RugbyRebels

Matt Ha wrote:

whatisthejava wrote:Anyone think Finn will see time on Tuesday.

I hope so. In fact he should be benching for the test squad. The whole is-Farrel-better-than-Sexton debate is getting on my wick a bit as neither has been on sparkling form (despite what Barnes and other pundits claim). They are also too similar so swapping one for the other doesn't really seem to change anything. Finn showed against the Wallabies and Italy that he is the form European fly half in the southern hemisphere. Having said that all, as others have said Gatland might give him 10 minutes, and that will be that.

You do get that the wallabies and Italy aren't really a similar test to the ABs don't you? And that playing with unfamiliar players is an entirely different challenge to playing with most of the same people who have surrounded you every week of your professional life for years?

Or maybe you don't. And maybe you've not watched Ford either.

The most surprising thing for me about yesterday's game was that Gatland blinked first and moved away from the only game plan he's ever had. It seemed he finally clicked that he needed better strike runners in the back 3 but selected a midfield that can't distribute the ball and no plan how to bring width to the game. Sexton and Farrell on the pitch together was painful to watch - I thought both were poor and Farrell at 12 only will work with a 10 whose passing put others into space. Bringing Sexton on for Teo was bizarre - as was bringing Owens on for George when they'd been under the cosh for 10 mins and had at last got a chance to apply some pressure with a Sarries hooker and 2 Sarries jumpers.

The pack getting done in the scrum should not have been a surprise if folks had been watching the props objectively recently. MV was up against it on a few occasions in the CC and even against Glasgow he didn't show much in a dominant pack. BV's cleaning up at no.8 and his physicality to create go-forward ball masked things, I though. TF has also had moments on tour when he has been caught out. I fancied the ABs would think they could get on top there and they duly did.

hp18 wrote:

whatisthejava wrote:Anyone think Finn will see time on Tuesday.

I reckon hell get 10/15 so garland can say he's given him a shot after recent criticism. Won't matter a fuck if he single handily defeated the canes though.

If its 5 minutes or even 10 I'd sooner he didn't bother. Whats the best that could happen.....what's the worst (from a Scotland point of view)

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:

Matt Ha wrote:

whatisthejava wrote:Anyone think Finn will see time on Tuesday.

I hope so. In fact he should be benching for the test squad. The whole is-Farrel-better-than-Sexton debate is getting on my wick a bit as neither has been on sparkling form (despite what Barnes and other pundits claim). They are also too similar so swapping one for the other doesn't really seem to change anything. Finn showed against the Wallabies and Italy that he is the form European fly half in the southern hemisphere. Having said that all, as others have said Gatland might give him 10 minutes, and that will be that.

You do get that the wallabies and Italy aren't really a similar test to the ABs don't you? And that playing with unfamiliar players is an entirely different challenge to playing with most of the same people who have surrounded you every week of your professional life for years?

Or maybe you don't. And maybe you've not watched Ford either.

Your point on Ford is well taken. He has looked the best British/Irish FH in the past few weeks with his performances against a good Argentina team. But the point is, he is not with the Lions in NZ so it's all academic. Finn Russell is there, and I think his performances in the 6N and against Oz would warrant his having a run off the bench in the dirt trackers team at this stage of the tour. There is nothing to lose, nobody gives a rat's arse about the result anyway, and he's a better attacking threat than Biggar, scratch team or not, so might as well give it a thrash. But he won't get on the test bench. Gatland is too conservative for that. Farrell and Sexton are nailed on as the only possible test starters in Gatland's team and neither has been anything special. I'm really fed up with all the Farrell hype - he is the media's golden boy of British rugby and they simply just ignore his shortcomings, including spotty goalkicking, weak tactical kicking, an unreliable defence, and lack of pace. In the pundits' eyes he can do no wrong - a classic case of the Emperor's new clothes.

I see Garland has nicked the Munster playbook.

It's amazing that Murray can still walk.

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:

Matt Ha wrote:

whatisthejava wrote:Anyone think Finn will see time on Tuesday.

I hope so. In fact he should be benching for the test squad. The whole is-Farrel-better-than-Sexton debate is getting on my wick a bit as neither has been on sparkling form (despite what Barnes and other pundits claim). They are also too similar so swapping one for the other doesn't really seem to change anything. Finn showed against the Wallabies and Italy that he is the form European fly half in the southern hemisphere. Having said that all, as others have said Gatland might give him 10 minutes, and that will be that.

