Lions v Reds...

First topic message reminder :

So who will play?

Jenkins
Youngs
Stevens
Parling
???
???
Warburton
???
Youngs
???
???
???
???
???
Kearney

If Gats is to be beleived these players HAVE to start, so who would you play and why?

t1000advancedprototype wrote:

AFewTooManyKnocks wrote:

t1000advancedprototype wrote:

Cari wrote:WTF was that TMO saying...? it sounded like "There was no evidence of it held up..." Can't he just say no try/try and whatever...

The TMO decision made no sense.

No evidence of held up would mean you can award a try.

?? The TMO clearly said "Held up, scrum".

I heard TMO say "no reason to see it was held up".

Very confusing.

Fair enough.

I've rewound the coverage to check and he says "there is no evidence(of a try). It is held up. Scrum".

Anyway it doesn't matter a smidgen

Seeing it again, Warburton or Tipuric probably wouldn't have made a difference to that near score. It was great support by Sam.

Artful_Dodger wrote:Its been a very poor showing from the Lions, this match should really be over by now but so many mistakes and errors are costing us.

I think we've been getting mullered at the breakdown despite Warburton being the Lions captain and an openside - hes made no impact at the breakdown. Lydiate has been pretty anonymous as well. I think its the hardest team we've played so far but also the weakest Lions team and performance thus far to go a long with it.

??? Some people are expecting far too much.

Breakdown has been alright IMO

Few balls spilling out, but not the backrows fault

Better than the Force game, and better fringe defending too

Farrell and B Youngs are looking very good, so to Parling and Grey.

North on the other hand has been outstanding as is Bowe

Maybe in a minority of one but the lightweight English front row has performed better than most wanted or expected, and Stevens has played a blinder

Reds play nice rugby but rarely have the threatened to score trys

George Carlin wrote:

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Positives for the Lions:
North
Bowe
Tom Youngs
Gray
Parling

Negatives:
Warburton
Lydiate
Falateau
Davies
Cuthbert
Hogg

Disappointing performances from a few players. They need to up their levels in the second half.

Perhaps a dozen shades of grey in those generalisations, Hooky?

I don't think so lad. Maybe a bit harsh on Davies in retrospect. He's done a few good things but too many basic mistakes. Disappointed in Hogg. For a game with so much broken field running he hasn't been in the game. Otherwise I think what I suggested is reasonable. But it can all turn around in the second half

Knackeredknees wrote:Farrell and B Youngs are looking very good, so to Parling and Grey.

North on the other hand has been outstanding as is Bowe

Maybe in a minority of one but the lightweight English front row has performed better than most wanted or expected, and Stevens has played a blinder

Have to agree, I was a little worried about the front row but they've done pretty well.

Hope Manu is alright!

Is Tuilangi badly injured? Looks like a shoulder problem. Hope he's OK.

Breathless first half though. Think I'm going to feel too drained to watch the rest of the rugby this aft, especially after getting up at 0530 for Wales.

Risca Rev wrote:Breathless first half though. Think I'm going to feel too drained to watch the rest of the rugby this aft, especially after getting up at 0530 for Wales.

+1 I was awake at half four!

nathan wrote:Hope Manu is alright!

Yeah, be gutted if he's hurt badly.

Been very disappointed with Parling. He looks great when he came on as a sub in the last game but with 2 knock ons already today he's having a shocker.

Risca Rev wrote:Breathless first half though. Think I'm going to feel too drained to watch the rest of the rugby this aft, especially after getting up at 0530 for Wales.

It's ok for you your teams played.......I've got to wait till 8pm for mine!

I might be able to watch that KK...as long as it's not too boring...

This is the hard part about comparing players based different games. The Reds are operating at 8 levels above the Force and you have to bear that in mind. There's no point saying that the Lions side against the Force conceded X tries or won Y much possession and therefore the players in that Lions side were better.

Question arises as to whether it is prized more to Gatland - playing well in the heat of a truly competitive match or being part of a team that runs up a cricket score against weak opposition.

