Test Match 1: All Blacks v British & Irish Lions (Auckland)

[Leonormous Boozer]

If you look at the number of players an England coach has to select from it begs the question how shite Lancaster was as an International coach, admittedly Gats has not been successful V NZ yet, bearing in mind only the great Carwyn James has won a Lions series in NZ there are plenty of decent coaches who have failed, should we win this series will your opinion change ?

If he wins a test I'd be hugely impressed, I rate Garland as a great motivator when his side's back is against the wall, a decent man manager and smart in the media, I don't think he's a good selector of players or coaches nor is he a tactical mastermind or anything close. Along with his stubbornness these traits have seen him go stale in the international game while he really needs to reinvent himself. He's in charge of what I think is a near impossible tour to win a test in so my opinion will only go down if it's embarrassing like 2005, his selections for the second test after losing tomorrow will be a pivotal part in how that goes in my opinion.

 

[General Melchett]

Fair enough, I missed that one, definitely get's wrong footed making him slip as he tries to get to him.

Still would be harsh to place the blame for that try completely on him, as he's not the only one who West beats on his way to the line. I'd definitely argue that missed tackle in an exception rather than the rule, and the guy is defensively solid 9/10. Sanjay has historically been more likely to cough up a try in the past, although he massively improved in that regard this season.

Either way, definitely happier Sanjay is starting, and don't really see the point of Leigh on the bench. Feels a bit like Roberts being in the Welsh 23 shirt, type of player you either start or he's not in the 23 at all. Nowell or North coming off the bench would've brought a much better impact into the game imo.

Most full backs would have struggled to save that try. It was more down to great play from SBW and a superb run from the lad. 1/2P wasn't the only Lion who got skinned in that piece of play.

There are three tests and I wouldn't be surprised if 1/2P comes in for the second or third test if we lose tomorrow.

 

[Nubiwan]

Weather forecast please from NZ posters. I am just off to the bookies to put down a morsel on the outcome. If its windy and wet, I might go for a Lions upset.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Weather forecast please from NZ posters. I am just off to the bookies to put down a morsel on the outcome. If its windy and wet, I might go for a Lions upset.

I fell into that trap in the past. Then I saw how well the Hurricanes play in the wet, ridiculous ball handling. Normal rules of "wet conditions favour a big pack" don't even seem to apply in NZ.

 

[munstermuffin]

On game tomorrow there was a great review on Off Ball and by position this was the jist.
1. Mako and Jack McGrath both in great form. And it could be argued it'd be better with Jack starting as Mako is the better finisher but both have form.
2. Same as above. George could be seen as a finisher but what was interesting is how Gatland see's Owen as the perfect finisher.
3. Easy to pick Furlong and Sinckler. Also both on form
4/5 - AWJ is lucky but Itoje is key to finishing games and needs that impact no other lock bar Henderson can offer.
Backrow. Starting 3 easily picked out. The bench again mentioned Warburton won't offer the impact of a Stander or Tipuric and this may be key.
9. Easy explained.
10. It was said Farrell deserved it as both have been playing very well BUT Sexton has played well the last 2 weeks but before that he had 2 awful months where Farrell has been consistent.
Centres. It was said they have been the form guys by a country mile in squad and the stats showed. BOD was on this and said he reckoned Payne was possibly in as his stats that were good. But Henshaw he reckons has had very poor handling this tour and that may be part of reason behind his poorish tour.
Back 3. Was agreed they are form guys but was noted as a caution that despite their individual talents the lack of time as a unit may be small issue and it's not as if they have the fall back of playing together at international level in past.

 

[Thingimubob]

@munstermuffin Ken has spent most of his Wales career as an impact sub, only in the last year or so that he's been starting for us. I mean there was a season or two we were starting bloody Baldwin ahead of him, with Ken making great impacts off the bench. So whichever one was picked to start, you have a guy on the bench who's used to coming on and busting a gut for 20 - 30mins at a very high standard. Win - win there I'd say!

With the centres, haven't they played together twice before at least? Not sure if they started together for the brief time Davies was on the pitch vs the Crusaders? I mean at least it's not like 4 years ago where we wen't into the 1st test with literally the only centre partnership that hadn't played together in the earlier tour games...

Also, Davies has got a fair bit of experience playing with a big 12 who's great at crash balls helps even more than Te'o does hits the line even better than Roberts with a better set of hands and all!

 

[munstermuffin]

@munstermuffin Ken has spent most of his Wales career as an impact sub, only in the last year or so that he's been starting for us. I mean there was a season or two we were starting bloody Baldwin ahead of him, with Ken making great impacts off the bench. So whichever one was picked to start, you have a guy on the bench who's used to coming on and busting a gut for 20 - 30mins at a very high standard. Win - win there I'd say!

With the centres, haven't they played together twice before at least? Not sure if they started together for the brief time Davies was on the pitch vs the Crusaders? I mean at least it's not like 4 years ago where we wen't into the 1st test with literally the only centre partnership that hadn't played together in the earlier tour games...

Also, Davies has got a fair bit of experience playing with a big 12 who's great at crash balls helps even more than Te'o does hits the line even better than Roberts with a better set of hands and all!

For the unit not playing together. That was in reference to the back 3. His point on centres was they deserve to start and Te'o it was noted doesn't get enough credit as his ability does go beyond being just a crash ball guy

 

[Thingimubob]

For the unit not playing together. That was in reference to the back 3. His point on centres was they deserve to start and Te'o it was noted doesn't get enough credit as his ability does go beyond being just a crash ball guy

Whoops... Way to misread a post Thingimubob...

Yeah Te'o adds a lot more than a crash ball merchant definitely.

True with the back 3 not playing together all at the same time, but I think each has at least played with one of the others at least once as far as I can remember? So hopefully that'll be enough familiarity for it not to be an issue, especially considering Sanjay and Daly combined really well on Tuesday.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Bae Te'o gonna have SBW on toast.

https://twitter.com/eatsleeprugby/status/855140961839611904?lang=en-gb

 

[ncurd]

Bae Te'o gonna have SBW on toast.

https://twitter.com/eatsleeprugby/status/855140961839611904?lang=en-gb

Will it be worth the yellow card?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wearing 12 on his back as well
It's a sign!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Will it be worth the yellow card?

nah french refs love the British and Irish apparently.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Weather forecast please from NZ posters. I am just off to the bookies to put down a morsel on the outcome. If its windy and wet, I might go for a Lions upset.

The forecast is exactly that - very windy and wet!
It will definitely be windy, there's a chance the rain will subside by kickoff, but it's meant to rain for hours before that so it'll be wet regardless.
This match is by the far the Lions best chance to pull off an upset imo.

 

[Nubiwan]

The forecast is exactly that - very windy and wet!
It will definitely be windy, there's a chance the rain will subside by kickoff, but it's meant to rain for hours before that so it'll be wet regardless.
This match is by the far the Lions best chance to pull off an upset imo.

Don't care how good the Canes were on a wet day, they were not playing the Lions. Be very surprised we see more than 30 points total in those conditions. It favours the lions tactics, and the way they approach play, kicking etc., if anything. Not so much slinging it around the backs. Going to be tight is my prediction.

I reckon of all the posters saying they are "intrigued by this match", as I am, that those of us who are British might fancy an upset, and those of us from NZ, can think of nothing more disastrous. Fair to say, us Lions fans have nothing to lose. Kiwis, another story.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Don't care how good the Canes were on a wet day, they were not playing the Lions. Be very surprised we see more than 30 points total in those conditions. It favours the lions tactics, and the way they approach play, kicking etc., if anything. Not so much slinging it around the backs. Going to be tight is my prediction.

I reckon of all the posters saying they are "intrigued by this match", as I am, that those of us who are British might fancy an upset, and those of us from NZ, can think of nothing more disastrous. Fair to say, us Lions fans have nothing to lose. Kiwis, another story.

and some Irish i'm sure.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Auckland has a significantly higher average annual rainfall than B&I (double london, a third more than Dublin, a quarter more than Cardiff). Not sure that rainy conditions suit the Lions more, it's not like Kiwis have never seen rain before.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Not a betting man but if I were I'd put money on Itoje to get a yellow for a high 'tackle' 5 minutes after coming on. He rides a little high at the best of times and his enthusiasm / frustration when he comes on will need to be well directed. Hope the coaches are smart enough to have a word in his ear.

 

[Nubiwan]

and some Irish i'm sure.

Indeed - my apologies to all the Irish. Disrespectful error not intended. It was all I could do not to write down bloody English, and I still got it wrong. Jaysus!!!

Me last name IS Irish if it helps any.

 

[Nubiwan]

Auckland has a significantly higher average annual rainfall than B&I (double london, a third more than Dublin, a quarter more than Cardiff). Not sure that rainy conditions suit the Lions more, it's not like Kiwis have never seen rain before.

Yes, I know all that, but if you could get the weather you wanted for the Lions, what would you order? I would order wet and windy. Not bone dry, expansive, have a NZ counter attacking field day, stuff.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hailstones the size of golf balls, in the hope of concussing some of the opposition.