Brumbies vs the BIL

[Reiser99]

For me Ford should have been on the tour to start with, would be very happy for him if he got himself on a lions tour. Currently he's the best player from Britain and Ireland not to have been a lion.

I wouldn't. He'd only play a small part between tests and we need him in Argentina. If he was there from the start that's different, but now is a waste of time for me.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

So if Kinghorn is out what happens? You can't play the rest of the series with Keenan and M Smith.

Will be interesting to see,
Imagine Tom Jordan will be favourite but he has 2 career starts at 15, and we've already called up an unnecessary flyhalf addition, we really need actual 15 cover

 

[Reiser99]

Blair Murray? He'll never make the test side, but he'd cover the non-test games.

 

[TommiG88]

Will be interesting to see,
Imagine Tom Jordan will be favourite but he has 2 career starts at 15, and we've already called up an unnecessary flyhalf addition, we really need actual 15 cover

Could imagine it being any of Jordan, Osborne, Steward or Murray

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Blair Murray? He'll never make the test side, but he'd cover the non-test games.

Wouldn't be against that tbh,
Think he did well, all things considered, in the 6N

Osbourne would be my second chance and probably the best replacement for Daly in terms of positions covered

Hope it's not Steward, even if it would leave the door open for Carpenter to get an England cap

 

[AlRums]

Brumbies 24-36 British and Irish Lions: Tourists win again but some flaws exposed

The British and Irish Lions win again but concede four tries against a dogged Brumbies side in Canberra.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[OllyM97]

I could be being harsh on the Lions but this tour has felt underwhelming so far in terms of performances and today followed a similar trend. Personally I was disappointed with what the likely nucleus of the test team served up. There’s always teething problems on a Lions Tour, that’s the challenge that moulding players from 4 Nations into one team brings - but 5 games in, you would like to think that the basics have all been nailed down, and I don’t think that’s the case. The fact that the Aussie provincial sides have generally dominated the breakdown against us is a massive worry. If that trend continues in the test matches it will cost us the series. I also don’t think our forwards have been as dominant in terms of ball carrying as they should have been given the quality of the opposition - we’ve been going wide when we haven’t done the hard yards first. I also think we’ve looked one-dimensional at times and have really struggled to build any sustained pressure through phases. A lot of our tries have come off individual bits of brilliance and not through a well executed attacking game.

I’d still say we’re favourites for the series but that first test is all-important. If the Wallabies go 1-0 up, I wouldn’t back this Lions team to come back.

 

[Reiser99]

I was listening on TalkSport and they made a good point that if the Lions had won easily by 50 pts in each game then everyone would have said they had it easy and were undercooked going into the tests. They may not be inspirational matches, but it's better to have tougher games and get issues highlighted early rather than later. I feel like previous tours are also seen with rose-tinted glasses and most of these issues were present in previous tours too.

 

[big ginger 8]

I was listening on TalkSport and they made a good point that if the Lions had won easily by 50 pts in each game then everyone would have said they had it easy and were undercooked going into the tests. They may not be inspirational matches, but it's better to have tougher games and get issues highlighted early rather than later. I feel like previous tours are also seen with rose-tinted glasses and most of these issues were present in previous tours too.

100% go back and look at threads for previous tours and you'll see very similar comments being made.

You'll also see guys who did perform in the tests being maligned for their performances in the warm ups ended up being stars in the tests because whole 'test match animal' is a pretty cringe phrase, good players tend to be good in the matches that matter.

 

[petetherhooker]

Well dischuffed. I am still working so I thought I’d sit down this evening with a nice glass of Laphroig in my hand and watch the game. Bl**dy Now TV can’t be @rsed to make the game avaiable yet.. To$$ers

 

[Reiser99]

Well dischuffed. I am still working so I thought I'd sit down this evening with a nice glass of Laphroig in my hand and watch the game. Bl**dy Now TV can't be @rsed to make the game avaiable yet.. To$$ers

sent you a message

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Haven't bothered watching the game yet but everything I'm reading suggests the breakdown was a problem again. And that'll be one of the Aus strengths in the tests.

Also sounds like Chessum is pretty much guaranteed to be in the test squad somewhere so wondering if he'll get the nod at 6 for the extra heft / line out, Morgan at 7 as possibly the best breakdown option and Earl who's dynamic with ball in hand and also pretty good on the floor at 8.

It'll probably be VdF, Curry and Conan.

 

[General Melchett]

I don't think Curry or Beirne should be anywhere near the test 23 based on their performances but it wouldn't shock me if one or both are included.

On the centres I would personally go with Huwpolotu but wouldn't have an issue if Farrell goes for Ringrose if he wants to prioritise D. Jones runs better lines and has better footwork but this one does feel like a 50/50 call. Think Sione Aki is more 55/45 and think Sione would be unlucky to miss out just because he doesn't have that established combo with GR. Aki has the edge on trucking it up but Sione's distribution, kicking and ball playing ability is far superior.

 

[TommiG88]

I’d be going Tui and Ringrose at centre. Jones is good, but Ringrose is a class above in my opinion

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

Wouldn't be against that tbh,
Think he did well, all things considered, in the 6N

Osbourne would be my second chance and probably the best replacement for Daly in terms of positions covered

Hope it's not Steward, even if it would leave the door open for Carpenter to get an England cap

Blair Murry hasn't even won an international fixture.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Blair Murry hasn't even won an international fixture.

So?

 

[Which Tyler]

I'd be going Tui and Ringrose at centre. Jones is good, but Ringrose is a class above in my opinion

IMO: class? yes; form? no - though it's fairly marginal on form - I'd say 52:48 or so in Huw's favour. Personally, I'd bump that up in terms of selection chances for his partnerships with Tui, Finn (and Kinghorn if selected)

Tui : Aki is closer to 60:40 in Tui's favour IMO (form, again, that's closer in terms of class, but Aki's 35, and unlikely to play to his top class again)

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I find the Jones v Ringrose stuff a bit forced, he seems to be getting thrown in because he's playing OK to well but moreso that 10 / 12 will be Scottish.

In reality Jones is not anywhere near Ringrose's level at test level and Ringrose has looked at his best in the warm-ups.

In a backline that's going to be filled with strike runners anyway, you pick the better player, better defender and better distributor.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Well dischuffed. I am still working so I thought I'd sit down this evening with a nice glass of Laphroig in my hand and watch the game. Bl**dy Now TV can't be @rsed to make the game avaiable yet.. To$$ers

Sky are opposed to catch up sadly. Unlike most other tv and streamers.

 

[Reiser99]

I think we'll see Tuipolotu and Ringrose with Jones on the bench. I think Ringrose is the better player, but then you have Jones coming on or covering the backline who has that connection with Tuipolotu.