3rd test - Australia v British & Irish Lions

[General Melchett]

Ye, Ashman, Brown, Sunderland and Graham were all sent home Thursday apparently.

That does make sense. If Graham is injured he should be rehabbing with Edinburgh asap.

 

[dirty harry]

That does make sense. If Graham is injured he should be rehabbing with Edinburgh asap.

Not sure about the injury, all 4 were always going home end of the week apparently, tickets were booked before they landed.

Im not sure if like that, either call up lions or use what you have, the idea that every 4 years a geography group will take a weeks holiday for the pre test game just says how useless that game is.

 

[General Melchett]

Not sure about the injury, all 4 were always going home end of the week apparently, tickets were booked before they landed.

Im not sure if like that, either call up lions or use what you have, the idea that every 4 years a geography group will take a weeks holiday for the pre test game just says how useless that game is.

The root cause is the Lions executives (not Farrell) trying to make as much cash as possible by max'ing out the fixtures. That FNP game threw a right spanner in the works. Farrell understandably wanted to rest his test players but still has to put out 23 to fulfil a fixture he probably didn't want.

 

[dirty harry]

The root cause is the Lions executives (not Farrell) trying to make as much cash as possible by max'ing out the fixtures. That FNP game threw a right spanner in the works. Farrell understandably wanted to rest his test players but still has to put out 23 to fulfil a fixture he probably didn't want.

I agree. Gotta feel for the players, get a call up but in reality can't call themselves lions. They're just local and mid week fodder.

I just think if you call someone up theyre there to stay for the tour, they are tourists until the end. I dont even like sending injured players home tbh, they have everything they need out there, its not the 3rd world, let them complete the tour.

 

[big ginger 8]

Kinsella reporting Ringrose out with McCarthy, Tuipulotu and Hansen all back training and available.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Kinsella reporting Ringrose out with McCarthy, Tuipulotu and Hansen all back training and available.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Not sure about the injury, all 4 were always going home end of the week apparently, tickets were booked before they landed.

Im not sure if like that, either call up lions or use what you have, the idea that every 4 years a geography group will take a weeks holiday for the pre test game just says how useless that game is.

Not sure about that as Graham's partner has travelled on from Melbourne to Sydney to watch the third test. Wouidnt she go home with him.

 

[dirty harry]

Not sure about that as Graham's partner has travelled on from Melbourne to Sydney to watch the third test. Wouidnt she go home with him.

Has she contacted you directly lol?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

She's flown out to sign for the new breakaway comp

 

[petetherhooker]

I think Farrell has the chance to go high risk high reward in this final test...

Skelton and Valetini were clearly not fit, Lions out lasted the Ausies.

I'd go with:

Genge Sheehan Furlong
Itoje Beirne
VDF Conan Morgan
JGP Russell
Aki Jones
Lowe Kinghorn VDM

I know what your thinking, scrum was superb with Porter, but I genuinely think Dkeltons size causes scrum issues for Aus.

Beirne from 6 to lock is risky, but VDF can help in the lineout, as can Conan.

I'd prefer TUI and Ringrose, and if that was possible id go for it, but neither seem good, and Aki Jones have proven strong enough in 2 tests now.

Id keep Lowe, for his weaknesses he creates in the red zone, and VDM finishes. Keenan Lowe and Freeman look poor as a unit, Keenan and Freeman have been good though, but I would want to put the hammer down.

Surely Curry is one of the leading candidates for player of the series. If he’s fit he has to play.

Why move Beirne, he’s excelled at 6. VDF great player, but shouldn‘t be picked as a sympathy vote.

Aki OK, but Id go back to Tui.

Lowe has been the worst in an underperforming back 3. Kinghorn, Sheehan, Freeman

 

[Which Tyler]

Surely Curry is one of the leading candidates for player of the series. If he's fit he has to play.

Tests, yes.
Series, no.

Russell and Sheehan probably the stand-outs over the series. Itoje too TBH

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Kinghorn, Sheehan, Freeman

Lightweight front row, or strong carrying back 3

 

[Ddanno]

Lightweight front row, or strong carrying back 3

We play position positionless rugby now

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

We play position positionless rugby now

Will "the step" Stuart to the wing.

 

[petetherhooker]

Lightweight front row, or strong carrying back 3

Bit of a brain fart on my part there. I knew I was going to mix up Sheehan and Keenan at some stage, at least I got the vowels right

Kinghorn Keenan Freeman

But then again given the way things have gone why not George at 2 and Sheehan, Keenan, Kinghorn

 

[dirty harry]

Surely Curry is one of the leading candidates for player of the series. If he's fit he has to play.

Why move Beirne, he's excelled at 6. VDF great player, but shouldn't be picked as a sympathy vote.

Aki OK, but Id go back to Tui.

Lowe has been the worst in an underperforming back 3. Kinghorn, Sheehan, Freeman

Curry has been poor by his standards, he was merely ok again Saturday, missed tackles and penalties in the first 15, he was also at fault for the 3rd Aus try. I think Aus targeted him in the line, and led to what 3 clean line breaks.

Hell of a player, who isnt fully fit, and has to be subbed off with the props.

My man of the series so far, pre test 1 would have been between Morgan, Itoje and Russell, but right now, Sheehan, Beirne and Itoje are fighting it out IMO.

I agree with Tui and Ringrose, but they arent fit, and Aki and Jones have shown they have the measure on their opposite number, so why change?

 

[odw26]

I agree with Tui and Ringrose, but they arent fit, and Aki and Jones have shown they have the measure on their opposite number, so why change?

Aki got shown up badly by Sua'ali'i for the third try and you'd expect Australia to really target a comparatively immobile defender if both face off again on Saturday.

 

[General Melchett]

.

Aki got shown up badly by Sua'ali'i for the third try and you'd expect Australia to really target a comparatively immobile defender if both face off again on Saturday.

Tui and Jones are simply a better combination. They know each other's games inside out as you'd expect and that's nothing against Aki. You'll see a much better version of Jones with Tui knowing where he'll be and the lines he'll be cutting.

Aki and Jones did a solid enough job last weekend but it's a no contest really. Huw & Sione also gave the Aussie centres a beat down in the first 60 of the first test before Sione went off

 

[dirty harry]

Aki got shown up badly by Sua'ali'i for the third try and you'd expect Australia to really target a comparatively immobile defender if both face off again on Saturday.

Aki didnt do anything wrong for the 3rd try, he's the outside man outnumbered, his job is to make the attacker step in and have his inside man muller him...

The inside man had pushed up out of position and wasnt there, I think Porter ended up trying to cover Curry's position.

 

[Ddanno]

.


Tui and Jones are simply a better combination. They know each other's games inside out as you'd expect and that's nothing against Aki. You'll see a much better version of Jones with Tui knowing where he'll be and the lines he'll be cutting.

Aki and Jones did a solid enough job last weekend but it's a no contest really. Huw & Sione also gave the Aussie centres a beat down in the first 60 of the first test before Sione went off

Not to mention the familiarity with Russell