2nd TEST - AUS vs BRITISH & IRISH LIONS - 29th June - (KO-11:05 GMT)

First topic message reminder :

2nd Test build-up thread
 
Can the Lions finish the job?
Will Aus bounch back (like we know they can)?
Will the Ref know the rules?
 
Aus have called up George Smith, Jesse Mogg and centre Ben Tapuai but still No Cooper?
(talk about shooting yourself in the foot!)
 
15. Halfpenny,
14. Bowe,
13. BOD,
12. Davies,
11.North,
10. Sexton,
9. Youngs;

1. Vunipola
2. Youngs,
3. Jones,
4. AWJ,
5. Parling,
6. Lydiate,
7. Warburton,
8. Heaslip

Replacements:
16 Hibbard, 17 Grant, 18 Cole, 19 Croft, 20 O'Brien, 21 Murray, 22 Farrell, 23 Cuthbert


Australia
15 Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels)
14 Israel Folau (NSW)
13 Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW)
12 Christian Leali'ifano (ACT Brumbies)
11 Joe Tomane (Brumbies)
10 James O'Connor (Melbourne Rebels)
9 Will Genia (Reds)
8 Wycliff Palu (NSW)
7 Michael Hooper (NSW)
6 Ben Mowen (ACT)
5 Kane Douglas (NSW)
4 James Horwill (Reds - Cap)
3 Ben Alexander (ACT)
2 Stephen Moore (ACT)
1 Benn Robinson (NSW)

16 Saia Fainga'a (Reds)
17 James Slipper (Reds)
18 Sekope Kepu (NSW)
19 Rob Simmons (Reds)
20 Liam Gill (Reds)
21 Nick Phipps (Rebels)
22 Rob Horne (NSW)
23 Jesse Mogg (Brumbies)

 
For those wanting to see it again and again and again etc.....http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=GEORGE+NORTHS+LIONS+TRY&view=detail&mid=64E92B2D2B1B4128364264E92B2D2B1B41283642&first=0&FORM=NVPFVR&qpvt=GEORGE+NORTHS+LIONS+TRY

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Deary me, Davies is having a pretty poor match so far.  Warburton won an early penalty but has been utterly anonymous, and Lydiate has hardly been much better.  Gatland needs to change things up at half time.  We are ahead, but barely.  

Surprise Surprise

Yes, very disappointing game so far in contrast to last week.

I have decided to put down on record . i have no idea on what front.row does and.is supposed.to.do and what is legal and not legal .

That is all

Lions won't mind this. They've got the first game wrapped up. They're defending their lead. The Wallabies need to take a gamble and the Lions will be hoping that leads to a mistake on which they can capitalise. It's not pretty but Gats doesn't give a flying ruck about aesthetics. He just wants the win.

Riskysports wrote:I have decided to put down on record . i have no idea on what front.row does and.is supposed.to.do and what is legal and not legal .

That is all

I heard that comment from Joubert too Risky as he was walking off with the touch judges.

Big 40 minutes here now.

GloriousEmpire wrote:

Taylorman wrote:the ref complaints will be along soon...

They're here already unforunately - aparently Australia should have been yellow carded for something already....whinge whinge whinge. Despite that Joubert is awarding everything at the breakdown to the Lions.

So right GE, kinda like the erstwhile idiot GreyGhost and his constant whinging about Wayne Barnes don't you think?

Total different game to last week both sides know what the win does............ tactics, tension and pressure is playing a factor

Great midfield play there, why didn't Sexton offload to Davies who had the space down the wing grrrrrrrrrr

I'd still consider bringing on Grant in place of Mako. We can't risk these scrum penalties.

flyhalffactory wrote:

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Deary me, Davies is having a pretty poor match so far.  Warburton won an early penalty but has been utterly anonymous, and Lydiate has hardly been much better.  Gatland needs to change things up at half time.  We are ahead, but barely.  

Surprise Surprise

Sorry that makes you sad my little cycloptic friend.  I'm not overly impressed with Sexton either unlike my fellow Irish fan Rory_Gallagher.  Maybe Sexton is secretly Welsh.  Yeah, that must be it.

why do we kick everything!!

seriously we are better than this.. we are leaving it to luck

Scrum destroying the game. Cant wait for the new scrun changes

Super covering tackle from Warburton there. Vunipola channeling Phillips from the first test there. God love him, he needs a hug from his mum

I feel sorry for Mako...he's just had a bad day around. Time for Grant to come on.... Urgently

Warburton making a difference at the breakdown here - he is getting himself involved.

