British and Irish Lions 2013

[a311]

There was some speculation that James O’Connor would shift out the wing with Beale slotting in at 10 but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Beale hasn’t played much rugby in-between starting fights with his Rebels team mates, JOC while a very good player isn’t a world class 10 either.

The atmosphere will be interesting on Saturday with a sea of red expected. There’s a bit of animosity in that part of Australia as there are few reds players in the Wallabies squad with the Aus press suggesting that Robbie Deans is increasingly making the national side more difficult to support in Queensland due to his selection of the squad.

I’m not sure how this one is going to go, the Wallabies haven’t played together since December but the Springboks hadn’t either by the first game of the last tour so I don’t expect them to be rusty. The Aussies seem to have been surprised how we’ve moved the ball out wide in attack after expecting more of a route one approach.

It’s good news that George North will be fit; Manu is a doubt so I expect Davies and BOD will start. The weather differs depending on which source you look at with dry and sunny and rain both suggested. If it’s wet we’ll really need to tighten things up.

[Cheib]

One thing everyone seems to agree on is that The Lions have to win on Saturday, as you say the Wallabies haven't played for a while so you'd expect them to get better as the series goes on.

[a311]

Cheib said:

One thing everyone seems to agree on is that The Lions have to win on Saturday, as you say the Wallabies haven't played for a while so you'd expect them to get better as the series goes on.

I reckon ‘we should’ have a bit too much for them with the current crop of players we have this is our best chance for a series win since we last faced the Aussies in 2001. With their backs and Genia they have the creativity to score trys and defend their line tooth and nail. I think most would agree they’re weaker than in the last world cup, I remember watching them beat the Springboks who absolutely battered them for 80 mins all over the field but couldn’t break them down. Regardless the Aussies have always been clinical and I think there’s very little margin for error. I’m erring on the side of expecting parity at the scrum, Lions early engagement needs to be sorted out.

[DJRC]

Yes, the lack of southern hemisphere refs who let the scrums scummage properly will negate the Lions Pack advantage there. One of the beauties about the last tour to SA was the prop battle between The Beast and The Bull, a proper old battle.

[Kermit power]

On a slight tangent, would anyone have any suggestions for somewhere with a bit of life to it around Leicester square or Covent Garden in which to watch the first test on Saturday?

[hornetrider]

Waxy O'Connors

[Kermit power]

hornetrider said:

Waxy O'Connors

That would be a very good call, except their website claims they don't open until 12, and their events section - which has a specific menu choice for rugby, which is no surprise what with being the official pub of London Irish - makes no mention of it.

I can't imagine they wouldn't be opening early for it. Guess I'll have to give them a call to ask them.

[z4chris99]

bok bar in cov G?

[London424]

There's a walkabout near covent garden.

[hornetrider]

London424 said:

There's a walkabout near covent garden.

He wanted a recommendation, not where to avoid

Didn't realise Waxy's might not be open, have watched a few 6N games in there when I've had the misfortune to be in the big smoke.

[London424]

hornetrider said:

London424 said:

There's a walkabout near covent garden.

He wanted a recommendation, not where to avoid

Didn't realise Waxy's might not be open, have watched a few 6N games in there when I've had the misfortune to be in the big smoke.

Only place I could think of that would be open.

[hornetrider]

I dug around on a rugby forum... if not Waxys then Philomena's comes recommended.

http://www.matchpint.co.uk/view-philomena's-irish-...

[Cheib]

Walkabout on The Embankment has got it on http://walkabout.eu.com/venues/walkabout-temple/sp...

I remember watching the England V Wales quarter final there in 2003. I was watching that game with flights and tickets sorted for the semi's and final. That was all going wrong til Mike Catt came on....

I'll be watching the game on Sat at Luton fking airport!!! Disastrous holiday planning from your truly.....

[Egg Chaser]

Forwards: Corbisiero, T Youngs, A Jones, AW Jones, O'Connell, Croft, Warburton, Heaslip

Backs: Phillips, Sexton, North, Davies, O'Driscoll, Cuthbert, Halfpenny

Replacements: Hibbard, Vunipola, Cole, Parling, Lydiate, B Youngs, Farrell, Maitland


Surprised to see Corbisiero starting to be honest, I thought Vunipola had earned his place.

[hornetrider]

Croft & Heaslip I fear for the breakdown.

L'Idiot only BR on the bench. No full back cover. Tuppence better not get injured in the 5th minute.

[a311]

There always was a chance that Mako was going to suffer in selection due to his scrumaging, I thought there was a case to go with Hibbard over Youngs to start with Vunipola.

Bench looks a bit weak to me for backs cover, Maitlands lucky, a knock to BOD or George we could be very exposed, Farrell covering 10 and centres, glad to see JD get a start. Limited back row cover also a sligh concern, I'd have thought SOB would offer more cover over the full back row.

[BigBob]

hornetrider said:

Croft & Heaslip I fear for the breakdown.

Feel sorry for Sam - his afternoon just got harder.

Youngs instead of Hibbs - Really??? Only reason I can see for that is an 'averaging' out of strength between the 1/2/3 and the 16/17/18 when replacement time comes around.

BB

[XCP]

If I was an Australian prop, Vunipola is one of the last people I would want to see trotting on after 60 minutes. For that reason the selection makes sense.

[a311]

BigBob said:

Feel sorry for Sam - his afternoon just got harder.

Youngs instead of Hibbs - Really??? Only reason I can see for that is an 'averaging' out of strength between the 1/2/3 and the 16/17/18 when replacement time comes around.

BB

I think at the start of the tour it was Hibbards’s shirt to loose. He hasn’t done anything particularly badly or been as dire as Rory Best but hasn’t put his hand up either. Hasn’t had a huge amount of time against quality opposition to be fair. I think Tom Youngs deserves his start IMO, his tackle count was huge on Saturday and he’s been immaculate at the lineout.

Real lack of a plan B on the bench for me is only concern if things go pear shaped. Everyone needs to front up in defence, Folau and Ioanne are dangerous.

[Tim.C]

Good selection on the whole - Hogg very very unlucky not to make bench. Cuthers very lucky to make the side.

I fear that Tipuric is in the same position as du Plessis was with Smit playing at hooker for SA (that is where the guy kept out is probably the better player.) The main difference is that I see no signs that Warbs is half the leader of men that Smit is/was.