First Test: Australia vs. British and Irish Lions (22/06/13)

[austingtir]

I think the ref generally rightly whistled you guys off the park its the same thing as when the lions toured NZ they were shockers at flopping all over the ball in particular against the NPC sides they played in the lead up games. I actually think the Refs know this and have rightly targeted it. The comments by alot of NZ players for the NPC teams after games were damning. "Cheated like Buggery" is one way of putting it!

In saying all that im glad the lions won this game makes for a good series for once.

I think the ref whistled us off the park in the breakdown. We weren't allowed any competition, which really renders our ball winning pack ineffective. I think the Wallabies had a lot of fight in them, and managed to play great rugby despite the injury list. We nearly lost that match because of sloppy mistakes, and idiotic missed tackles. Folau was a class act, as was Genia for the most part. I hope people don't make a big issue out of the North thing, he was undoubtedly taking the **** out of Genia, who had minutes before made a fool out of him. I would hate for this to be the main issue in an excellent game of rugby. Just look at the sportsmanship when lealiifano went down.

 

[TW11DZ]

The simple fact is the Lions players have all played in the SH before with SH refs and should know by now what the ref will be pinging them for. Surely the Lions management have watched the recent internationals being played and how the SH refs interpret the laws. Will be interesting to see how Poite ref's the game in Melbourne next week.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Our maul was very dissapointing, was hoping we could really take advantage from it. Line out was decent, scrum really tailed off near the end.
Probably shouldn't have won the game, but the ref was pretty dire, O'Driscoll had 2 perfectly legal turn overs.
Tom Youngs was fantastic, I hope he starts the next game. The only changes I would make would be Phillips for Youngs (I think the Aussies will have prepared for his sniping runs), Cuthbert for Bowe and Lydiate for O'Brien. Honestly I don't think we need to change Davies I thought he was really good, however we might need a more powerful ball carrier.

 

[Peat]

Was out all day, got back in and managed to watch the entire game without encountering the score - first thing on my mind is that I've rarely seen a more cruel end to the game and I really feel sorry for Beale.

The moment where we'd have lost that game, if Australia could kick, was when Alun Wyn came off and Parling came on. The moment Parling packed down at tighthead lock the scrum started struggling. It had lost its ascendancy with Cole and Vunipola, doubt we'll see them as early as next week, but no AWJ was the moment it went to hell.

I am somewhat confused by people who thought Croft wasn't grafting. He hit a lot of rucks and was frequently the first guy there, pushing it on that extra bit more. You want to criticise him, ask why he didn't make it back for Folau's try, you can see him in the background (I think) - although my first thought when I saw that was that Croft hadn't really recovered from his toe injury. That or he was really lazy. But he didn't break into a sprint I saw all game - so either stupendously lazy, or not properly fit. Either way - 71 minutes? Not what I'd have done.

Anyway, roll on next week.

 

[Jaguares]

For u who was the best Aussie player in the first Test??

Regards

 

[LoShaw]

The simple fact is the Lions players have all played in the SH before with SH refs and should know by now what the ref will be pinging them for. Surely the Lions management have watched the recent internationals being played and how the SH refs interpret the laws. Will be interesting to see how Poite ref's the game in Melbourne next week.

Poite is the third test. Joubert is the second and personally I think he is one of the best referees out there. Should definitely be interesting though!

 

[donmcdazzle]

Our maul was very dissapointing, was hoping we could really take advantage from it. Line out was decent, scrum really tailed off near the end.
Probably shouldn't have won the game, but the ref was pretty dire, O'Driscoll had 2 perfectly legal turn overs.
Tom Youngs was fantastic, I hope he starts the next game. The only changes I would make would be Phillips for Youngs (I think the Aussies will have prepared for his sniping runs), Cuthbert for Bowe and Lydiate for O'Brien. Honestly I don't think we need to change Davies I thought he was really good, however we might need a more powerful ball carrier.

both penalties for me, he just flopped down on the ball both times.

 

[big ginger 8]

.

 

[TW11DZ]

For u who was the best Aussie player in the first Test??

Regards

Will Genia. Without him , no tries.

Poite is the third test. Joubert is the second and personally I think he is one of the best referees out there. Should definitely be interesting though!

My bad. Joubert is one of the best refs around along with Walsh IMHO.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

For u who was the best Aussie player in the first Test??

Regards

Not sure. Many will say Folau due to his tries.
Probably Genia, with honourable mentions to Moore and AAC.

