New Zealand Barbarians v British & Irish Lions, 3 June

First topic message reminder :

New Zealand Barbarians v British & Irish Lions
3 June 2017
KO: 19:35 NZST (8.35am BST)
Toll Stadium, Whangarei, North Island

Live on Sky Sports, Sky Sports HD and SkyGo

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Touch judges: [tbc]
TMO: [tbc]

A. FORM:

These teams have not played each other before.

B. TEAMS:

New Zealand Barbarians 
1. Aidan Ross (Bay of Plenty)
2. Sam Anderson-Heather - captain (Otago)
3. Oliver Jager (Canterbury)
4. Josh Goodhue (Northland)
5. Keepa Mewett (Bay of Plenty)
6. James Tucker (Waikato)
7. Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki)
8. Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury)

9. Jack Stratton (Canterbury)
10. Bryn Gatland (North Harbour)
11. Sevu Reece (Waikato)
12. Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato)
13. Inga Finau (Canterbury)
14. Sam Vaka (Counties Manukau)
15. Luteru Laulala (Counties Manukau)

16. Andrew Makalio (Tasman)
17. Tolu Fahamokioa (Wellington)
18. Marcel Renata (Auckland)
19. Matt Matich (Northland)
20. Peter Rowe - vice captain (Wanganui)
21. Richard Judd (Bay of Plenty)
22. Jonah Lowe (Hawke's Bay)
23. Junior Ngaluafe (Southland)

British & Irish Lions
15. S Hogg (Scotland)
14. A Watson
13. J Joseph
12. B Te'o (all Eng)
11. T Seymour (Sco)
10. J Sexton (Ire)
09. G Laidlaw (Sco)

01. J Marler (Eng)
02. R Best (Ire)
03. K Sinckler (Eng)
04. A Jones (Wal)
05. I Henderson (Ire)
06. R Moriarty
07. S Warburton
08. T Faletau (all Wal)

16. J George
17. M Vunipola (both Eng)
18. T Furlong (Ire)
19. G Kruis (Eng)
20. J Tipuric
21. R Webb (both Wal)
22. O Farrell (Eng)
23. J Payne (Ire)


C. PREVIEW

munkian wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Interesting side, looking forward to seeing it finally kick off. Can't imagine the lads being in great shape though after very little time together.

From what I can see, the bulk of the starting XV (13?) have been together since Gatland convened his training camp week commencing 12th May - so those guys have had more time together.

The Kiwi press pointed out that the Barbarians have only been together since Tuesday of this week.

Im going to put it out there that there is slightly more pressure and expectation on the Lions than a Kiwi pub team....

Not in New Zealand...

EST wrote:I thought Russell might have appealed to the Welsh psyche, given the obvious similarities. He too has developed a recent tendency to think he is better than he actually is.

Too many years of Gatlandball. We've forgotten what we used to like, and how we used to play.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

EST wrote:I thought Russell might have appealed to the Welsh psyche, given the obvious similarities. He too has developed a recent tendency to think he is better than he actually is.

Too many years of Gatlandball. We've forgotten what we used to like, and how we used to play.

The 70's is a long time ago now though, so we can be forgiven for forgetting! Between than and Gatland there's been some flashy backs with powder puff forwards in front of them. Nothing to write home about. The 80's and 90's were truly terrible for Wales.

Griff wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

EST wrote:I thought Russell might have appealed to the Welsh psyche, given the obvious similarities. He too has developed a recent tendency to think he is better than he actually is.

Too many years of Gatlandball. We've forgotten what we used to like, and how we used to play.

The 70's is a long time ago now though, so we can be forgiven for forgetting!  Between than and Gatland there's been some flashy backs with powder puff forwards in front of them.  Nothing to write home about.  The 80's and 90's were truly terrible for Wales.

I know, Griff. I was there!

RDW_Scotland wrote:I suppose it is a bit of a lose-lose situation for these players - if they run rampant people will write it off against poor opposition, if they struggle to gel and only get a 20 point win (which could happen) people will say they've blown their chances!

