I feel so sorry for Halfpenny.

He knocks over 50/55m kicks for fun, all game every game.

Imagine 2 rare misses that cost you..

a) place in the world cup final (50m)
b) rare famous lions series win (55m ish?)

The guy is class and it must be awful to stomach but what annoyed me today was his run up was pathetic. You really need to run an extra yard or two when attempting to welly a kick that far.

Coincidentally those two kicks are the only kicks where I've seen him fail on distance and not accuracy, those plus the cross bar penalty early in the match.

The cross bar hit was hit perfectly and was at least 6-8 metres shorter than the final one- near on 60 m with the angle. Halfpenny knew he didnt have the range for the last and should have turned it down. Instead he went with it and obviously sacrificed form for distance in trying to force it and missed it by 20 meters. A scrum or tap and go wouldnt likely have resulted in a try or further penalty/ drop goal chance but it was the right option and Halfpenny was the only person who knew it. Can't feel sorry for that.

He's a young lad, a fantastic player, and he'll bounce back - wouldn't worry about it

He shouldn't have been put in the position in a way, but he had to be asked to go for it. We could still be playing now and probably wouldn't have scored a try, so we couldn't have tapped. I doubt we would have even got in DG range.

True...he's all class as a Full back and positionally has been excellent this series. Was always in the right place to take any threatening kick throughs and right now is easily the worlds no.1 fullback.

My point was sometimes you can over rely on a player to the extent that you're not thinking clearly enough. He's not Superman and he was given an indicator on the day of the extent of his range for this match when he hit the crossbar. 'Winning' thinking would have left no doubt in everyones mind as to whether he could make that distance...and it wasnt there. It was left purely to hit and hope...

Taylorman wrote:True...he's all class as a Full back and positionally has been excellent this series. Was always in the right place to take any threatening kick throughs and right now is easily the worlds no.1 fullback.

My point was sometimes you can over rely on a player to the extent that you're not thinking clearly enough. He's not Superman and he was given an indicator on the day of the extent of his range for this match when he hit the crossbar. 'Winning' thinking would have left no doubt in everyones mind as to whether he could make that distance...and it wasnt there. It was left purely to hit and hope...

Agree completely. It was a hit and hope. Better to have gone for tap and go and try and force something nearer including a DG which Sexton ain't too shabby at.

At that point Warbs was off and BOD had the armband. It was BODs call, so he has to take responsibility. If you watch again, BOD didnt ask Halfpenny if it was in his range, he said to Jourbert posts, then looked to Halfpenny. I'm more disapointed that a player of BODs calibre and experience didnt check with Halfpenny first or appears not to even think of the tap (whether quick or not) and play further up field, as the Wallabies at that time would have given another penality within kicking distance, unless of a Lions fumbled or gave away a pen. As Gatland said, its all about game management, and BOD was left wanting at this time.

sirBiggles wrote:At that point Warbs was off and BOD had the armband. It was BODs call, so he has to take responsibility. If you watch again, BOD didnt ask Halfpenny if it was in his range, he said to Jourbert posts, then looked to Halfpenny. I'm more disapointed that a player of BODs calibre and experience didnt check with Halfpenny first or appears not to even think of the tap (whether quick or not) and play further up field, as the Wallabies at that time would have given another penality within kicking distance, unless of a Lions fumbled or gave away a pen. As Gatland said, its all about game management, and BOD was left wanting at this time.

Gatland said that 1/2p hits these over with ease all the time, and has been doing that in recent practice sessions, so why are you putting the blame on BOD?. Gatland went on stating it wasn't a good run up or contact by the Welsh FB, BOD was clearly listening to the coaches tactic of containing, restraining and not running........... only option therefore was to kick.

Taylorman wrote:True...he's all class as a Full back and positionally has been excellent this series. Was always in the right place to take any threatening kick throughs and right now is easily the worlds no.1 fullback.

My point was sometimes you can over rely on a player to the extent that you're not thinking clearly enough. He's not Superman and he was given an indicator on the day of the extent of his range for this match when he hit the crossbar. 'Winning' thinking would have left no doubt in everyones mind as to whether he could make that distance...and it wasnt there. It was left purely to hit and hope...

The thing is though, he's hit them over a number of times from within his own half so his range is greater than that. Just didn't give it enough IMO. But he's hit longer before so I wouldn't say he was wrong to take the kick.

