Lions V NSW Waratahs

First topic message reminder :

This is obviously a very important game in the overall context of the tour. Gats should use it primarily as a tough run out for his test team 1 week before the test series begins. But will he still want to give some players a chance to put up their hands? Are there certain positions still up for grabs and if so will he try and use this game as a winner takes all shoot out. It is not ideal to still be asking players to play the Brumbies game and then appear in the 1st test, although not impossible.

For me it should be:

Adam Jones - nailed on
Hibbard - almost nailed on
Grant - experiment
POC - nailed on
AWJ - trial V Parling
Lydiate - needs to prove himself
Faletau - needs to prove himself
Warbs - needs to prove himself
Phillips - nailed on
Sexton - nailed on
North - nailed on
Roberts - nailed on
BOD - nailed on
Maitland - experiment
1/2P - nailed on

Bench:
Cole.....purely for some hard match practice as I see Jones as nailed on
T.Youngs....could challenge for a starting spot if he excels as a replacement - worth a look
Vuni.......originally viewed as an impact sub so interesting to see how he goes compared to the highly rated (by the Scots) Grant who is deserving of a start
Parling.....worth another look to see if he is worth a starting or bench spot
Croft....another who deserves a run out to see if he is worth a bench spot
Heaslip....given an opportunity could take the starters spot
Youngs....assuming he will be the test sub so let him see what impact he can make
Farrell....ditto as for Youngs

Is a 6/2 bench split a bit risky?

Who would you like to see run out on Sat and do you just want the test side to play or do you still see this as a chance to experiment and give players a fair crack?

Update with actual team.
Lions team: Leigh Halfpenny; Sean Maitland, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Simon Zebo; Jonathan Sexton, Mike Phillips; Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell , Tom Croft, Sam Warburton (capt), Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Rob Kearney

Clearly forward

Tom Youngs is having a great game.

Great try, was the final offload to 1/2p forward?

Wow Davies............ if anybody questions this guys positional awareness and passing game again just needs to rewind this

Halfpenny is just playing sublime

BEAUTIFUL

Halfpenny has been running great support angles since Hogg put him under pressure

JD2 really wants a test birth

That is my favourite try of the tour

Halfpenny involved more in plays and running angles more than he does for wales.

Bam! So good to see Halfpenny hitting the line and showing his pace!

10-30 at 44 minutes.

Jd2 has surely confirmed he is our man to partner BOD. Fantastic player and having a wonderful game today.

Man of the match so far.

Urgh, what a man sausage-up

Why doesn't it show Halfpenny's kick record on tour - I want to see if he is at 95% yet!

Balls! The Tahs immediately follow it up with a possible try and there's a scuffle...once again the Tahs beating on the flyhalf...history repeating...

MOTM will be interesting

I agree that it is JD2 at the moment

But Halpenny, POC and AWJ are close on his heels

Totally pished away a 7 pointer by switching off, v poor

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:Maitland just lost his chance at a test place there.

Perhaps we could all just calm down a little.

You might not like it, but he's having a pretty dreadful match.  Shame as I tipped him to make the test side before the tour started.  Zebo has had a far, far better match today.  

Good job I didn't watch the first half then.

These boards are incredibly confusing if you aren't watching the game at the same time. Warbuton and Croft are either geniuses or Satan, depending on who the poster is. That's sort of what I was getting at.

What is the connection with NSW and their dislike for Irish flyhalves...????

That was poor defense from the Lions forwards

Halfpenny involved more in plays and running angles more than he does for wales.

Try allowed, and fair enough.  

17-30 at 45 minutes.

Lydiate is playing himself into the test side just by not playing, this back three has no balance, If Heaslip and Warbs are nailed on then we better have a chopper at 6

Tahs on the attack now, and have a good position here.

Barnes talking rubbish again, I can remember at least one long lineout by the Lions.

Davies / Roberts for test.
BOD bench.

Gatland has a long standing proven successful centre pairing that's currently on fire. Why break it up?

Clear penalty there, good rolling maul forcing the offside

Farrell on for Sexytoes...hope no one starts winding him up!

Blydi hell...Alywynjo is like a trojan horse today.

So so impressed by AWJ.

I really do think warbs/tips is the best option at the moment, with SOB on the bench and Tip as the extra lineout options

AWJ is a man possessed - I have never seen him drive like that before

Time to rest Halfpenny and put Tipuruc and 15.

agreed, think AWJ has played himself into the starting line-up today. Youngs also making a really strong case.

LHP up to 28 points overtaking ROG's previous Lions record.

17-33 at 52 minutes.

Halfpenny has the record for most individual points for the Lions on Aus soil

Seriously aimless kick by Farrell, though not the first by the Lions in this match

Warbs gets his turnover

Woah! What was that on Zebo?! Penalty surely?

This tactical masterpiece they have managed to pick out is also known as the Worsley

maestegmafia wrote:

undefined wrote:flyhalffactoryLydiate is playing himself into the test side just by not playing, this back three has no balance, If Heaslip and Warbs are nailed on then we better have a chopper at 6

I think this is all about Croft or Tipuric.. Warburton could be the best option at six at the moment. We need a stronger defence and Tipuric is great in tight and loose. 

I know you like Warbs 6 Tips 7 mate but its not a proven combo (apart from 30 mins against England where they were really good) and Tips does not tackle strong enough for me albeit he punches above his weight

Mako loses ball in contact for the second time - due to running one handed with the ball


Croft try - he has some strengths

Croft proves his unique talent

"A Tom Croft Special" says the commentator.

TMO...

A wingers try by croft...!

Well played lions great pace by croft.

WOW Croft manifique!!!!!!!

Davies gets an interception too!

Croft finishes like a winger!

Great by Davies and Croft. Wee cheap shot by the Tah's 3.

Jeez going all the way back there for the TMO!

You know Tom Croft is sharing rooms with Tommy at the moment...

17-40 at 54 minutes.

Who does Croft think he is Justin Tipuric?!

JD2's best performance since Dublin 2012.
Superb.

Davies did really well to get to that intercept

then they were behind the Tahs and Croft finished it beautifully

I guess that's what Croft gives you then!!