Lions v Barbarians (Official Match Thread)

[mrzimmerman]

First topic message reminder :

The team has been named. What do you think? Predictions for the match?

British & Irish Lions:
S Hogg (Scotland); A Cuthbert (Wales), J Davies (Wales), J Roberts (Wales), S Maitland (Scotland); O Farrell (England), M Phillips (Wales); M Vunipola (England), R Hibbard (Wales), A Jones (Wales), R Gray (Scotland), P O’Connell (Ireland, capt), D Lydiate (Wales), J Tipuric (Wales), T Faletau (Wales).

Replacements: T Youngs (England), C Healy (Ireland), M Stevens (England), A W Jones (Wales), J Heaslip (Ireland), C Murray (Ireland), J Sexton (Ireland), G North (Wales).


Barbarians:
15 Jared Payne, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Casey Laulala, 11 Taku Ngwenya, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Sergio Parisse,
7 Sam Jones, 6 Samu Manoa, 5 Dean Mumm, 4 Marco Wentzel, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Paul James.

Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Jim Hamilton, 19 Imanol Harinordoquy, 20 Andrea Lo Cicero, 21 Kahn Fotuali'i, 22 James Hook, 23 Mike Tindall.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Blues you can't defend Phillips distribution. As a 9 it is his bread and butter but it has been dreadful. Physicality and eye for a gap as good as their is but his basics are just flat poor.

Welsh centres have been pretty good, Davies in particular. Tipuric coming into the game more. O'Connell outstanding. Gray very good. Vuniploa playing well.

Lydiate anonymous. Hibbard poor. Farrell rattled. Falateau quiet. Cuthbert is cold on the wing at 30 degrees.

Its the unseen work Hook. Underrated.

[Hound of Harrow]

I think they have sweaty hands, the number of times the ball seems have slipped out of the Lions' backs hands.

Roberts and POC probably the pick of the bunch with Vunipola getting through plenty of work.

[Cari]

The ball must be like soap - look at their shirts! It's like they're playing in heavy rain. I think they're doing OK given the conditions and the fact they've only been training together for a week. As I said earlier, the coaches will have something to build on after today now the Lions have started playing together properly. They can look at what works and what doesn't. I wonder what sort of subs we'll see in the second half?

[JimmySarries]

Rugby fan - thanks for the link

[RDW]

Tell you what if Phillips was playing flanker he'd be having a great game - shame we need him to be a 9 though!

[thebluesmancometh]

blues, the ball is slippery... they're holding it back and playing it safe.

Farrell nails another. 23-3 HT.

Thats my point, but the issue with the league pass is that it dies a death with no warning 3 times it's happened already.

[BamBam]

Agree with most of the rest Hookisms but I reckon Faletau has been decent! Phillips has played his usual game, this is what got him on to the tour so no reason to try and change. In these conditions its probably what we need!

Maitland looks very quick, hopefully we can see more of the back 3 in the second half before the inevitable deluge of subs

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

This conditions excuse is nonsense. These guys play in conditions web to rain is laying down and they can execute a simple pass or offload. It's a lack of basic skill and unfamiliarity with each other

[thebluesmancometh]

Blues you can't defend Phillips distribution. As a 9 it is his bread and butter but it has been dreadful. Physicality and eye for a gap as good as their is but his basics are just flat poor.

Welsh centres have been pretty good, Davies in particular. Tipuric coming into the game more. O'Connell outstanding. Gray very good. Vuniploa playing well.

Lydiate anonymous. Hibbard poor. Farrell rattled. Falateau quiet. Cuthbert is cold on the wing at 30 degrees.

Its the unseen work Hook. Underrated.

I'm not defending him, his passing is poor, but so is everyone elses hands, there are tons of mistakes from both sides, so singling him out is hardly fair.

Passing is a backs bread and butter not just a 9's,

[Cari]

Get in Phillips!!!!

[flyhalffactory]

Guys...............

Its bloody hot and humid, the ball is flying through the pass in a different weight and style hence the safe passes. The guys are a tad nervous being out on the field for the first time is entirely different to two weeks training together, hence they are lying slightly too flat and added to the heat their off-the-ball speed is slightly laboured.

