Fine margins and the Lions spirit...

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/rugby/israel-folau-hits-all-of-the-high-notes-in-sensational-wallabies-debut-against-british-and-irish-lions/story-fnh5q2eu-1226668122440

Pick up the video at 56 seconds in.

Fantastic Mr. Folau recieves the football 40 metres out.

He jinks, he shimmies, Folau feints to kick. More unpredictable than Pollock at the breakdown...

No worries, 3 red pillars stand in his way. Jonny Sexton, one of the best defensive fly-halves in the world, right? Folau can't score from here...

A split-second and a split-step later the whole dynamic of the Test Match changes. Truly, magic from Folau.

Sexton, rooted to the spot like a stunned goalkeeper, looks on as Folau fends off Corbisiero and gracefully arcs round the defensive wall that is Halfpenny.

For the opening try, Phillips was tortured by his opposite number. Croft was left for dead. And you know what? For all their Lions experience, they jogged on nonchalantly as Folau dotted down under the posts.

Sexton, however, wants to make amends. He's been fooled. Humiliated, even. The try is done. He doesn't care.

Just watch the determination on his face as he races down the pitch to prevent Folau getting nearer the posts.

O'Connor misses the conversion. 

What was the difference in the end? Two points?

Jonny is a leader. That half-time team-talk against Northampton in 2011 has become the stuff of legend. So has his decision to call the move that sent Cian Healy and Leinster bundling over to yet another Heineken Cup Final.

But this is the feicin' pinnacle of his career. With that one burst of frustration, angst and spirit, he makes the difference. 

That moment also flipped his personal performance on a coin. Ineffective in the first half, he oozed class in the latter stages. Unfairly robbed of goalkicking duties to some shaky novice , I'd have been blwydi delighted to see Jonny sending the winning drop goal through the posts, had Kurtley not had an unfortunate mental breakdown.

---

In reality, there were several moments that determined the outcome of this match, none more so than the final kick of the game.

But who doesn't like 300 cliches in succession? 

Quite a good point, theslosty.

I also saw Halfpenny make bloody sure Cuthbert got as close to the posts as he could too when he scored.  

It sometimes seems a small issue to enthusiastic backs as they run in for their moments of glory but if they thought about their kickers more they'd be plotting getting as close as possible to the posts (when they have ample opportunity to) rather than planning how to score spectacularly.

I have a lot of time for players who are conscious about trying to help their kicker as much as possible.

ROG always made sure he scored exactly between the posts for his own tries. The selfish turd.

Yep...it's always the kickers who like to be pedantic about that bit... thus Sexton's instincts.

SecretFly wrote:Yep...it's always the kickers who like to be pedantic about that bit... thus Sexton's instincts.

Tell that to Carlos Spencer...

Very true. Should have put that in the OP. Hate to be outdone.  Fly

GLove39 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Yep...it's always the kickers who like to be pedantic about that bit... thus Sexton's instincts.

Tell that to Carlos Spencer...

Carlos did that on purpose though...as the kick proved  You might call it his 'swandive'.

great post...so Sexton gets to be a hero after being humiliated and beaten, just for narrowing the conversion...hafpenny is MOTM despite again doing nothing on attack, flying out of touch past Folau's heels, missing a relatively easy kick himself, and after getting climbed all over by Folau in one up and under.

Amazing how some read a game The only true MOTM performance in this match was Folau- has any player on the field played better on debut? Unlikely.

Taylorman wrote:great post...so Sexton gets to be a hero after being humiliated and beaten, just for narrowing the conversion...hafpenny is MOTM despite again doing nothing on attack, flying out of touch past Folau's heels, missing a relatively easy kick himself, and after getting climbed all over by Folau in one up and under.

Amazing how some read a game The only true MOTM performance in this match was Folau- has any player on the field played better on debut? Unlikely.

 Yep, pretty much.

Folau was MOTM, no?

Taylorman wrote:great post...so Sexton gets to be a hero after being humiliated and beaten, just for narrowing the conversion...hafpenny is MOTM despite again doing nothing on attack, flying out of touch past Folau's heels, missing a relatively easy kick himself, and after getting climbed all over by Folau in one up and under.

Amazing how some read a game The only true MOTM performance in this match was Folau- has any player on the field played better on debut? Unlikely.

Was Halfpenny MOTM?  I don't follow those much but you're right, I wouldn't have given him the medal this time.  But I guess the tour enthusiasts are getting a little excited.

I wouldn't give it to Folau either though.  I'd give it to almost saviour Beale - despite the heartbreaking double miss at the end.

But, 'humiliation' comes with the territory when you play genuine sides...and Folau will know those times too in his International career.  It doesn't change the fact that Sexton played his part in the win.  Not a hero but a player with the attitude that might have a big part in winning the series all the same.

