Lions vs Force Player Ratings

First topic message reminder :

Here's how I saw the players. Feel free to disagree!



Leigh Halfpenny: 7 Another amazing kicking display. Not involved in many attacks and was skinned by Brown but a typically tidy display.
Tommy Bowe: 7 - Cut some lovely lines but needs to come in field more.
Brian O'Driscoll: 8 - Threatened well and created a lot of opportunities for others.
Manu Tuilagi: 7 – Not as noisy and destructive as usual but partnered well with BOD
George North: 7 -Like Bowe he didn’t come in off the wing as much as he could but had a few good bullocking runs.
Jonny Sexton: 9 – A near perfect display. Good try and marshaled the backline well.
Conor Murray: 6 - Solid if a little slow in delivery.
Cian Healy: Injured so didn’t get to see enough of him.
Rory Best: 5 – Not his best game, missed his jumpers on a few occasions.
Dan Cole: 4 – Was he playing?!
Alun Wyn Jones: 5 – Popped up here and there but looked a bit weak in the lineout.
Ian Evans: 4 – Utterly anonymous.
Tom Croft: 6 - Didn’t do much in the loose, was busy waiting on the wing to score his try!
Sean O'Brien: 8 - Pick of the forwards.
Jamie Heaslip : 8 – Looked very dangerous.

Vunipola: 7 – Looked dangerous in the loose but gave away a few penalties and free kicks in the scrum.
Stevens: 5 – Loped from scrum to scrum.
Parling: 7 - Looked very handy and scored his try well. The only lock to put his hand up today.
Faletau: Didn’t see enough of him.
Ben Youngs: 5 – Hoped he would add something extra but looked a bit pedestrian.
Farrell: 7 - Did very well scoring his try and had a far more solid game.
Maitland: Not on long enough to judge.

I'm not going to do ratings, mainly because everyone looked pretty decent as they should given the opposition.


The guys who stood out the most:

Sexton- got the backs moving well, was solid in defence took his try well.

Halfpenny- aside from the amazing kicking, he put in a solid defensive shift, making a wonderful recovery on a loose ball towards the end.

Heaslip - been playing well for the last 6 months after 18 months where he should have been dropped by Ireland, the guy carried extremely well, broke tackles, made yards and was okay in defence but could do more there in my opnion.

SOB - There is no way he is an openside, but he is a great player, made yards did well to slow down ball, and also made some good tackles, would prefer to see him asd a blindside or as an 8.

Tuilagi - BOD got two tries, and had a decent game (one or two poor passes and decisions, but he was solid) but Tuilagi was more impressive, consistent yards, great defence and did decent at the breakdown when he challenged, brings others into the play extremely well and would have been up there for the best players of the day

madmaccas wrote:Here's how I saw the players. Feel free to disagree!



Leigh Halfpenny: 7 Another amazing kicking display. Not involved in many attacks and was skinned by Brown but a typically tidy display.
Tommy Bowe: 7 - Cut some lovely lines but needs to come in field more.
Brian O'Driscoll: 8 - Threatened well and created a lot of opportunities for others.
Manu Tuilagi: 7 – Not as noisy and destructive as usual but partnered well with BOD
George North: 7 -Like Bowe he didn’t come in off the wing as much as he could but had a few good bullocking runs.
Jonny Sexton: 9 – A near perfect display. Good try and marshaled the backline well.
Conor Murray: 6 - Solid if a little slow in delivery.
Cian Healy: Injured so didn’t get to see enough of him.
Rory Best: 5 – Not his best game, missed his jumpers on a few occasions.
Dan Cole: 4 – Was he playing?!
Alun Wyn Jones: 5 – Popped up here and there but looked a bit weak in the lineout.
Ian Evans: 4 – Utterly anonymous.
Tom Croft: 6 - Didn’t do much in the loose, was busy waiting on the wing to score his try!
Sean O'Brien: 8 - Pick of the forwards.
Jamie Heaslip : 8 – Looked very dangerous.

