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

[valley commando]

Has anyone watched Warren Gatland-Lion King, link below

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08vlgk6

I only got round to watching it last night on BBC i player and I loved it.

 

[valley commando]

Has anyone watched Warren Gatland-Lion King, link below

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08vlgk6

I only got round to watching

Quite excited, procrastinating at work today too, trying to find more previews and lions bits to read...

Anyone got anything interesting?

it last night on BBC i player and I loved it.

Quite excited, procrastinating at work today too, trying to find more previews and lions bits to read...

Anyone got anything interesting?

Only just seen this, you have probably watched but there is a link in my previous post - Warren Gatland - Lion King was on BBC Wales a few nights ago, I posted the link 10 minutes ago having watched it last night. It certainly made me think we have the right man in charge.

 

[ncurd]

It certainly made me think we have the right man in charge.

How is it anything more than confirmation bias for you? Seriously if a Gatland-sceptic posted it changed their minds I'd consider it a recommendation. But you've been 100% Gatland since you've been posting here so why would I expect you to suggest anything else?

 

[Thingimubob]

Fair points but 1/2P's lack of mobility could potentially cost us a try or two if he's left with a one on one against a back with gas or quick footwork.

I understand the criticisms about Halfpenny going forward with ball in hand from 15, but there's not really any evidence to suggest he's a liability in defense! He is hands down the best defensive fullback in this Lions squad, his positioning is top notch and the boy is utterly fearless in the tackle - Johnny Wilkinson-esque in his disregard for his own bodily safety when it comes to smashing guys coming at him.

Also, again I really don't understand where this tag of him not being mobile has come from? He might not be quite as agile as he was when he first came into top level rugby, which is probably a case of the Welsh set up telling him to bulk up, but he still has gas to burn and tracks back superbly in defense. His attacking issues from 15 come down to him not being the sort of player to his the line at pace more than him not being quick.

I really want him to have a run of games on the wing again to show what he can do in attack - fingers crossed he ends up back in Wales next season and they use him like that!

 

[Skylinerd1]

Didnt see that they'd given Mcleod the call for end of super rugby. Seems like a very astute call to me.

Wonder weather Hansen has given Mcleod a look in at training this week. Not that Wayne Smith wont know what he's doing but the way Mcleod coached an under strength HL team to beat the lions midweek team I thought was rather impressive.

http://thehighlanders.co.nz/news/829-scott-mcleod-to-join-all-blacks-coaching-team

 

[Groundhog]

Hm didn't realise Gatland played for Wegians. Those were the weird old days where pretty decent players from New Zealand could be tempted over to play for average AIL team. Ruined my club financially in the long run, but it's why there's a lot of kiwi coaches who would have played in the 90s floating around the AIL these days still. Dan Carter was famously almost tempted over to the club associated with mine and the boys' school by Brent Pope (another great example) as well before he was called up for Canterbury.
Also didn't cop we had Gatland, Lenihan and O'Sullivan coaching Ireland at once. Christ.

 

[welshglory]

I understand the criticisms about Halfpenny going forward with ball in hand from 15, but there's not really any evidence to suggest he's a liability in defense! He is hands down the best defensive fullback in this Lions squad, his positioning is top notch and the boy is utterly fearless in the tackle - Johnny Wilkinson-esque in his disregard for his own bodily safety when it comes to smashing guys coming at him.

Also, again I really don't understand where this tag of him not being mobile has come from? He might not be quite as agile as he was when he first came into top level rugby, which is probably a case of the Welsh set up telling him to bulk up, but he still has gas to burn and tracks back superbly in defense. His attacking issues from 15 come down to him not being the sort of player to his the line at pace more than him not being quick.

I really want him to have a run of games on the wing again to show what he can do in attack - fingers crossed he ends up back in Wales next season and they use him like that!

To be fair Halfpenny gets wrong footed very easily and seems to lose his footing incredibly often. Like seriously get some ******* longer studs Leigh

 

[valley commando]

How is it anything more than confirmation bias for you? Seriously if a Gatland-sceptic posted it changed their minds I'd consider it a recommendation. But you've been 100% Gatland since you've been posting here so why would I expect you to suggest anything else?

Yes I am 100% Gatland in as much as I reckon he is the best man for the job, the documentary has substantiated that view, have you watched it ? It would be interesting to see if others enjoyed it.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Yes I am 100% Gatland in as much as I reckon he is the best man for the job, the documentary has substantiated that view, have you watched it ? It would be interesting to see if others enjoyed it.

Did the documentary mention his 0-0-11 record v NZ? The rugby he is trying to play will make that 0-0-14 imo and there's plenty of better options at international or club level.

 

[Penne Rara]

Did the documentary mention his 0-0-11 record v NZ? The rugby he is trying to play will make that 0-0-14 imo and there's plenty of better options at international or club level.

The welsh squad isn't top quality. Gatland has now far more depth with the Lions than he used to have with Wales. This will be a close one.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The welsh squad isn't top quality. Gatland has now far more depth with the Lions than he used to have with Wales. This will be a close one.

Meh, he's had Welsh sides good enough to beat NZ and hasn't really come close, Lancaster and Schmidt have beaten them with similar if not worse teams.

