Australia vs British and Irish Lions - 22nd June : TEST 1 BUILDUP

First topic message reminder :

So, it's only a week to go before the first Lions test for 4 years.

Gatland has a host of injuries and a game against the Brumbies to manoeuvre while deciding the 23 players who will take to the pitch next Saturday.

Christian Wade and Brad Barritt have both been called up to cover for injury concerns over Jamie Roberts, Manu Tuilagi, Tommy Bowe and George North


My team for Saturday

1. Maku Vunipola
2. Tom Youngs
3. Adam Jones
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Paul O'Connell
6. Tom Croft
7. Sam Warburton
8. Toby Faletau
9. Mike Phillips
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. George North (Simon Zebo)
12. Jonathan Davies
13. Brian O'Driscoll
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Richard Hibbard
17. Alex Corbisiero
18. Dan Cole
19. Richie Gray
20. Justin Tipuric
21. Ben Youngs
22. Owen Farrell
23. Manu Tuilagi/Stuart Hogg


Thoughts?

Scoped wrote:How is that not a yellow? I'd settle for a warning really but cmom Pollock at least try to look impartial!

That gap was only created due to POC illegally taking a player out who was trying to make the tackle. Open both eyes my man

Damn it. Top game. Did the Aussies not just counter ruck well there?!

I can't believe he didn't even consider a yellow, it's the second time OZ have cynically killed the ball on their own line and they haven't even been warned?!?

I thought Phillips was the best scrum half in the buildup but today he has kicked poorly and been slow to rucks. He seems unfit?

Why do I get the feeling going into the sheds leading the game is ominous? 

Great see saw battle. Mistakes from both sides and good play in attack as well. Thank goodness this is living up to the hype in terms of giving us a contest. It's far from perfect but it's high pressure stuff and the game is open.

Lions half backs have been very poor. Two tries given away and absolutely nothing created. Thank God for North and Halfpenny.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Croft? He was about the only defender coming across and the ball was past him before Croft was due to make the tackle. The try was because there is little organisation in defence and because there was no kick chase on the dire box kick.

Nathan, North and Halfpenny are immense. Phillips is playing Poopie. Everyone else alright though Tom Youngs is doing a cracking job on a Tigers point of view.

Pretty much how I see it!!! Think the pack is going well as a whole just the box kicking is giving the defensive line too much to do

Well Halfpennys not having it all his way. Was nowhere to be seen with Folau's two tries, got outjumped by Folau and has now missed a kick...showing he's human but he wouldnt want to get any worse.

If your talking about the initial break AFew then fair enough but I'm talking about the cynical work at the ruck down on the try line which warrented a yellow. Both eyes working fi w

BOD was been outstanding for the Lions in defence and at the breakdown and his vision is still outstanding. Davies in comparison looks out of his depth. Going with Warburton and Croft looks like a poor decision so far and without Tipuric or SOB on the bench the Lions are seriously hampered. The front five are having an excellent, excellent match so far.

The defending from Phillips, Croft and the back three for the first try was abysmal. Sexton and Corbs were equally poor for the second.

If the Ozzies had Halfpenny they'd be out of sight.

Anyway aside from the Pollock hating it's been a fantastic game. Both sides looking enterprising on attack. Awesome 2nd half to look forward to for a neutral!!!

odriscoll needs to back off and let warburton deal with ref. his constant whining serves only to irritate pollock.

Scrumdown wrote:odriscoll needs to back off and let warburton deal with ref. his constant whining serves only to irritate pollock.

Agree. Maybe Warburton needs to assert himself a bit more

BOD went to the ref once?

Scoped wrote:If your talking about the initial break AFew then fair enough but I'm talking about the cynical work at the ruck down on the try line which warrented a yellow. Both eyes working fi w

It's important to have your own opinions and not parrot whAt the excitable commentators say. I thought the penalty was marginal. It was the same thing bod was pinged for earlier. In the NH that would have been ruled a good turn over - the lions loosies just weren't at the party

In what way GE? They went over the ruck and put hand straight on the floor. Even up here in the NH its a penalty

That crowd looks, and sounds amazing!

This is going to the wire. Australia need to get the 3 pointers and lions need to shore up defence out wide. Beale coming on now could be very interesting!

Ive been seriously impressed by Corbs, he's having a cracker, he might have missed the tackle at the end, but he's been awesome everywhere else.

