2nd test - Australia v British & Irish Lions

[Which Tyler]

Really hard to make a case that Smith is better than Russell

Mostly done by having formed an opinion of Russell a decade ago, and sticking with that, regardless of the evidence (a fairly typical human trait)

Oh, and reading beyond the quoted post - "or by being a one-eyed fan of Smith's club" - silly of me to forget that one.

 

[Which Tyler]

I think you're all a bunch of pricks.

For once, we completely agree - now sod you for making me agree with a stopped clock!

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Can't wait until this tour's over so we can stop talking about the merits of players from other countries and go back to calling them fat and/or weak

I didn't know your mum was playing for another nation

 

[dullonien]

I wouldnt swap this Russell for prime Biggar or prime Farrel tbh. Both those 10s marshalled their countries to GSs and RWC semi finals.

I'm not so sure. The best version of Gatland Wales was 2011-2012 with Priestland at 10 who was able to unlock defenses and brought the outside backs into the game in a way Wales struggled with Biggar. In fact in his later years Gats leaned on Anscombe to provide that role.

Biggar's attitude and standards were world class, as were his kicking and defense. But I never rated his attacking game highly at all.

Not sure on Russell either. Was it his pack holding him back, or has it just taken time for him to round out as a player?

 

[General Melchett]

Barnesey is always on the money with his analysis IMO.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Russell is brilliant now but he wasn’t always, he’s improved as players do overtime. He wasn’t the player he is today then. I definitely think the coaching at Bath has added some steel to his game.

As for other FHs it’s hard to judge one against another especially trying to remember how players like preistland actually played, seems like decades ago now!

 

[dirty harry]

I think you're all a bunch of pricks.

Hungover?

 

[Which Tyler]

Barnesey is never knowingly on the money with his analysis IMO.

FTFY
Which doesn't mean he can't be a stopped clock

 

[dirty harry]

Yeah there's a lot of moot 'we'll never know' debates. Many say Gatland was proved right after he dropped BOD for the third test 12 years ago but it's still possible they could have won with him in the team - we'll never know.

BOD could have played tight head in that 3rd test and we would have won.

I think Gats held the team back in test 1 and 2, very pragmatic against a decent but not top Aus team, it work eventually with Aus being brutalised in the 1st 2 tests and not being able to cope with the physicality in test 3.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Hungover?

******* Irishman buying me drinks all night coz they thought I was a DJ.

 

[AlRums]

I think you're all a bunch of pricks.

You do know Russell's St AWJ reincarnated with a brain?

 

[AlRums]

British and Irish Lions second Test: Rob Valetini returns to Melbourne with series on the line

Rob Valetini grew up in Melbourne - can he give Australia the go-forward to get them back into the series against the British and Irish Lions in his hometown on Saturday?

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

I'm a big Marcus fan but I don't think he's had a good tour at all
Fin has had a couple of decent performances off the bench but not taken his chances when given them


Lions is about the here and now, development shouldn't come into it whatsoever - the side wont exist in 9 days

My issue is that he's not been given a proper shot. One start in his actual position and then played out of position and bench cameos? Shock that he's not playing like he can.

Goes for England too.

 

[AlRums]

My issue is that he's not been given a proper shot. One start in his actual position and then played out of position and bench cameos? Shock that he's not playing like he can.

Goes for England too.

Marcus has become second fiddle, not just for the Lions but for England too.

Some of his attacking play, running with the ball, is fantastic.

Is defence at fullback is abysmal, he's usually out of position, except for long kicks, and is always trying to play catch-up.

 

[AlRums]

British and Irish Lions prepare for MCG debut in second Test

The British and Irish Lions will enter uncharted territory when they play at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground for the first time.

www.bbc.co.uk

Stadium just looks weird here

 

[Ddanno]

Yeah cricket pitches are round.

 

[AlRums]

Yeah cricket pitches are round.

From a picture I've seen the arf posts will still be outside the pitch

 

[Ddanno]

From a picture I've seen the arf posts will still be outside the pitch

Ha, that would be a sight

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Throughout this tour the Lions have been trying overly ambitious offloads when the better option would have been to hold onto the ball, recycle and go again. What this has meant is that the Lions have ended up losing possession instead of converting possession and territory into points. I dont know whether this is a team strategy or just bad individual decision making but the scorelines of some of the games on this tour have been closer than they should have been. I am concerned this is going to come back to bite them in one of the test matches.

 

[AlRums]

Throughout this tour the Lions have been trying overly ambitious offloads when the better option would have been to hold onto the ball, recycle and go again. What this has meant is that the Lions have ended up losing possession instead of converting possession and territory into points. I dont know whether this is a team strategy or just bad individual decision making but the scorelines of some of the games on this tour have been closer than they should have been. I am concerned this is going to come back to bite them in one of the test matches.

They've been giving away 16-20 turnovers a game, that tactic could be expensive.

17, 16, 19 turnovers lost last three matches