Here you go, from inside his own half and on a slight angle, and funnily enough it's against Oz!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_rFNz_KKp28

Definitely the right decision - he just missed. That's all there is to it. The Aussies have been the better team two weeks running. The Lions luck ran out yesterday and they paid the price for a lack of creativity, poor kicking and failing to manage territory.

The momentum is with Australia and the Lions will need to be significantly better to win in Sydney.

Are you forgetting it was at the end of an intense 80 minute match at the end of a long tour at the end of a long season of rugby? Fatigue can hit anybody.

First test
Australia were better and lost

Second test
Australia were better and were the only side attacking and they won.

Third test
Lions get obliterated

no one can blame halfpenny and it was ridiculous that players like sexton said he wasn't to blame . REALLY next fifty odd kick u have a go .

Its simple. Halfpenny, having kicked and hit the cross bar from a lesser distance and having practiced on the field beforehand had more knowledge than anyone on the planet as to whether he could reach the cross bar or higher.

He should have at least been asked if he could reach it, and if not should have declined in the best interests of the side and the win.

Just because he gets kicks just as far elsewhere- he hadnt that day on that field, with that ball.

If Halfpenny considered all that, then took the kick on 100% confidently then thats fine. If he followed orders and took it even though he had grave doubts about it going over, then he will have let himself and the team down.

Only he will know this, and there is no one else to consider here. Big matches require big decisons, and this was Halfpenny's to make, NO ONE elses.

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:no one can blame halfpenny and it was ridiculous that players like sexton said he wasn't to blame . REALLY    next fifty odd kick    u  have a go .

That doesn't make sense at all

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:no one can blame halfpenny and it was ridiculous that players like sexton said he wasn't to blame . REALLY    next fifty odd kick    u  have a go .

What the hell are you on about jimmy?  This place is becoming a raving madhouse.

We gotta..just GOTTA find someone to Blame!!!!!  but not our guy ........................

I blame Wade... he texted Halfpenny the night before the game and goaded him "Betcha can't put a 50 metre one across if you woz asked!"  Cruel childish taunting that I'm sure Halfpenny was thinking about as he kicked.

After the first kick hit the bar, we were wondering whether playing under that closed roof had an effect on the atmospheric conditions, such that the ball did not go as far.

As to whether it was right to take the kick - well it was probably the best chance for the Lions to sneak an undeserved win. In the end it fell about 5m short, which I guess we knew it would, but I reckon that was the closest we were ever going to get.


PS whoever suggested it was a 60m kick, when the stated distance including the angle was 53m, and that it missed by 20m may want to get their eyes checked.

Well it wasnt 20 but it wasnt 5 either. It hit the ground 5 metres in front of the line. If it had have gone over a kick on that angle would have to hit the ground 10 metres past the line so it was nearer to 15. It was the commentator that said nearly 60 and on the angle.

To the cross bar I'd say it were nearer to 60 than 53 when applying pythagoras and the angle.

Taylorman wrote:Well it wasnt 20 but it wasnt 5 either. It hit the ground 5 metres in front of the line. If it had have gone over a kick on that angle would have to hit the ground 10 metres past the line so it was nearer to 15. It was the commentator that said nearly 60 and on the angle.

To the cross bar I'd say it were nearer to 60 than 53 when applying pythagoras.

The TV coverage we had said 53m including the angle.

Personally I reckon that with the angle the ball was falling, if it had cleared the bar it would have landed just 1 or 2 m beyond it, following the natural parabola. Eitgher way, it was the only chance Lions had - slim indeed, but based on the previous 80 minutes there would be no better.

Even a shot dead on halfway is 51 meters with the height so it was more than 53 with that angle. Anyway. I dont think it was even rated slim. He couldnt hit that range on the daylet alone at the end of a match under pressure- so it was none. Slim would have been tap and run, hit ups and penalty / drop goal.

i had a few drinks last night didnt even know i been on here   anyway what i meant was there was no need for players to come forward and say dont blame halfpenny . just read warbuton out for third test

It was a bad kick from 1/2p but to be honest there isn't anyone else in the squad who would have got it, apart from Farrell maybe.

VictorU3 wrote:It was a bad kick from 1/2p but to be honest there isn't anyone else in the squad who would have got it, apart from Farrell maybe.