He even gave the penalty so thats not even in doubt my issue is the lack of warning for something like that on the try line

doctor_grey wrote:

B91212 wrote:Morning people, 4am here and I'm like a kid at Christmas! Did I just read that JOC has 37 caps at 22? Had his fair share of injuries as well. Amazing.

Morning, boyo.  6:00 here.  Tired.  Right after this, I have to drive my boys to Pennsylvania for a 7s tournament.  I suppose the weather is just slightly better than back home.  85°F and bright sun.  

Belated morning back to you good doctor. Been a bit of rain around in south central Alberta but thankfully we are okay. Good luck with the 7's.

Corbs has been great and Youngs has been perfect thus far come lineout. AWJ has been defencively sound from what I've seen and the rest of the forwards average. But the half backs have been poor. Need to see more from them

BOD and POC have gone to the ref because they are on the field leaders and Warburton's captaincy has been lacking today.

Lions a little lucky to be ahead with JOCs miserable kicking. Folau earning his bucks with two tries and knocking out North just enough.

Lions have to make sure the W's dont get these jumps on them. The two tries were just the oz use of space but the Lions matching them by dominating up front, but Oz are used to that.

GloriousEmpire wrote:

Scoped wrote:If your talking about the initial break AFew then fair enough but I'm talking about the cynical work at the ruck down on the try line which warrented a yellow. Both eyes working fi w

It's important to have your own opinions and not parrot whAt the excitable commentators say. I thought the penalty was marginal. It was the same thing bod was pinged for earlier. In the NH that would have been ruled a good turn over - the lions loosies just weren't at the party

If it's apenalty then it has to be a yellow card,you can debate whether or not is a penalty but once it's given in that position with the Lions looking like scoring a try it has to warrant a card.

Barnes hasn't been playing well and whilst I don't like seeing injuries anyway, his replacement by Beale strengthens their loose play but crucially means O'Connor has to continue with the kicking duties and he's missed 8 points worth already.

Would love to see territory and possession stats.

I haven't heard Cuthbert's name mentioned once.

Looking for our centres to be more influential this half. I think we've got them taped in the set piece although the breakdown is 50:50.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:BOD went to the ref once?

moaning like a girl. let warburton deal with pollock in his own respectful and authoritative way and lions might get some decisions.

Also how awesome is Genia? 5 ft 8 and best player on pitch...Phillips has been ok but is utterly dominated by lil Will. Maybe time to bring Youngs on?

Scoped wrote:In what way GE? They went over the ruck and put hand straight on the floor. Even up here in the NH its a penalty

It impossible to retain your feet if there's no opposition there. It was a technical failure in an otherwise valid counter ruck. Hence a penalty but it was certainly not cynical, or warranting a yellow card.

Hookisms, Croft was in the ruck. Phillips and North were the players turned inside out for the first try.

Phillips may well not be fully fit he is slower than usual, his predictable play is lacking his usual power and he made no effort to chase down Genia for the first try.

Scrumdown wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:BOD went to the ref once?

moaning like a girl. let warburton deal with pollock in his own respectful and authoritative way and lions might get some decisions.

Lol

ospreysboyo wrote:Ive been seriously impressed by Corbs, he's having a cracker, he might have missed the tackle at the end, but he's been awesome everywhere else.

Agreed, its not the first time a winger has escaped the tackle of a prop and won't be the last.

beale, JOC, Folau, Genia, Ioane, AAC all on at the same time...? geeeeez... long time since oz have had this skill level on the field...dont let them breathe or theyll run away with it.

Phillips is flipping awful. I dont think he is even fit

GET PHILLIPS OFF!

Mikey....c'mon lad fgs!

Phillips could lose this game on his own.

Phillips looks rattled

Scrumdown wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:BOD went to the ref once?

moaning like a girl. let warburton deal with pollock in his own respectful and authoritative way and lions might get some decisions.

Yeah.  The ref would change his decision... for respectful and authoritative Warbs.  Gatland has done his propaganda well.

Phillips was so good in the warm ups but has been god awful today

Tut tut Phillips. Time to get Youngs on.

Get him off

Ref is killing the Lions at the breakdown

If no one minds I am going to channel the much misdeed Bluesman on Phillips:

But you don't understand Phillips is playing to a gameplay and has done it brilliantly. If you don't understand that you don't know anything about rugby IMHO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hooky..  

Hooper going to play 12!

3 oz backs stretchered off? unbelievable

The Lions could end up winning this by default,Australia just getting so unlucky with injury and really takes a lot of gloss off the game unfortunately.