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

[TRF_Olyy]

I have seen plenty of people call Croft out for not doing much work in the tight, but nothing over Heaslip.

That's because he's not English!

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[irelandfan123]

Jeeeez this is a bit grim... I expect Warbs to hit form and blow everyone to bits in the ruck causing turn overs giving it to heaslip who beats the first line of defenders and passes to Croft who speeds past the full back scores 5 points to give the lions a 1 point lead in the 79 min. Just after lydiate comes on and tackles barnes just before he scores and causes a knock on in the 80 min YAAAAAAAAAAAY LIONS WE WON WITH A PERFECTLY BALANCED TEAM YAY

 

[big ginger 8]

I have seen plenty of people call Croft out for not doing much work in the tight, but nothing over Heaslip.

How so Draggs really this is a viewpoint I cannot grasp it is widely acknowledged that Heaslip does most of the grunt work to try and free up Ferris, O'Brien or O'Mahony to do a lot more of the highlight stuff. He's made more tackles despite less gametime than Faletau and fourth most overall.

That's because he's not English!

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And because he doesn't do it. If you want to criticise an Irish forward for spending time on the wing look no further than O'Mahony.

 

[Draggs]

... Really? There must be two Heaslips, one doing this grafting work and the other floating around waving to the camera.

 

[nealn]

Touche! He'll probably get blinded by his zebra scrumcap and tackle his team mates.

More likely Lydiate will replace an injured Warburton after ten minutes as Douglas targets the captain from the off. BIL the cuddly lion will feed off the energy in the stands and come to life. Confused by the zebra's role as a pray animal and Gatland's cries of "MAUL! MAUL! MAUL!" from the stands the beast will savage the substitute Welshman whose low-tackle technique will be of little use against a pouncing lion targeting his head. Parling will have to replace Lydiate with O'Connell moving to flanker. The remains of Lydiate's head and torso being spread across the field will result in the match degenerating into a kicking game and Berrick Barnes will push the Wallabies onto victory. To celebrate he'll notice how his moustache goes well with the hunter's hats that many Lions fans wear, put one on and shoot BIL in order to mount his head above his mantelpiece in the living room.

The end. (of this prediction, the tour, everything.)

 

[big ginger 8]

... Really? There must be two Heaslips, one doing this grafting work and the other floating around waving to the camera.

Clearly you've had too much to drink when watching every match (or at least each with Heaslip involved which is still a lot of drink, as he's played more minutes in the last season than any other player on tour) and for some reason only see double with Heaslip, maybe you need to get that checked out?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Could we not just play Dan Cole at 7 and Mako Vunipola at 8?

 

[big ginger 8]

Could we not just play Dan Cole at 7 and Mako Vunipola at 8?

With Youngs at 12, Best at 6 and call Bevington and Cronin up for the wings!

 

[psychic duck]

How so Draggs really this is a viewpoint I cannot grasp it is widely acknowledged that Heaslip does most of the grunt work to try and free up Ferris, O'Brien or O'Mahony to do a lot more of the highlight stuff. He's made more tackles despite less gametime than Faletau and fourth most overall.

Ferris and O'Brien are both better ruckers than Heaslip who's more effective in the open wide games like the Biarritz one.

 

[McTallshort]

Hold on Youngs (Tom) would be a better bet at Centre than Barret

 

[lynam1104]

I was being facetious, sorry if that didn't come across

I think people are completely over reacting Croft and Lydiate are both great players but offer different things and Gats picked the one he felt suited the game plan best. Lydiate on the bench isn't versatile dosen't offer the same sort of impact that SOB might but I do think it is justifiable. The alternates to Dan for the bench were Toby and SOB, i'll start with SOB yes hes more versatile and offers some destructive carrying but as peat and others have mentioned he gives away to mnay penalties if we are behind of slightly in front thats just not what you want. Toby isn't versatile as far as I know he could do a job at 6 fairly well in a pinch but his play isn;t really suited to 7, he also has a high error rate at times we saw agains the reds numors knock ons the conditions were tough but it's the reality of it. Dan is massively consistant and will not likely miss a tackle and work hard with few errors exactly what you want in the last 20. Thats the way I see it

 

[big ginger 8]

Ferris and O'Brien are both better ruckers than Heaslip who's more effective in the open wide games like the Biarritz one.

No don't agree and there's clearly a reason he's been chosen to do the work ahead of them (though part of that is them being more powerful carriers, whereas Heaslip relies more on his feet) he's a very effective rucker with excellent technique. His clearout's are generally exceptional and it's a really underrated part of his game.

 

[Draggs]

I think everybody is just waiting for this bloody match to start.

 

[lynam1104]

I think everybody is just waiting for this bloody match to start.

Definitely part of why I'm up at 3:30 in the morning!

 

[psychic duck]

 

[big ginger 8]

gif

Yeah great argument, resort to what you know and all that...

 

[McTallshort]

Notice the english player chasing him on the wing...

 

[psychic duck]

http://youtu.be/Q7aa2VZ6ydk?t=23s

 

[Tony Manx]

Now then, now then...... I am not going to be able to watch the game until Tuesday afternoon as will be travelling and it will have to wait until I get back!!I am truly sorry that you will not be able to have the game enhanced with my pithy and often hysterical comments and can only hope Yoe and Das will step into the breach......Anyway, for what it is worth I have to be consistent and believe this is the best team available! Consequently, as the aussie whingers have not played for eons, I have to go with a big Lions win by at least 15 points! enjoy the game and will be thinking of you as I sit in comfort courtesy of Michael whatshisname of Ryanair........

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Look who's on the wing here:

God, that Faletau needs to stop just hanging out out wide pretending he's a winger.