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

Overall I'm happy with the selection, I would have started with Sexton and Murray and replaced them with Farrell and Webb on 60 minutes and I would have had Tips on the bench in place of Warbs if choosing a 5 - 3 bench split
Ach mate, I was ready to upvote but held back when I read your last sentence. There's no way Gatland will become Hansen's successor! His gameplan suits Wales and the Lions pretty well but New Zealand is not ready for Warrenball. No offense to his rugby mind but I'd still prefer that the All Blacks lost that series 3-0 than have him as the next ABs coach! His style is boring and it would be a shame to base NZ rugby on structure, percentage play and a very narrow-sighted rugby when every kiwi player relies on skills, flair and total rugby.
He's a better coach than Hansen, a lot better liked in Wales than Hansen was, the fact is even Howley would look good (and he's shite)as AB coach with the player resources over there.
Any AB coach is usually on a winner, therefore if Hansen were to loose this series it would make him look very average.
 
Sexton and Faz are no slouches with the boot.
Both of them are better than any kicker in NZ now that Carter has departed.
Halfpenny has kicked well but looks off the pace in his running game
Liam Williams has got gas, now he needs to show it.

It seems to me that it is going to be very difficult to score tries against the ABs and our best chance of winning is to convert all our penalties - and there might be many given the ABs blocking tactics. Sexton is not in the starting lineup either. Let's hope Farell is on form because if he isn't we will have no chance.
 
agree penne but i imagine warrenBall would evolve into its nth degree and become something else entirely. u cant make kiwi's play boring rugby. trust me, i coach 10 yr olds and they are constantly coming up with new plays based on audacity.
different cattle shape different gameplans. i know that when i coach a new team i'll spend the first 2-3 games getting to know the teams style and then try and evolve it from there...im not saying that i'm gatland and hansens calibre but i'm sure the principle stays the same.
but i seriously doubt that gatland would get it. NZRFU just dont seem to rate him for some reason. possilbly for the same views u share. NZRFU would have to be pretty desperate to appoint gatland, i'm just putting it out there.
Thanks for clarifying!
 
Any AB coach is usually on a winner.
vCommando - u obviously don't know of the era where we had jHart and grizzWylie, then johnHart on his own, then johnMitchell (the worst ever ABs coach imo).
it takes a coach with the coaching skills at the same level as his charges playing skills. You cant have a below average coach coaching the ABs, the players would see through him (or her) and revolt. the coach has to own the changing room else they wont be able to achieve anything of note.
 
Overall I'm happy with the selection, I would have started with Sexton and Murray and replaced them with Farrell and Webb on 60 minutes and I would have had Tips on the bench in place of Warbs if choosing a 5 - 3 bench split

He's a better coach than Hansen, a lot better liked in Wales than Hansen was, the fact is even Howley would look good (and he's shite)as AB coach with the player resources over there.
Any AB coach is usually on a winner, therefore if Hansen were to loose this series it would make him look very average.

It's lose not loose.
 
Well, Gatland does surprise us with a few big calls, and he has said all tour that they have to keep some things back. I do think they have wanted to go for an element of surprise against the ABs and it is interesting that they waited until the final warm-up game to show anything like some structure and ambition in the back line. The back 3 combo here tells me they are looking for the ball and I expect to see them doing some Bryan Habana and becoming second receiver between the 10-12 channel. Why? Because Gats has set NZ up for a SBW v Te'o collision and I think we might see some real variety from the Lions on Saturday.

Farrell starts at 10 but of course has the option to move out to 12 if the Lions want to adopt a different game plan. I thought they would play Sexton and Farrell and play a really tight kicking game but this lineup does not scream that at all. I don't think Owen has been electric at 10 for England if I'm honest but he is world class and has to show it this week.