Vunipola: 7 – Looked dangerous in the loose but gave away a few penalties and free kicks in the scrum.
Stevens: 5 – Loped from scrum to scrum.
Parling: 7 - Looked very handy and scored his try well. The only lock to put his hand up today.
Faletau: Didn’t see enough of him.
Ben Youngs: 5 – Hoped he would add something extra but looked a bit pedestrian.
Farrell: 7 - Did very well scoring his try and had a far more solid game.
Maitland: Not on long enough to judge.

are you irish by any chance?

Murray a 6 and B.Youngs a 5?

Thought Murrey chose the wrong options more than once, was also slow at getting the ball out. When youngs came on i thought he did well, got the ball out quickly.

GunsGerms wrote:

The Saint wrote:Look I don't think either were great. I payed close attention to Danny in the first game and didn't see a high error count. I saw good fitness and some good carries with good tackling. He was also heavily involved in the lineout. Not back to his best yet after only playing for a few weeks,but not a bad start. I read most of the post match comments and there was hardly anything constructive in the discussion which is now what I've come to expect from the usual two nationalities, sadly. That's all I'm trying to say.

You seem hell bent on categorising posters by their nationality. Just relax and enjoy the rugby. Cant expect everyone to think the same way as you.

That's the way it is on here so there's no need for me to categorise. Irish were quiet and mostly discussed Kidney during the 6 Nations. Lydiate is the new topic now that he's back playing rugby. Scots have been hating on Phillips since before the 6 Nations. Phillips gets a lot of criticism from Wales fans as well too mind.
Now you're back to being stupid. I don't expect everyone to think the same as me. I quite clearly made a point of the Phillips, Lydiate and Farrell bashing being boring and made a point of it being from the usual's.

6 isnt a great score though is it? Below average.

Youngs only got 10 minutes or so, so its hard to asess how well he did.

The Saint wrote:
That's the way it is on here so there's no need for me to categorise. Irish were quiet and mostly discussed Kidney during the 6 Nations. Lydiate is the new topic now that he's back playing rugby. Scots have been hating on Phillips since before the 6 Nations. Phillips gets a lot of criticism from Wales fans as well too mind.
Now you're back to being stupid. I don't expect everyone to think the same as me. I quite clearly made a point of the Phillips, Lydiate and Farrell bashing being boring and made a point of it being from the usual's.

Have you ever tried breathing into a brown paper bag?

GunsGerms wrote:

The Saint wrote:
That's the way it is on here so there's no need for me to categorise. Irish were quiet and mostly discussed Kidney during the 6 Nations. Lydiate is the new topic now that he's back playing rugby. Scots have been hating on Phillips since before the 6 Nations. Phillips gets a lot of criticism from Wales fans as well too mind.
Now you're back to being stupid. I don't expect everyone to think the same as me. I quite clearly made a point of the Phillips, Lydiate and Farrell bashing being boring and made a point of it being from the usual's.

Have you ever tried breathing into a brown paper bag?

I'll try that if you try watching game of rugby without green spectacles, deal?

The Saint wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

The Saint wrote:Look I don't think either were great. I payed close attention to Danny in the first game and didn't see a high error count. I saw good fitness and some good carries with good tackling. He was also heavily involved in the lineout. Not back to his best yet after only playing for a few weeks,but not a bad start. I read most of the post match comments and there was hardly anything constructive in the discussion which is now what I've come to expect from the usual two nationalities, sadly. That's all I'm trying to say.

You seem hell bent on categorising posters by their nationality. Just relax and enjoy the rugby. Cant expect everyone to think the same way as you.

That's the way it is on here so there's no need for me to categorise. Irish were quiet and mostly discussed Kidney during the 6 Nations. Lydiate is the new topic now that he's back playing rugby. Scots have been hating on Phillips since before the 6 Nations. Phillips gets a lot of criticism from Wales fans as well too mind.
Now you're back to being stupid. I don't expect everyone to think the same as me. I quite clearly made a point of the Phillips, Lydiate and Farrell bashing being boring and made a point of it being from the usual's.

I would disagree completely with that statement, "the Irish" and quiet is an oxymoron.

nathan wrote:

madmaccas wrote:Here's how I saw the players. Feel free to disagree!



