3rd test - Australia v British & Irish Lions

[dirty harry]

Finn Russell player of the series. Was between him, Sheehan & Itoje. All would have been worthy winners and were consistently around 8/10 throughout the tour.

I disagree, I had Itoje, Sheehan and Beirne head and shoulders above anyone else.

I'd have gone with Itoje, his loss was felt amazingly hard today, lineout fell to peices. He hadn't skipped a beat the entire tour.

Russell was good, but I think this decision was based on 'wonder' moments against poor opposition, Itoje was the beating heart of the squad.

 

[Which Tyler]

Fin Russell being awarded man of the series is a shocking decision. He was poor in the first half last week and was part of the reason the Lions lost today. He couldn't change tactics to suit the conditions.

If only there was more to a lions tour than 40 minutes (where "poor" is over-egging it)

Seems a fair call to me, no-one notably better over the course of the tour, or just the tests. Few enough other even in contention, Sheehan, Itoje and.. that's probably about it really

 

[General Melchett]

I disagree, I had Itoje, Sheehan and Beirne head and shoulders above anyone else.

I'd have gone with Itoje, his loss was felt amazingly hard today, lineout fell to peices. He hadn't skipped a beat the entire tour.

Russell was good, but I think this decision was based on 'wonder' moments against poor opposition, Itoje was the beating heart of the squad.

It's for the whole tour and not just the tests. Beirne only started performing in the first test and was poor before that. Russell was one of the better performers today with some excellent kicking and had one costly knock on when the ball was a bar of soap. He was rated 8/10 in every game on tour bar two when he was 9/10 and 7/10 last week in the second test which was his lowest rating.

 

[ChicagoKid]

Genge was the best player throughout.

And if you read my post history, you know I’m not a fan of him.

But he was immense and was a constant game breaker.

 

[mungo]

Fin Russell being awarded man of the series is a shocking decision. He was poor in the first half last week and was part of the reason the Lions lost today. He couldn't change tactics to suit the conditions.

I thought it was tadhg Beirne?

 

[Dutchgeo88]

What this series has proven is that Andy Farrell is not the top coach people like to claim. His player selections were abysmal, full on nepotism and favoritism! There also didn't seem to be a coherent game plan. The only saving grace in the first two games were Australia were shite or let the Lions back in the game.

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

Imagine being so deluded about how good the largely unchanged 23 was that you only wondered if the Wallabies could 'sneak it'

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

I thought it was tadhg Beirne?

Well what was the glass trophy Russell was just awarded?

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

Imagine laughing at logic that turned out to be spot on...

 

[General Melchett]

Well what was the glass trophy Russell was just awarded?

Howden player of the series - decided by Lions main sponsors.

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

What this series has proven is that Andy Farrell is not the top coach people like to claim. His player selections were abysmal, full on nepotism and favoritism! There also didn't seem to be a coherent game plan. The only saving grace in the first two games were Australia were shite or let the Lions back in the game.

He inherited a largely golden generation of Irish players and still couldn't take them beyond a World Cup QF

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

What this series has proven is that Andy Farrell is not the top coach people like to claim. His player selections were abysmal, full on nepotism and favoritism! There also didn't seem to be a coherent game plan. The only saving grace in the first two games were Australia were shite or let the Lions back in the game.

I agree. Farrell had two opportunities to get the players to change the tactics, half time and the lightning break, and they still carried on trying to play the offloading wide game, instead of playing a tighter forward game that the conditions required.

 

[Grizwald]

Shame the Aussies couldn't keep hold of Schmidt for the full RWC cycle. Injuries for the first test didn’t help and was tactically a bit nieve but he's got a lot of what's available after Eddie imploded the entire thing.

Rugby Australia have got to cop some heat, 12 years of planning and only the one warm up against Fiji?

 

[mungo]

Well what was the glass trophy Russell was just awarded?

Not sure but I saw beirne just get a medal.
I wouldn’t be too disheartened as a lions fan because I imagine they clocked off slightly as the series was clinched.

As a wallabies fan, a real test will be if we can be competitive in South Africa, because even when we’re strong we struggle over there.

 

[Scotty]

Imagine laughing at logic that turned out to be spot on...

What's that saying about a broken clock?

 

[dirty harry]

It's for the whole tour and not just the tests. Beirne only started performing in the first test and was poor before that. Russell was one of the better performers today with some excellent kicking and had one costly knock on when the ball was a bar of soap. He was rated 8/10 in every game on tour bar two when he was 9/10 and 7/10 last week in the second test which was his lowest rating.

Im not saying Russell was bad, but when things weren't going well it was Itoje who pulled up, he led with absolutely everything, and over the entire tour I dont remember a mistake of his.

Russell is quality, and I praised him hard this tour, especially his leadership and willingness in defence, but Itoje was different.

Sheehan was near perfect too, except for that 15 min period of lineouts today.

You could argue Beirne playing more than anyone / most and captaining regularly, was playing himself into test form and it certainly worked, today he was out best performer by a mile.

Here in Wales we call it Halfpenny award, its the flair players who receive the plaudits from commentary, not the most important.

Adam Jones was the best tight head on the planet for a few seasons, there were a few international matches he would destroy scrums and win the games from the resultant penalties, but Halfpenny knocked them over so got the applause.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

 

[Jimbo]

I agree. Farrell had two opportunities to get the players to change the tactics, half time and the lightning break, and they still carried on trying to play the offloading wide game, instead of playing a tighter forward game that the conditions required.

That’s probably partly true but look at the ball carriers they lost and the power running 12 getting sent backwards and struggling to break the line, hardly a recipe for winning it through the guts. Part of the game plan was probably to expect Skelton to tire and need subbing but the weather break changed that.

 

[General Melchett]

Shame the Aussies couldn't keep hold of Schmidt for the full RWC cycle. Injuries for the first test didn't help and was tactically a bit nieve but he's got a lot of what's available after Eddie imploded the entire thing.

Rugby Australia have got to cop some heat, 12 years of planning and only the one warm up against Fiji?

Schmidt is absolutely top class. I have no doubt that he'd absolutely transform England if he was their HC.

If the Lions committee are serious about winning in NZ in four years time I hope they give serious consideration to approaching him to lead the tour on his own turf.

 

[Jimbo]

Adam Jones was the best tight head on the planet for a few seasons, there were a few international matches he would destroy scrums and win the games from the resultant penalties, but Halfpenny knocked them over so got the applause.

That’s fair I have always credited Marlers huge scrum improvement largely reflective of working with him.