I know the Te'o/Davies midfield doesn't set anyones pulses racing right now but I think Te'o might cause these ABs some problems and he is undoubtedly the only centre who has stood out on each occasion. Like I say though- I think he will be a decoy and Watson, Daly, and Williams will all be heavily involved more than it looks on paper ;)

OF course, before any of that becomes reality, the forwards have to get some ball. Can't argue with the starting back row. I think Tipuric is very unlucky not to be on the bench. Tight 5 is fine bar Alun Wyn. He was a fabulous leader for the Lions in that 3rd Test in Australia but he hasn't imposed himself at all this tour and in fact, I only seem to remember him being knocked backwards when ball carrying.

That said, Gatland is adamant that his bench needs to be world class and have impact and I think it mostly has that. Tipuric maybe deserves to edge it over Warburton but surely Warburton can raise his game for an absolute animal spell of 30 minutes. He has to be brilliant off the bench or else he won't be in the 23 for the 2nd and 3rd Tests. The only issue for me being Halfpenny- can he bring any magic to the table off the bench after that unbelievable tour he had 4 years ago?


It's not my IDEAL 23 but it's a lot better than I thought. It's brave in some areas, it's trusting in others.

It is now over to that squad of 23 players to try to find a way of making history.

Over to you boys. Go Lions.
 
Mostly happy, few little things I'd have differently but can't argue massively with apart from the two everyone is mentioning in AWJ and Farrell at 10.

Not much to say that hasn't been said, AWJ is capable of the performance needed, hopefully he reminds people of that.

Think not starting Sexton when choosing that centre partnership is a mistake for me, we need every bit of distribution talent we have to get the most out of them and what would be a dangerous back three with different centres. One way to circumvent the centres would be the loop which is obviously a speciality of Sexton's, also keeping that partnership with Murray would be a boost.

Hopefully we get a Sexton-Farrell axis for a decent period.
 
interesting that Savea has not been selected but at the same time recently he has only really gotten himself back in the starting lineup because of injuries.

also interesting that Ionae has made it, not because he isn't good enough. He is and hes clearly a better option than Savea.
But Naholo has been looking very dangerous. I think it safe to say hes maybe the most effective ball carrier in world rugby right now. And in the Highlanders game against the lions he showed great ability under the high ball. Its a bit of a surprise not to see him.

I think the AB's want crotty there to help deal with the rushing defense. I also think ALB has had a ton of rugby over the last year and a half and a couple weeks off will do him good.
 
Anyone thinking that daly could be getting a lot of touches on offence with him playing more of a midfield role then.
Teo could be in the lineup mainly for his defense and then maybe be pushed out more on offence.
 
A few surprise selections:
1. Vunipola
2. George
3. Furlong
4. Jones
5. Kruis
6. POM (c)
7. SOB
8. Faletau
9. Murray
10. Farrell
11. Daly
12. Te'o
13. Davies
14. Watson
15. Williams

16. Owens
17. McGrath
18. Sinckler
19. Itoje
20. Warburton
21. Webb
22. Sexton
23. Halfpenny

Only real problem with that is Jones
Well, that certainly surprised me. I'll apologise for many of my previous posts around Gatland being Welsh slanted. Big surprise was Farrell over Sexton. The latter has played well in the last two matches, but I always thought Farrell more controlled and a better athlete for 10. Might have been a decent idea to keep Murray Sexton going together, but it's hardly a big deal. Both 9 & 10 are top pros. I think Jones is bloody lucky to get a sniff, and clearly Itoje will replace him on the 50 minutes, if not sooner. Bit odd we only have Farrell ion the park as a kicker. Shocker considering some of the recent posts regarding all the kickers we have around. Rightly, players not selected in the first test because they can kick for goal. All in all, cant say I am unhappy, and glad he has gone to form players on tour. Well done Gatland.

Edited later: Why 1/2 P on bench. We are pretty slim for pace in the backs on that bench. Nowell or Joseph better options perhaps. Cant fuss too much. Really believed Gatland would start 1/2P
 
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mako E
2. George E
3. furlong I
4. Itoje E
5. Kruise E
6. Cj Stander I
7. Tipperic W
8. Falatau W
9. Murray I
10. Farrell (if fit) E
11. Daly E
12. Henshaw I
13. JJ E
14. Watson E
15. Williams W

8 english
4 irish
3 welsh
Thats my starting xv im a bug fan of nowell but his positioning has been quite bad despite the chiefs game performance and george north i rate highly but only if the game plan gets him alot of ball or he can be anonymous.

