Moment of the series?

Simple one really guys and lasses, what was your moment of the series? It can be a try, move, pass, tackle etc. mine had to be Parlings stiff arm ankle tap tackle in the third test. I cannot recall who it was on but boy did it make me smile.

Halfpenny into the halfgap at pace and then with an inside pass to Sexton.

Biltong, was nice to see him actually play for once, you think? Sometimes I forget that he can actually offer a different attacking option to the bigger built wingers

I'll second the Sexton try, a real turning point in the match. As for jumping out of the seat moment it has to be Norths try

You know mate, rugby is a difficult game to star in all the time. I have always rated Halfoenny as a solid fullback, and to my mind there is nothing wrong with that, good solid international fullbacks aren't that readily available these days.

Players such as him don't often get the chance to really shine on all that regular basis.

But in this game he got the opportunity and used it, I guess that is all we can ask from them.

Fair one. In previous games I've felt he could have run but opted to kick. But in this game, I think Faletau stole the ball and Roberts kicked it clear and 1/2p looked angry it wasn't spread. Didn't think it was like him.

Leigh Halfpenny missing a kick. Rare moments like that have to be treasured.

Would say from a pure spectating perspective that both of Folau's tries in the first test were brilliant.

 For me it has to be the moment that big ex RL winger smashed into George North only to be picked up carried forward and used as a battering ram as the next 2 aus tacklers approached. It was a Scott Gibbs deja vu moment and pure theatre.

The moment all armchair experts, overpaid media pundits who are all talk but never actually coach and every other person who predicted doom an miserable failure just because they didn't agree with gats selection, were proved completely and utterly wrong. And all the little moments that have followed where theyve had to apologise and admit their idiocy.
Plus Georges try.in the 1st test. Mindblowingly good!

Two individual performances, Jon Davies mid-week game where he made three tries and scored the last him... fantastic performance and probably the best ever by a centre in a Lions jersey.

Warburtons performance in the test that was absolutely untrue.

The North God picking up the ball with one hand, and hid opposite number (an even bigger animal) and using him as a battering ram into two more aussie forwards......

Defining moments which shaped the series

For me the very end of the third test.  For the past few minutes after the onslaught we all knew the end was nigh.  But there is just something about that moment when the whistle goes and it is all over.  Like a tidal wave of euphoria.  

The best picture moment was North carrying Folau.

For me, Beale's slip as he went for the match winning kick. Who knows how the tour might have panned out if that'd gone over..?

In the third test there was (for me) two real game changers, Parlings tap tackle near end of first half when the Aussies were on the up and Faletaus turn over start of second half when they were still in the ascendancy.

sheephead wrote:Biltong, was nice to see him actually play for once, you think? Sometimes I forget that he can actually offer a different attacking option to the bigger built wingers

This is where criticism of Gatland / Howley might be valid. You don't want a fullback who runs the ball back every time whether it's on or not, but I feel that, for Wales, he's under instructions to kick. But when you see what he can do when he does counter-attack, it makes me wish he was given more licence to do that.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

sheephead wrote:Biltong, was nice to see him actually play for once, you think? Sometimes I forget that he can actually offer a different attacking option to the bigger built wingers

This is where criticism of Gatland / Howley might be valid. You don't want a fullback who runs the ball back every time whether it's on or not, but I feel that, for Wales, he's under instructions to kick. But when you see what he can do when he does counter-attack, it makes me wish he was given more licence to do that.

Well, there is a balance in it, isn't there?

You don't want your fullback to attack all the time, it exposes you at the back. His primary function is to secure the high ball and his positional play is vital, opportunities for Fullbacks depends very much on territorial dominance and opportunities to join the line.

I for one don't want to see my fullback join the line at every opportunity, it becomes predictable and then you might find yourself in trouble.

North's try in the first test for me.

I'm not saying he should do it all the time, but he hardly ever does it for Wales, whether it's on or not. I'm saying the balance is swung too far on the side of caution.

Hibbard proving that using Timotei gives you a shiny barnet and a bonce of steel.

Cyril wrote:Hibbard proving that using Timotei gives you a shiny barnet and a bonce of steel.

Timotei? He was the Wallaby left winger right?

Ben Alexander being ruined by Corbs and the look on his face as he trudged off to the sin bin. I bet he feels sorry for himself this week.

