Highlanders v British & Irish Lions, June 13

First topic message reminder :

Highlanders v British & Irish Lions
13 June 2017
KO: 19:35 NZST (8.35am BST)
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Live on Sky Sports, Sky Sports HD and SkyGo

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

A. FORM:

18 June 2005: Otago 19 - 30 British & Irish Lions

5 June 1993: Otago 37 - 24 British & Irish Lions

8 June 1977: Otago 17 - 12 British & Irish Lions

B. TEAMS:

Highlanders 
01. Daniel Lienert-Brown
02. Liam Coltman
03. Siate Tokolahi
04. Alex Ainley
05. Jackson Hemopo
06. Gareth Evans
07. Dillon Hunt
08. Luke Whitelock (C)

09. Kayne Hammington
10. Lima Sopoaga
11. Tevita Li
12. Teihorangi Walden
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. Waisake Naholo
15. Richard Buckman

16. Greg Pleasants-Tate
17. Aki Seiuli
18. Siosuia Halanukonuka
19. Josh Dickson
20. Jimmy Lentjes
21. Josh Renton
22. Marty Banks
23. Patrick Osborne

British & Irish Lions
15 Jared Payne – Ulster, Ireland, #830
14 Jack Nowell – Exeter Chiefs, England, #828
13 Jonathan Joseph – Bath Rugby, England, #809
12 Robbie Henshaw – Leinster, Ireland, #824
11 Tommy Seymour – Glasgow Warriors, Scotland, #813
10 Dan Biggar – Ospreys, Wales, #821
9 Rhys Webb – Ospreys, Wales, #820

1 Joe Marler – Harlequins, England, #811
2 Rory Best – Ulster, Ireland, #793
3 Kyle Sinckler – Harlequins, England, #814
4 Courtney Lawes – Northampton Saints, England, #826
5 Iain Henderson – Ulster, Ireland, #808
6 James Haskell – Wasps, England, #823
7 Sam Warburton (capt) – Cardiff Blues, Wales, #800
8 CJ Stander – Munster, Ireland, #831

16 Ken Owens – Scarlets, Wales, #829
17 Jack McGrath – Leinster, Ireland, #827
18 Dan Cole – Leicester Tigers, England, #794
19 Alun Wyn Jones – Ospreys, Wales, #761
20 Justin Tipuric – Ospreys, Wales, #786
21 Greig Laidlaw – Gloucester Rugby, Scotland, #810
22 Owen Farrell – Saracens, England, #780
23 Elliot Daly – Wasps, England, #822

Warbs is fit!

And that is what irritates me about Biggar. Stop diving, this is not soccer...

Slow out of the blocks.....ball given away cheaply (another intercepted pass) during our first real attackinh break...Getting knocked on our arse plenty in the tackling...

That about sums it up so far...also can someone enlighten me as to what Jack Nowell brings to the team? He seems like the James Milner of International Rugby...i.e. works hard but brings little else to the table...

Webb with a break, he is playing well but great defence from the Highlanders.

owen10ozzy wrote:Slow out of the blocks.....ball given away cheaply (another intercepted pass) during our first real attackinh break...Getting knocked on our arse plenty in the tackling...

That about sums it up so far...also can someone enlighten me as to what Jack Nowell brings to the team?  He seems like the James Milner of International Rugby...i.e. works hard but brings little else to the table...

Nowell is a very hard working winger. I think he offers a lot in attack.

This looks a try for Webb at the least, maybe for Seymour as well...

Webb drops it over the line and knows it but still tries to claim the try...

eirebilly wrote:Webb drops it over the line and knows it but still tries to claim the try...

Looking his usual sharp self though

So hard working as I said....but saying offers a lot doesnt actually say what he brings...interested in knowing what?

And no try for either...fair calls in both cases.

Another potential try so close...

Nowell probably the best all round winger england have. Good across the board with no real weakness.

owen10ozzy wrote:So hard working as I said....but saying offers a lot doesnt actually say what he brings...interested in knowing what?

And no try for either...fair calls in both cases.

He is like Earls, hits rucks, is very busy and offers a lot of pace in attack. I think his lines are very good in attack and off the ball makes defences uneasy. I think he is well worth his selection.

Did I hear rightly that we had a 6 on 1 yet Stander carried and we gave away a holding on penalty?

Henderson is having a good game.

RDW, no. It was not a 6 man overlap and Stander did not ruin a try scoring attempt. Not sure where you are hearing this...

CJ is having an absolute mare...just isnt at the races at the moment either.

Impressed with Lawes who again continues to show an innate abililty to scrap for every yard available..and Joseph showing his footwork again (also impresses me with his decision making...always seems to know when to just hold onto that ball and not go for the tempting offload)..

Cheers chaps...I like him for England but thats because I feel his industrious nature compliments our squad..not sure same can be said for Lions (and his showing up till now would seem to back that)

eirebilly wrote:Henderson is having a good game.

RDW, no. It was not a 6 man overlap and Stander did not ruin a try scoring attempt. Not sure where you are hearing this...

Talksport commentary said we had a 6 on 1 overlap!

owen10ozzy wrote:CJ is having an absolute mare...just isnt at the races at the moment either.

Impressed with Lawes who again continues to show an innate abililty to scrap for every yard available..and Joseph showing his footwork again (also impresses me with his decision making...always seems to know when to just hold onto that ball and not go for the tempting offload)..

