The Lions Tour

[LamieRobertson]

The Lions have played some good stuff on this tour, and when they've been beaten it has been very very tight. But New Zealand are by far and away the best team in the world and unlike the Lions, they've played together as a test team for many years, not just 2 weeks.

My guess is that this will be decided by the team's defences. When the Lions camp inside their 22, they will frequently fail to make it count. When the All Blacks get into those positions, they'll pick the gaps and run in tries.

I can't argue with any of that ..just think that we have a chance albeit a slim one...Gatland has picked an attacking side ..anyway i'll be camped in front of the box tomorrow morning hoping for a competitive game

 

[One Love]

Last weekend, New Zealand warmed up for the test series by absolutely annihilating Samoa, 80 points to NIL. That's the same Samoa who are currently within two points of (an albeit, weakened) Wales with 5 minutes to play.

We are going to get spanked.

That Wales team is really weak, like a reserve team and they suffer badly from strength in depth.

The Lions test team would probably put 70 points past them.

Here's hoping for great tests, with fair officials

 

[scamander]

Probably the only advantage we have is the ref, possibly. But I can't see past a 3-0 whitewash, not to say that the Lions are bad, just that it's a near impossible task to beat the ABs; let alone with a touring side who don't play together.

I just hope it's competitive. Given that Boks and the Wallabies are in transition it could mean NZ stack up the tries over the next few months in other competitions. It does raise a wider question about how one team dominating the game can lead to a negative. I remember reading last year about how the Aussie public aren't bothered with the Bledisloe, whereas the games involving the Pumas, Wallabies and Boks are more interesting as each can beat the other.

The ratings for the v NZ matches started to suffer and sponsors weren't as bothered (from the Aus side obviously).

Go in tomorrow with hope but sense it'll be close and NZ will just go into another gear and win by 10-15 points.

 

[crodonilson]

NZ by 25+ points

 

[LamieRobertson]

What a load of overblown hullabaloo, to be honest I've been sick of the ridiculously overblown build up to an event which was always going to be so predicatable, a white-wash to the All-Blacks. Perhaps at least we could compete and win a few of the other matches but potentially they could now come home with only a single win on the entire tour. Absolutely embarrassing.

Send them home now.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Probably the only advantage we have is the ref, possibly. But I can't see past a 3-0 whitewash, not to say that the Lions are bad, just that it's a near impossible task to beat the ABs; let alone with a touring side who don't play together.

I just hope it's competitive. Given that Boks and the Wallabies are in transition it could mean NZ stack up the tries over the next few months in other competitions. It does raise a wider question about how one team dominating the game can lead to a negative. I remember reading last year about how the Aussie public aren't bothered with the Bledisloe, whereas the games involving the Pumas, Wallabies and Boks are more interesting as each can beat the other.

The ratings for the v NZ matches started to suffer and sponsors weren't as bothered (from the Aus side obviously).

Go in tomorrow with hope but sense it'll be close and NZ will just go into another gear and win by 10-15 points.

Agree with that

 

[One Love]

Probably the only advantage we have is the ref, possibly. But I can't see past a 3-0 whitewash, not to say that the Lions are bad, just that it's a near impossible task to beat the ABs; let alone with a touring side who don't play together.

I just hope it's competitive. Given that Boks and the Wallabies are in transition it could mean NZ stack up the tries over the next few months in other competitions. It does raise a wider question about how one team dominating the game can lead to a negative. I remember reading last year about how the Aussie public aren't bothered with the Bledisloe, whereas the games involving the Pumas, Wallabies and Boks are more interesting as each can beat the other.

The ratings for the v NZ matches started to suffer and sponsors weren't as bothered (from the Aus side obviously).

Go in tomorrow with hope but sense it'll be close and NZ will just go into another gear and win by 10-15 points.

I think we'll win the first test.

 

[Questions]

Being the total pessimist I am I've gone for 16-20 gap for the All Blacks at 8/1.
Of course I'm hoping but just can't see us winning. Would love it if we did.

 

[whitelion]

Can't wait for this to start.

It's going to be close - hopefully the Lions will do it.

 

[vegster]

No coverage on BBC radio?

 

[Hillian1]

Here we go.

 

[Simster]

http://live.robinwidget.org/streamvideo8/the-british-vs-irish-lions-live-stream-3673662.html

 

[Icy Gull]

Blimey, how light is this team in England players?

 

[Hillian1]

Good start.

 

[whitelion]

No coverage on BBC radio?

It's on Talksport.

 

[Hillian1]

All Blacks showing their power now.

 

[Questions]

The pace the All Blacks play at is so much quicker than our lads are used to. We'll have chances but the Blacks are phenomenal at the moment 10-0

 

[Questions]

It's the close quarter offloads that are amazing.
Obsessive box kicking from the Lions but when they need fluidity it's not there. They need to play strong Northern hemisphere rugby and get it back to the set piece and slow it down.

 

[carlzeiss]

whats a hooker doing out on the wing ?

 

[Hillian1]

70% in our half, 20 of which in our own 22.