Genia was sublime MOM for me

yeah i picked the key match ups to be 9/10 which were shared and the wings, the Lions two nearly as effective as Folau on his own- 2 tries and one save on North. Ioane was quiet.

But Beale's second to last kick was what cost them and gave the match to the Lions. If he had kicked one of the two this thread would be about the NZ ref. Guarantee it.

In all a great match with Oz far more room for improvement- the Lions doing largely what they can do- effective in every area- set piece, goal kicking, defence and an effective attack with the two wingers.

But between a new 10, JOC out wide, better luck with injuries and key goalkickers staying on, Oz have the bigger scope for improvement.

That's three MOMs in four short posts......

Show how subjective these prizes are.

I actually think that was the best chance aus will have of winning a test here. Lions by 10 next week

North was MOTM

GLove39 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Yep...it's always the kickers who like to be pedantic about that bit... thus Sexton's instincts.

Tell that to Carlos Spencer...

I hate arrogance like that

Commentator said there was a bonus point riding on the kick too

If he had missed that could potentially have a big impact on a lot of players

It's like the player who swan dived against Wasps a couple of seasons ago and lost the ball. A stupid thing to do, but it ended with Wasps getting the LBP because of it, and as a result Newcastle got relegated - So an entire squad on players lost their place at the top level because of an arrogant Tinkywinky trying to show off.

wales606 wrote:North was MOTM

Is that because it has to go to the winning side? Because he didnt have a better match than Folau. That is obvious.

Taylorman wrote:

wales606 wrote:North was MOTM

Is that because it has to go to the winning side? Because he didnt have a better match than Folau. That is obvious.

Both created one try

Genia would have been my MOTM - far bigger influence than any other play on the pitch

Other than perhaps Beale

Taylorman wrote:yeah i picked the key match ups to be 9/10 which were shared and the wings, the Lions two nearly as effective as Folau on his own- 2 tries and one save on North. Ioane was quiet.

But Beale's second to last kick was what cost them and gave the match to the Lions. If he had kicked one of the two this thread would be about the NZ ref. Guarantee it.

In all a great match with Oz far more room for improvement- the Lions doing largely what they can do- effective in every area- set piece, goal kicking, defence and an effective attack with the two wingers.

But between a new 10, JOC out wide, better luck with injuries and key goalkickers staying on, Oz have the bigger scope for improvement.

I think the Aussies now know they have to chase the next two games.  That might unleash the exhibitionist stuff and have us all wondering at how easy they make it look...OR...it might make them rush it, risk a loose defence and try too hard, giving the Lions more than enough opportunities to steal possession (with more understanding breakdown refs in the next two games) and make them pay on the scoreboard.

So, I'm not so certain about Australia improving.  Both sides knew how psychological the advantage was in winning the first game - Lions won that battle and have their buffer now to calm their heads and knuckle down more methodically to their systems.

SecretFly wrote:

Taylorman wrote:yeah i picked the key match ups to be 9/10 which were shared and the wings, the Lions two nearly as effective as Folau on his own- 2 tries and one save on North. Ioane was quiet.

But Beale's second to last kick was what cost them and gave the match to the Lions. If he had kicked one of the two this thread would be about the NZ ref. Guarantee it.

In all a great match with Oz far more room for improvement- the Lions doing largely what they can do- effective in every area- set piece, goal kicking, defence and an effective attack with the two wingers.

But between a new 10, JOC out wide, better luck with injuries and key goalkickers staying on, Oz have the bigger scope for improvement.

I think the Aussies now know they have to chase the next two games.  That might unleash the exhibitionist stuff and have us all wondering at how easy they make it look...OR...it might make them rush it, risk a loose defence and try too hard, giving the Lions more than enough opportunities to steal possession (with more understanding breakdown refs in the next two games) and make them pay on the scoreboard.

So, I'm not so certain about Australia improving.  Both sides knew how psychological the advantage was in winning the first game - Lions won that battle and have their buffer now to calm their heads and knuckle down more methodically to their systems.

Really. After so many things went wrong- their kicker in the first minute had a direct and profound impact, plus two more stretchered off meaning a loosie had to occupy a back spot just as Cuthbert got to run through where he'd just come on.

And after all that Oz still gets to decide their own fate...twice.

All Oz need to do to get improvement is to lower the level of stretchered players.

The Lions did little wrong, ticked all the boxes on defence, attack, goal kicking, and yet despite all the Oz woes, had to be content with watching and hoping for Beale to miss twice at the end. With the Oz woes they should have destroyed them with everything going for them, and they could barely get parity on the scoreboard.

