Brumbies vs Lions Tuesday

First topic message reminder :

[quote="George Carlin"]Brumbies team is up, Maes:

15-Jesse Mogg,
14-Henry Speight,
13-Tevita Kuridrani,
12-Andrew Smith,
11-Clyde Rathbone,
10-Matt Toomua,
9-Ian Prior,

8-Peter Kimlin (captain),
7-Colby Faingaa,
6-Scott Fardy,
5-Sam Carter,
4-Leon Power,
3-Scott Sio,
2-Siliva Siliva,
1-Ruan Smith.

Replacements: 16-Josh Mann-Rea, 17-Jean-Pierre Smith, 18-Chris Cocca, 19-Etienne Oosthuizen, 20-Jordan Smiler, 21-Mark Swanepoel, 22-Robbie Coleman, 23-Zack Holmes.


Lions team: Rob Kearney, Christian Wade, Brad Barritt, Billy Twelvetrees, Shane Williams, Stuart Hogg, Ben Youngs; Ryan Grant, Rory Best (capt), Matt Stevens, Ian Evans, Richie Gray, Sean O'Brien, Justin Tipuric, Toby Faletau

Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Conor Murray, Owen Farrell, Simon Zebo

This team points to a number of players who must be fringe selections or definitely not going to make it.

Sydney is plus 13hrs and flight time about 15hrs so he would arrive in Sydney 2 hrs after he left.

RubyGuby wrote:No platform = No hope - Rugby's a simple game and Gatland just put out what remined of his squad plus a few add ons. No surprises with the result, it happens on these types of tours. It sorted a few men out from the boys but in a strange way it probably did the selection process more favours than anything else and has given the squad an "edge" that was lacking as they now venture out with a point to prove. You gotta hand it to Gatland, he's a clever so and so

Yes - he should have taken Hook or another 10 and Yes he should have not taken Matt Stephens - But how many on here were also baying for his blood for ommitting Rory Best. Just judge him after the tour as it's likely to blow up in your face otherwise.

If I was into conspiracy theories, you'd nearly have to think that Gatland scape goated Best.

Not selecting Best from the start would have really knocked Best's confidence, then selecting him and making him captain of a group of players who hardly know each others names and some who were still probably suffering from jetlag was never going to work out, especially with a fullback at outhalf against the best Australian club side.

You are into conspiracy theories though arent you?

I looked at Expedia, Buenos Aeres to Sydney. A direct flight came up, but this doesn't seem available over the weekend. The cheapest flights seem to be via Dubai, which is must be double the distance compared to over the Antarctic.

http://www.expedia.co.uk/Flights-SearchResults-OneWay?c=65a1c8ed-c5a2-4607-8ede-47b6510253f3&

This gives 21 hours, including 5 hours spent (hopefully) in the Business Class lounge at Santiago.

Timewise checking again BA is only 4 hours behind the UK. The kick off was 1045 in the UK, so for Mr Wade would have felt like 6.45 am.

It may have factored in but I'd say the complete ineptness of the pack in every area together with the lack of practice and cohesion in the backs was a bigger factor in Wade (and Williams) being unable to impose themselves

Exactly. Plus Barrit being completely annonymous

GunsGerms wrote:You are into conspiracy theories though arent you?

Do you have an explanation as to why Gatland would try to do such a dumb thing?

He is already getting flack for not bring a 3rd outhalf and only one inside centre.

I suppose the jet lag could also be used for Barritt. He flew from the US, which has worse time zone problems (he would have been playing at 2.15-5.15 am, depending on where he was), though the connections might have been easier - he would have arrived Sunday night or Monday morning. 

Then again - he may have had his boots polished and been living on Aussie time.

Exactly. Plus Barrit being completely annonymous

Barritt is usually anonymous in that he's understated and effective, though admittedly limited in attack compared to some others.

Is it just me or did the Lions team that played on tuesday know that they was not going too be in the test team even bother to try and make a game of it...Rory Best said, we did not turn up. They wanted it more than we did.

Can the Lions afford not to play their first choice players in all games. I know players need a rest between games. But if they want to win all games ( impossible now)i know that. But the p-ayers should at least have tried to win and not leave untill the subs came on to make a game of it.

Quite simply this match was lost by the forwards.  Did anyone really expect that cobbled together backline to do much?  The frontrow wasn't the best that could have been put out (though still much better than the 2nd string, capless, 21-23yo opposition), but Grey, O'Brien, Tipuric & Faletau would have been in many people's test side a week ago and should have been all over the Brumbies pack, not coming off second best and failing to deliver their backs a top notch platform to smooth over their limitations.

markb wrote:Quite simply this match was lost by the forwards.  Did anyone really expect that cobbled together backline to do much?  The frontrow wasn't the best that could have been put out (though still much better than the 2nd string, capless, 21-23yo opposition), but Grey, O'Brien, Tipuric & Faletau would have been in many people's test side a week ago and should have been all over the Brumbies pack, not coming off second best and failing to deliver their backs a top notch platform to smooth over their limitations.

Em, a lot of people were expecting great things from it before the actual game took place.  Wade (ooh!) Williams (ahh!) Youngs (wow!), Hogg (has potential there!)  Excited?  Not harf!!!

The retrospection came after the game, markb - just where it should be.

The players may well be quality, exciting individuals, but it would have been a fool who expected much (particularly in cohesive play) from any backline that had barely met, let alone trained together, especially as most of them had probably had at least a full day of travel half way round the world 24-48hrs before.  The Barbarians with usually more experienced and occasionaly better quality internationals habitually flounder with longer preparation against weaker opposition.

From what I read before the match, most of the saner voices on this forum recognised those limitations.

Feel sorry for Hogg, he got thrown to the wolves in this game with a scratch backline and a pack that misfired badly in the lineout and at the breakdown.

He was in a position he wasn't comfy with whilst Farrell a test 10 watched the game from the bench.

Hogg hasn't really had a chance to assert himself in his prefered positions.

Just watched the first half finally and I am surprised.

It was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Just lacked the final ball,  which is not surprising. Considering the team coming together

On,y thing not working is the line out. The scrum is solid and we are making half breaks

Really do not understand the hysteria on here