Match thread

[thebluesmancometh]

First topic message reminder :

No offerings from Force yet, good defencive speed, and working hard though...

[nathan]

bit strange to here some of you say you have big worries about certain aspects of the game. It's the first time some of these guys have played alongside each other - what were you expecting?"!!?

[Biltong]

The problem is simple, planning.

The Force have a Super XV match this weekend, that is their priority.

Why schedule two matches in four days?

[SecretFly]

Lions 300 - Force 0?

[thebluesmancometh]

The problem is simple, planning.

The Force have a Super XV match this weekend, that is their priority.

Why schedule two matches in four days?

Why prioritse a game that means little to anybodies season? Can the Tah's get into the wildcard spot off this game? And can the Force do anything than finish bottom?

[thebluesmancometh]

Was talking to a pro coach the other day who offered an option to try to make the Aus teams play stronger players...

He mentioned imposing a 'mercy rule' where once the lions hit 50 and humiliate their opposition they defend only for the rest of the game and try to hold out

I thought that was pretty funny!

[Biltong]

The problem is simple, planning.

The Force have a Super XV match this weekend, that is their priority.

Why schedule two matches in four days?

Why prioritse a game that means little to anybodies season? Can the Tah's get into the wildcard spot off this game? And can the Force do anything than finish bottom?

that isn't the point. It is their major competition, irrespective of where they feature on the table. The Super XV isn't finished and has been reshuffled to accommodate Australia's Super XV teams as mush as possible already.

This game should have been played this past weekend, but the organisers/sponsors whoever responsible for logical scheduling stuffed up.

[thebluesmancometh]

The problem is simple, planning.

The Force have a Super XV match this weekend, that is their priority.

Why schedule two matches in four days?

Why prioritse a game that means little to anybodies season? Can the Tah's get into the wildcard spot off this game? And can the Force do anything than finish bottom?

that isn't the point. It is their major competition, irrespective of where they feature on the table. The Super XV isn't finished and has been reshuffled to accommodate Australia's Super XV teams as mush as possible already.

This game should have been played this past weekend, but the organisers/sponsors whoever responsible for logical scheduling stuffed up.

Well one could argue that the ARU were happy to recieve the millions of dollars in revenue the lions brings, not to mention the local economies, yet want everything on their own terms. This is the quickest tour, and less build up to a test in the history of the lions because of super rugby, theres only so many concessions one can make for the home union who benefits solely from this tour.

[Breadvan]

bit strange to here some of you say you have big worries about certain aspects of the game. It's the first time some of these guys have played alongside each other - what were you expecting?"!!?

Snap. Two games in, over a dozen try's scored, 3 conceded, some good combinations happening and some suprising performances by players...What do ppl want! I admit they haven't played the strongest of teams yet but a great start nontheless. Roll on sat...

[thebluesmancometh]

bit strange to here some of you say you have big worries about certain aspects of the game. It's the first time some of these guys have played alongside each other - what were you expecting?"!!?

Snap. Two games in, over a dozen try's scored, 3 conceded, some good combinations happening and some suprising performances by players...What do ppl want! I admit they haven't played the strongest of teams yet but a great expected start nontheless. Roll on sat...

[wales606]

bit strange to here some of you say you have big worries about certain aspects of the game. It's the first time some of these guys have played alongside each other - what were you expecting?"!!?

Snap. Two games in, over a dozen try's scored, 3 conceded, some good combinations happening and some suprising performances by players...What do ppl want! I admit they haven't played the strongest of teams yet but a great start nontheless. Roll on sat...

There is only a few weeks before the first test

The defence was not good enough tonight - that the plain fact of the matter.

It will improve, but there is a lot of work to be done from today's performance before the first test.

[Breadvan]

Honestly bluesm... I hope u have a fantastic time when you go out to Aus but fgs enjoy yourself will ya! Leave the coaching manual, player stats and analysis at home and just chill....

[thebluesmancometh]

Honestly bluesm... I hope u have a fantastic time when you go out to Aus but fgs enjoy yourself will ya! Leave the coaching manual, player stats and analysis at home and just chill....

I'm like Superman, never able to switch off

[thomh]

Stats are interesting

http://www.espn.co.uk/lions-tour-2013/rugby/match/164079.html

AWJ with a very high tackle count and a fair amount of carries

Cole disappointing in the loose

Sexton only make 2 tackles, Farrell made 7 off the bench - interesting

Did Sexton miss any tackles though? That stat means very little really if Western Farce had very little ball when Sexton was on the pitch.

I think AJW was very good.

Yeh he missed one on our own line for one of their tries. Probably shouldn't have been left in a one on one there, but still needed to make the tackle.

[thebluesmancometh]

Stats are interesting

http://www.espn.co.uk/lions-tour-2013/rugby/match/164079.html

AWJ with a very high tackle count and a fair amount of carries

Cole disappointing in the loose

Sexton only make 2 tackles, Farrell made 7 off the bench - interesting

Did Sexton miss any tackles though? That stat means very little really if Western Farce had very little ball when Sexton was on the pitch.

I think AJW was very good.

Yeh he missed one on our own line for one of their tries. Probably shouldn't have been left in a one on one there, but still needed to make the tackle.