The flyhalf, he kicks too...when allowed.

VictorU3 wrote:It was a bad kick from 1/2p but to be honest there isn't anyone else in the squad who would have got it, apart from Farrell maybe.

Nope Farrell would not have had the range the way that ball was flying. Sexton even less so.

I'd be more inclined to blame Davies for missing the tackle on AAC. Lions D was exceptional up to that point.

I don't blame Halfpenny or Davies. Shhit happens. Ask Beale. It happened him twice in quick succession.

The team effort should never have made it necessary to rely on one last gasp try save or one last hopeful hoof. The team didn't play well enough, the tactics weren't good enough and ................ Australia are a pretty decent side too, let's never forget.

I blame Sam Warburton's parents. If they could have bred a son with robust hamstrings, he would not have gone off injured. That in turn means that Lydiate who had been told to give everything he had for 60-65 minutes and who was knackered would have been replaced instead. Sam would then have been there to support the backs in making the tackle. BOD would have secured the turnover, fed the ball quickly to North who would have run the length of the field - stopping only to drop his shorts and pull a moonie in Genia's general direction.

Let's ask the IRB to cite Sam's parents.

For genes unbecoming to robust hamstrings and bringing the Lions into disrepute.

VictorU3 wrote:It was a bad kick from 1/2p but to be honest there isn't anyone else in the squad who would have got it, apart from Farrell maybe.

You're a lad Hersh. Firstly, it wasn't a bad kick. A bad kick to me would be one like Beale's first miss last week.

Same Farrell who kicked a dream in Cardiff aye?

Risca Rev wrote:

VictorU3 wrote:It was a bad kick from 1/2p but to be honest there isn't anyone else in the squad who would have got it, apart from Farrell maybe.

You're a lad Hersh. Firstly, it wasn't a bad kick. A bad kick to me would be one like Beale's first miss last week.

Same Farrell who kicked a dream in Cardiff aye?

Not that Farrell - the one with the highest kick % on this tour ;-)

I don't read too much into kicking percentages. Otherwise you could deduce that Biggar is a better kicker than Halfpenny from the 6 Nations

Risca Rev wrote:I don't read too much into kicking percentages. Otherwise you could deduce that Biggar is a better kicker than Halfpenny from the 6 Nations

Ok how about the one that missed 1 kick to Halfpenny's 4?

Risca Rev wrote:I don't read too much into kicking percentages. Otherwise you could deduce that Biggar is a better kicker than Halfpenny from the 6 Nations

Was a joke mate - I'm not worlds biggest farrell fan but he's done ok on tour and you can rarely fault his goal kicking

I know really. I think he does deserve to have a crack on Saturday at some point, unless Sexton picks his game up. He has played well on tour as it has gone on and has kicked well, but he wouldn't have got that kick.

Risca Rev wrote:I know really. I think he does deserve to have a crack on Saturday at some point, unless Sexton picks his game up. He has played well on tour as it has gone on and has kicked well, but he wouldn't have got that kick.

I don't blame halfpenny mate - I very much doubt farrell would have even took that kick on!

Risca Rev wrote:I know really. I think he does deserve to have a crack on Saturday at some point, unless Sexton picks his game up. He has played well on tour as it has gone on and has kicked well, but he wouldn't have got that kick.

A growing list of players that need to 'pick up their game'...... When Gatland gets around to giving them a game, they might very well do. Here's hoping.

Why all of a sudden was that an impossible kick? It was what 1 yard within the halfway line... This is a guy who is famed for having a near 55-60 metre range where he can kick from his own 10 metre line.

It wasn't too much to the side. Distance shouldn't have been a problem.

Call a spade a spade... It was a bad kick. To not even get distance that's poor. Some people making this to be some frans steyn special only is a joke.

He's a good kicker, one of the best but its fine smacking over 10 put of 10 in an unimportant match.... But can you kick the ones which are career defining??? That's what's makes you a great kicker.

The two biggest kicks probably he'll ever have have been missed.... One to put Wales into a RWC final, the other to win a lions series. You don't get much bigger kicks then that.

Morne Steyn had the bottle in 2009.

