Third Test: Australia v British and Irish Lions (06/07/13)

[TRF_heineken]

The Lions Better pray that it rains... and that there are plenty of knock-ons and forward passes...

that's the only way they would dominate.

As for BOD. this is his 4th tour, and he has lost every time... maybe not being selected will change the current voodoo on him...

 

[McTallshort]

I think this is being overegged on SOME fronts... If gatland wants absolute scrum dominance then Hibbard makes sense, as does having Richie gray on the bench.. Even here, though, if he's that determined to milk every last bit of possible scrum dominance, why did he bother keeping mako on for so long last week!?

There's examples this week of him doing what should have been done last week, eg dropping Cuthbert, so that's good. There's no deliberate bias here, but this is the dictionary definition of 'going with what he knows'.[/QUOTE

If this is true then its completely flawed for 2 reason: first, the scrum is complete lottery and even getting a drive on may not result in a penalty, most of the calls at scrum time are 50/50 so its madness to base a winning strategy around it. Second the aussies are too good to be dominated for 80 minutes in the scrum.

I really really hope that the gameplan isnt to dominate the scrum and win kickable penalties if it is I wont bloody bother watching because we will lose.

 

[irelandfan123]

BOD is top trend on twitter

 

[jugs1490]

I feel almost sad for BOD. He may not have been top drawer last week but he put in a good defensive shift. I was hoping to see tuilagi brought in at 12 to partner him, as davies wasnt great. Picking roberts is the big call for me he has been blody injured and wasnt in any good form at the start of the tour. What we will miss most though is BOD's leadership!!!

Just got to get behind them now and pray they can pull it out the bag!

 

[mochyn]

So you'd like a starting 15 of 12 Welsh.. Not at all one eyed...

Horses for courses, being part of a winning Welsh 6 nations team is a big advantage

 

[HenryChinaski]

If this is true then its completely flawed for 2 reason: first, the scrum is complete lottery and even getting a drive on may not result in a penalty, most of the calls at scrum time are 50/50 so its madness to base a winning strategy around it. Second the aussies are too good to be dominated for 80 minutes in the scrum.

I really really hope that the gameplan isnt to dominate the scrum and win kickable penalties if it is I wont bloody bother watching because we will lose.

The scrum is a lottery, but not a complete lottery - otherwise why not pick Tony Buckley or whoever to start at tighthead, as Duck said. Most games are just a see-saw game of the lotto - but there still is such thing as regularly driving an opponents scrum back, if you have the right front five. By picking a strong scrum, you also make it likely that the referee, Poite in this case, will give you the benefit of the doubt.

Horses for courses, being part of a winning Welsh 6 nations team is a big advantage

I think you've badly misunderstood this phrase ... How are these additional Welsh boys suitable horses for this course!? If the Welsh were horses (North definitely looks like one when he runs at pace) , then they've not got a great record on this particular racecourse

 

[Raskolnikov]

Gatland has shown his hand at last. He came into this tour with a plan to pick Wales plus a few others and after chopping and changing in the first 2 tests to include the form players from any nation he has well and truly reverted to plan A. It's just a surprise that Evans, Tipuric and Cuthbert aren't playing as well!

To drop BOD for Davies is just ridiculous, in his last Lions game you could bank on a big performance from BOD, Davies was dreadful last week.

Phillips and Roberts just epitomize what Gatland wanted to do all along, both have been poor on this tour yet after injury they are straight back into the team, for what exactly??? Deary me, surely this just goes to show that the Lions shouldn't be coached by one of the home nations' coach?

EDIT: and as for Hibbard and no second lineout jumper..... well we are well and truly stuffed there now. How can we play a kicking game with no platform from the lineout?

It beggars belief

 

[Aristodemus]

Gatland has shown his true colours today, the guy is a joke. I honestly don't know what he was thinking naming this team. Not a chance Hibbard should be ahead of Youngs, and if you are looking at dropping someone from the front row it should be Jones. Cole improved the scrum when he came on in the 2nd test and he actually offers something other than that. I don't mind Faletau coming in but Lydiate should have gone, he did nothing and the lineout was much weaker without Croft. Phillips straight back at 9 despite a disgraceful performance behind a great pack, BOD dropped despite Davies butchering attacks and costing the match winning try. Also Tuilagi is much better than Roberts, he can do everything Jamie can and more.
We are going to lose but at least the Welsh guys get some experience in a Lions jersey.

