The Lions Tour

[LamieRobertson]

I had a tenner at 9/2 silly big odds for that game

...Yes i agree...We are 9/2 next week and they are 6 to 1 on.....i'll pass ... did put a few quid on a series win at 16/1 before this game as well as the 5/1 match win ...as i'm in profit i'll sit back and just watch

 

[Pavilionaire]

A great series and all to play for in the decider - this is top class sport at its best.

We know the All Blacks will come back strong next week, but I thought the Lions supporters today were noisy and effective, we'll need them to be even louder next week.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

A great series and all to play for in the decider - this is top class sport at its best.

We know the All Blacks will come back strong next week, but I thought the Lions supporters today were noisy and effective, we'll need them to be even louder next week.

Good points,and the beauty is we are expected to lose. Now i like that position as all the hype is on NZ.

 

[crodonilson]

Hmmm

Lets be honest, were it not for an atrocious kicking performance from NZ they'd have embarrassed us with 14 men. We'll get smashed next week.

 

[Normal Rob]

Lets be honest, were it not for an atrocious kicking performance from NZ they'd have embarrassed us with 14 men. We'll get smashed next week.

I tend to agree, however the point raised in the post above yours is valid. There will be huge pressure on the ABs to win next week. How they deal with that is critical.

I'm not sure that they do 'self doubt' but if they do, and the Lions hang in there, then just maybe...

 

[Questions]

All the All Blacks did was punch holes through our vulnerable defensive midfield. They didn't want to play anything close to an expansive game. Maybe next week with 15 they'll try but if we get ball in their 22 we are every bit as good as them. We had chances in the first test but spurned them in their quarter. Of course they are favourites but I wouldn't write off the Lions.

 

[One Love]

Lets be honest, were it not for an atrocious kicking performance from NZ they'd have embarrassed us with 14 men. We'll get smashed next week.

Really not sure about that.

I think we had a game plan.

Gatland gambled that the positive of the inclusion of Farrell and Sexton, the inventiveness in attack, would outweigh the exclusion of Teo at 12 in defence.

I think it was working until the sending off because we were on top . After the sending off the ABs played a spoiling tactic game which we just didn't adapt to and it exposed out weakness at 12 in defence. We just couldn't get out of our half to play to our strengths. When we did, we were very effective and won the game because of it.

How many times in the game did the ABs look like scoring a try? None, even when they had 15v15 or 14v14.

I think he'll play the same team next week and it will be us trying to outscore with tries the amount of points they gain from running at the 10/12 channel. Knowing the way Gatland coaches a side, I'm hoping we'll be even better this Saturday than last week and hopefully got enough to win. Either way it will be epic!

 

[Weststander]

All the All Blacks did was punch holes through our vulnerable defensive midfield. They didn't want to play anything close to an expansive game. Maybe next week with 15 they'll try but if we get ball in their 22 we are every bit as good as them. We had chances in the first test but spurned them in their quarter. Of course they are favourites but I wouldn't write off the Lions.

The wet conditions obliterated any chance of passing, running rugby.

 

[Questions]

The wet conditions obliterated any chance of passing, running rugby.

To a degree yes but we still managed to throw it around a bit when we did get terrority and possession.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Lets be honest, were it not for an atrocious kicking performance from NZ they'd have embarrassed us with 14 men. We'll get smashed next week.

But maybe not such a good idea to have come home

.....and its been well worth watching...lets remember the first game....if we had taken our chances maybe it wouldn't have been a 30/15 loss..we won on Saturday but its this coming one that counts...

and yes i think next week the AB'S will win...but i'll still be in front of the box with hope ..at least for the first few mins

 

[LamieRobertson]

The wet conditions obliterated any chance of passing, running rugby.

The AB's going down to 14 obliterated any chance of them playing running rugby ...having said that we look pretty impressive when it was 15v15

 

[LamieRobertson]

Really not sure about that.

I think we had a game plan.

Gatland gambled that the positive of the inclusion of Farrell and Sexton, the inventiveness in attack, would outweigh the exclusion of Teo at 12 in defence.

I think it was working until the sending off because we were on top . After the sending off the ABs played a spoiling tactic game which we just didn't adapt to and it exposed out weakness at 12 in defence. We just couldn't get out of our half to play to our strengths. When we did, we were very effective and won the game because of it.

How many times in the game did the ABs look like scoring a try? None, even when they had 15v15 or 14v14.

I think he'll play the same team next week and it will be us trying to outscore with tries the amount of points they gain from running at the 10/12 channel. Knowing the way Gatland coaches a side, I'm hoping we'll be even better this Saturday than last week and hopefully got enough to win. Either way it will be epic!

I think Vunipola and AWJ's are the 2 in most doubt for the first 15

 

[el punal]

I tend to agree, however the point raised in the post above yours is valid. There will be huge pressure on the ABs to win next week. How they deal with that is critical.

I'm not sure that they do 'self doubt' but if they do, and the Lions hang in there, then just maybe...

I took a look at the New Zealand Herald site and it threw up some interesting points. The gist of it was that some of the current All Black side are not performing and should be replaced, Sonny Bill Williamson is (was) a liability, Steve Hanson may be struggling to get the best out of his team. Overall quite a critical analysis on the team and the selection. Having said that they were quite complimentary about the Lions performance and praised the Lions "Red Army" of fans for the amazing support. Best of all was that the third test is now decisive rather than a dead rubber.

My thoughts? I feel the All Blacks will come out to prove a point and should win. The Lions, however, have had a real confidence booster with that win. If they don't give away silly penalties and, at last, start to finish off moves with tries, then I feel that they're in with a shout.

 

[LamieRobertson]

I took a look at the New Zealand Herald site and it threw up some interesting points. The gist of it was that some of the current All Black side are not performing and should be replaced, Sonny Bill Williamson is (was) a liability, Steve Hanson may be struggling to get the best out of his team. Overall quite a critical analysis on the team and the selection. Having said that they were quite complimentary about the Lions performance and praised the Lions "Red Army" of fans for the amazing support. Best of all was that the third test is now decisive rather than a dead rubber.

My thoughts? I feel the All Blacks will come out to prove a point and should win. The Lions, however, have had a real confidence booster with that win. If they don't give away silly penalties and, at last, start to finish off moves with tries, then I feel that they're in with a shout.

and thats all you need to be excited about Saturday

 

[hart's shirt]

Lions - unchanged squad for 3rd Test.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Same starting 15 for saturdays 'crunch'

 

[Iggle Piggle]

Vunipola was a liability last week. We scored both trys when he was off and he gave away more penalties on his own than teams like to give away as a whole.

I'd be pissed if I was Sinckler or McGrath.

 

[dazzer6666]

Was away at the weekend and just finally got around to watching a re-run of the game. Agree Vunipola was a colossal liability - hope the coaching staff have given him a proper bollocking. Could so easily have lost the match and lucky to still be in the squad.

Can't wait for Saturday, missed both games so far due to travelling but not this time.

 

[One Love]

Gatland is a massive advocate of not dropping a player whose had a stinker because the next game you'll get the best out of them trying to redeem themselves.

 

[Whoislloydy]

Gatland is a massive advocate of not dropping a player whose had a stinker because the next game you'll get the best out of them trying to redeem themselves.

Sounds like our very own Chris Hughton to an extent, sometimes the performance is SO poor you can't justify not dropping them.

But he isn't one to drop someone because of the odd shit game from them.