The moment where we'd have lost that game, if Australia could kick, was when Alun Wyn came off and Parling came on. The moment Parling packed down at tighthead lock the scrum started struggling.

I had an Aussie stream and they were making out like Parling is known, first and foremost, for his scrummaging. Confused me a bit!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

BOD's steals were absolutely perfect, no other ref in world rugby would have penalised him there.

 

[jcahill1]

Was out all day, got back in and managed to watch the entire game without encountering the score - first thing on my mind is that I've rarely seen a more cruel end to the game and I really feel sorry for Beale.

The moment where we'd have lost that game, if Australia could kick, was when Alun Wyn came off and Parling came on. The moment Parling packed down at tighthead lock the scrum started struggling. It had lost its ascendancy with Cole and Vunipola, doubt we'll see them as early as next week, but no AWJ was the moment it went to hell.

I am somewhat confused by people who thought Croft wasn't grafting. He hit a lot of rucks and was frequently the first guy there, pushing it on that extra bit more. You want to criticise him, ask why he didn't make it back for Folau's try, you can see him in the background (I think) - although my first thought when I saw that was that Croft hadn't really recovered from his toe injury. That or he was really lazy. But he didn't break into a sprint I saw all game - so either stupendously lazy, or not properly fit. Either way - 71 minutes? Not what I'd have done.

Anyway, roll on next week.

I wouldn't criticize Croft for that game, he was fine though not outstanding by any means. However in general the pack seemed to have a bit of a problem getting go forward ball, especially in the first 20 mins.

I'd bring in O'Brien, and if he starts shipping too many penalties swap him for Lydiate.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Just rewatching the match (it's a lot more enjoyable when you know the good guys win in the end ) and think sticking out his index finger was definitly a gesture... Not even the mighty North could hand-off an opponent with just his index figure!

Completely agree.

Funny no one is kicking up a fuss about it now, compared in that club match. Can't imagine why

 

[Peat]

Will Genia was very, very good. But then so was Folau. And Beale, kicks apart, added a huge amount when he came on.

 

[big ginger 8]

Completely agree.

Funny no one is kicking up a fuss about it now, compared in that club match. Can't imagine why

No one likes Delon Armitage and no one wants to deal with a Welsh horde.

 

[donmcdazzle]

BOD's steals were absolutely perfect, no other ref in world rugby would have penalised him there.

They weren't perfect at all, I thought they were both penalties and the ref was right in saying he flopped down onto the ball.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

They weren't perfect at all, I thought they were both penalties and the ref was right in saying he flopped down onto the ball.

Despite being on his feet supporting his weight?

 

[dullonien]

Was out all day, got back in and managed to watch the entire game without encountering the score - first thing on my mind is that I've rarely seen a more cruel end to the game and I really feel sorry for Beale.

The moment where we'd have lost that game, if Australia could kick, was when Alun Wyn came off and Parling came on. The moment Parling packed down at tighthead lock the scrum started struggling. It had lost its ascendancy with Cole and Vunipola, doubt we'll see them as early as next week, but no AWJ was the moment it went to hell.

I am somewhat confused by people who thought Croft wasn't grafting. He hit a lot of rucks and was frequently the first guy there, pushing it on that extra bit more. You want to criticise him, ask why he didn't make it back for Folau's try, you can see him in the background (I think) - although my first thought when I saw that was that Croft hadn't really recovered from his toe injury. That or he was really lazy. But he didn't break into a sprint I saw all game - so either stupendously lazy, or not properly fit. Either way - 71 minutes? Not what I'd have done.

Anyway, roll on next week.

I agree, Croft did a decent amount of work in the tight, but did he do more than Lydiate would have for example? He was in the side primarily to add some extra pace to the pack, and take advantage of opportunities out wide, and he didn't fulfil that role today. His one opportunity out wide, he tried to do a little too much himself, and threw a poor basketball style pass to BOD which was deemed forward.

Maybe it would make more sense to start Lydiate and have Croft on the bench to impact the game late on?

Edit. Regarding BOD's turnovers. I first one I can understand why the ref penalised him, although most of the time I'd say that would be a penalty Lions way. The second one, he does everything right, and I couldn't believe the call.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It was BOD's pass that was forward, wasn't it? Not Croft's?
That's what the Aussie commentator's said, I'm sure, anyway.

 

[dullonien]

It was BOD's pass that was forward, wasn't it? Not Croft's?
That's what the Aussie commentator's said, I'm sure, anyway.

I think both were deemed forward. In any case, Croft's poor pass forced BOD to try and tap it on.