Wade combing his fro on the big screen and the rest of the squad laughing their heads off and ripping the p:censored:ss  at him...

Breadvan wrote:Wade combing his fro on the big screen and the rest of the squad laughing their heads off and ripping the p:censored:ss  at him...

In case anyone missed it...

RubyGuby wrote: For me it has to be the moment that big ex RL winger smashed into George North only to be picked up carried forward and used as a battering ram as the next 2 aus tacklers approached. It was a Scott Gibbs deja vu moment and pure theatre.

+1  I did enjoy that spectacular little cameo from George.

I really enjoyed Jamie Roberts making a clean break to score his try with no one getting a hand on him. Usually Roberts has about 5 people hanging off him, like a gazelle caught by a pack of Lions. Not this time, and I think he was a bit surprised not to have a finger laid on him!

Breadvan wrote:Wade combing his fro on the big screen and the rest of the squad laughing their heads off and ripping the p:censored:ss  at him...

I laughed heartily that at one.

Moment of the series for me is between North's first test try and his 2nd test bulldozer on Felau. Savage stuff.

Griff wrote:I really enjoyed Jamie Roberts making a clean break to score his try with no one getting a hand on him.  Usually Roberts has about 5 people hanging off him, like a gazelle caught by a pack of Lions.  Not this time, and I think he was a bit surprised not to have a finger laid on him!

The neat pass from Murray made that move, but of course Roberts also read the timing / line so well.

gregortree wrote:

Griff wrote:I really enjoyed Jamie Roberts making a clean break to score his try with no one getting a hand on him.  Usually Roberts has about 5 people hanging off him, like a gazelle caught by a pack of Lions.  Not this time, and I think he was a bit surprised not to have a finger laid on him!

The neat pass from Murray made that move, but of course Roberts also  read the timing / line so well.

Oh definitely Gregor. That pass was a thing of beauty. Murray was far and away the best scrum half on tour.

Read somewhere that Murray threw more try assists than any other player on tour. Impressive considering he only had 3 starts.

For me - the first scrum of the final test. That's when I felt the Lions could win.

I do think the defining moment of the whole series though was Beale's slip. With that lost foot went imo the series for Australia and a coaches job.

Either George North's try in the first Test, a real out of the seat moment, or Parling's awesome tap tackle in the third test.

When it ended.  

Rugby Fan wrote:

Breadvan wrote:Wade combing his fro on the big screen and the rest of the squad laughing their heads off and ripping the p:censored:ss  at him...

In case anyone missed it...

 
That was brilliant.
 
A load of us watching round my brother's.
All laughing our heads off.
 
Funniest moment of the tour.

Im sure i seen gatland tell the camera man to f##k off when he was following him straight after the final game lol .

RubyGuby wrote: For me it has to be the moment that big ex RL winger smashed into George North only to be picked up carried forward and used as a battering ram as the next 2 aus tacklers approached. It was a Scott Gibbs deja vu moment and pure theatre.

Yup that would be my pick too.

BOD scoring the winner in the 3rd test would have been but Gats only went and dropped him.... 

rodders wrote:

RubyGuby wrote: For me it has to be the moment that big ex RL winger smashed into George North only to be picked up carried forward and used as a battering ram as the next 2 aus tacklers approached. It was a Scott Gibbs deja vu moment and pure theatre.

Yup that would be my pick too.

BOD scoring the winner in the 3rd test would have been but Gats only went and dropped him.... 

He probably would have thrown an intercept at 16-19 and thrown the game away, the wee gobshoite.  

Depends what you mean by Moment of the Series.

Ultimately this will be remembered for the dropping of O'Driscoll; the incredibly controversial move that threatened to divide the Lions fan base but instead proved an effective gambit.

In terms of on the field there are some real iconic moments:

- Beale misses the decisive penalty to win 1st Test
- Halfpenny misses the decisive penalty to win 2nd Test (and series)
- North carries his opposite man like a bag of spuds on his shoulders
- Sextons try in the 3rd Test

 Stag - I'm afraid the dropping of BOD is not going to be the most memorable moment for many fans - that will be long forgotten. I appreciate for many Irish fans it will remain

Awww... do we have to stick to on-field moments?  The series was won and lost as usual on the other stuff going down on the fringes.  Ban him, don't ban him, ban him again just for the fun of it and to annoy the Wallabies.  A man called Shane turning up out of the blue.  GATLANDBALLBODGATE.