You do get that the wallabies and Italy aren't really a similar test to the ABs don't you? And that playing with unfamiliar players is an entirely different challenge to playing with most of the same people who have surrounded you every week of your professional life for years?

Or maybe you don't. And maybe you've not watched Ford either.

I do get that but I also get that Sexton and Farrel have hardly set the heather alight either against the ABs or the other games, which aren't really similar to test rugby. Maybe one of them will come good, but neither have the attacking talent of Russel so why not be bold. I've seen Ford. And if he was in NZ I would be saying he should be benching, but he isn't, so I'm not.

Matt Ha wrote:

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:

Matt Ha wrote:
I hope so. In fact he should be benching for the test squad. The whole is-Farrel-better-than-Sexton debate is getting on my wick a bit as neither has been on sparkling form (despite what Barnes and other pundits claim). They are also too similar so swapping one for the other doesn't really seem to change anything. Finn showed against the Wallabies and Italy that he is the form European fly half in the southern hemisphere. Having said that all, as others have said Gatland might give him 10 minutes, and that will be that.

You do get that the wallabies and Italy aren't really a similar test to the ABs don't you? And that playing with unfamiliar players is an entirely different challenge to playing with most of the same people who have surrounded you every week of your professional life for years?

Or maybe you don't. And maybe you've not watched Ford either.

I do get that but I also get that Sexton and Farrel have hardly set the heather alight either against the ABs or the other games, which aren't really similar to test rugby. Maybe one of them will come good, but neither have the attacking talent of Russel so why not be bold. I've seen Ford. And if he was in NZ I would be saying he should be benching, but he isn't, so I'm not.

Sexton is straightforwardly a better player than Russell. He's been part of great attacking Leinster and island teams. He's perfectly capable of running a proper attack. And the game isn't just about attack. Unfortunately Russell's propensity for error is fine against most sides but lethal against the ABs. Farrell, despite being mostly rubbish throughout his rugby career and being poor in the first Test and being nowhere near the player lauded to the skies by the media had at least managed to play with the others in the Test side before. That's not nothing. So whilst I wouldn't even have taken him on tour, from where we are any other choice on the bench would be foolish.

Haha, I thought that was Seymour who intercepted that, was thinking, fuck me he's slow, Laidlaws blistering pace. That was well read, and a good support line.

Fucking great hands from Henderson in that try. Good finish Norh. Halfpenny did well to get up there and heap the pressure on.

Anyone got a link?

I get mine from the Reddit match Fred. Can't post it as I'm on my phone, and not logged in my laptop.

Mikey Brown wrote:Anyone got a link?

http://sports4u.net/channel/sky-sports- ... eaming-13/

http://cdn13.crichd.be/star-sports-1-live-streaming

Jesus that was a good 'canes try.

Finn is officially a Lion! Makes a halfbreak and knocks it on.

Not a great look from the 'Canes player giving an injured Bigger grief after they scored that try.

They can't really argue with that yellow, it was the third penas advantage he was playing within about 20 seconds.

Henderson playing fucking well today.

Been told by a rake of kiwis for a good 12 years that, that type of clear out is perfectly fine. Sure, it's not tuddlywunks...

Finally tuned in. Is Russell actually on? Biggar appears to be on.

Seems like I shouldn't have tuned in. Just thrown away the lead by the looks of it.

LOL. Henderson. He's really grown in to the tour after a very poor start but he's biffed this one.

Mikey Brown wrote:Finally tuned in. Is Russell actually on? Biggar appears to be on.

HIA cameo, was only on for about 3 minutes.

That's a great comeback from the hurricanes.

Mikey Brown wrote:LOL. Henderson. He's really grown in to the tour after a very poor start but he's biffed this one.

For sure, it's always the risk when clearing out by lifting a leg. Shame, he was having a belter.

Lovely play from Laidlaw and Seymour. Laidlaw looked to have some decent gas on him still - been a long time since I've seen him do anything like that... It was Laidlaw wasn't it?

A downer - still can't believe we released Russell for this nonsense. 5 mins of rugby maybe?

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:Lovely play from Laidlaw and Seymour. Laidlaw looked to have some decent gas on him still - been a long time since I've seen him do anything like that... It was Laidlaw wasn't it?

A downer - still can't believe we released Russell for this nonsense. 5 mins of rugby maybe?

Agreed, these call ups of his seems to have made Gatland think it's a great idea to make his pack play the full 80. It's no wonder we've slowed down to a grind.

Complete lack of composure at the end there.