 

[valley commando]

Did the documentary mention his 0-0-11 record v NZ? The rugby he is trying to play will make that 0-0-14 imo and there's plenty of better options at international or club level.

If you look at the small pool of player resources that Gats has had to work with he's done pretty damn good and now with the Lions enabling a bigger pool to select from could make difference enough to swing the pendulum in his favour.
We will wait and see. If we win 1 or more tests will your opinion on him change ?

 

[Groundhog]

Watched the documentary through. I'll just comment on it briefly and try not to go overboard, because I don't think we want it to turn into 2013.. Interesting enough film, but a complete puff piece at the same time, which is fine but not going to change any critic opinions. Failed to interview anyone who had a single controversial or indeed non sycophantic thing to say about Gatland. If you like him, then fine, I really don't like him as a person (which is irrelevant in the scope of the Lions), or particularly rate him as an innovative coach anymore. Had some great success in the past, but I think the game is moving past him, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. I think a documentary like this is always more interesting if you hear both sides anyway as controversial guys like Gatland make very good documentary subjects.
Have to applaud some of his selections for the first test (such as not starting his tour captain), while at the same time condemning his call ups and rigidity to a pretty publicised game plan THUSFAR. Will back his Lions team to the hilt during the tests, but I rate our chances poorly to put it nicely. I just hope we go off script on Saturday and kill them with backrow intensity, which I admit is a strength of Gatland teams. Our winning of it will only be in superhuman forward performances, as behind the scrum we have solidity and tactical intelligence, but nothing that will cut the ABs apart.
Very excited for Saturday all the same.

 

[mosfeldt]

I had a dream that the ABs won 29-28. I was gutted.

 

[valley commando]

Meh, he's had Welsh sides good enough to beat NZ and hasn't really come close, Lancaster and Schmidt have beaten them with similar if not worse teams.

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 ?

 

[Groundhog]

Can safely say if we win the series, I will recant my Gatland criticism and do it gladly with no bitterness. I'd love to see us do it.

 

[General Melchett]

I understand the criticisms about Halfpenny going forward with ball in hand from 15, but there's not really any evidence to suggest he's a liability in defense! He is hands down the best defensive fullback in this Lions squad, his positioning is top notch and the boy is utterly fearless in the tackle - Johnny Wilkinson-esque in his disregard for his own bodily safety when it comes to smashing guys coming at him.

Also, again I really don't understand where this tag of him not being mobile has come from? He might not be quite as agile as he was when he first came into top level rugby, which is probably a case of the Welsh set up telling him to bulk up, but he still has gas to burn and tracks back superbly in defense. His attacking issues from 15 come down to him not being the sort of player to his the line at pace more than him not being quick.

I really want him to have a run of games on the wing again to show what he can do in attack - fingers crossed he ends up back in Wales next season and they use him like that!

Have a look at the Blues' winning try. 1/2P didn't even move as the guy ran past. He looked really static and just dived on the spot where he was standing and stuck an arm out. I know the Blues player was coming at him at pace but it really didn't look good.

 

[valley commando]

Watched the documentary through. I'll just comment on it briefly and try not to go overboard, because I don't think we want it to turn into 2013.. Interesting enough film, but a complete puff piece at the same time, which is fine but not going to change any critic opinions. Failed to interview anyone who had a single controversial or indeed non sycophantic thing to say about Gatland. If you like him, then fine, I really don't like him as a person (which is irrelevant in the scope of the Lions), or particularly rate him as an innovative coach anymore. Had some great success in the past, but I think the game is moving past him, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. I think a documentary like this is always more interesting if you hear both sides anyway as controversial guys like Gatland make very good documentary subjects.
Have to applaud some of his selections for the first test (such as not starting his tour captain), while at the same time condemning his call ups and rigidity to a pretty publicised game plan THUSFAR. Will back his Lions team to the hilt during the tests, but I rate our chances poorly to put it nicely. I just hope we go off script on Saturday and kill them with backrow intensity, which I admit is a strength of Gatland teams. Our winning of it will only be in superhuman forward performances, as behind the scrum we have solidity and tactical intelligence, but nothing that will cut the ABs apart.
Very excited for Saturday all the same.

Fair enough on your thoughts. However I've met him and I can tell you he is a decent personable down to earth guy, willing to spend time chatting with the likes of me and plenty of others at an ex internationals retirement do, he arrived at around 8pm and didn't leave until after midnight, long after his commitment to the event, taking time to chat openly over a beer with all and sundry.

 

[Groundhog]

Fair enough on your thoughts. However I've met him and I can tell you he is a decent personable down to earth guy, willing to spend time chatting with the likes of me and plenty of others at an ex internationals retirement do, he arrived at around 8pm and didn't leave until after midnight, long after his commitment to the event, taking time to chat openly over a beer with all and sundry.

Fair enough, I've never met him. I'll amend it to say I've never been fond of him as a public figure or in his media duties.

 

[Thingimubob]

Have a look at the Blues' winning try. 1/2P didn't even move as the guy ran past. He looked really static and just dived on the spot where he was standing and stuck an arm out. I know the Blues player was coming at him at pace but it really didn't look good.

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.