Lions vs NSW-Q Country XV - Discussion Thread

[LondonTiger]

So after the first real test for the Lions, the shebang moves on to Newcastle for what should be another opposed training session. Who can we expect to see playing? Well after featuring prominently in all 3 matches we should see MakoV getting a well earned rest and Corbs and Grant getting 40 minutes each. In the back row Tipuric will be hoping to get some game time having barely featured since the HK fixture. Maitland is an almost certainty on one wing but we may see a surprise on the other with Manu possibly being given a run-out in a 3rd position (assuming he recovers from his stinger) as I expect North to be selected for next weekends match. Sexton should be starting, and we can expect to see the coaches taking a look at how he goes with Mike Phillips.

Predicted Line-up:

Corbs
Hibbard
Jones
POC
AWJ
SOB
Tipuric
Heaslip
Phillips
Sexton
Maitland
Roberts
BOD
Manu
1/2p

Grant, Cole, Best, Evans, Croft, Murray, Farrell, Hogg

Actual Lineup (more left field than I had expected):

15. Maitland
14. Cuthbert
13.BOD
12. Roberts
11. North
10. Hogg
9. Murray

1. Corbisiero
2. Hibbard
3. Cole
4. Gray
5. Evans
6. O'Brien
7. Tipuric
8. Heaslip

Bench

Best, Grant, Stevens, AW Jones, Faletau, Phillips, Davies, Halfpenny

[123456789]

I think Phillips may be injured so it might be Murray aside from that it's probably quite close. Your back-row choice looks very good.

Personally I'd go for:

1. Grant
2. Best
3. Jones
4. POC
5. AWJ
6. SOB
7. Tipuric
8. Heaslip
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Maitland
12. Roberts
13. BOD
14. Halfpenny
15. Kearney (if he's fit)

[ultra]

From what I've seen so far and considering the 'test' is coming soon:
Corbs, Hibbard, Jones
POC, Parling
Tipuric Heaslip Lydiate
Youngs
Sexton
Roberts Davies
North
Cuthbert
Halfepnny

Time to start the real team, just giving Vunipola a rest

[LondonTiger]

Would it not be better to line up next Saturday with a strong team - even if it means some players lining up Weds and Sat. This match surely is an easy one?

Has Kearney trained in the last week?

[wales606]

I think a close to first team will play next Saturday

Some players may play Tuesday aswell, but I expect them to have bench replacements that will come on at 40/50 minutes

1. Corbseiro
2. Hibbard (replaced at 50)
3. Cole
4. AW Jones
5. POC (replaced at 50)
6. Warburton (c) (replaced at 60)
7. Tipuric (plays both games)
8. Faletau
9. Phillips (replaced at 50)
10. Sexton (replaced at 50)
11. Maitland
12. Roberts (plays both games)
13. O'Driscoll (replaced at 50)
14. Cuthbert
15. Halfpenny (plays both games)

16. Best
17. Grant
18. A.Jones
19. Evans
20. SOB
21. Murray
22. Farrell
23. Tuilagi/JD2


Then Saturday

1. Vunipola
2. Hibbard
3. Adam
4. Grey
5. O'Connell
6. Warburton (c)
7. Tipuric (replaced at 60, Warbs to 7)
8. Heaslip
9. Phillips
10. Sexton
11. North
12. Roberts (replaced at 60)
13. BOD
14. Cuthbert/Maitland
15. Halfpenny

16. Youngs
17. Corbs/Grant
18. Cole
19. AW Jones
20. SOB/Croft
21. Youngs
22. Farrell
23. Tuilagi/JD2

[BigTrevsbigmac]

I think Warburton will either start or be on bench as he looked as though he still needs game time to me.

[BamBam]

Surely Croft will get another go at some point in the next 2 games?

[wales606]

Surely Croft will get another go at some point in the next 2 games?

I was going to say, I must have done something wrong - but I think Warburton needs 2 games, Tipuric needs at least 1 and I want to see SOB alongside them.

[Feckless Rogue]

I'd like to see O'Brien/Heaslip/Warburton play together.

[GavinDragon]

i think that may be the tes back row

[George Carlin]

LondonTiger - you're right, unfortunately there's going to be a real drop off in standards for the purposes of this game - only 10 of the combined NSW / Queensland Country Squad are Super 15 players.