16 best
17 McGrath
18 Sinkler
19 AWJ
20 o,brien
21 webb
22 sexton
23 nowell. Can make an impact

Thats my 23 for the next game any thoughts or changes? Gatland will prob play wales team with a token eng

Was my 23 before announcement.

Still think itoje over AWJ starting
 
I also think ALB has had a ton of rugby over the last year and a half and a couple weeks off will do him good.
true regarding ALB. never considered that they would be resting him.
though i'm still aghast regarding naholo; saying that this is still a good team. hansen just might know what he's doing ;)
 
Not too many surprises for the AB's

ALB I though would start
Not surprised he stuck with Smith over TJP, I think if TJP could keep his mouth shut and focus on the game and not winding up the ref he may get the nod.
Dagg is a safe option, and tbh Dagg on the wing last year was amazing.
 
i wouldn't under estimate what different assistant coaches would do with Gatland if he were AB's coach, stick in someone like T Brown (i only suggest him because i've seen what he did with the Highlanders attack) and it could be all on
 
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Predictable AB team. Must pick the guys they are paying the most. Laughably they pick Ioane due to his form, yet ignore the "Canes centres who have totally outclassed all-comers this season. The best combination in world rugby - Perenara, Barret, Lampape - is ignored in favour of players who would struggle to find a place in any other test team. The Lions are celebrating. They have conned the AB selectors into picking a slow, dull, backline instead of the dynamic outfit that would have run them raggard. I have admired Aaron and Ben Smith for a long time, as with Israel. Sadly they are past their use by date and are now stopping better players progressing. The ABs will win, but only because Barrett is the best player in the game and Perenara and Ardea will come of the bench.
 
Naholo is the big concern for me.
However, apparently Dagg has got his kicking boots on so that may give him an edge.

I see the papers are talking about Alun Wyn Jones being on the wrong end of the ledger for the ten encounters he's had against the AB's.
Maybe 11 will be the trick for him...
Or maybe he's a bad luck charm.
Whatever the case, Whitelock and Retallick will be looking to put some colour back in the second rows cheeks after the Lions dominance over most of the Super rugby second rows.

I'm expecting an enormously physical game from the the AB pack.
They will be fizzing at the bung to get on that park and start charging into the opposition.
Great to see Savea starting from the bench but I can't help but feel that on form Naholo deserves a crack.
However, Hansen is the man and I'm not about to gainsay the mastermind at the helm.

Gatland has certainly shown up with a team to be proud of...
 
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As said AWJ doesn't deserve his start and should be struggling to make the bench.

The centre partnership is as expected it's not inspring and doesnt fill me with hope but it's what's looked like was going happen.

Feels like a team that's built to not lose badly rather than to win.
 
Anyone thinking that daly could be getting a lot of touches on offence with him playing more of a midfield role then.
Teo could be in the lineup mainly for his defense and then maybe be pushed out more on offence.

I definitely agree. If the Lions want to cause problems for the ABs then they need to involve Watson, Daly and Williams. It is unlikely that will happen as a result of Davis and Teo distribution so I expect to see all of them cutting some lines through the midfield with Teo and Davis doing decoys. The Lions will need a bit of that ambition up their sleeve and personally I think they held back one or two things for the Test series.
 
Pretty stoked to see Julian get the boot for a major test for once. He's been playing well withing himself for atleast 3 seasons or more now. He's got no one to blame but himself.

On other hand a bit surprised to see Reiko get a start this soon. He wasnt perfect in the maori match but they got put under alot of pressure which I dont think the Lions can repeat against a full strength AB's team.

Only real concern is a few players coming off injury with no lead in matches.
 

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