Lions

[Mikey Brown]

For all the crap Hogg in particular had directed at him from the first game, it will be interesting to see (in the interests of balance) how those competing for his position are written up. Particularly given that the identical mistake of carrying the ball into touch was repeated. Hogg's oft cited defensive weakness was anything but compared to 1/2p who didn't so much miss a tackle as not get within 5 yards of it for the winning try.

I actually felt the first inkling of unity and togetherness on here today as posters from all four nations conceded that basically all our players are playing like shit. Definitely the whole coaching team too, not just poor Hoggy.

[morepork]

For all the crap Hogg in particular had directed at him from the first game, it will be interesting to see (in the interests of balance) how those competing for his position are written up. Particularly given that the identical mistake of carrying the ball into touch was repeated. Hogg's oft cited defensive weakness was anything but compared to 1/2p who didn't so much miss a tackle as not get within 5 yards of it for the winning try.

Just watching the game now. 8 min in and Nowell caught narrow twice and for the 1st try, in the lead up there was a cross kick where 1/2p got bumped but made the tackle when in reality he should have had the guy in touch.

The fuck up of a 4 on 2 or 3 was poor too. Henshaw and the 1/2p did nothing to challenge the defence..just shovelled it on.

Yeah but nah. Half-P got skinned by West, plain and simple. Would Hogg have nailed West? Maybe, but Hogg displayed some Benny Hill skills on the big stage in the previous game when in much more Zen circumstances. I like Hogg, and think Gatland will use him purely to rest more conservative players, but Hogg shat that one. I think Hogg is the better choice at the back for a team that doesn't predicate the game plan around kicking possession away. Make of that what you will.

[Big D]

Well watching that was a waste of time.

I guess the team on Saturday will be:
Vunipola, George, furlong, kruis, AWJ, POM, Warburton, Faletau
Murray, Farrell, williams, teo, JD2 (or will we see him at 12 with JJ - prob not), North, Hogg (or Williams with another wing)

[Spiffy]

For all the crap Hogg in particular had directed at him from the first game, it will be interesting to see (in the interests of balance) how those competing for his position are written up. Particularly given that the identical mistake of carrying the ball into touch was repeated. Hogg's oft cited defensive weakness was anything but compared to 1/2p who didn't so much miss a tackle as not get within 5 yards of it for the winning try.

Just watching the game now. 8 min in and Nowell caught narrow twice and for the 1st try, in the lead up there was a cross kick where 1/2p got bumped but made the tackle when in reality he should have had the guy in touch.

The fuck up of a 4 on 2 or 3 was poor too. Henshaw and the 1/2p did nothing to challenge the defence..just shovelled it on.

Yeah but nah. Half-P got skinned by West, plain and simple. Would Hogg have nailed West? Maybe, but Hogg displayed some Benny Hill skills on the big stage in the previous game when in much more Zen circumstances. I like Hogg, and think Gatland will use him purely to rest more conservative players, but Hogg shat that one. I think Hogg is the better choice at the back for a team that doesn't predicate the game plan around kicking possession away. Make of that what you will.

At least Hogg has a bit of flair and real gas. Unlike the alternatives. His tackling can be sloppy but he's been no worse than may others in this respect. He is a potential game breaker. Gatland should just take the risk and play him, especially since nobody else looks remotely like an effective counterattacker or try scorer. Might as well go down giving it a bit of a thrash. There's really nothing to lose.

[Big D]

I almost got the side right. Forgot about SOB.

[whatisthejava]

Just watching the game now. 8 min in and Nowell caught narrow twice and for the 1st try, in the lead up there was a cross kick where 1/2p got bumped but made the tackle when in reality he should have had the guy in touch.

The fuck up of a 4 on 2 or 3 was poor too. Henshaw and the 1/2p did nothing to challenge the defence..just shovelled it on.

Yeah but nah. Half-P got skinned by West, plain and simple. Would Hogg have nailed West? Maybe, but Hogg displayed some Benny Hill skills on the big stage in the previous game when in much more Zen circumstances. I like Hogg, and think Gatland will use him purely to rest more conservative players, but Hogg shat that one. I think Hogg is the better choice at the back for a team that doesn't predicate the game plan around kicking possession away. Make of that what you will.

At least Hogg has a bit of flair and real gas. Unlike the alternatives. His tackling can be sloppy but he's been no worse than may others in this respect. He is a potential game breaker. Gatland should just take the risk and play him, especially since nobody else looks remotely like an effective counterattacker or try scorer. Might as well go down giving it a bit of a thrash. There's really nothing to lose.

I agree with you but Gatland wont pick Hogg, he as predicted will play conservative and pick half penny, even the commentators know that we areg going to try and win by defensive first, Hogg will be on the bench unless 1/2p gets injured and even then I think he will got for LW

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I think Hogg's only hope was to have outstanding performances which demanded selection by the rugby public and pundits. Without that Gatland will just go with safety first.

[skidger]

Just watching the game now. 8 min in and Nowell caught narrow twice and for the 1st try, in the lead up there was a cross kick where 1/2p got bumped but made the tackle when in reality he should have had the guy in touch.

The fuck up of a 4 on 2 or 3 was poor too. Henshaw and the 1/2p did nothing to challenge the defence..just shovelled it on.

Yeah but nah. Half-P got skinned by West, plain and simple. Would Hogg have nailed West? Maybe, but Hogg displayed some Benny Hill skills on the big stage in the previous game when in much more Zen circumstances. I like Hogg, and think Gatland will use him purely to rest more conservative players, but Hogg shat that one. I think Hogg is the better choice at the back for a team that doesn't predicate the game plan around kicking possession away. Make of that what you will.

At least Hogg has a bit of flair and real gas. Unlike the alternatives. His tackling can be sloppy but he's been no worse than may others in this respect. He is a potential game breaker. Gatland should just take the risk and play him, especially since nobody else looks remotely like an effective counterattacker or try scorer. Might as well go down giving it a bit of a thrash. There's really nothing to lose.

Indeed. I am not sure how you can watch Halfpenny and Hogg over the last 2/3 years and then pick Halfpenny over him.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Strong Crusaders team but a huge lions team. One of the strongest packs & some big lads in the backline. If the crusaders can get parity up front, you'd have to back them for the win.

[Lizard]

The Blues didn't have parity up front.

It doesn't really matter how much ball your forwards get you if all you do with it is pass it back and forth from touch to touch and run into tacklers. Line breaks will be the key. The Lions centres for this game look more likely to make a break but they need the game plan and support to do it.

[Jps]

I think I read that Gats promised everyone a start in one of the first 4 games, so I would assume after the Crusaders game, we'll start seeing units form

[Lizard]

I think I read that Gats promised everyone a start in one of the first 4 games, so I would assume after the Crusaders game, we'll start seeing units form

They have to, really.

I assume that the first 3 match squads were basically premeditated before even getting on the plane to give everyone a start. So that leaves the Highlanders match on Tuesday to run out anyone still a bit underdone, with a shadow test side to play the Maori.

[Mikey Brown]

In more Lions news- Alistair Campbell is absolutely tearing it up on question time.

[Big D]

How did Hogg do pre head knock?

[OptimisticJock]

Got pinged for holding in with his first touch but his support was nowhere to be seen. Was looking pretty handy going forward.

[OptimisticJock]

Doesn't sou d too bad for Hogg. Misses next match but nothing else mentioned.

[willrob]

i arrive next week,it will be good from theron

[Big D]

Doesn't sou d too bad for Hogg. Misses next match but nothing else mentioned.

It's a beaut of a black eye.

[Big D]

I would imagine is HIA failure was down to blurred vision

[OptimisticJock]

Haven't seen it but I can imagine it would be

[Spiffy]

Good hard-nosed win for the Lions based on forward power. But they still have obvious problems in attempting to score tries. It's hard to get worked up about a four to one penalty victory. They will need to come up with quite a bit more to beat the ABs. Don't see too many running threats behind the scrum, but here's hoping.

[Donny osmond]

Has Hogg failed an HIA and if so does that mean he's out of the tour?

I would take boring 3-0 wins in each game for the rest of the series if it meant a winning series, only thing that matters on a lions tour is results.

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

[Adder]

Has Hogg failed an HIA and if so does that mean he's out of the tour?

I would take boring 3-0 wins in each game for the rest of the series if it meant a winning series, only thing that matters on a lions tour is results.

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

Only 1 game so far.

[Big D]

Seeing cheekbone specialist. Which means there is probably a more worrisome issues that a cut and a black eye.

[Big D]

Has Hogg failed an HIA and if so does that mean he's out of the tour?

I would take boring 3-0 wins in each game for the rest of the series if it meant a winning series, only thing that matters on a lions tour is results.

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

Only 1 game so far.

Yeah. Min stand down in terms of competitive games is 6 days. In theory he can play on Saturday. In reality he probably has a fractured cheekbone.