British and Irish Lions 2013
Discussion
hornetrider said:
BigBob said:
So why exactly is Farrell going? Seems a bit too 'brittle' mentally at the moment eg against Wales/Toulon
I can well see the Aussie's back-rowers licking their lips .............
BB
You might want to check the coaching line up I can well see the Aussie's back-rowers licking their lips .............
BB
A few names on there I'd not have picked (not Cian's biggest fan tbh nor Murray) but by and large there are no major surprises (baring obviously MS)... thing is though whether or not I think care/robshaw/visser/a.n.other should have gone I'll be enjoying the tour and hoping we spank the crims
BigBob said:
Can't argue with that 
So why exactly is Farrell going? Seems a bit too 'brittle' mentally at the moment eg against Wales/Toulon
I can well see the Aussie's back-rowers licking their lips .............
BB
He's going coz his dads on the coaching staff?So why exactly is Farrell going? Seems a bit too 'brittle' mentally at the moment eg against Wales/Toulon
I can well see the Aussie's back-rowers licking their lips .............
BB
I was never a big fan and would like to see Freddie Burns get a good run of games-he's the only 10 in the Argentina tour. I was lambasted on here by some after the New Zealnd game in the Autum when OF was the second coming. He doesn't get a huge amount of time at 10 for his club from what I gather, but having a non-attacking 10 coupled with centres that can only run straight, tackle, and barely string a pass together isn't a recipe for sucess IMO.
Cheib said:
Missing out on The Lions might be the best thing that happened to Ashton....massively needed getting down a peg or two. I expect his name barely got mentioned in selection meetings.
Yep. Believed his own hype far too much and may aswell not have been on the pitch in the Autum or 6N. I liked initally how Lancaster seemed to be choosing his side based on form, I'd like to see him get back to that on the back of the summer tour. It's come at an ideal time to blood some new players, my feeling at the moment is there's a huge pot of very good players with few if no 'world class' players that you need to take it to the next level.London424 said:
hornetrider said:
BigBob said:
So why exactly is Farrell going? Seems a bit too 'brittle' mentally at the moment eg against Wales/Toulon
I can well see the Aussie's back-rowers licking their lips .............
BB
You might want to check the coaching line up I can well see the Aussie's back-rowers licking their lips .............
BB
Good reason to leave them both behind
BB
Today, I attended an event where Warren Gatland spoke and did a Q&A session for an hour or so.
I have to say, he came across as a thoroughly good guy, who desperately wants to win the series.
A couple of things that he said.........
Lions will win 2-1. They will win the first 2, then be on the pi$$ for the last week.
Robshaw was the No. 38 on the list and will be first call as back row cover.
Matt Stevens is going because he's a "good tourist".
Whilst only 2 specialist 10's are going, there is no place for Wilkinson. "I don't need him; I have kickers. He offers me nothing more than kicking"
Asked if there was a job left in world rugby that he would like, he said he'd take the England job........for the money!
Lots of other stuff, but I can't recall at the moment.
I have to say, he came across as a thoroughly good guy, who desperately wants to win the series.
A couple of things that he said.........
Lions will win 2-1. They will win the first 2, then be on the pi$$ for the last week.
Robshaw was the No. 38 on the list and will be first call as back row cover.
Matt Stevens is going because he's a "good tourist".
Whilst only 2 specialist 10's are going, there is no place for Wilkinson. "I don't need him; I have kickers. He offers me nothing more than kicking"
Asked if there was a job left in world rugby that he would like, he said he'd take the England job........for the money!
Lots of other stuff, but I can't recall at the moment.
At the risk of sounding mad, because I'd have JW in my test 15, I see WG's point about JonnyW. His game is all about tactical kicking (and world class defence) rather than being a playmaker of a 10. However, that begs the question why take Farrell, who in my eyes is a Wilkinson-lite?
That said, the JW gameplan is exactly the way we should be playing to beat Australia. Pin them down their end and batter the life out of their forwards.
It's been said already on this thread, but trying to outplay them in the 3/4s is only going to end up one way. Every time their backs get hold of the ball they look like scoring and their defence is rock solid.
That said, the JW gameplan is exactly the way we should be playing to beat Australia. Pin them down their end and batter the life out of their forwards.
It's been said already on this thread, but trying to outplay them in the 3/4s is only going to end up one way. Every time their backs get hold of the ball they look like scoring and their defence is rock solid.
king s
XCP said:
I'm a good tourist, with form going back to the late 70's. He could have picked me if he wanted a 'good tourist'.
I read that in The Telegraph (or somewhere like that)....if it was a tour to SA or NZ I don't think he'd go but with the Aussie scrum Stevens strengths in the loose and the fact he can play both sides count for him. Lets hope the penalty count doesn't count against him....Scrum ball will be absolutely vital for The Lions, you'd expect a well drilled Aussie lineout to be superior...though I think Croft will make the test side because of his ability there.
Cheib said:
XCP said:
I'm a good tourist, with form going back to the late 70's. He could have picked me if he wanted a 'good tourist'.
I read that in The Telegraph (or somewhere like that)....if it was a tour to SA or NZ I don't think he'd go but with the Aussie scrum Stevens strengths in the loose and the fact he can play both sides count for him. Lets hope the penalty count doesn't count against him....Scrum ball will be absolutely vital for The Lions, you'd expect a well drilled Aussie lineout to be superior...though I think Croft will make the test side because of his ability there.
I think too much is being made of the precieved weakness of the Aussie scrum. With their first choice pack they're wiley operators where their weakness lies is the lack of strength in depth IMO. So if there are one or two injuries they could struggle. They certainly didn't struggle against against England in the Autum but missed the Wales game.
a311 said:
Cheib said:
XCP said:
I'm a good tourist, with form going back to the late 70's. He could have picked me if he wanted a 'good tourist'.
I read that in The Telegraph (or somewhere like that)....if it was a tour to SA or NZ I don't think he'd go but with the Aussie scrum Stevens strengths in the loose and the fact he can play both sides count for him. Lets hope the penalty count doesn't count against him....Scrum ball will be absolutely vital for The Lions, you'd expect a well drilled Aussie lineout to be superior...though I think Croft will make the test side because of his ability there.
I think too much is being made of the precieved weakness of the Aussie scrum. With their first choice pack they're wiley operators where their weakness lies is the lack of strength in depth IMO. So if there are one or two injuries they could struggle. They certainly didn't struggle against against England in the Autum but missed the Wales game.
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