Better, much better. If that one had been lost, then I think the whole tour would have become a bit of an irrelevance.
Still,I don't think the ABs watching will be quaking in their boots. Massive further improvement required, but an encouraging step up today.
Shocking backline display by the Crusaders today, Mounga especially. He needed to run with the ball a lot more and try to kick to counter the rush defense. Crotty was a huge miss although I am more than certain the All Blacks have better center reserves than having Havili (great fullback) at 12. Solid display from the Lions pack though.
The Lions must not kick at Ben Smith and Beauden Barret. Those guys are good on the high ball and in the counter attack.
The Crusaders have a Test forward line but have an average backline outside Dagg.
Conor Muray was outstanding in his box kicking.
comment by The Mane Man (U19731)
posted 2 minutes ago
The Lions must not kick at Ben Smith and Beauden Barret. Those guys are good on the high ball and in the counter attack.
The Crusaders have a Test forward line but have an average backline outside Dagg.
Conor Muray was outstanding in his box kicking.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I can assure you that backline isn't anywhere near average. Just totally disjointed today with a lot of chopping and changing. To call Tamanivalu, Goodhue, Mounga, Crotty and Havili average is quite strange. Bridge is also class, just had a terrible game today. Seems like the occasion got the better of him.
I watch week in week out SR rugby and they are not the top NZ backline. They have a powerful forward line which gives them the platform to score tries. I will give you crotty but the others are average. They made look average today by a better Lions team. If you give any fly half from any good level rugby team time and space he will be worldclass at that level. Those who are the real quality ones are the guys who make something happen from very tight games. Barret, Cruden and Sopoaga are the top fly halves and Smith and Perenara the top Scrum halves in NZ.
Those are excuses which you came up. The difference between SR rugby and test level is the defence which at SR level is not good.
England game last night
A lot of running rugby, great scrummaging, loads of errors and turnovers. All highly entertaining. One of the best games I've watched all season.
Looked like ending as a draw, which would have been a very fitting outcome.
Hi folks,
On the England game first, what a match that was, just incredible, I think the lead changed hands six times with some sensational running rugby from both sides. If there was one man that summed it up it was Solomona, on for 15 mins, conceded two tries scored an absolutely amazing solo effort. His running and fending on his own try was out of this world.
Similarly Ford now seems to be able to kick almost anythign from anywhere, and with a player not even born when Wilkinson was making his debut it suggests Sale and England will be in flying form. On the basis of that match you must wonder again about trying the Six Nations in March / April.
Did anyone see Scotland - Italy, Scotland looked preety good with some nice rugby but my god Italy were poor, without Parisse a Scotland side missing the likes of Seymour, Jones and Hogg just ripped them apart. You have to wonder if its time for Georgia to have a shot now.
So to the Lions, again a great game and great defence, I think the attack will come especially if Farrell, Sexton and Murray can get together. I thought George North was fantastic in chasing Murrays kicks and that must be something to try in the test matches. Ben Te'o also seems to be looking very good and Watson and Williams seemed to link up very well too.
The pack looked great from 1-8, with the tight five bossing the scrum mostly and providing the platform, also the passing of Vunipola was remrkable, likewise George. Kruis and Jones look great in the line out and O'Mahony, O'brien and Stander were great in th e loose and around the ruck.
Tougher tests to come no doubt, but they look like they can compete, right now my viw would be
Vunipola------George---------Furlong
_---------Jones----Kruis--------
O'Brien----Faletau-------O'Mahony
--------Murray
------------------Farrell
-----Te'o-------------Sexton
Williams-----------North
----------Watson-----
McGrath, Owens, Sinckler, Itoje, Stander, Webb, Davies, Hogg
Tough on a lot of very good players, so im glad this is only "on paper"
what a brilliant game, the lions finally getting the backs going but these forwards not as impressive as the ones against the crusaders, impressive by the highlanders with some key all blacks missing, lions will take quite a bit from that though imo, tough game against the moari next
Damn, losing Hogg is a blow
This is not good. Warren Gatland facing some difficult questions now.
comment by United_kaz (U9943)
posted 2 hours, 29 minutes ago
what a brilliant game, the lions finally getting the backs going but these forwards not as impressive as the ones against the crusaders, impressive by the highlanders with some key all blacks missing, lions will take quite a bit from that though imo, tough game against the moari next
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That Highlanders backline has actually benefitted from having so many players injured early on so they blooded in replacements who have proven to be quite good. Would have absolutely loved Matt Faddes get a chance today as it looked like a game he would relish but he has been really unlucky this year with injuries. Glad to see the Lions scrum dismantled too
today showed why fekatoa was left out, selfish play from him on a few occasions 1 of them bombing a clear try, guy gets tunnel vision and cant seem to see anything else
He is so frustrating as on his day he is quite incredible but next week he has games like today's. He will be lucky to get back into the squad if Goodhue continues to develop and Ngatai gets over his concussion problems. BTW Ngatai in my opinion is the best center in world rugby. He is just a colossus! No other player with his skillset. There would have been no doubt who was to replace Conrad if he didn't get those unfortunate issues. Hope he gets over them and gets his career back on track as he will be a massive player in black in 2019
Stuie Hogg out is v bad news indeed. Suppose that'll be the boring Halfpenny option then.
The rest of this tour does not bore well.
SARS. Great to see you back buddy.
Losing Hogg is a real shame. From what I've seen he has really matured since the last tour and was well integrated with the rest of the group.
I've been watching the tour so far with an Irish mate of mine who watches 0 super rugby, and his primary point has been on how quick at the breakdown the NZ teams seem to be, especially when the game line is moving forward. So often we see in the NH players making a break through the line and then getting isolated.
Maori All Blacks have named the most electric backline ever named for a rugby match. I mean wtf!
comment by wump (U5046)
posted 2 hours, 13 minutes ago
Maori All Blacks have named the most electric backline ever named for a rugby match. I mean wtf!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's certainly a way to discourage the lions from kicking deep to you. If the Maori's get even close to parity up front we could see that back line go to town on the lions.
Maori All Blacks have named the most electric backline ever named for a rugby match. I mean wtf!
----------------
nz 2nd string backline , only kidding
I dont watch Super rugby tbh but its my understanding from an Aussie colleague that the NZ teams are on another level
comment by bmcl1987 (U14177)
posted 46 minutes ago
comment by wump (U5046)
posted 2 hours, 13 minutes ago
Maori All Blacks have named the most electric backline ever named for a rugby match. I mean wtf!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's certainly a way to discourage the lions from kicking deep to you. If the Maori's get even close to parity up front we could see that back line go to town on the lions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, you just DO NOT kick the ball to James Lowe who will be playing fullback. Probably as scary in the counter attack as Ben Smith. The only way for the Lions to win this one will be to suffocate the MAB like they did to the Crusaders because that backline will be quite devastating if play is in any way broken. I do see the Lions managing to bully them in the forwards though although the backrow for the MAB is quite great too.
comment by Blarmy - 1,000,001 (U14547)
posted 40 minutes ago
I dont watch Super rugby tbh but its my understanding from an Aussie colleague that the NZ teams are on another level
----------------------------------------------------------------------Yeah, the only Super Rugby team even close to them is the Lions from South Africa. The New Zealand derbies in Super rugby have been test matches really with the intensity in attack plus the incredible forward battles. It is why there are so NZ players have been injured this season.
Hogg out, Farrell struggling. That'll be Halfpenny and Biggar then.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40301161
Call ups on the way
There's talk of Ford or Russell being called up if Farrell has to call off. I'd go for Ford.
With Lawes getting a knock, there's talk of either Jonny Gray or Launchbury. Happy with either of those. They should both have been in the original selection anyway.
Just how good was Anton Lienert Brown today?! As good an attacking performance as you can ever get from a center!
Sign in if you want to comment
Lions
Page 7 of 15
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posted on 10/6/17
Better, much better. If that one had been lost, then I think the whole tour would have become a bit of an irrelevance.
Still,I don't think the ABs watching will be quaking in their boots. Massive further improvement required, but an encouraging step up today.
posted on 10/6/17
Shocking backline display by the Crusaders today, Mounga especially. He needed to run with the ball a lot more and try to kick to counter the rush defense. Crotty was a huge miss although I am more than certain the All Blacks have better center reserves than having Havili (great fullback) at 12. Solid display from the Lions pack though.
posted on 10/6/17
The Lions must not kick at Ben Smith and Beauden Barret. Those guys are good on the high ball and in the counter attack.
The Crusaders have a Test forward line but have an average backline outside Dagg.
Conor Muray was outstanding in his box kicking.
posted on 10/6/17
comment by The Mane Man (U19731)
posted 2 minutes ago
The Lions must not kick at Ben Smith and Beauden Barret. Those guys are good on the high ball and in the counter attack.
The Crusaders have a Test forward line but have an average backline outside Dagg.
Conor Muray was outstanding in his box kicking.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I can assure you that backline isn't anywhere near average. Just totally disjointed today with a lot of chopping and changing. To call Tamanivalu, Goodhue, Mounga, Crotty and Havili average is quite strange. Bridge is also class, just had a terrible game today. Seems like the occasion got the better of him.
posted on 10/6/17
I watch week in week out SR rugby and they are not the top NZ backline. They have a powerful forward line which gives them the platform to score tries. I will give you crotty but the others are average. They made look average today by a better Lions team. If you give any fly half from any good level rugby team time and space he will be worldclass at that level. Those who are the real quality ones are the guys who make something happen from very tight games. Barret, Cruden and Sopoaga are the top fly halves and Smith and Perenara the top Scrum halves in NZ.
Those are excuses which you came up. The difference between SR rugby and test level is the defence which at SR level is not good.
posted on 11/6/17
England game last night
A lot of running rugby, great scrummaging, loads of errors and turnovers. All highly entertaining. One of the best games I've watched all season.
Looked like ending as a draw, which would have been a very fitting outcome.
posted on 11/6/17
Hi folks,
On the England game first, what a match that was, just incredible, I think the lead changed hands six times with some sensational running rugby from both sides. If there was one man that summed it up it was Solomona, on for 15 mins, conceded two tries scored an absolutely amazing solo effort. His running and fending on his own try was out of this world.
Similarly Ford now seems to be able to kick almost anythign from anywhere, and with a player not even born when Wilkinson was making his debut it suggests Sale and England will be in flying form. On the basis of that match you must wonder again about trying the Six Nations in March / April.
Did anyone see Scotland - Italy, Scotland looked preety good with some nice rugby but my god Italy were poor, without Parisse a Scotland side missing the likes of Seymour, Jones and Hogg just ripped them apart. You have to wonder if its time for Georgia to have a shot now.
So to the Lions, again a great game and great defence, I think the attack will come especially if Farrell, Sexton and Murray can get together. I thought George North was fantastic in chasing Murrays kicks and that must be something to try in the test matches. Ben Te'o also seems to be looking very good and Watson and Williams seemed to link up very well too.
The pack looked great from 1-8, with the tight five bossing the scrum mostly and providing the platform, also the passing of Vunipola was remrkable, likewise George. Kruis and Jones look great in the line out and O'Mahony, O'brien and Stander were great in th e loose and around the ruck.
Tougher tests to come no doubt, but they look like they can compete, right now my viw would be
Vunipola------George---------Furlong
_---------Jones----Kruis--------
O'Brien----Faletau-------O'Mahony
--------Murray
------------------Farrell
-----Te'o-------------Sexton
Williams-----------North
----------Watson-----
McGrath, Owens, Sinckler, Itoje, Stander, Webb, Davies, Hogg
Tough on a lot of very good players, so im glad this is only "on paper"
posted on 13/6/17
what a brilliant game, the lions finally getting the backs going but these forwards not as impressive as the ones against the crusaders, impressive by the highlanders with some key all blacks missing, lions will take quite a bit from that though imo, tough game against the moari next
posted on 13/6/17
Damn, losing Hogg is a blow
posted on 13/6/17
This is not good. Warren Gatland facing some difficult questions now.
posted on 13/6/17
comment by United_kaz (U9943)
posted 2 hours, 29 minutes ago
what a brilliant game, the lions finally getting the backs going but these forwards not as impressive as the ones against the crusaders, impressive by the highlanders with some key all blacks missing, lions will take quite a bit from that though imo, tough game against the moari next
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That Highlanders backline has actually benefitted from having so many players injured early on so they blooded in replacements who have proven to be quite good. Would have absolutely loved Matt Faddes get a chance today as it looked like a game he would relish but he has been really unlucky this year with injuries. Glad to see the Lions scrum dismantled too
posted on 13/6/17
today showed why fekatoa was left out, selfish play from him on a few occasions 1 of them bombing a clear try, guy gets tunnel vision and cant seem to see anything else
posted on 13/6/17
He is so frustrating as on his day he is quite incredible but next week he has games like today's. He will be lucky to get back into the squad if Goodhue continues to develop and Ngatai gets over his concussion problems. BTW Ngatai in my opinion is the best center in world rugby. He is just a colossus! No other player with his skillset. There would have been no doubt who was to replace Conrad if he didn't get those unfortunate issues. Hope he gets over them and gets his career back on track as he will be a massive player in black in 2019
posted on 13/6/17
Stuie Hogg out is v bad news indeed. Suppose that'll be the boring Halfpenny option then.
The rest of this tour does not bore well.
SARS. Great to see you back buddy.
posted on 14/6/17
Losing Hogg is a real shame. From what I've seen he has really matured since the last tour and was well integrated with the rest of the group.
I've been watching the tour so far with an Irish mate of mine who watches 0 super rugby, and his primary point has been on how quick at the breakdown the NZ teams seem to be, especially when the game line is moving forward. So often we see in the NH players making a break through the line and then getting isolated.
posted on 15/6/17
Maori All Blacks have named the most electric backline ever named for a rugby match. I mean wtf!
posted on 15/6/17
comment by wump (U5046)
posted 2 hours, 13 minutes ago
Maori All Blacks have named the most electric backline ever named for a rugby match. I mean wtf!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's certainly a way to discourage the lions from kicking deep to you. If the Maori's get even close to parity up front we could see that back line go to town on the lions.
posted on 15/6/17
Maori All Blacks have named the most electric backline ever named for a rugby match. I mean wtf!
----------------
nz 2nd string backline , only kidding
posted on 15/6/17
I dont watch Super rugby tbh but its my understanding from an Aussie colleague that the NZ teams are on another level
posted on 15/6/17
comment by bmcl1987 (U14177)
posted 46 minutes ago
comment by wump (U5046)
posted 2 hours, 13 minutes ago
Maori All Blacks have named the most electric backline ever named for a rugby match. I mean wtf!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's certainly a way to discourage the lions from kicking deep to you. If the Maori's get even close to parity up front we could see that back line go to town on the lions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, you just DO NOT kick the ball to James Lowe who will be playing fullback. Probably as scary in the counter attack as Ben Smith. The only way for the Lions to win this one will be to suffocate the MAB like they did to the Crusaders because that backline will be quite devastating if play is in any way broken. I do see the Lions managing to bully them in the forwards though although the backrow for the MAB is quite great too.
posted on 15/6/17
comment by Blarmy - 1,000,001 (U14547)
posted 40 minutes ago
I dont watch Super rugby tbh but its my understanding from an Aussie colleague that the NZ teams are on another level
----------------------------------------------------------------------Yeah, the only Super Rugby team even close to them is the Lions from South Africa. The New Zealand derbies in Super rugby have been test matches really with the intensity in attack plus the incredible forward battles. It is why there are so NZ players have been injured this season.
posted on 15/6/17
Hogg out, Farrell struggling. That'll be Halfpenny and Biggar then.
posted on 16/6/17
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40301161
Call ups on the way
posted on 16/6/17
There's talk of Ford or Russell being called up if Farrell has to call off. I'd go for Ford.
With Lawes getting a knock, there's talk of either Jonny Gray or Launchbury. Happy with either of those. They should both have been in the original selection anyway.
posted on 16/6/17
Just how good was Anton Lienert Brown today?! As good an attacking performance as you can ever get from a center!
Page 7 of 15
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