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

Cue the sh*t storm............

Only 10 Welshmen.Absolute disgrace.

 

[Raskolnikov]

A one off game to win the series and we have pretty much got Wales vs. Australia, how well has that gone recently again?

Wales have lost their last 8 games v Australia, 4 times in 2012 alone. Hmmm.

What do they say about the definition of madness? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result...

 

[Haysie]

So Gatland is doing a good job of trying to make the Lions the underdogs, when we all really know that the Wallabies are underdogs in this competition. Surely that's the only reason he has picked such a sub-par side.

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

All of you who say the Lions will definitely lose on Sat, can you send me tonight's Lottery numbers seeing as you can obviously see into the future?

 

[Raskolnikov]

"Brian O'Driscoll is a great player and has had a wonderful career but for the final Test in Sydney we just felt Jamie Roberts' presence offered us something more.

"Mike Phillips and Alex Corbisiero were first Test selections and would probably have played in the second Test if not for injury. Richard Hibbard, Toby Faletau and Sean O'Brien have also earned their starting places." Gatland

Except Roberts and BOD play different positions.

Faletau and O'Brien yes, but apart from losing almost all his lineout throws including the key moment in the second test what has Hibbard done?

 

[munstermuffin]

Can I ask why is there no Welsh player droppable from form? Also this will surely be issue in future selections of coaches for Lions as the issues like this where coach looks after 1 nations interests at expense of rest is problem. Also will I be right in saying every Welsh player barring Evans will see test action and add to that Jenkins would've too if fit and Priestland if he played full season

 

[Haysie]

All of you who say the Lions will definitely lose on Sat, can you send me tonight's Lottery numbers seeing as you can obviously see into the future?

-slow clap-

That was lame.

 

[Peat]

All of you who say the Lions will definitely lose on Sat, can you send me tonight's Lottery numbers seeing as you can obviously see into the future?

Since I'm only about 70pc certain the Lions will lose, do you mind if I send you lottery numbers I'm only 70pc certain on being right?

 

[potemkin]

WG - Right Graham. Final test. How do I ensure a Welsh guy is captain?
GR - You need to drop BOD then boss and make sure he isn't even on the bench to provide leadership and direction.
WG - Good idea. Next, which Scottish guy's turn is it to be ritually humiliated by selecting him and leaving him warming his backside on the bench whole game?
GR - (consults small piece of paper with 4 names on it, two of which are scored out) uhm better make it Richie Gray boss or else you might need to bring young Hogg on if there are injuries to the full back, wingers or fly half.
WG -Brilliant! Right we need a couple of Englishmen playing or there will be hell to pay. Who was that big beardy guy who could not shove the skin off a rice pudding? He will make our guys look like 10 Adonises?
GR - (shifting uncomfortably in seat) Uhm Parling boss, but he really is quite good
WG - No he isn't he is effing useless but bung him down anyway. Now young Farrell. Lets totally destroy his confidence for next season's 6N by parping him on the bench again knowing full well he wont get on.
GR - Boss OF is really good you know maybe we should bring him on at some stage
WG - (clips GR on what is left of his ear) Don't get uppity Graham and get ideas above your station. What was the name of that fat english lad that got monstered in the scrum last week?
GR - Erm Vunipola boss.
WG - Right we will have him on the bench as well. He makes our guys look like world beaters. Whose the Irish guy with the broken hand?
GR - Uhm Tommy Bowe boss. Looked a little off the pace last week and maybe we played him too soon.
WG - Drivel. If it all goes tits up we can blame him for it. Make sure he plays. Right off you go Graham.

 

[munstermuffin]

Also can I add if it combos then why drop Heaslip playing well. And part of top team in Europe and used to SOB and Lydiate. Murray is on form and knows Sexton better

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Think Parling is coming off of all this rather badly - he's played well yet he's made out to be absolute muck.

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

I would have picked

15 Halfpenny
14 Bowe
13 O'Driscoll
12 Roberts
11 North
10 Sexton
9 Phillips

1 Corbisero
2 T Youngs
3 A Jones
4 AW Jones
5 Parling
6 O'Brien
7 Tupuric
8 Faletau

Bench-Grant,Hibbard,Cole,Gray,Croft,B Youngs,Farrell,Tuilagi

There'll be some humble pie eaten on here if the Lions win.:lol: