RugbyRebels

How many players are arriving in the second wave? Just trying to figure out what the turnover might be like for the Blues match...

zer0 wrote:How many players are arriving in the second wave? Just trying to figure out what the turnover might be like for the Blues match...

I think they all arrived together. I believe there will be a high turnover as everyone is due to get a start in the first 3 games.

zer0 wrote:How many players are arriving in the second wave? Just trying to figure out what the turnover might be like for the Blues match...

I would imagine a completely different starting XV with some of the same guys on the bench. No point asking guys to play twice in a week this early.

Poor player execution was the byword today. And despite a few exceptions there were a few that really did not take their opportunity.The Barbarians were well organised with a simple game plan well executed.it just shows that there are no weak teams in the matches on this NZ tour.

The Lions coaches should use this as a real opportunity to drive home that this will be a hard and bruising tour...and if they are not up for it...not a successful one.

The backs were short of spark and looked ineffective with the exception of Teo and flashes of promise from Watson.

The forwards were not united as a pack but looked a lot better with Kruis in place. They were often a half metre too late at the breakdown and lucky not to get pinged too often.there were a few individual quality displays but without support it is a major uphill battle.

So.... poor display as a team but it was more use than the first match on the last tour.

Only two players did anything that gives them a circle around their name as potential in the starting test 23 ..Teo and Falateu.. and two that really didn't help their cause were Henderson and Hogg, although it doesn't yet rule anyone out as plenty of matches yet.

Watching AWJ and Henderson was painful when you consider that Launchbury and Gray have been left at home. Thankfully, literally any other second row partnership that the Lions can put out from here will be better.

Puja

MrK wrote:Poor : Hogg, Sexton, Henderson
Meh : Best, Warburton, AWJ, Seymour
As expected : Marler, Moriaty, Laidlaw, Teo, Joseph, Watson
Credit : Sinkler, Faletau, the other 14 that didnt play.

From the bench

Farrell, Vunipola, Kruis, Tipuric, Webb all made a difference but hard to judge

Liam Williams has a huge opportunity if given the chance to play at FB in one of the next 2 games.

I think Sexton and Hogg now have a lot of work to do to make the test team. As does that second row pairing.

Early days and this will change after every game but I'd go
McGrath, Owens, Furlong, Kruis, Itoje, Stander, Tipuric, Faletau, Murray, Farell, Nowell, Henshaw, Joseph, Daly, L Williams
George, Vunipola, Sinkler, Lawes, Obrien, Webb, Sexton, Payne,

Not a bad looking team...but I really hope Sexton sorts his shit out.

Good thing they won that game as I now fear they might not win another.

Baa-baa's line speed on D was very impressive and their full back had a blinder.

OK the Lions have had no prep time, have only been in NZ for a few days, have put out a side compromised by other commitments but jeez they were still bloody awful. Difficult to pinpoint one area in which they excelled, or looked remotely good enough to negotiate the challenges ahead. To say there's work to do is a massive understatement.
Thought Te'o was pretty easily the Lions best player.
Another 9 games of Harrison and Barnes may not be something I can stand.

fivepointer wrote:OK the Lions have had no prep time, have only been in NZ for a few days, have put out a side compromised by other commitments but jeez they were still bloody awful. Difficult to pinpoint one area in which they excelled, or looked remotely good enough to negotiate the challenges ahead. To say there's work to do is a massive understatement.
Thought Te'o was pretty easily the Lions best player.
Another 9 games of Harrison and Barnes may not be something I can stand.

They had more prep than their opponents. I don't think we're going to get even closer to winning another game

Whats Teo actually like? Will he get found out? English centres that played league usually do.

Not always, Johnny. Not always.

You have to wonder why basic skills are so dire amongst that lot. Jesus. Commentators wanking off over Farell's "flat pass" tells you all you need to know about what level they are on. The super franchises are going to go at the Lions hard and fast, and I'm not sure Gatland will be able to deal with it.

Len wrote:Whats Teo actually like? Will he get found out? English centres that played league usually do.

He's very good.

morepork wrote:You have to wonder why basic skills are so dire amongst that lot. Jesus. Commentators wanking off over Farell's "flat pass" tells you all you need to know about what level they are on. The super franchises are going to go at the Lions hard and fast, and I'm not sure Gatland will be able to deal with it.

Tells you much more about the Sky commentators than anything else.

Puja

morepork wrote:You have to wonder why basic skills are so dire amongst that lot. Jesus. Commentators wanking off over Farell's "flat pass" tells you all you need to know about what level they are on. The super franchises are going to go at the Lions hard and fast, and I'm not sure Gatland will be able to deal with it.

Chiefs 40 - 7 Wales

cashead wrote:

morepork wrote:You have to wonder why basic skills are so dire amongst that lot. Jesus. Commentators wanking off over Farell's "flat pass" tells you all you need to know about what level they are on. The super franchises are going to go at the Lions hard and fast, and I'm not sure Gatland will be able to deal with it.

Chiefs 40 - 7 Wales

That was great.

Puja wrote:

morepork wrote:You have to wonder why basic skills are so dire amongst that lot. Jesus. Commentators wanking off over Farell's "flat pass" tells you all you need to know about what level they are on. The super franchises are going to go at the Lions hard and fast, and I'm not sure Gatland will be able to deal with it.