The rest come from Australian clubs. Whilst that standard will be reasonable, can you imagine the likes of players from Cornish Pirates, Carmarthen Quins or Gala facing off against the Springboks? Exactly. Our opposition looks like this:

Rikki Abraham (Qld Country) Prop
Dale Ah-Wong (Qld Country) Wing
Phoenix Battye (Force) Lock
Jarrad Butler (Reds) Backrow
Lewie Catt (NSW Country) Centre
Tom Cox (Brumbies) Wing
Tim Davidson (Rebels) Backrow
Trent Dyer (Rebels) Backrow
Blake Enever (Reds) Lock
Dylan Evans (NSW Country) Prop
Alex Gibbon (Southern Districts) Centre/Wing
Ben Greentree (NSW Country) Centre
Haydn Hirsimaki (Qld Country) Prop
Tom Kearney (Qld Country) Hooker
Josh Mann-Rae (Brumbies) Hooker
Adam McCormack (NSW Country) Halfback
Tim Metcher (Southern Districts) Prop
Angus Roberts (Rebels) Fly half/Full back
Beau Robinson (Reds) Backrow
Tereta-Junior Siakisini (Qld Country) Centre
Michael Snowden (Force) Halfback
Richard Stanford (Eastern Suburbs) Lock
Nathan Trist (Sydney Uni) Full back/Wing

It's an excellent chance for Corbs to get some game time. Even with his lack of match practice, one arm tied behind his back and blindfold on he's still going to fold up his opposition tighthead like a sandwich.

Then it's the Tahs next weekend. The problem with having such a huge variance in quality of opposition is that it makes the Lions test selection a real headache. Some of the comments on these boards aimed at Lions players today (with utterly random, notional 'ratings' thrown in) were ridiculous - how can you compare playing against a Force side full of kids who had never played Super rugby before to a Reds side with 9 cap internationals in their starting 15 and another three on the bench?

I don't know. Perhaps I'm just getting old.

[wales606]

Perhaps we will see a full dirt tracker team then, with the first saves for the Tahs

If this game is going to be a walkover then training runs together will probably be the same value

[yappysnap]

The best player on that Oz team list is probably out injured as well (B Robinson).

I like LT's team. It makes sense for Tuilangi to be on one wing if possible as I expect Sat's wingers to be North and Cuthbert with 1/2P at 15. Centre pairing looks good and the backrow is the best available.

[George Carlin]

Posted this on the other thread but I'll also do it on this one - the Combined Country team is up:

	Payer	Team	Current Club	Regional Club/Born
1	Haydn HIRSIMAKI	QLD Country	Sunshine Coast Stingrays	Sunshine Coast
2	Josh MANN-RAE	Brumbies - Super Rugby	Gungahlin, ACT	Narromine
3	Tim METCHER	Premier Rugby - Southern Districts	Southern Districts, Sydney	Coffs Harbour
4	Phoenix BATTYE	Force - Super Rugby	Wanneroo, WA	Cooma
5	Blake ENEVER	Reds - Super Rugby	Easts, Brisbane	Sunshine Coast
6	Richard STANFORD	Premier Rugby - Eastern Suburbs	Eastern Suburbs, Sydney	Wellington
7	Jarrad BUTLER	Reds - Super Rugby	Easts, Brisbane	Gold Coast Breakers
8	Tim DAVIDSON (Capt)	Rebels - Super Rugby	Sydney University, Sydney	Young
9	Michael SNOWDEN	Force - Super Rugby	Eastwood, Sydney	Tamworth
10	Angus ROBERTS	Rebels - Super Rugby	Sydney University, Sydney	Gunnedah
11	Tom COX	Brumbies - Super Rugby	Uni-Norths, ACT	Sunshine Coast
12	Tareta-Junior SIAKISINI	QLD Country	Gold Coast Breakers	Gold Coast
13	Lewie CATT	NSW Country	Wanderers, Newcastle	Wanderers, Newcastle
14	Alex GIBBON	Premier Rugby - Southern Districts	Southern Districts, Sydney	Far North Coast NSW
15	Nathan TRIST	Premier Rugby - Sydney University	Sydney University, Sydney	Kiama
16	Tom KEARNEY	QLD Country	Noosa Dolphins	Sunshine Coast
17	Dylan EVANS	NSW Country	Wanderers, Newcastle	Singleton
18	Rikki ABRAHAM	QLD Country	Teachers West, Townsville	Townsville
19	Rory ARNOLD	QLD Country	Gold Coast Breakers	Gold Coast
20	Trent DYER	Rebels - Super Rugby	Sydney University, Sydney	Avoca Beach/Gosford
21	Adam McCORMACK	NSW Country	Hastings Valley, NSW	Hastings Valley, NSW
22	Shaun McCARTHY	QLD Country	Burdekin RUC, QLD	Townsville
23	Dale AHWANG	QLD Country	Barron-Trinity Bulls, Cairns	Far North Queensland

I must confess that the only Super Rugby bloke I've heard of is Jarrad Butler, who's a big meaty chap that gets the back end of a few games for the Reds.