Yep, not Sextons fault at all, he and Murray were left defending places they really didn't want to at times, there were some really poor back row and tight 5 defence performances, it's all well and good to sit out wide like Croft, Vunipola, SOB, Heaslip and Falatau all did and like to, the Force will rarely turnover and attack, but Aus will look to flood the contact area and exploit these drifters. Cole Best and AWJ were the only tight performers today, and it isn't hard to see why people think they were playing poorly!

[GunsGerms]

SOB and Heaslip were both very good in the loose though.

[GunsGerms]

Yeh he missed one on our own line for one of their tries. Probably shouldn't have been left in a one on one there, but still needed to make the tackle.

That wasnt a missed tackle, he made the tackle he just didnt stop the guy from scoring a try.

[thebluesmancometh]

SOB and Heaslip were both very good in the loose though.

With ball in hand, but how many missed tackles, players out of position, inferior players and gaps in the defence will they encounter v Aus???!!

Like I said all the carrying is impressive, but means little against teams of this nature, and for me SOB highlighted he is in no way a 7, numerous times the ball bobbled around the floor with no instinctive openside to mop it up, his support play was off the mark, and he was a bit slow to the breakdown in attack and non existent in defence. As I always said though he could be a real contender at 8.

[thomh]

Yeh he missed one on our own line for one of their tries. Probably shouldn't have been left in a one on one there, but still needed to make the tackle.

That wasnt a missed tackle, he made the tackle he just didnt stop the guy from scoring a try.

With that sort of tackle that near the line it amounts to the same thing. Technically he made the tackle but only after allowing the guy to beat him on the outside and being forced to go round the legs. He was never going to stop him like that.

[GunsGerms]

Yeh he missed one on our own line for one of their tries. Probably shouldn't have been left in a one on one there, but still needed to make the tackle.

That wasnt a missed tackle, he made the tackle he just didnt stop the guy from scoring a try.

With that sort of tackle that near the line it amounts to the same thing. Technically he made the tackle but only after allowing the guy to beat him on the outside and being forced to go round the legs. He was never going to stop him like that.

It doesnt count as a missed tackle and as Bluesman mentioned he was left to defend the fringes by himself when the back row should have been there too. Its easy enough to score a try one on one from that distance. Not much Sexton could have done.

[the-goon]

Who was given man of the match? I only saw the 2nd half.

[RubyGuby]

In Gatland we trust - we have learned that in Wales and he won't be fooled by the high scores in the 2 games. 2 decent run outs with the Force taking advantage of a fragmented defence which has never played together before. Game was pretty much as we expected. Only significant concern for me is Best's line out throwing. Those worried about Evans, Cole etc need not. Plus we all knew Murray was a 3rd choice at best. All going to plan apart from Healey's injury and we have plenty to come in who can plug the obvious gaps that were left out there. It's building up nicely

[thomh]

It doesnt count as a missed tackle and as Bluesman mentioned he was left to defend the fringes by himself when the back row should have been there too. Its easy enough to score a try one on one from that distance. Not much Sexton could have done.

I disagree. He shouldn't have been left in that position in the first place, but I still think he should have done better.

[thebluesmancometh]

It doesnt count as a missed tackle and as Bluesman mentioned he was left to defend the fringes by himself when the back row should have been there too. Its easy enough to score a try one on one from that distance. Not much Sexton could have done.

I disagree. He shouldn't have been left in that position in the first place, but I still think he should have done better.

On his own try line V forwards in numbers???

There was a time in the first where he was under his own posts at 2nd pillar too, that is some seriously poor forward play allowing your 10 in that position!!!

[GunsGerms]

It doesnt count as a missed tackle and as Bluesman mentioned he was left to defend the fringes by himself when the back row should have been there too. Its easy enough to score a try one on one from that distance. Not much Sexton could have done.

I disagree. He shouldn't have been left in that position in the first place, but I still think he should have done better.

Well I reckon one on one at close range an 8 vs an OH with the try line beckoning the 8 will come out on top nearly every time. Its unlikely in a tight test match the Lions would defend the fringes so thinly.

[Bathman_in_London]

Despite the high scores I think that was a worthwhile game for the Lions. Halfpenny looks to have inked his name into the test squad I think, that boot will be vital in a far tighter test series.

The midfield was interesting too, Tuilagi played pretty well at 12 I thought, although I wouldnt mind seeing 20mins of him at 13 with Roberts at 12 in the coming weeks.

Backrow lacked a bit of balance I thought, but in many ways a game like this isnt the best way to judge the forwards. Having said that Vunipola really stood out for me, he would certainly bring real impact into the last quarter of a test match.

All in all, 2 big wins, sort of as expected, but the things are on track...

[Taffineastbourne]

I believe Halfpenny got MoM award.Not a huge surprise after that kicking performance.If JW had done this the English press would be in meltdown!
I do not like seeing back rowers hanging about on the touch lines.Who is doing their work whilst they are loitering?

[sirBiggles]

Who was given man of the match? I only saw the 2nd half.

Didnt notice it mentioned on the TV coverage, however, Halfpenny was awarded MOTM points in the ESPN fantasy game, so suspect it was him.

[belovedfrosties]

Bit surprised halfpenny got it tbh, his kicking game was excellent but aside from that he didn't do/need to do much at all bar one nice pick up from a grubber. Vunipola was motm for me, carried and tackled brilliantly and whenever the ball went loose from either side it was him that was on it.

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