Leigh Halfpenny: 7 Another amazing kicking display. Not involved in many attacks and was skinned by Brown but a typically tidy display.
Tommy Bowe: 7 - Cut some lovely lines but needs to come in field more.
Brian O'Driscoll: 8 - Threatened well and created a lot of opportunities for others.
Manu Tuilagi: 7 – Not as noisy and destructive as usual but partnered well with BOD
George North: 7 -Like Bowe he didn’t come in off the wing as much as he could but had a few good bullocking runs.
Jonny Sexton: 9 – A near perfect display. Good try and marshaled the backline well.
Conor Murray: 6 - Solid if a little slow in delivery.
Cian Healy: Injured so didn’t get to see enough of him.
Rory Best: 5 – Not his best game, missed his jumpers on a few occasions.
Dan Cole: 4 – Was he playing?!
Alun Wyn Jones: 5 – Popped up here and there but looked a bit weak in the lineout.
Ian Evans: 4 – Utterly anonymous.
Tom Croft: 6 - Didn’t do much in the loose, was busy waiting on the wing to score his try!
Sean O'Brien: 8 - Pick of the forwards.
Jamie Heaslip : 8 – Looked very dangerous.

Vunipola: 7 – Looked dangerous in the loose but gave away a few penalties and free kicks in the scrum.
Stevens: 5 – Loped from scrum to scrum.
Parling: 7 - Looked very handy and scored his try well. The only lock to put his hand up today.
Faletau: Didn’t see enough of him.
Ben Youngs: 5 – Hoped he would add something extra but looked a bit pedestrian.
Farrell: 7 - Did very well scoring his try and had a far more solid game.
Maitland: Not on long enough to judge.

are you irish by any chance?

Murray a 6 and B.Youngs a 5?

Thought Murrey chose the wrong options more than once, was also slow at getting the ball out. When youngs came on i thought he did well, got the ball out quickly.

Nope! I'm a Scot, so unbiased in that particular debate. To be honest, none of the scrum halves drive me wild with excitement. Phillips is the best of the bunch IMO but would love to see him passing more quickly. I've never seen him attempt a dive pass.

The Saint wrote:

GunsGerms wrote: Strange, I thought Lydiate was one of the worst players for the Lions v the BaBas. Seemed to make a lot of basic mistakes and was sluggish enough.

Then maybe it's just you (and actually a few other Irish), because you see nothing but fault every time Lydiate plays a game of rugby down to shear dislike for the guy. It's pretty sad that you all lose sleep over the thought of him on the rugby field. But you aren't the only culprits; the Scots hate Mike Phillips and just about everyone hates Owen Farrell; so don't think I'm picking on you.

Another good performance from the Lions without anyone really putting a foot wrong. I think us fans might have a better idea of the test team after this weekends game. One thing I do find funny though is that the player of the 6 Nations has a near faultless game and proves his worth yet again but some Scottish posters still look for ways/stats to try and convince everyone that Hogg is without a doubt the certified starter. Going by current form it's clearly Halfpenny to start, which can change within the next week or 2 of course.

Well that is just wrong. All we say is Hogg offers some thing different - 99% of the Scottish posters fully expect H/P to start and righty so, but what Hogg offers is a slightly more attacking thread, which could be of use

Please stop making stuff up

Thank you

I don't want to comment on EVERYONE's comments so just a few points I'd like to make,

1) I thought BOD and Tuilagi were really good together, the defence really had to stay honest which gave our back 3 a lot more space. They defended well together and seemed to be on the same wavelength a number of times. The pair were good at attacking the line and distributing which left the defence guessing a lot.

2) Murray was very slow IMO. He looked really poor when it came to getting the ball out quick. I was pretty disappointed after a pretty good performance against the BaaBaa's.

3) Best for all his qualities simply can not start unless he hits his jumpers more. He didn't lose lineouts to opposition jumpers just badly timed and some overthrown. He is a great player and brings so much to the table but he simply has to do his primary job better than he is.

4) Heaslip is playing out of his skin and if Warbs is in the team with someone like SOB or Lydiate or even Tipuric then Heaslip will be needed as a lineout option. Really good start to the tour for him.