Actually I think Warburton has been very impressive on defence. Has made key tackles and turnovers. That was another one.

Off his feet

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:

flyhalffactory wrote:

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Deary me, Davies is having a pretty poor match so far.  Warburton won an early penalty but has been utterly anonymous, and Lydiate has hardly been much better.  Gatland needs to change things up at half time.  We are ahead, but barely.  

Surprise Surprise

Sorry that makes you sad my little cycloptic friend.  I'm not overly impressed with Sexton either unlike my fellow Irish fan Rory_Gallagher.  Maybe Sexton is secretly Welsh.  Yeah, that must be it.

Lydiate ha tackled everything, massive contribution in the scrum as can be seen from the way the scrum is turning inwards, and Warbs has turned over and tracked both wingers. Davies has very much been best centre of the two Lions

BOD you mug

Lions just need to keep their heads here. The breaks will come but we must take them when they do. Chances are minimal in this one.
Youngs not having a good game. And I wanted him there badly. We may see Murray soon. Sexton no great shakes either. Lets be honest here.

But we lack any kind of platform for them to build on.

Jeezuz BOD! Oz look far more dangerous here.

Great tackle by Lydiate.

Great tackle Lydiate!

Jeas when Aus get the ball they look frisky!!

flyhalffactory wrote:

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Deary me, Davies is having a pretty poor match so far.  Warburton won an early penalty but has been utterly anonymous, and Lydiate has hardly been much better.  Gatland needs to change things up at half time.  We are ahead, but barely.  

Surprise Surprise

Yeh Warburton = useless (!)  

Deary me BOD, dreadful. Control yourself and your passing

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Actually I think Warburton has been very impressive on defence. Has made key tackles and turnovers. That was another one.

Probably most people watching the match would say the same, except for Hookers

Game opening up and this favours Australia.

Oz look the only side capable of putting an attack together but every time handling throws it away. The Lions have hardly had the ball, and arent passing it.

An error fest is the best they can hope for.

Come on Conor........ I like this guy, he is deffo coming into this on form, could make a difference

Yep, Murray on with Sexton, his Irish partner. Good call Gibbo.

I thought Warburton and Lydiate had pretty average first halfs apart from a few tackles. But they have started the second half very well. Maybe be a little bit less precious about it lads eh? Davies had a pretty poor first half though. BOD looks like he fanices joining him with that passage. Naughty BOD. Dreadful

The first sub is to remove one of out best players so far? That's foolish. Why aren't we looking to strengthen the scrum or give Youngs a feasible target at the tail of the lineout.

why do we kick kick kick..

We have proved to have more physicality- just keep the ball.. Hit them. pass it, keep it!!

never seen so many dropsies...shame the match is proving a fizzer. Way too many errors for this level.

Australia stud sponsor will probably go under after this series. Why didn't AAC pass there to Folau?!

Hookisms no one came off with much glory after that first half. But in terms of tackles and turnovers, what more can you ask for from the backrow when the running or driving game isn't happening?

Gatland I have just text you "Get Grant On NOW"

mystiroakey wrote:why do we kick kick kick..

We have proved to have more physicality- just keep the ball.. Hit them. pass it, keep it!!

If we want a kicking 10 then why not bring Farrell on. Sexton is an effective running, but I've never been convinced by his ability to control a match such as this.

mystiroakey wrote:why do we kick kick kick..

We have proved to have more physicality- just keep the ball.. Hit them. pass it, keep it!!

Lions just need a win. It's percentage rugby from Gats and no doubt Sexton has his orders like he had with Kidney. Won't win fans with style but the result is all that's important.

Why is T youngs off?

again oz on attack...again a dropped ball...I dont know...

Mysti, I'm not sure.we have enough,players on the pitch who are of that physical type that we need...

wiser substitution timing this time

Why take off Adam Jones rather than Vunipola?

Que, Jones off? What does Grant need to do to get on? Pretty sure Jones isn't the weak point in the scrum...

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:why do we kick kick kick..

We have proved to have more physicality- just keep the ball.. Hit them. pass it, keep it!!

Lions just need a win. It's percentage rugby from Gats and no doubt Sexton has his orders like he had with Kidney. Won't win fans with style but the result is all that's important.

That's exactly whats happening here Kia. Percentage rugby and its killing the game as a spectacle.

NORTH GOD..................

Go Georgie North!

Thank you George North. Finally given me something to smile about after this road crash of a second half.

North mugs him off... Best thing i have seen all series