Cheers chaps...I like him for England but thats because I feel his industrious nature compliments our squad..not sure same can be said for Lions (and his showing up till now would seem to back that)

To be fair to him he has put in a lot of minutes since arriving in NZ. Hopefully he improves!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Henderson is having a good game.

RDW, no. It was not a 6 man overlap and Stander did not ruin a try scoring attempt. Not sure where you are hearing this...

Talksport commentary said we had a 6 on 1 overlap!

It was 3 or 4 on 1 tight to the touchline

Nowell is a great player, but lacks top-end speed.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

owen10ozzy wrote:CJ is having an absolute mare...just isnt at the races at the moment either.

Impressed with Lawes who again continues to show an innate abililty to scrap for every yard available..and Joseph showing his footwork again (also impresses me with his decision making...always seems to know when to just hold onto that ball and not go for the tempting offload)..

Cheers chaps...I like him for England but thats because I feel his industrious nature compliments our squad..not sure same can be said for Lions (and his showing up till now would seem to back that)

To be fair to him he has put in a lot of minutes since arriving in NZ. Hopefully he improves!

He wasn't fit coming in, he could really have down with a week off to recharge

owen10ozzy wrote:CJ is having an absolute mare...just isnt at the races at the moment either.

3 turnovers already in the game. Not what I would call having a mare.

Stander working himself into the mid week team.... He's being hit back time and time again... Really surprising.

EST wrote:Nowell is a great player, but lacks top-end speed.

Tommy Bowe at his peak was one of the best in the world but was never the fastest

That is true RDW...but the worry is...if the minutes are already telling then its only going to get worse...and if he isnt up to speed yet after said heavy workload..when will he be?

Mind its not just him..we are being driven back far to easily across the park..

ANOTHER PENALTY GIVEN AWAY! FRAK SAKE...NZ will kill us just on penalty give aways alone! So so sloppy!

And Lions concede the try...it was coming! LIONS ARE Poopie!

Henshaw shoots so unnecessarily out of the line and Payne does his best but misses the tackle. Try to the Higlanders.

Highlanders making this Lions lineup look average...

Was it a fair penalty on the buildup to the try?

TMO did not even look at that, thats shocking

Oh dear..Courtney in trouble!! Just what we didnt need...

One thing that will come from the inquiry that will definitely follow this tour....never should we ever play such a heavy schedule again!

marty2086 wrote:TMO did not even look at that, thats shocking

Look at what, the potential blocking? Never in a million years, was a good try.

Hope Lawes is ok - he was playing well up to that point

owen10ozzy wrote:Oh dear..Courtney in trouble!! Just what we didnt need...

Injured or a card?

Good from Webb & Payne there

Damn, even in slo mo you can see his head snap back

Hope he's ok

LondonTiger wrote:

owen10ozzy wrote:Oh dear..Courtney in trouble!! Just what we didnt need...

Injured or a card?

Hia- hopefully he will be ok

JJ u beaut! Good from zbiggar to.

eirebilly wrote:

marty2086 wrote:TMO did not even look at that, thats shocking

Look at what, the potential blocking? Never in a million years, was a good try.

He clearly stepped across to block him, having to go about five feet to the right makes it look like he couldnt get near him

Stuart Barnes is a real muppet. Has he got a clue when commentating. Last Saturday he said Hogg would take a long range penalty, when Hogg was off the field injured, and just know with the highlanders try he said Warbs missed the tackle, when Warbs wasn't there. I do wish Sky would put him out to grass...

JJ in for the try, Stander and Biggar busy in the build up but finished well by JJ. He has not been great in defence but good in attack.

Like a knife through butter! This is terrible to watch as a Lions fan...Seymour missing the catch...then no ability to tackle at all...once we do..we hold and give away the penalty again!

Simply struggling with the pace..and given half of this Highlanders is the 2nd team effectively thats a huge concern.

Joseph showing how big an attribute pace is at this level. Something to shout about anyhow.

Talksport man is annoying me with his pronunciation.

He keeps saying High laaanders instead of Highlanders, if get what I mean...

Biggar taking up the fly half challenge...

marty2086 wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

marty2086 wrote:TMO did not even look at that, thats shocking

Look at what, the potential blocking? Never in a million years, was a good try.

He clearly stepped across to block him, having to go about five feet to the right makes it look like he couldnt get near him

Its a good thing that exaggeration is not part of your vocabulary...

WE'VE SCORED A TRY THIS IS NOT A DRILL

No9 wrote:Biggar taking up the fly half challenge...

Not really, hes a mixed bag today

Lawes off permanently now

It is going to be an interesting battle for the no.9 jersey between Murray and Webb. Webb is having a sublime game both in defence and attack, as did Connor Murray on Saturday, tough choices for Gatland.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

No9 wrote:Stuart Barnes is a real muppet. Has he got a clue when commentating. Last Saturday he said Hogg would take a long range penalty, when Hogg was off the field injured, and just know with the highlanders try he said Warbs missed the tackle, when Warbs wasn't there. I do wish Sky would put him out to grass...

He also regularly gets player names wrong

First time I've heard Warbs mentioned 34 in

Great break and pass from Sinkler but poor handling from Payne...

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:First time I've heard Warbs mentioned 34 in

He really is not in this game, still looks injured.

eirebilly wrote:Great break and pass from Sinkler but poor handling from Payne...

Great pass? billy sort out those eyes of yours

The pass was short