Okay then, onfield moment of the series just has to be Beale's slip.  NO!!!  No you didn't! None of you expected it!  Don't be doing anything retrospective on it now.  It was game over in everyone's opinion.  It was the moment of highest theatre..... on the field anyway.

 You still FlyFishing on here? How many you caught today - Sin's got his rod out as well

RubyGuby wrote: Stag - I'm afraid the dropping of BOD is not going to be the most memorable moment for many fans - that will be long forgotten. I appreciate for many Irish fans it will remain

Given that it was mostly Welshmen keeping the topic going with most threads created on the topic...me don't think so Ruby. Both Gatland and BOD will be haunted by that one for centuries to come. They're still talking about the spear incident.

We're just replying to all you Oirish - You put down your stones first and then we'll put ours down   

RubyGuby wrote: You still FlyFishing on here? How many you caught today - Sin's got his rod out as well

Lovely day for it, Ruby. Sitting by the bank, flask of tea, sandwiches, worms, river.

Actually in real terms I won't be here much longer.... I'm heading out into that sun for real.

Its important to keep things in perspective here.

Had poor Kurtley not gone on the sauce prior to the first test we'd have lost 2-1 and Gatland would be facing deportation rather than awaiting an obligitory knighthood.

Ruby, I'm not sure it will be forgotten. It will be held up by most as an example of making a big call. Others will claim it soured the tour for them. I can't see it banished to the history annals.

I've just got back in from the tour today and I have to say on tour the reaction of the Irish fans was much more accepting than the fans back home. We were actually amazed to hear the reaction in our tour group.

Actually had the pleasure of meeting Jonathan Davies yesterday and when he said that he was wary of speaking to us when heard our Irish accents I felt actually very ashamed. He said it meant a lot to see Irish lads wanting to come up to him and say well done.

As I say out there on tour we were a bit shielded from it. Some reaction back home was completely over the top.

That's sad, Stag.

Mickado wrote:Read somewhere that Murray threw more try assists than any other player on tour. Impressive considering he only had 3 starts.

Murray has come back from the tour a significantly better player than when he went out. I'm looking forward to a more experienced and confident Murray playing this way for Munster with our young JJ at #10 later in the season.

North realising Folau was suffering from interminable hayfever and slinging him over his shoulder away from the threatening blades of grass, before carrying him towards to waiting medics, was a touching sporting moment.

Similarly, his try in the first test is a real standout moment.

Parling's ankle tap is up there.

BOD's smashing tackle on someone I can't quite remember in the first or second test....they'd just offloaded but Brian put a huge hit in. Can't remember who/when though...

Seeing Hooper subbed to the centre and actually performing pretty admirably was quite incredible. A real testament to his athleticism.

1st test - George's try
2nd test - George's 'fend' on Falou
3rd test - Parling's foot grab.

Seeing as I expected George to play well, and I was doubting why Parling was there at all, I guess the moment of the series has to be the Parling foot grab tackle. Real try saving moment, and possibly if not for that the Lions may have let the game slip.

bluestonevedder wrote:North realising Folau was suffering from interminable hayfever and slinging him over his shoulder away from the threatening blades of grass, before carrying him towards to waiting medics, was a touching sporting moment.

Similarly, his try in the first test is a real standout moment.

Parling's ankle tap is up there.

BOD's smashing tackle on someone I can't quite remember in the first or second test....they'd just offloaded but Brian put a huge hit in. Can't remember who/when though...

It was on Gatland.

red_stag wrote:Ruby, I'm not sure it will be forgotten. It will be held up by most as an example of making a big call. Others will claim it soured the tour for them. I can't see it banished to the history annals.

I've just got back in from the tour today and I have to say on tour the reaction of the Irish fans was much more accepting than the fans back home. We were actually amazed to hear the reaction in our tour group.

Actually had the pleasure of meeting Jonathan Davies yesterday and when he said that he was wary of speaking to us when heard our Irish accents I felt actually very ashamed. He said it meant a lot to see Irish lads wanting to come up to him and say well done.

As I say out there on tour we were a bit shielded from it. Some reaction back home was completely over the top.

Quality - maybe it is the media - I always got the impression all the Lions fans out there seemed far more united with each other than those back home at the mercy of the media and SecretFly