COME ON!!!

Nobody has mentioned t. Youngs throwing in these greedy conditions. Must be a good thing! Lo,

Forwards are clearing out better now which should give us quicker ball.

Good, that's what the Lions need today...quick ball. Thank gawd Phillips isn't on!

Oi! That was forward! Some flat passing by the Reds.

Rucks just aren't good enough!

Fair few wasted chances, but at least they are making the chances

The Lions need to do better at the breakdown.

Knackeredknees wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:Breathless first half though. Think I'm going to feel too drained to watch the rest of the rugby this aft, especially after getting up at 0530 for Wales.

It's ok for you your teams played.......I've got to wait till 8pm for mine!

Don't envy you.

I'll just be out for a pint now and relax all afternoon instead. I hate waiting for rugby, so I guess today isn't so bad for a Welsh Lions fan.

BOWE INJURY SCARE!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOO! Please no, no more injuries for him.

Couple of dodgy decisions by the ref...

Gray has been superb

Bowe injured :/

Sexton on, so Farrell to 12 and JD2 to 13

wales606 wrote:Breakdown has been alright IMO

Few balls spilling out, but not the backrows fault

Better than the Force game, and better fringe defending too

Breakdown has been very poor in my opinion, in the Force game the strategy was clearly to commit few to the breakdown and have thin fringe defence and just blow Force away. Today we have nobody on the ground and have conceded quite a few turnovers.

Artful_Dodger wrote:

wales606 wrote:Breakdown has been alright IMO

Few balls spilling out, but not the backrows fault

Better than the Force game, and better fringe defending too

Breakdown has been very poor in my opinion, in the Force game the strategy was clearly to commit few to the breakdown and have thin fringe defence and just blow Force away. Today we have nobody on the ground and have conceded quite a few turnovers.

You need to take into consideration the opposition, the force team was a b team of an already rubbish team

Farrell playing a lot better with Youngs

Phillips and Sexton start with Farrell and Youngs on the bench?

Reds was always going to be the hardest game outside of the Australia tests. But if we are struggling at the breakdown against them then its looking pretty ominous for the Australia tests.

7-19 at 50 minutes. Weather deteriorating now.

Artful_Dodger wrote:Reds was always going to be the hardest game outside of the Australia tests. But if we are struggling at the breakdown against them then its looking pretty ominous for the Australia tests.

But this is again a bunch of players who have played little together, next game we should start to see more.

Farrell having a vastly improved game which is a major plus point.

Tom Youngs gone well at the lineout today

Richie Gray having another good game.

nathan wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:Reds was always going to be the hardest game outside of the Australia tests. But if we are struggling at the breakdown against them then its looking pretty ominous for the Australia tests.

But this is again a bunch of players who have played little together, next game we should start to see more.

I'm not so sure if its the lack of game time together or its just that Warburton isn't much of an openside. Hence why many are suggesting him at 6 and Tipuric at 7. Either way I think we'll get done at the breakdown against Aus, without O'Brien or Tipuric at 7.

valtrepkos wrote:Tom Youngs gone well at the lineout today

Red are missing two locks which is really helping the Lions in the air

Are forward passes allowed in the SH?

Need some impact off the bench - time for tupiric and new front row

Reds player down and not moving :/

Eek, that looked nasty. Hope his ok.

ooh that looked nasty. He must be unconscious after that.

James Robson - absolute legend!

first man on the scene even though it was a reds player, knew it was serious

Fair play to Garces for stopping play right away, I didn't actually spot it happen.

Ah he's conscious which is a good sign. Hopefully it's not as bad as it seems.

wales606 wrote:

valtrepkos wrote:Tom Youngs gone well at the lineout today

Red are missing two locks which is really helping the Lions in the air

Agreed but u can't ask more the 100% so far - it's the weakest part of his game so a good boost for his confidence

I like the fact the medics are sponsored by Elastoplast