Can Fa and the other Aussies lads help me?

[bluestonevedder]

Does anyone know of any radio stations that will be covering this match?

[RDW]

Right lads usual story - I'm at work not able to watch or listen to anything so some informed discussion and updates would be much appreaciated!

OK the 'informed' part might be a little adventurous on here but we'll see what happens!

[bedfordwelsh]

Right lads usual story - I'm at work not able to watch or listen to anything so some informed discussion and updates would be much appreaciated!

OK the 'informed' part might be a little adventurous on here but we'll see what happens!

RDW,

Like you I am in work but I won't be looking for updates and will be signing off in a bit as hope do avoid the result and watch on sky+ later.

[maestegmafia]

Right lads usual story - I'm at work not able to watch or listen to anything so some informed discussion and updates would be much appreaciated!

OK the 'informed' part might be a little adventurous on here but we'll see what happens!

RDW,

Like you I am in work but I won't be looking for updates and will be signing off in a bit as hope do avoid the result and watch on sky+ later.

I have to fix our shed, its collapsing after the rain. Going to try the sky Go app and see how that works...!

[__owen_]

I've been struck down with food poisoning and can't leave the house to watch the game, any chance someone could pm me a link please?

[George Carlin]

Can I say from the outset that Jim Rosenthal does not really belong on a High Definition tv screen. Unless he's taking part in a Spot The Open Pores competition.

[Guest]

Can I say from the outset that Jim Rosenthal does not really belong on a High Definition tv screen. Unless he's taking part in a Spot The Open Pores competition.

I forgot you had him presenting aye

[petethepete]

Lads, anyone know if this game is on any radio station?

[broadlandboy]

Try Talk Sport

[petethepete]

Cheers, yep on Talk sport for anyone stuck at work!

[Guest]

Stuart Barnes doesn't help the Lions unity: "Made in Wales, finished in Wales". T@sser.

Try by Cuthbert, started with a break from Tipuric and set up by O'Driscoll. Touchline conversion from Hogg!

[t1000advancedprototype]

What a kick from Leigh Hogg!!!! He's playing great at 10.

Tipruic and Cuthbert playing fantastic.

[RDW]

Great start from Hogg with the place kicks considering he's only taken 4 professional kicks at goal in his life!

[Guest]

Try 2 - Cuthbert sets up Murray about 1 minute after the first try.

[GLove39]

Peach of a kick from Hogg.
And another try for the Lions!

[Hound of Harrow]

Excellent from Hogg for the first try, and boom, Murray's in for the 2nd. 0-14 after 10 mins.

[Guest]

Well this will be a cricket score

[nathan]

If you guys could keep us updated! thanks

[GLove39]

Yessssss try for Hogg!!!!!

[t1000advancedprototype]

Hogg should be experimented at 10 for Scotland.

[Guest]

Hogg is Dan Carter! Show and go and in for a try from almost half way! Tipuric providing the link though too.

[nathan]

is this going to be a cricket score?

[jelly]

Shame for all the players really. Not a lot of chance to shine as there is such a gap in class and only downside if you have a mare. Just hope we steer clear of injuries here.

[Guest]

Missed the kick - get him off!

[t1000advancedprototype]

We have the backs to cream the Ozzies if our forwards can dominate.

[GLove39]

Lions to breach the 100 point mark?

[Cyril]

Shame for all the players really. Not a lot of chance to shine as there is such a gap in class and only downside if you have a mare. Just hope we steer clear of injuries here.

My feelings exactly. The type of game where you can only play yourself out of contention rather than the other way around.

The Lions really shouldn't be organising games like this. A full-on training session would be better.

Hopefully no more injuries.

[t1000advancedprototype]

Maitland was asking for that. Talk about slow!

[RDW]

How is Hogg getting on?

[sirBiggles]

Hogg better 10 than Farell

[t1000advancedprototype]

LOL at North overtaking Maitland.

[Ozzy3213]

This is a completely pointless exercise.

[GLove39]

How is Hogg getting on?

Pretty well. Lovely touch line conversion, Bizzarely missed the easier conversion of his own try, which was a peach. And very nice pass for the first try.

[Guest]

Some nice touches RDW, score a peach of a try, kicked a touchline conversion then missed an easier one and just kicked another.

[sirBiggles]

Maitland break makes up for previous charge down... then passes to North to finish off try, run from own line...

[RDW]

I know this is a pointless game against weak opposition but in Hogg’s case you really want him to do the basics well that we would be able to do against any team – kicks for touch, kicks at goal, tackles etc. If he can do that well for the whole 80 he’ll have such a confidence boost.

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