All the stats, the lineouts, tackle and missed tackle counts, possession, territory...ALL went in the Lions favour and thats all they could do with it?

Taylorman, the Lions have at least one barnstorming, kitchen-sink-throwing, highly aggressive game in them per tour.

The point is that their first test game wasn't it - we all agree on that one.  It was slow, it was stilted, it had little true creativity in attack, it had little in the way of an offloading game.  The Lions players can play faster and can play much more aggressively on a physical level.

So, Aussies have no choice.  They have to play hard for the two games.  Lions will have one game that will be their best on tour.  First game wasn't it. Aussies might indeed win the next two - of course they could. But they'll play in a tougher game than today's to get there.

Yes agree there..but that equally applies to the Lions. Today was by far the worst Oz will get in this series...hard to think of anything that can actually get worse.
In fact I think Gatland is now at a cross roads. I think initially Gatland had thoughts of a Phillips Farrell combo pushing the ball behind a pack that wasnt going to go backwards- hence the call to Wilkinson. With Farrells drop in form and Sexton and the rest of the Lions backs showing that they might have the 15 man game to take on the Ozzies out wide, I think he'll change tack and bring in the faster and more mobile Youngs and take on the Ozzies in their own game.

If anything it was the Oz front 5 that stood tall in this debacle from their prespective.

That could work, and it could backfire, particularly if Oz undo their injury scenarios and goalkicking woes, something that would definitely have given them the match last night, and get their own backs going.

Oz showed they can stll score from the sniff of an oily rag and will look to add Folau to their atack, which at its best is the best there is.

I don't watch much NH rugby so last night was a good (and first) chance for me to gauge whether the Lions at full strength are as good as everyone says. Sorry to say, but i was distinctly unimpressed. An AB or Springbok side would have run through the Wallabies after they suffered those injuries. The Wallabies were served up on a platter yet the Lions secured victory not through their own impetus but had to rely KB missing those 2 shots at the end. Fair enough, as the Wallabies have done that several times recently (to Wales in particular) but honestly, the Wallabies shouldn't have even been close.  The entree started within the first minute when CL was taken off. He was the 2nd playmaker and crucial in helping O'Connor with distribution. The Wallaby gameplan went completely out the window in the 1st minute. From then on, JOC had a pretty average game although he got better as the game went on. His running in broken play is good but his distribution is poor. When Barnes and then McCabe went off the Lions should have been feasting on the main course. They only exploited Michael Hooper's complete lack of positional knowledge at IC once, when they scored their 2nd try. Finally, when desert rolled around and AAC went off (replaced by a scrumhalf joining a 7 as the centre combination) there was still little creativity or direction shown from the boys from up north. The Lions 10 was unimpressive. He looks tackle shy and did a few flashy things like the chip kick and regather but to me, he seemed like a poor man's Quade Cooper - didn't think that could be possible but there you go. He had a gilt edged opportunity to take the game by the scruff of the neck and direct his attack towards the "centres" but didn't. I couldn't believe he did not use the big Lions wingers to create havoc in the midfield. Of course i am basing my judgments on what i saw through my beer goggles last night but these guys are supposed to be the cream of the Home Nations and have had a better preparation then Wallabies, some of whom hadn't played for a month or more. The Wallaby forward pack handled the Lions well and despite the low chance of the 4 injured players coming back nest week, Robbie Deans will be able to call upon Jesse Mogg, Nick Cummins, Joe Tomane, Ben Tapaui, Rob Horne, Matt Toomua, Kuridrani, Morohan, Drew Mitchell, Anthony Finger and possibly QC to fill the void. Despite the loss, i was very pleased with the Wallaby performance. Congratulations to the Lions but they're gonna need to crank it up several notches next week.

Icu, you talk as if this was the Lions playing at their best. I have to say that is one of the worst Lions performances I've ever seen. Yes they should have lost, but if you think they'll be that bad again then you're mistaken.

I think the key difference is the amount of improvement each side is able to make. The wallabies kicking is able to improve but I'm not sure their forwards will have much room for improvement as they played very well anyway. Their set piece will not improve that much as it went well too. The backs played well in general for the Wallabies, so how much can they improve? The Lions on the other hand can (but not saying that they will as you can never predict it in sport) improve right across the park - their scrum I think will get better, the backs were absolutely shocking so there is potential to improve massively, the forwards were woeful at the breakdown so can do a lot better. Not sure if it was Lions nerves or still getting new to the combinations, or a step up in intensity from the much weaker pre test competition, or a combination of them all, but I see more improvement possible in the Lions than Aus. Lions were so lucky to get that win playing so poorly but I'm expecting a much better lions team next week so I feel Aus will have to play really well to win this series now.