Isn't south africa at a higher level at altitude than Australia?:doh

fa0019 wrote:Why all of a sudden was that an impossible kick? It was what 1 yard within the halfway line... This is a guy who is famed for having a near 55-60 metre range where he can kick from his own 10 metre line.

It wasn't too much to the side. Distance shouldn't have been a problem.

Call a spade a spade... It was a bad kick. To not even get distance that's poor. Some people making this to be some frans steyn special only is a joke.

He's a good kicker, one of the best but its fine smacking over 10 put of 10 in an unimportant match.... But can you kick the ones which are career defining??? That's what's makes you a great kicker.

The two biggest kicks probably he'll ever have have been missed.... One to put Wales into a RWC final, the other to win a lions series. You don't get much bigger kicks then that.

SPOT ON

It was a routine kick for him, if you listen to Gatland he put those over with ease in training, so its amazing that some posters are actually making excuses for the man.

You take success and failure and face them full on. Fair dos to Halfpenny he has done that, seems a bit odd that some posters on here cant do it. It was another missed kick when his team most needed it. Doesn't mean he didn't put 100% into it or that we should blame him for having a go.

t1000advancedprototype wrote:Morne Steyn had the bottle in 2009.

What you mean he was drunk in charge of a pig skin?

Routine kick? Come on. There's a difference between training and the pressure of a last minute kick after an eighty minute slog.

HammerofThunor wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:I don't read too much into kicking percentages. Otherwise you could deduce that Biggar is a better kicker than Halfpenny from the 6 Nations

Ok how about the one that missed 1 kick to Halfpenny's 4?

The one that took three less shots? Who knows if he wouldn't have had the yips had he taken equal kicks.

It was routine. Had it swayed to the left or to the right you could say its pressure but he fluffed it, should have gone a further 10 metres.

Happens to them all sometimes but the true greats tend to perform when it really counts, the biggest matches.

Want to know what greatness is..... Kicking a 50 metre drop goal after 100 mins of rugby in a RWC SF, kicking a 25m drop goal with your wrong foot to win the RWC after 100mins of rugby, hitting a very similar kick in your debut to win a lions series in the last minute of quite possibly the most brutal test of all time.

I've seen Morne Steyn a number of times and he is still by far the best kicker in the world. His BMT is second to none and he lives for the big games.

It was a very difficult kick lads. You can't blame him for missing the odd hard one and you can't blame the Lions for taking it when his boot looked like the only way they were ever gonna get any more points.

Risca Rev wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:I don't read too much into kicking percentages. Otherwise you could deduce that Biggar is a better kicker than Halfpenny from the 6 Nations

Ok how about the one that missed 1 kick to Halfpenny's 4?

The one that took three less shots? Who knows if he wouldn't have had the yips had he taken equal kicks.

But I thought you don't relative values? So you don't like percentages. Don't like absolute values. Just go with the gut? Halfpenny is a better kick cuz ee's the dogs.

flyhalffactory wrote:

fa0019 wrote:Why all of a sudden was that an impossible kick? It was what 1 yard within the halfway line... This is a guy who is famed for having a near 55-60 metre range where he can kick from his own 10 metre line.

It wasn't too much to the side. Distance shouldn't have been a problem.

Call a spade a spade... It was a bad kick. To not even get distance that's poor. Some people making this to be some frans steyn special only is a joke.

He's a good kicker, one of the best but its fine smacking over 10 put of 10 in an unimportant match.... But can you kick the ones which are career defining??? That's what's makes you a great kicker.

The two biggest kicks probably he'll ever have have been missed.... One to put Wales into a RWC final, the other to win a lions series. You don't get much bigger kicks then that.

SPOT ON

It was a routine kick for him, if you listen to Gatland he put those over with ease in training, so its amazing that some posters are actually making excuses for the man.

You take success and failure and face them full on. Fair dos to Halfpenny he has done that, seems a bit odd that some posters on here cant do it. It was another missed kick when his team most needed it. Doesn't mean he didn't put 100% into it or that we should blame him for having a go.

No, it means he bottled it under pressure if the same kick were 'routine in practice'. Only explanation then isnt it. Jimmy white missed a 'routine' black as well to win a world title. Now Halfpenny has two big ones? hmmm.

Jeez boys. Won't get into this one, except to say the Lions should never have allowed themselves to be in this position. Nice lead, 10 minutes to go. Should never have come down to that kick. Good or not.