja

It is going to be interesting. In theory it gives lots of opportunity to do something different in attack as both can play 10 and 12. They wont but in theory they might

Can't remember seeing Russell play 12. I hope Gatland does not just repeat the old Jones routine and move Farrell to 10 halfway in. Nothing much to be learned there. Not too optimistic that the back three will see much of the ball in hand in this game with the starting centre combination, and could spend a long day chasing.

He grew up playing 12 and started the odd international there too. He is very much a 10 but can at play 12.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Wow, I'm really in two minds about whether to pay Sky to see this or make do with the extended highlights on S4C.

[Mikey Brown]

The kicking coach thinks AWJ’s dislocated shoulder might not rule him out of the tests. Huzaaaah!

[Mr Mwenda]

The kicking coach thinks AWJ’s dislocated shoulder might not rule him out of the tests. Huzaaaah!

I'm concerned this is romanticism getting in the way. How can Jones train properly? Sounds like a recipe for an uncohesive team...

[francoisfou]

The kicking coach thinks AWJ’s dislocated shoulder might not rule him out of the tests. Huzaaaah!

I'm concerned this is romanticism getting in the way. How can Jones train properly? Sounds like a recipe for an uncohesive team...

If he does rejoin the tour then his shoulder will undoubtedly be targeted by some unruly Saffer, and that'll be the end of his tour.
Not worth the risk, in my opinion.

[Buggaluggs]

Zammit gets the first try of the tour. Probably not his last

[whatisthejava]

Farrell really struggling with a 9and 10 who actually think

[Mr Mwenda]

Pretty fluent by lions tour standards, which is nice to see. The quality gap can't be ignored though.

[morepork]

I can't really see the point in this. The country is pretty much locked down, any SA player anywhere near Bok contention has been hoovered up into a massive bubble, leaving a small group of semi-professional walking dead to get hammered in an empty stadium. When they play the music in there its like waking up in front of a pub dukebox in the morning in a pile of vomit and crying because you realize you have shat your pants.

[Spiffy]

I can't really see the point in this. The country is pretty much locked down, any SA player anywhere near Bok contention has been hoovered up into a massive bubble, leaving a small group of semi-professional walking dead to get hammered in an empty stadium. When they play the music in there itslike waking up in front of a pub dukebox in the morning in a pile of vomit and crying because you realize you have shat your pants.

I suppose one could only know that feeling through personal experience.

[Which Tyler]

I can't really see the point in this. The country is pretty much locked down, any SA player anywhere near Bok contention has been hoovered up into a massive bubble, leaving a small group of semi-professional walking dead to get hammered in an empty stadium. When they play the music in there itslike waking up in front of a pub dukebox in the morning in a pile of vomit and crying because you realize you have shat your pants.

I suppose one could only know that feeling through personal experience.

It's a weirdly specific analogy otherwise

[Spiffy]

Pretty fluent by lions tour standards, which is nice to see. The quality gap can't be ignored though.

Yes. It was a bit of a training run, but a good enough start for a pretty scratch team. Watson really is a powerful little flanker with a great engine. Daly added a bit of useful pace to the midfield. I still want to see the outside backs perform in the absence of Farrell at either 10 or 12. Looks as though there will be hot competition for test wing slots.

(Who was that commentator with the accent that sounded vaguely West Country with the edges knocked off ?)

[Big D]

Pretty fluent by lions tour standards, which is nice to see. The quality gap can't be ignored though.

Yes. It was a bit of a training run, but a good enough start for a pretty scratch team. Watson really is a powerful little flanker with a great engine. Daly added a bit of useful pace to the midfield. I still want to see the outside backs perform in the absence of Farrell at either 10 or 12. Looks as though there will be hot competition for test wing slots.

(Who was that commentator with the accent that sounded vaguely West Country with the edges knocked off ?)

Connor McNamara?

I don't think the Lions can go much wrong in the back 3 to be honest. They are all quality.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Russell is a liability. I really hope he's nowhere near the test 23.

[Gloskarlos]

Team V Sharks for Weds

15. Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England)
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland)
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales)
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) 8
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)
4. Iain Henderson – Captain (Ulster Rugby, Ireland)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales)
6. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby, Wales)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England)

Replacements:

16. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales)
17. Rory Sutherland (Worcester Warriors, Scotland)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
19. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland)
20. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
21. Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland)
22. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland)
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland)

Daly being started in his better position, very mobile back row. The rest is all still about Gats giving everyone a start.

[Gloskarlos]

The Oppo

15 Manie Libbok,
14 Werner Kok,
13 Jeremy Ward,
12 Marius Louw,
11 Thaakir Abrahams,
10 Curwin Bosch,
9 Jaden Hendrikse,
8 Phepsi Buthelezi (captain),
7 Thembelani Bholi,
6 James Venter,
5 Hyron Andrews,
4 Ruben van Heerden,
3 Khutha Mchunu,
2 Fez Mbatha,
1 Khwezi Mona.

Replacements:

16 Kerron van Vuuren,
17 Ntuthuko Mchunu,
18 Wiehahn Herbst,
19 JJ van der Mescht,
20 Reniel Hugo,
21 Dylan Richardson,
22 Grant Williams.
23 Anthony Volmink.

[Mikey Brown]

Russell is a liability. I really hope he's nowhere near the test 23.

Was this something specific or just the usual maverick/inconsistent/smiling stuff? Only saw the very brief highlights and not sure I can bring myself to watch the full 80.

[Mellsblue]

It was his usual fare. If you wanted him as the test 10 before the match you’d still want him as test 10 after the match, and vice versa.
That said, he was wayward with a small number of passes.

[Mikey Brown]

Well I guess that half answers it. Much like with Farrell (hilarious attempt at a tackle on their number 8 makes it in to the highlights btw) it’s hard to get a measured opinion on any Finn Russell performance. The same mistakes are unforgivable for some players and barely worth a mention for others.

I think basically everyone accepts Biggar looks in good shape to start though, and has shown a bit more attacking adventure for Northampton than many thought he was capable of.

[Puja]

6. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby, Wales)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England)

That's an interesting back row. Definitely not mimicking anything of the Exeter "two lumpy flankers" style that is supposed to bring the good performances out of Simmonds. Sadly, I don't expect the opposition to provide enough of a challenge to learn too much from it, but it'll be interesting to see how it goes.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Yep. I think Biggar is/should be in pole position for test 10. Farrell was still in Alphonsi’s and O’Gara’s 1stXVs on The Verdict. Something about if you need someone to kick the winning pen in the last minute....

[Gloskarlos]

This isn't looking so good....

The whole squad is now isolating after de Jager tested positive for Covid

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... -19-result

[switchskier]

Yep. I think Biggar is/should be in pole position for test 10. Farrell was still in Alphonsi’s and O’Gara’s 1stXVs on The Verdict. Something about if you need someone to kick the winning pen in the last minute....

Not for me. We might get away with it if SA are rusty but we're not going to beat them at their own game. Biggar has made progress in the last year at northampton but his first instinct is still to launch the ball skywards and chase after it, which he does very well. I don't expect russell to start but I want him to. It's more fun and I think gives us a better chance of winning.