Tells you much more about the Sky commentators than anything else.

Puja

Fair enough, but there are tight forwards throughout the super comp that are more comfortable on the ball than most of those Lions backs.

I'm sure they'll get better but.

morepork wrote:

Puja wrote:

morepork wrote:You have to wonder why basic skills are so dire amongst that lot. Jesus. Commentators wanking off over Farell's "flat pass" tells you all you need to know about what level they are on. The super franchises are going to go at the Lions hard and fast, and I'm not sure Gatland will be able to deal with it.

Tells you much more about the Sky commentators than anything else.

Puja

Fair enough, but there are tight forwards throughout the super comp that are more comfortable on the ball than most of those Lions backs.

I'm sure they'll get better but.

There are tight forwards throughout the AP that are more comfortable on the ball than most of those Lions backs were today. Trust me, no-one in the NH is looking at that game and thinking, "Yep, that's about the level that we expect".

I hope to Christ that Warren's excuse of jet lag is true, cause otherwise he's pulled off an incredible act of reverse alchemy. Takes a lot of talent to turn Stuart Hogg into that sh*t a player!

Puja

Puja wrote:

morepork wrote:

Puja wrote:
Tells you much more about the Sky commentators than anything else.

Puja

Fair enough, but there are tight forwards throughout the super comp that are more comfortable on the ball than most of those Lions backs.

I'm sure they'll get better but.

There are tight forwards throughout the AP that are more comfortable on the ball than most of those Lions backs were today. Trust me, no-one in the NH is looking at that game and thinking, "Yep, that's about the level that we expect".

I hope to Christ that Warren's excuse of jet lag is true, cause otherwise he's pulled off an incredible act of reverse alchemy. Takes a lot of talent to turn Stuart Hogg into that sh*t a player!

Puja

Ahem...

I think most of us went: "Gatland? Feck."

Laidlaw was so bloody pedestrian getting to rucks and moving the bloody ball on he was the BaaBaas most effective defensive weapon. Fair play to the BaaBaas they were very good, just shows when a whole nation are singing off the same song sheet regarding skills and coaching how easy it is to put a side together. Have to wonder why the Irish let Oliver Jager slip through their hands.

Doorzetbornandbred wrote:Laidlaw was so bloody pedestrian getting to rucks and moving the bloody ball on he was the BaaBaas most effective defensive weapon. Fair play to the BaaBaas they were very good, just shows when a whole nation are singing off the same song sheet regarding skills and coaching how easy it is to put a side together. Have to wonder why the Irish let Oliver Jager slip through their hands.

Some of his passing was just awful. Many of those who started yesterday let themselves down. Individual skills were too often awful. NH skills can be better but the sooner we move away from looking for collisions the better.

Sandydragon wrote:

Doorzetbornandbred wrote:Laidlaw was so bloody pedestrian getting to rucks and moving the bloody ball on he was the BaaBaas most effective defensive weapon. Fair play to the BaaBaas they were very good, just shows when a whole nation are singing off the same song sheet regarding skills and coaching how easy it is to put a side together. Have to wonder why the Irish let Oliver Jager slip through their hands.

Some of his passing was just awful. Many of those who started yesterday let themselves down. Individual skills were too often awful. NH skills can be better but the sooner we move away from looking for collisions the better.

Laidlaw being rubbish isn't really a problem. He shouldn't really trouble the test squad. Sexton and Hogg having nightmares is a big problem.

Fact.

Mellsblue wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:

Doorzetbornandbred wrote:Laidlaw was so bloody pedestrian getting to rucks and moving the bloody ball on he was the BaaBaas most effective defensive weapon. Fair play to the BaaBaas they were very good, just shows when a whole nation are singing off the same song sheet regarding skills and coaching how easy it is to put a side together. Have to wonder why the Irish let Oliver Jager slip through their hands.

Some of his passing was just awful. Many of those who started yesterday let themselves down. Individual skills were too often awful. NH skills can be better but the sooner we move away from looking for collisions the better.

Laidlaw being rubbish isn't really a problem. He shouldn't really trouble the test squad. Sexton and Hogg having nightmares is a big problem.

Agreed. Laidlaw is a dirt tracker. I hope Hogg sorts himself out and plays to the standard he has managed over the last two seasons. If not, he won't be near the test team. Liam Williams is a good replacement and of course there is halfpenny who is garlands favourite.

Sexton is the biggest worry. At his best a superb player, the drop off to Farrell and bigger is substantial.

Puja wrote:

morepork wrote:You have to wonder why basic skills are so dire amongst that lot. Jesus. Commentators wanking off over Farell's "flat pass" tells you all you need to know about what level they are on. The super franchises are going to go at the Lions hard and fast, and I'm not sure Gatland will be able to deal with it.

Tells you much more about the Sky commentators than anything else.

Puja

I dunno, I rather suspect MP is right, even allowing for the 'jet lag' and scratch nature of the team.
The BIL forwards are copping a lot of flak but not once did the ref' have to call 'roll away'. That would normally suggest to me that both teams hit the breakdown legally and with effect.