Rumour has it

First topic message reminder :

That BOD who was not in the dressing room after the match stated he has never seen a centre display like Jonathan Davies produced today.

I for one agree. Apart from three fast tracks from the defensive line of which two produced massive benefits (an interception and a big tackle) which in my mind were certainly not defensive mistakes but an awareness that the others didn't show.

Its been my mind (before the tour even started) that Mr G should pencil in a fit and on form Foxy before anyone else.

Awesome tour performance and close to MOM with 1/2p

Halfpenny's last tackle against Australia was missed - knocking himself out in the process, Oz scored in the final minutes to win the match - Dec 2012

For the record, 1/2p didn't miss his tackle, he tackled the player who offloaded to Beale.

BlueNote wrote:For the record, 1/2p didn't miss his tackle, he tackled the player who offloaded to Beale.

For the record once again 1/2p tackled the player, who was already passing the ball inside after drawing 1/2p to the line. Job done by the offensive player and lack of positional awareness by the Lions FB

so we're bemoaning a fullback who had a 2 on 1, tackled the player with the ball, who passed inside as the tackle was coming.....

if Halfpenny doesnt make that tackle and tries to cover for the attacker and Beale, the man with the ball has a clear run to the line. Halfpenny trusts his cover to get there, it doesnt.

Any back worth his salt at test level should be able to draw a FB and deliver a pass to his team mate on the inside in that 2 on 1 position. I dont see this as Halfpenny being positionally incorrect at all sorry FHF - he IS the best defensive FB in the Lions squad, and probably in the B&I isles, the fact we're picking out 1 incident when he was in a 2 on 1 defensively and couldnt stop 2 players is testament to how little he gets wrong.

Comfort

Do not lose a cog over this, it was in reply to someone stating he was not to blame at all for the try and Maitland was to blame entirely. Nothing more than that

Comfort wrote:so we're bemoaning a fullback who had a 2 on 1, tackled the player with the ball, who passed inside as the tackle was coming.....

if Halfpenny doesnt make that tackle and tries to cover for the attacker and Beale, the man with the ball has a clear run to the line. Halfpenny trusts his cover to get there, it doesnt.

Any back worth his salt at test level should be able to draw a FB and deliver a pass to his team mate on the inside in that 2 on 1 position. I dont see this as Halfpenny being positionally incorrect at all sorry FHF - he IS the best defensive FB in the Lions squad, and probably in the B&I isles, the fact we're picking out 1 incident when he was in a 2 on 1 defensively and couldnt stop 2 players is testament to how little he gets wrong.

Calm, fella, was merely mean to prove that he's not infallible! But yes, I believe he is the best defensive fullback in the Lions party, probably in the NH

"(1) Job done by the offensive player and (2) lack of positional awareness by the Lions FB"

Point 1 correct, point 2 nonsense.  There is no way as FB 1/2p could or should have done anything else in that situation, and he was exactly where he should have been.  This is clutching at straws.

BlueNote wrote:"(1) Job done by the offensive player and (2) lack of positional awareness by the Lions FB"

Point 1 correct, point 2 nonsense.  There is no way as FB 1/2p could or should have done anything else in that situation, and he was exactly where he should have been.  This is clutching at straws.

Yep, think there are a few posters who are a bit annoyed that they can never find something to criticise Halfpenny with. Not tackling 2 players at once is certainly clutching at straws.

AAC can do that

andy powells minder wrote:AAC can do that

Yep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-4SIsDLkVg

Granted he should probably have been pinged for 2 high shots and one late one

JD2 has certainly had an outstanding tour. I must say I thought he was touch and go to tour initially, given a mixed 6 Nations by his standards. He's been exception though.

I think the mantle of best defensive 15 in the squad is probably shared between Halfpenny and Kearney. Kearney is also a rock under the high ball and misses very few tackles. Clearly fitness and form place Halfpenny well ahead for this Test series, not to mention his excellent goal kicking, but when fit and on form I'd say Kearney is his equal in defence.

Hogg's defence and his position is a work in progress. It's in attack with ball in hand that Hogg really shines, although I thought Halfpenny took that second try really well last Saturday running a great line. I have no complaints about Halfpenny starting on Saturday, although I predict Australia will really test him with kicks, given their lack of go forward in the pack.

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

andy powells minder wrote:AAC can do that

Yep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-4SIsDLkVg

Granted he should probably have been pinged for 2 high shots and one late one

Hahaha, that's great

Grabbing players by their neck is a penalty though

Also, how easy do the SA players go down?

BlueNote wrote:"(1) Job done by the offensive player and (2) lack of positional awareness by the Lions FB"

Point 1 correct, point 2 nonsense.  There is no way as FB 1/2p could or should have done anything else in that situation, and he was exactly where he should have been.  This is clutching at straws.

What is all this "clutching at straws"

1/2p was in attack on the left flank.......... there was a counter attack from a quick throw-in........ our Lions FB was cantering midfield when that happened, now that's clearly positional suicide. What happened next was 1/2p had to run BACK and across from the midfield area, clearly seen from the playback. His positional tackle was clearly sideways on and the opposing player realised this was going to happen from about 30 yards out hence he continued the drift taking 1/2p towards the line. If he was in the proper FB channel he could have narrowed the option but he wasn't hence was clearly in the mire when the opposition player went past Maitland with ease.

No brainer really...... and certainly not nonsense

Watch it again mate