5) Halfpenny is simply an outstanding goalkicker (not just on todays performance) but he does need to offer himself more in attack.

Riskysports wrote:

The Saint wrote:

GunsGerms wrote: Strange, I thought Lydiate was one of the worst players for the Lions v the BaBas. Seemed to make a lot of basic mistakes and was sluggish enough.

Then maybe it's just you (and actually a few other Irish), because you see nothing but fault every time Lydiate plays a game of rugby down to shear dislike for the guy. It's pretty sad that you all lose sleep over the thought of him on the rugby field. But you aren't the only culprits; the Scots hate Mike Phillips and just about everyone hates Owen Farrell; so don't think I'm picking on you.

Another good performance from the Lions without anyone really putting a foot wrong. I think us fans might have a better idea of the test team after this weekends game. One thing I do find funny though is that the player of the 6 Nations has a near faultless game and proves his worth yet again but some Scottish posters still look for ways/stats to try and convince everyone that Hogg is without a doubt the certified starter. Going by current form it's clearly Halfpenny to start, which can change within the next week or 2 of course.

Well that is just wrong. All we say is Hogg offers some thing different - 99% of the Scottish posters fully expect H/P to start and righty so, but what Hogg offers is a slightly more attacking thread, which could be of use

Please stop making stuff up

Thank you

I'm not making stuff up. You all claim this and have done since the 6 Nations, and you all really dislike Phillips for no apparent reason.
Also you keep on about Wales losing to Australia and how Wales backline tactics won't work versus Australia yet you fail to answer people if they ask whether another teams backline tactics will work. Leave out the national bias and just support the Lions.

Thomond wrote:

The Saint wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

The Saint wrote:Look I don't think either were great. I payed close attention to Danny in the first game and didn't see a high error count. I saw good fitness and some good carries with good tackling. He was also heavily involved in the lineout. Not back to his best yet after only playing for a few weeks,but not a bad start. I read most of the post match comments and there was hardly anything constructive in the discussion which is now what I've come to expect from the usual two nationalities, sadly. That's all I'm trying to say.

You seem hell bent on categorising posters by their nationality. Just relax and enjoy the rugby. Cant expect everyone to think the same way as you.

That's the way it is on here so there's no need for me to categorise. Irish were quiet and mostly discussed Kidney during the 6 Nations. Lydiate is the new topic now that he's back playing rugby. Scots have been hating on Phillips since before the 6 Nations. Phillips gets a lot of criticism from Wales fans as well too mind.
Now you're back to being stupid. I don't expect everyone to think the same as me. I quite clearly made a point of the Phillips, Lydiate and Farrell bashing being boring and made a point of it being from the usual's.

I would disagree completely with that statement, "the Irish" and quiet is an oxymoron.

Not rating someone is fine by me, but the comments I refer to are coming from a few posters and all of them happen to be Irish.

The Saint wrote:

Riskysports wrote:

The Saint wrote:

GunsGerms wrote: Strange, I thought Lydiate was one of the worst players for the Lions v the BaBas. Seemed to make a lot of basic mistakes and was sluggish enough.

Then maybe it's just you (and actually a few other Irish), because you see nothing but fault every time Lydiate plays a game of rugby down to shear dislike for the guy. It's pretty sad that you all lose sleep over the thought of him on the rugby field. But you aren't the only culprits; the Scots hate Mike Phillips and just about everyone hates Owen Farrell; so don't think I'm picking on you.

Another good performance from the Lions without anyone really putting a foot wrong. I think us fans might have a better idea of the test team after this weekends game. One thing I do find funny though is that the player of the 6 Nations has a near faultless game and proves his worth yet again but some Scottish posters still look for ways/stats to try and convince everyone that Hogg is without a doubt the certified starter. Going by current form it's clearly Halfpenny to start, which can change within the next week or 2 of course.

Well that is just wrong. All we say is Hogg offers some thing different - 99% of the Scottish posters fully expect H/P to start and righty so, but what Hogg offers is a slightly more attacking thread, which could be of use

Please stop making stuff up

Thank you

I'm not making stuff up. You all claim this and have done since the 6 Nations, and you all really dislike Phillips for no apparent reason.
Also you keep on about Wales losing to Australia and how Wales backline tactics won't work versus Australia yet you fail to answer people if they ask whether another teams backline tactics will work. Leave out the national bias and just support the Lions.