Very impressed
POC captain courageous.
Phillips has been awesome and direct.
Farrell has looked a different animal to the post 6Ns lost confidence version.
Hogg already looking assured in defence, and could have had two tries, totally different style of FB under Gatland than 1/2p has been for Wales.
Roberts hitting the lines, his opponents will all know what he is going to do but they are going to have helluva job to stop him.
Jon Davies MOM performance so far

Disappointed with
Hibbard......... Sluggish and slow
Adam J............ (like he was against Grant) has been tucked up like a kipper against James and dropping in the scrum

[Rugby Fan]

Cue discussion of Phillips vs Armitage.

[thebluesmancometh]

Phillips does an Armitage???

[Gibson]

Too easy for Phillips. But he is having a decent game. These boys need to settle in together. Give them time.

[jimmyinthewell68]

so mike Philips is rubbish

[Pal Joey]

blues, the ball is slippery... they're holding it back and playing it safe.

Farrell nails another. 23-3 HT.

Thats my point, but the issue with the league pass is that it dies a death with no warning 3 times it's happened already.

Welsh league or Australian league?

Our man Phillips in again. Selfish player... that's his second try this evening!

[Steffan]

[thebluesmancometh]

blues, the ball is slippery... they're holding it back and playing it safe.

Farrell nails another. 23-3 HT.

Thats my point, but the issue with the league pass is that it dies a death with no warning 3 times it's happened already.

Welsh league or Australian league?

Our man Phillips in again. Selfish player... that's his second try this evening!

Rugby league

IMO any pass that goes beyond 4/5 metres needs a spin.

[flyhalffactory]

Phillips is having a "mare"

[BamBam]

No support for Vunipola there

[Cari]

This conditions excuse is nonsense. These guys play in conditions web to rain is laying down and they can execute a simple pass or offload. It's a lack of basic skill and unfamiliarity with each other

I think it's a combination of those things. Although these players are used to wet conditions, they're not used to dehydration and the heat. I bet it's killing them to be honest. They haven't had long to acclimatise. Still, they're not doing too badly, so let's give them a break.

30-3 at 45:58

I hope Phillips isn't peaking too soon!

[thebluesmancometh]

Tell you what if Phillips was playing flanker he'd be having a great game - shame we need him to be a 9 though!

Best thing I've heard today, he'd be MOTM so far if he was at 6 or 7!!!

[kingelderfield]

Farrell's open play form is a real concern. Really tailed off at the end of the season and it could be a tough tour for him i fear. Here's hoping the change of environment does the trick.

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

There is always an excuse with Phillips. It's not his passing its everyone else's hands. His distribution ha sales us and is today below the standard required. However on the front foot his physicality and we for a gap is outstanding. That's the selection dilemma.

Hibbard and Lydiate having very poor games.

[Cari]

Go Tips!!! Awh held up. Bum.

You know it's hot when Tips ditches his blue scrumcap.

[thebluesmancometh]

Gotta give credit to Faz, since the 20th minute mark he has settled and is looking pretty good, stopped kicking ball away.

But then there has been no pressure on him at all since 20!!!

[BamBam]

Nice play from the props and Tipuric

[Sgt_Pooly]

Not many better around the fringes than Phillips but awful SH, how can teams not defend him?? He takes it on himself every time.

[Cari]

Good work by Rokocococococococo there. Lions should drive over here...

[thebluesmancometh]

There is always an excuse with Phillips. It's not his passing its everyone else's hands. His distribution ha sales us and is today below the standard required. However on the front foot his physicality and we for a gap is outstanding. That's the selection dilemma.

Hibbard and Lydiate having very poor games.

What are you talking about? Your bias is clear for all, if not one players distribution is good how do you explain singling out one player?!

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

I hate Apple spell check

[Cari]

Argh frustrating for the Lions there. Good kick under pressure from Yachvili.

[thebluesmancometh]

Not many better around the fringes than Phillips but awful SH, how can teams not defend him?? He takes it on himself every time.

