Crusaders v British & Irish Lions, 10 June

First topic message reminder :

Crusaders v British & Irish Lions
10 June 2017
KO: 19:35 NZST (8.35am BST)
Rugby League Park, Christchurch

Live on Sky Sports, Sky Sports HD and SkyGo

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Touch judges: [tbc]
TMO: [tbc]

A. FORM:

2 June 1993: Canterbury 10 - 28 British & Irish Lions

28 June 1983: Canterbury 22 - 20 British & Irish Lions

25 June 1977: Canterbury 13 - 14 British & Irish Lions

B. TEAMS:

Crusaders
I Dagg, S Tamanivalu, J Goodhue, D Havili, G Bridge, R Mo'unga, B Hall, J Moody, C Taylor, O Franks, L Romano, S Whitelock (capt), H Bedwell-Curtis, M Todd, J Taufua.

Replacements: B Funnell, W Crockett, M Alaalatoa, Q Strange, J Brown, M Drummond, M Hunt, T Bateman.

British & Irish Lions
S Hogg; G North, J Davies; B Te'o, L Williams; O Farrell; C Murray; M Vunipola, J George, T Furlong; AW Jones (capt), G Kruis; P O'Mahony, S O'Brien, T Faletau

Replacements: K Owens, J McGrath, D Cole, M Itoje, CJ Stander, R Webb, J Sexton, A Watson

C. PREVIEW

Poor pass from Murray but the backline looks lost with Sexton on and Farrell at 13.

SOB does amazingly well to chase back on their 10, AWJ then gives away a stupid lazy pen and is lucky not to be carded.

Couple of cynical penalties against the Lions now

Wake up you French referee

That should be a card - AWJ was so blatantly offside!

I was looking forward to seeing SOB and he is having a great game so far.

How was that maul not dragged down?

Another cynical play from the Lions

Jones didn't even need to concede the pen then, Lions had it under cobtrol

Surely the Lions should be on a YC warning at the very least here. Very cynical from them.

Big let off!! Well done T'eo!

Sounds like AWJ is having another stinker? Must be out of test contention now?

Hahhaha knock on from a guaranteed 3.

Should Lions have gone for some lineouts?

After the big build up the crusaders have been pretty disappointing!

Omg this French referee is Poopie

That wasn't a scrum penalty

RDW_Scotland wrote:After the big build up the crusaders have been pretty disappointing!

Really poor. But only 6 points.

Griff wrote:Sounds like AWJ is having another stinker? Must be out of test contention now?

Not a stinker but he's lucky to be on the field. He just looks knackered to be honest.

Lions did well to get away there with no points. Saders should have taken the three points though. It's going to be a tight game.

Griff wrote:Sounds like AWJ is having another stinker? Must be out of test contention now?

Don't know if that's a joke but he's put in a physical shift - his penalty was so blatant but he's got away with it

So good from Watson there

Stop aimlessly kicking the ball away!!!

Murray!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Griff wrote:Sounds like AWJ is having another stinker? Must be out of test contention now?

Don't know if that's a joke but he's put in a physical shift - his penalty was so blatant but he's got away with it

No, Genune question RDW. Only watching the BBC updates and on here. Sounded like a few penalties conceded and lucky not to get a yellow.

That side to side attack is gash

Much better first half from the Lions. I think they will need to score some tries to win though

Some of Murray's distribution has been poor but his box kicking and general game management has been excellent.

Farrell has been excellent at 10 but I think the loss of JD2 has had an impact on him with being forced to 13. That said, towards the end of the first half, he chased Sexton out wide and reassumed the 10 position which is actually good to see.

Griff wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Griff wrote:Sounds like AWJ is having another stinker? Must be out of test contention now?

Don't know if that's a joke but he's put in a physical shift - his penalty was so blatant but he's got away with it

No, Genune question RDW. Only watching the BBC updates and on here. Sounded like a few penalties conceded and lucky not to get a yellow.

Next time PM me in advance and I will create a link for you to my Sky box.

Farrel and Sexton, I imagine they could clash a bit

yappysnap wrote:That side to side attack is gash

I was sceptical about whether Howley could have got them playing like Wales in the first two games with such a short turnaround, but sounds like he's definitely got them playing that way now

eirebilly wrote:

Griff wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Griff wrote:Sounds like AWJ is having another stinker? Must be out of test contention now?

Don't know if that's a joke but he's put in a physical shift - his penalty was so blatant but he's got away with it

No, Genune question RDW. Only watching the BBC updates and on here. Sounded like a few penalties conceded and lucky not to get a yellow.

Next time PM me in advance and I will create a link for you to my Sky box.

Wow, thanks Billy

eirebilly wrote:Some of Murray's distribution has been poor but his box kicking and general game management has been excellent.

Farrell has been excellent at 10 but I think the loss of JD2 has had an impact on him with being forced to 13. That said, towards the end of the first half, he chased Sexton out wide and reassumed the 10 position which is actually good to see.

Agreed.

SOB and Faletou both putting in good shifts carrying. Would be good to see the front 3 carrying a bit more too as our locks aren't great at it.

Davies and Hogg not returning.

yappysnap wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Some of Murray's distribution has been poor but his box kicking and general game management has been excellent.

Farrell has been excellent at 10 but I think the loss of JD2 has had an impact on him with being forced to 13. That said, towards the end of the first half, he chased Sexton out wide and reassumed the 10 position which is actually good to see.

Agreed.

SOB and Faletou both putting in good shifts carrying. Would be good to see the front 3 carrying a bit more too as our locks aren't great at it.

I think POM has been good, I like his aggression.

North and Williams have also come looking for work which is what I like to see from Wingers. Watson has looked very good at 15 since he has been on.

All in all, not unhappy so far.

Unfortunate for Davies but might be a blessing at centre. Sexton and Farrell are both better passers, kickers and defenders. Backline beginning to look more dangerous at the end of the half.

Farrell needs to get back to 10 & Itoje on for AWJ it will make the difference.

RDW_Scotland wrote:After the big build up the crusaders have been pretty disappointing!

Gosh, how do you think we feel after being told this was the best Lions side in decades.

Engine#4 wrote:Unfortunate for Davies but might be a blessing at centre. Sexton and Farrell are both better passers, kickers and defenders. Backline beginning to look more dangerous at the end of the half.

Not sure of that (well sure they are both better passes than JD2). I think it is important to keep Farrell at 10 myself and move Sexton to 12 but then you are left with Te'o at 13... It may actually stifle the Lions attack.

I think the Crusaders will still win.

Saders are known for their second halfs this year. 21-5 down against the Blues, boom 34-21.

AWJ just pushedd POM off the ball in the attacking line out

Lol

3 pts gone begging

That went in

Teo playing well, but he just can't pass

That kick was in!

RDW_Scotland wrote:That kick was in!

Disagree, outside of post at best.

Sexton actually starting to get into this game and the tour. This is good news.

Great kick Farrell. Can't figure out how to quote on mobile but agree with eirebilly re having Farrell at 10 and Sexton 12 generally. Option of having them interchange on occasion adds another dimension too.

Farrell and Sexton brilliantly side stepped by Goodhue. Very lucky for the Lions there.

Need some points incase Crusaders turn up at any point.

Scottrf wrote:Need some points incase Crusaders turn up at any point.

That easy kick in front of the posts should have given us it!

Another BS scrum penalty

George to Kruis is clockwork.