Scotland hates 1/2p and Phillips, you heard it here first!

The Saint wrote:

Thomond wrote:

The Saint wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

The Saint wrote:Look I don't think either were great. I payed close attention to Danny in the first game and didn't see a high error count. I saw good fitness and some good carries with good tackling. He was also heavily involved in the lineout. Not back to his best yet after only playing for a few weeks,but not a bad start. I read most of the post match comments and there was hardly anything constructive in the discussion which is now what I've come to expect from the usual two nationalities, sadly. That's all I'm trying to say.

You seem hell bent on categorising posters by their nationality. Just relax and enjoy the rugby. Cant expect everyone to think the same way as you.

That's the way it is on here so there's no need for me to categorise. Irish were quiet and mostly discussed Kidney during the 6 Nations. Lydiate is the new topic now that he's back playing rugby. Scots have been hating on Phillips since before the 6 Nations. Phillips gets a lot of criticism from Wales fans as well too mind.
Now you're back to being stupid. I don't expect everyone to think the same as me. I quite clearly made a point of the Phillips, Lydiate and Farrell bashing being boring and made a point of it being from the usual's.

I would disagree completely with that statement, "the Irish" and quiet is an oxymoron.

Not rating someone is fine by me, but the comments I refer to are coming from a few posters and all of them happen to be Irish.

So thats the Irish and Scottish offended, make a crack about England next...

I thought SOB was immense in the opponents half but shocking in his own 22. Rushed out of the line leaving the Force forwards with a run onto Sexton's weak shoulder and resulting in two tries. He must discipline himself in those positions better.

Agree Murray was one paced, did nothing to alter tempo and seemed allergic to running ball in hand even if it meant scooping bad ball backwards.

Heaslip immense as was half Halfpenny. Thought the midfield combo was really good as well.

Was it just me or did the Force seem to really target AWJ with some success at the restarts? Though the big Welshman performed better against the Baabaas personally.

Dan Cole: 4 – Was he playing?!

Yes he was the one securing the scrum and slowing the Force ball down whilst not getting pinged. Pretty average day at the office for Dan but seeing as he got through all his work without any errors (or penalties conceded) a 4 is particularly harsh.

Number 2 shirt seems to be wide open, hope Youngs starts the next one so we can have a look at him. Vunipola looking a possible test start bolter in current form.

Saint - the irony of your comments is just amazing. You make sweeping statements about entire nations hating the welsh players (yawn, haven't heard that before) and ask that everyone leaves out national bias and supports the Lions?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Saint - the irony of your comments is just amazing. You make sweeping statements about entire nations hating the welsh players (yawn, haven't heard that before) and ask that everyone leaves out national bias and supports the Lions?

Well the point of me asking people to stop hating on certain Wales players (Phillips and Lydiate) along with Owen Farrell was my whole point, stop hating and start supporting them. All of them. Thought that was made clear?
Imbecile.

Didn't you just say you don't mind people not rating players? Why the moaning then? Ignore it. It isn't that hard.

Plus trying to generalise the entire nation based on a couple of posters is beyond stupid.

Oh and calm down sir.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Vunipola looking a possible test start bolter in current form.

Certainly looking that way

His carrying has been more effective than Healy's so far anyway.

Gethin will need to be destroying scrums and acting like a 7 on Saturday to take the lead.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Didn't you just say you don't mind people not rating players? Why the moaning then? Ignore it. It isn't that hard.

Plus trying to generalise the entire nation based on a couple of posters is beyond stupid.

Oh and calm down sir.

Well you haven't been reading then. The level of spiteful comments against some of our players is both wrong and unnecessary, though you're all welcome not to rate some players as highly as we may do. I cleared this up hours ago.

Or maybe.. people just don't rate certain players that happen to be welsh? With no bias/spite/hatred involved at all?

Could be a possibility, no?

I know it's early yet for uploads, but does anyone know of anywhere to watch the match online? The two youtubers who had the barbarians game have nothing yet...

