Lions changes?

Irishhoneymonster wrote:Anyone who thinks that was a good or solid performance from the Lions is deluded in my view. We should have taken that game by the scruff of the neck with 20 or 30 mins to go and run away with it. The fact is we didn't do that and in the end could or should have lost it. The only thing that saved us was poor goal kicking from Oz.

I think Youngs has to come in for Philips. I like Philips but today he was simply not good enough. His incessant running round the fringes when it clearly wasn't working was unforgiveable, not to mention his mindless box kicking.

I also think it is a no brainer that Bowe will walk straight back into the side if he is passed fit, and out of all the changes I list here I think it is the one that we can be sure that Gatland will actually make. And for all those reading this thinking Bowe shouldn't just walk back in, think of a scenario in which North didn't play today and the person who played in his place still scored a try and the Lions still won. Would you honestly be thinking that North shouldn't walk back into the Squad at that persons expense if they played at say the same level as Cuthbert did today? And especially considering the fact that we actually didn't play very well all in all? Bowe and North are a class above the rest in my view and for that reason will both be playing if fit. Also they are the form wingers on tour so far!

Other changes I would make would be O'Brien in for Croft and Roberts/Tuilagi in for JD2. I think Davies played quite well to be fair but it's just that the balance of the midfield is better with a crash merchant there giving Aus something to think about. I also think it is very likely Gatland will make a change at IC if he has the players available. As for my reasoning for O'Brien coming in, I don't honestly think the back row were that bad but they didn't really seem very balanced and that meant that nobody in that unit was able to shine I feel, as in just doing what they do best. I think a better balance would come from a change at blindside. Also, I wouldn't really care that much if it was Lydiate who came in but to be fair, O'Brien has put his hand up more throughout the tour so far. I'd still keep Lydiate on the bench though as he covers 6 if O'Brien is injured and O'Brien covers the other 2 positions (8 at a stretch perhaps at this level) if either Heaslip or Warburton is injured.

I had other things to say about the bench options but have been drinking too much and can't remember now. One thing I would say though is this, with a Lions squad we surely have the players to be able to pretty much empty the bench so that we can make an impact and have more fresh players on the pitch towards the end. Now don't get me wrong I understand that there is always continuity and fluidity to think about and you don't want to disrupt the team too much. But having said that, during the match today I was in some ways glad that Gatland didn't bring on the likes of Maitland because I haven't been convinced by him this tour and would have been worried if he had come on in such a tight game. Whereas if it had been Tuilagi or Bowe coming off the bench then my feeling would have been bring them on and feck continuity! My point is that with a squad as strong as this I feel that I really shouldn't be worried or feeling tentative during a match about a particular sub coming on. Kind of made me realise the bench could/should be stronger than it is. Anyway is just a thought that Gatland shouldn't have players on the bench that he is uncomfortable bringing on because of the depth that is in the squad.

Anyway I am talking rubbish now apologies, all I would reiterate is that we were super lucky today and I think we need some changes to up things next week or we could well be in trouble. Make no mistake, it was a pretty average performance from us today.

majesticimperialman wrote:Changes i would like too see. Probably wont happen. 

B Youngs for M Phillips

Either SOB/TIPS for Croft/Warburton

Either Roberts/Tualaghi/Barret, for BOD.

Would also like too see Christian Wade make a start or at least the bench.

doddieman wrote:Tuesdays team is up. Expect that none of the starting 15 will feature next sat but the bench might. SOB and lydiate playing, tips on the bench so id expect a bench spot for him next week. I expected hogg as flyhalf but he's on the bench with farell starting so could see him as bench cover for 2nd test.
Tualagi back but starting on tues, maybe just to test him out. If he's withdrawn early it could be to keep him fresh for sat.
Maitland and hibbard starting tuesday, maybe bench start for best and possible start for bowe on sat then?

glamorganalun wrote:

tatterd wrote:

fa0019 wrote:

I'd go with

Corbisiero, youngs, cole, jones, O'Connell, croft, warburton, Heaslip, youngs, sexton, north, tuilagi, odriscoll, Bowe, halfpenny.

Vunipola, Hubbard, jones, gray, o'brien, Phillips, Farrell, Davies.

You sound like you know about rugby then you come out with this tripe. Must have been me imagining it when cole came on and the lions scrum went backwards then..........

Looks like he is trying to shoe in as many English based players in as possible, stuff the result, what happens if Roberts is fit?

fa0019 wrote:

glamorganalun wrote:

tatterd wrote:

fa0019 wrote:

My issue is not with jones but rather that warburton needs help in that department and its worth a little less gusto in the scrum IMO.

.

No. Nothing is worth "a little less gusto in the scrum". The set piece is where it all begins. We sorted the line-out, but our scrum was not that much better than theirs even when Jones started. We do not have enough breathing space in the scrum to start Cole. AJ has to start. Thankfully you are not picking the team.