True. I think it will likely come down to who is fit, not necessarily what's the best team anyway.

5 games before the first test.

Just going through the BaaBaas squad, on balance it really isn't all that bad a team - lots of U20 NZ caps and a few players on the fringes of Super Rugby squads. I would expect Lions dominance at the set-piece, but I don't see a thrashing on the cards.

EST wrote:Just going through the BaaBaas squad, on balance it really isn't all that bad a team - lots of U20 NZ caps and a few players on the fringes of Super Rugby squads.  I would expect Lions dominance at the set-piece, but I don't see a thrashing on the cards.

U20 caps and fringes of squads is quite bad when you're against international standard players.

Scottrf wrote:

EST wrote:Just going through the BaaBaas squad, on balance it really isn't all that bad a team - lots of U20 NZ caps and a few players on the fringes of Super Rugby squads.  I would expect Lions dominance at the set-piece, but I don't see a thrashing on the cards.

U20 caps and fringes of squads is quite bad when you're against international standard players.

I'm not suggesting the Lions are going to lose, I would expect and hope they will win comfortably, but the baa-baas team isn't a selection of complete nobodies.

EST wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

EST wrote:Just going through the BaaBaas squad, on balance it really isn't all that bad a team - lots of U20 NZ caps and a few players on the fringes of Super Rugby squads.  I would expect Lions dominance at the set-piece, but I don't see a thrashing on the cards.

U20 caps and fringes of squads is quite bad when you're against international standard players.

I'm not suggesting the Lions are going to lose,  I would expect and hope they will win comfortably, but the baa-baas team isn't a selection of complete nobodies.

Probably comparable to the game the Lions played against the Queensland/NSW Combined Countries team in 2013. We won 0-64.

George Carlin wrote:

EST wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

EST wrote:Just going through the BaaBaas squad, on balance it really isn't all that bad a team - lots of U20 NZ caps and a few players on the fringes of Super Rugby squads.  I would expect Lions dominance at the set-piece, but I don't see a thrashing on the cards.

U20 caps and fringes of squads is quite bad when you're against international standard players.

I'm not suggesting the Lions are going to lose,  I would expect and hope they will win comfortably, but the baa-baas team isn't a selection of complete nobodies.

Probably comparable to the game the Lions played against the Queensland/NSW Combined Countries team in 2013. We won 0-64.

That's the team who I was broadly comparing them with, George. If memory serves me correctly, that team were substantially weaker than this NZ team, although I haven't checked.

EST wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

EST wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

EST wrote:Just going through the BaaBaas squad, on balance it really isn't all that bad a team - lots of U20 NZ caps and a few players on the fringes of Super Rugby squads.  I would expect Lions dominance at the set-piece, but I don't see a thrashing on the cards.

U20 caps and fringes of squads is quite bad when you're against international standard players.

I'm not suggesting the Lions are going to lose,  I would expect and hope they will win comfortably, but the baa-baas team isn't a selection of complete nobodies.

Probably comparable to the game the Lions played against the Queensland/NSW Combined Countries team in 2013. We won 0-64.

That's the team who I was broadly comparing them with, George.  If memory serves me correctly, that team were substantially weaker than this NZ team, although I haven't checked.

Yes, probably. I'm still p!ssed off that the Super Rugby franchises withdrew their squad players from this game.

That's just not, how do you people say, cricket.

George Carlin wrote:

EST wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

EST wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

EST wrote:Just going through the BaaBaas squad, on balance it really isn't all that bad a team - lots of U20 NZ caps and a few players on the fringes of Super Rugby squads.  I would expect Lions dominance at the set-piece, but I don't see a thrashing on the cards.

U20 caps and fringes of squads is quite bad when you're against international standard players.

I'm not suggesting the Lions are going to lose,  I would expect and hope they will win comfortably, but the baa-baas team isn't a selection of complete nobodies.

Probably comparable to the game the Lions played against the Queensland/NSW Combined Countries team in 2013. We won 0-64.

That's the team who I was broadly comparing them with, George.  If memory serves me correctly, that team were substantially weaker than this NZ team, although I haven't checked.

Yes, probably. I'm still p!ssed off that the Super Rugby franchises withdrew their squad players from this game.

That's just not, how do you people say, cricket.

It's down to injuries - the withdrawn guys weren't making the 23 for their Super Franchises when picked for the Provincial Barbarians (IIRC they were all in the Franchises' wider training groups rather than being full squad members). Gatland Jr is only still in the squad as 2 of the 3 injured Blues' #10s have recovered. The team is supposed to be an NPC-based selection anyway - hence why they've got at least 1 player from each Mitre10 premiership/championship province (except Manawatu who's rep. got injured).

Jared Payne pulls out with a tight calf - hopefully this isn't a recurring theme throughout the tour but he hardly played during the buildup to it.

Thats a shame, Payne would probably have been really looking forward to running out on Toll Stadium again.

aucklandlaurie wrote:Thats a shame, Payne would probably have been really looking forward to running out on Toll Stadium again.

Yeah, I just read that he played 3 seasons for Northland! Must be some older punters at the club who remember him well.

George Carlin wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:Thats a shame, Payne would probably have been really looking forward to running out on Toll Stadium again.

Yeah, I just read that he played 3 seasons for Northland! Must be some older punters at the club who remember him well.

 I was  told once that hes always wearing flip flops/jandals/thongs. even in the middle of winter.

 Its somewhat bewidering how things go round at times, Payne ended up playing for Northland after being dropped from Waikato by the coach they had down there at the time, a bloke by the name of  Gatland.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Jared Payne pulls out with a tight calf - hopefully this isn't a recurring theme throughout the tour but he hardly played during the buildup to it.

Is it the same problem that causes him to miss most of the end of season run in?

Apparently it's raining a monsoon down there. Could be an old fashion mud fest of a game. Probably not the start that those looking to show their wares to the test selectors would want.

LondonTiger wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Jared Payne pulls out with a tight calf - hopefully this isn't a recurring theme throughout the tour but he hardly played during the buildup to it.

Is it the same problem that causes him to miss most of the end of season run in?

Couldn't tell you, but I hope he doesn't end up like Kearney in 2013 - a great player but was never going to be fit for the tour and in hindsight maybe shouldn't have been selected.

Let's face it though with the number of centres and fullbacks in the squad we can probably cope without Payne for the first few weeks!

BigGee wrote:Apparently it's raining a monsoon down there. Could be an old fashion mud fest of a game. Probably not the start that those looking to show their wares to the test selectors would want.

Yeah there's a bit of weather about this weekend

Here's a good rain radar website

http://www.metvuw.com/forecast/

Can drill down into the 'Surface wind, MSLP and rainfall' links for the North and South Islands

http://www.metvuw.com/forecast/forecast.php?type=rain&region=nzni&noofdays=10

The grounds will be ok even with the rain

RDW_Scotland wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Jared Payne pulls out with a tight calf - hopefully this isn't a recurring theme throughout the tour but he hardly played during the buildup to it.

Is it the same problem that causes him to miss most of the end of season run in?

Couldn't tell you, but I hope he doesn't end up like Kearney in 2013 - a great player but was never going to be fit for the tour and in hindsight maybe shouldn't have been selected.

Let's face it though with the number of centres and fullbacks in the squad we can probably cope without Payne for the first few weeks!

Players need to be honest then like Billy. Injuries in training happen all the time - at least they aren't doing judo

LondonTiger wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Jared Payne pulls out with a tight calf - hopefully this isn't a recurring theme throughout the tour but he hardly played during the buildup to it.

Is it the same problem that causes him to miss most of the end of season run in?

He didn't miss most of the end of season run in, he picked up an ankle injury in round 19, missed the next two games with it and then wasn't risked in the final game against Leinster

Warbs and AWJ love them some Hendo.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40118019

marty2086 wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Jared Payne pulls out with a tight calf - hopefully this isn't a recurring theme throughout the tour but he hardly played during the buildup to it.

Is it the same problem that causes him to miss most of the end of season run in?

He didn't miss most of the end of season run in, he picked up an ankle injury in round 19, missed the next two games with it and then wasn't risked in the final game against Leinster

To be fair Round 19 was early April so he's not played for a while! He's certainly not the only one in the squad though.

That came after his time out for the kidney injury didn't it? 'Fractured' kidney sounds horrible

Cyril wrote:That came after his time out for the kidney injury didn't it? 'Fractured' kidney sounds horrible

Lacerated kidney I think it was, word is it was life threatening too

He came back from that and only had a few games under his belt before playing against England

He's a fairly fit guy so hopefully once he's over the strain he'll get up to speed fairly quickly

I do think he's a good shot to make the test 23 and people will be surprised by him

aucklandlaurie wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:Thats a shame, Payne would probably have been really looking forward to running out on Toll Stadium again.

Yeah, I just read that he played 3 seasons for Northland! Must be some older punters at the club who remember him well.

 I was  told once that hes always wearing flip flops/jandals/thongs. even in the middle of winter.

 Its somewhat bewidering how things go round at times, Payne ended up playing for Northland after being dropped from Waikato by the coach they had down there at the time, a bloke by the name of  Gatland.

Warran Gatland exercising poor judgment in selecting players?

Well, i just cannot believe that.

NZ Herald are doing good video interviews at each ground and it certainly looks bloody wet at the Toll Stadium. Not that this will stop Hoggy running everything back at pace. Hope to hell there are no slip-related injuries.

Cant wait to see how Hogg plays. I think he could be the star of the tour (if Warren G lets him)

GunsGermsV2 wrote:Cant wait to see how Hogg plays. I think he could be the star of the tour (if Warren G lets him)

Lets hope he doesn't knock the ball on in the rain or that could be his tour over.

He is Scottish, well used to the rain.

Morning lads, so it begins today. I am hoping for a good win today

Game day!

And the good news is the rain is off

Was watching the build up on Sky1 and they kept saying 'tomorrow' and 'one more sleep'... Had to check if I was actually on the right day

I got confused too, when I turned on and saw a reminder of the time and place. I thought that was the actual match build up.

Good to see the Little Lion Man video again though.

Stuart Barnes starting his usual high standards - referring to Gregor Laidlaw at 9!

Not sure why the focus is on Rory Best somewhat, he is a great 2 and wont let anyone down.

Be interesting to see how AWJ goes, may not have the match fitness as yet but is a very good player.

Would have preferred to see Henshaw at 12 ahead of Te'o.

I really like Sinckler's attitude - he's like a kid at Christmas!

RDW_Scotland wrote:I really like Sinckler's attitude - he's like a kid at Christmas!

It really wouldn't surprise me if he gets the bench for the first test. One of the best THs in the loose & he seems to now be a lot more secure at scrum time (which of course is his no. 1 job!)

RDW_Scotland wrote:I really like Sinckler's attitude - he's like a kid at Christmas!

Yes, that was brilliant.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:I really like Sinckler's attitude - he's like a kid at Christmas!

It really wouldn't surprise me if he gets the bench for the first test. One of the best THs in the loose & he seems to now be a lot more secure at scrum time (which of course is his no. 1 job!)

He is some unit as well. Think he will do well this tour.

Well that was underwhelming...

Certainly a slow start - perhaps as expected.

Some decent handling before the knock on. Is it me or does the commentator keep saying Kyle Sinclair?

Very scratchy start. Not convinced Sexton is fully fit... Henderson with 2 missed tackles already.

We're looking pretty blunt in attack - we're just doing one out passes and running into them!

Scottrf wrote:Some decent handling before the knock on. Is it me or does the commentator keep saying Kyle Sinclair?

Give it another 10mins and Barnes will be calling him Gregor Sinclair

Watson just went well inside 22 to 22 and tackled the man as he caught it. Rapid.

RDW_Scotland wrote:We're looking pretty blunt in attack - we're just doing one out passes and running into them!

Hmmm, its not like any of the home teams play like that