Probably a bit early to be uploaded yet Clive. I'll send you the youtube link I watch if it is uploaded later this week (which I imagine it will be).

Yea probably the same as I watch Rory. I'd just love them to be quicker? I'd even pay for it. Why can't sky do a pay per view on demand? Tenner per 24 hours viewing is just silly considering the cost of sky sports for a full month.

I'd pay 4/5quid per match like. But instead they lose my custom to an illegal internet stream!

Think Youngs T and Vunipola look very good options off the bench for the test team. They are both at their best when running at the opposition as the game opens up. If they are on from the start they will have to concentrate on the technicals of scrummaging, if they come on after 55-60 mins after Jenkins/Corbs and Hibbard have worn down the opposition I think they could cause plenty of problems for the Oz.

Vunipola struggled starting in the 1st game but looked far more dangerous coming off the bench when the game had opened up, I have said before that I think this role may well suit him better and fancy him for a bench test spot.

He did alright against the Baabaas Bedford. He is after all a 20 stone man playing in extremely humid conditions. He looked calmer in the second half once his nerves had settled in. He continued in that good vein of form today. He came on after 38 mins which is hardly "as the game opened up" and performed very well making an immediate impact. Certainly not the most technical scrummager but the again the Aussies aren't boasting a top class tighthead. What we do need is mobility and power combined with someone who can manage an offload. He can do that. I know what you are saying about him bringing impact but I'd like to see that from the go as at the minute Jenkins isn't fit, Corbs has barely played all season and Healy won't be playing.

I'd like to see Tom Youngs start a game before he is consigned to the bench. He can certainly be a great impact option but neither Hibbard nor Best have done much to nail down the shirt yet and he deserves a shot.

From a tactical point of view do we want to be looking for a 60 minute impact, surely the last thing we want is a last quarter shoot out against the Wallabies?

ive only seen the fifteen minutes highlights available on youtube but even from that I was dissapointed with Ian Evans - in 15 minutes I saw him hit 3 rucks ineffectively and not actually clear the jackler - hes number 4 at present and if parling plays well on sat could be 5th in line

formerly known as Sam wrote:He did alright against the Baabaas Bedford. He is after all a 20 stone man playing in extremely humid conditions. He looked calmer in the second half once his nerves had settled in. He continued in that good vein of form today. He came on after 38 mins which is hardly "as the game opened up" and performed very well making an immediate impact. Certainly not the most technical scrummager but the again the Aussies aren't boasting a top class tighthead. What we do need is mobility and power combined with someone who can manage an offload. He can do that. I know what you are saying about him bringing impact but I'd like to see that from the go as at the minute Jenkins isn't fit, Corbs has barely played all season and Healy won't be playing.

I'd like to see Tom Youngs start a game before he is consigned to the bench. He can certainly be a great impact option but neither Hibbard nor Best have done much to nail down the shirt yet and he deserves a shot.

From a tactical point of view do we want to be looking for a 60 minute impact, surely the last thing we want is a last quarter shoot out against the Wallabies?

I think vunipolo will start in the tests for his ball carrying ability. Gethin is a better defensive prop i.e he is like a flanker over the ball but he doesnt carry and I think if we are looking to impose ourselves on the aussies we need 15 players who carry the ball effectively

GavinDragon wrote:ive only seen the fifteen minutes highlights available on youtube but even from that I was dissapointed with Ian Evans - in 15 minutes I saw him hit 3 rucks ineffectively and not actually clear the jackler - hes number 4 at present and if parling plays well on sat could be 5th in line

Gav,

He was my big disappointment today, I had him down as a bolter for the test shirt as he had a great season for us in the 6 Nations but he done himself no favours at all today.

indeed - also find it funny how many players who shine defensively are getting poor ratings from posters - it should be of no surprise when these games are so one sided that players like dan cole and dan lydiate are not showing up they are the ones that you need in the trenches with your when the going gets tough and you need to get off the deck and make the next tackle and get your body over the ball and slow it down...

and before I get slated by my welsh brethren for forgetting the mighty adam I am not suggesting he is not in pole for the test 3 spot just merely pointing out that certain players thrive under different conditions

Agree Gav and that's where you see a bit of a difference between Lydiate and Croft. Dan has never been known as one to stand out in the wide channels where as Croft loves and thrives on that element of his game and benefited today by taking his try really well.