Usually you are pretty right mate, but hos exactly does he take it on every time? Are you suggesting he carries more than he passes? Or does he carry when he spots a gap, and against the Baa's he's spotted more than average? Come on!

[Cari]

Excellent play by Tips and Hoggy, shame Farrell couldn't make the pass there though he would've been in.

[Pal Joey]

This conditions excuse is nonsense. These guys play in conditions web to rain is laying down and they can execute a simple pass or offload. It's a lack of basic skill and unfamiliarity with each other

I think it's a combination of those things. Although these players are used to wet conditions, they're not used to dehydration and the heat. I bet it's killing them to be honest. They haven't had long to acclimatise. Still, they're not doing too badly, so let's give them a break.

It's actually good prep for the Lions playing in the tropics. That 3-4kgs they lose... they'll put it back on when they rehydrate afterwards and then get some pure Aussie beef into them in Perth. They'll be lean, mean and fighting fit. Also, it's getting cooler in Australia now... and they'll feel 'almost at home' when they have a run around here and this match will be seen as a good conditioner.

[Hood83]

Tipuric is sensational. In a big pack he is fantastic.

[toml]

Finally some excitement.
Pity it has been such a mis-match, they should have played france or argentina... or any team that has a set piece

[Feckless Rogue]

POC, Gray, Phillips, Roberts, Hogg, Tipuric, Davies

Farrell, Lydiate

[Cari]

Yeah, they must've lost a few pounds in sweat, Breaker and Oz will feel like home compared to HK when they get there.

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Well Blues because his distribution has been the worst by a distance. But indeed he hasn't been the only one, just the worst. I like Phillips, I highlighted his strengths and I'd have him in my test team. If that is bias in your eyes then so be it. I just haven't bathed in the cool aid like your good self.

[thebluesmancometh]

Hibbard was poor, nowhere near his dynamism and power, but he was solid in the set peice.

Youngs first action will win me £10, throw not straight, bet my brother his first wouldn't be!

[flyhalffactory]

There is always an excuse with Phillips. It's not his passing its everyone else's hands. His distribution ha sales us and is today below the standard required. However on the front foot his physicality and we for a gap is outstanding. That's the selection dilemma.

Hibbard and Lydiate having very poor games.

What are you talking about? Your bias is clear for all, if not one players distribution is good how do you explain singling out one player?!

Agree Bluesman
Phillips distribution hasn't been any worse than anyone else on the park, in fact he is probably passing better than most. Obviously Hookism has his own agenda and is attempting to suggest something that is not happening

[toml]

Tipuric is sensational. In a big pack he is fantastic.

He is. He is also the type of player that could transform Irelands fortunes. We need a Tipuric

[LeinsterFan4life]

Healy!!!

[Cari]

Wonder who MOTM will be? I suspect Phillips will be favourite.

First subs - Healy and Stevens on.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Not many better around the fringes than Phillips but awful SH, how can teams not defend him?? He takes it on himself every time.

Usually you are pretty right mate, but hos exactly does he take it on every time? Are you suggesting he carries more than he passes? Or does he carry when he spots a gap, and against the Baa's he's spotted more than average? Come on!

As in he attempts the break way too much....law of averages are some are going to come off and the Ba's defence is really poor around the fringe so he's looking great.

His passing is really poor and the only time the backs get the ball is when the Ba's kick it away.

You know I don't like him Blue lol

[thebluesmancometh]

Well Blues because his distribution has been the worst by a distance. But indeed he hasn't been the only one, just the worst. I like Phillips, I highlighted his strengths and I'd have him in my test team. If that is bias in your eyes then so be it. I just haven't bathed in the cool aid like your good self.

The worst? He's made 5/6 passes to everyone elses 1 (farell aside) in extremely difficult conditions where everyone is struggling, by averages alone he has to look worst in every game!!

[trebellbobaggins]

Lovely try from the barbarians.

[Gibson]

TRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRY! Love to see the Baa Baas do well.

More.

[Cari]

Fotuali'i in for the Baabaas! (well he was an O ).

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