I don't think Lydiate is not really suited to hard grounds down in Oz his big work rate, hard tackling style is more suited to crap conditions with plenty of carrying around the breakdowns. He's a great choice for the 6N not sure this Lions tour is right for him.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I don't think Lydiate is not really suited to hard grounds down in Oz his big work rate, hard tackling style is more suited to crap conditions with plenty of carrying around the breakdowns. He's a great choice for the 6N not sure this Lions tour is right for him.

It was good to see him being used as a lineout option on the weekend as that's something he's not done often.

agreed sam, it depends on what sort of mentality we take into the game, if we want to take it to the aussies you will probably start with croft of o brien, want to defend and you play lydiate

the same could be said of openside mind, if you want to nullify the aussies and negate their back row you play warburton, if you are focusing more on our game and attacking you play tipuric

GavinDragon wrote:indeed - also find it funny how many players who shine defensively are getting poor ratings from posters - it should be of no surprise when these games are so one sided that players like dan cole and dan lydiate are not showing up they are the ones that you need in the trenches with your when the going gets tough and you need to get off the deck and make the next tackle and get your body over the ball and slow it down...

and before I get slated by my welsh brethren for forgetting the mighty adam I am not suggesting he is not in pole for the test 3 spot just merely pointing out that certain players thrive under different conditions

Excellent point, GD, different horses for different courses. And incredibly difficult to reach conclusions when the oppo have been so poor

Lydiate would be a great option if we were touring South Africa, he is the kind of player England missed last summer when Willem Alberts was running all over us

The Saint wrote:

Riskysports wrote:

The Saint wrote:

GunsGerms wrote: Strange, I thought Lydiate was one of the worst players for the Lions v the BaBas. Seemed to make a lot of basic mistakes and was sluggish enough.

Then maybe it's just you (and actually a few other Irish), because you see nothing but fault every time Lydiate plays a game of rugby down to shear dislike for the guy. It's pretty sad that you all lose sleep over the thought of him on the rugby field. But you aren't the only culprits; the Scots hate Mike Phillips and just about everyone hates Owen Farrell; so don't think I'm picking on you.

Another good performance from the Lions without anyone really putting a foot wrong. I think us fans might have a better idea of the test team after this weekends game. One thing I do find funny though is that the player of the 6 Nations has a near faultless game and proves his worth yet again but some Scottish posters still look for ways/stats to try and convince everyone that Hogg is without a doubt the certified starter. Going by current form it's clearly Halfpenny to start, which can change within the next week or 2 of course.

Well that is just wrong. All we say is Hogg offers some thing different - 99% of the Scottish posters fully expect H/P to start and righty so, but what Hogg offers is a slightly more attacking thread, which could be of use

Please stop making stuff up

Thank you

I'm not making stuff up. You all claim this and have done since the 6 Nations, and you all really dislike Phillips for no apparentth reason.
Also you keep on about Wales losing to Australia and how Wales backline tactics won't work versus Australia yet you fail to answer people if they ask whether another teams backline tactics will work. Leave out the national bias and just support the Lions.

I seemed to refer to your comment on Hogg. But u ignored that.

I am not the one with national biAs, just an opinion, whether English , welsh, Irish or Scottish. I get bored by people throwing the national bashing card cos they disagree with my opinion

Hope to see Croft, Warburton and Faletau together at some point. I reckon that combination could well be the most balanced option, aggressive in the tight, good hands, offloads, and some strength over the ball. As well as lineout ability and pace.

chargedowntotheface wrote:Hope to see Croft, Warburton and Faletau together at some point. I reckon that combination could well be the most balanced option, aggressive in the tight, good hands, offloads, and some strength over the ball. As well as lineout ability and pace.

A bit leftfield as Tipuric, Heaslip and SOB have all played a little better. However, I think your backrow would have good balance to it.

Think the Lions have a lot of strength at back row.