Test Match 3: All Blacks v British & Irish Lions (Auckland)

[General Melchett]

Gatland will see a third test decider as the ideal stage for test match animals. With this in mind AWJ will be nailed on IMO. He played better on Saturday although Whitelock and Retallick weren't as good as they were in the first test. The same Lions team will put last week's win into perspective as it'll be good to see how they fair against 15.
AB's by 10.

 

[mania]

Whitelock and Retallick weren't as good as they were in the first test.

Wow I disagree. Whitelock and Retallick Worked harder and were tackling and rucking more. Whitelock in particular was involved heaps. Would like to know his stats.
The thing I like about Whitelock and Retallick is no matter whether team is performing well or not they still play at their high standards

 

[General Melchett]

Wow I disagree. Whitelock and Retallick Worked harder and were tackling and rucking more. Whitelock in particular was involved heaps. Would like to know his stats.
The thing I like about Whitelock and Retallick is no matter whether team is performing well or not they still play at their high standards

I guess they had to work harder with a man down. It just looked like they shone more in the first test - perhaps because they provided the platform for a comfortable win.

 

[Amiga500]

Also it isn't soccer it is football FFS.

Things like american football (USA), Aussie rules football (Aus) and Celtic Football (IRE) are all poverty version of the main football.

The English are so arrogant they can't even be bothered to find out the name of the sport they are slagging.


Some of youse other Englanders need to be taking notes when Tigs Man posts. A true professional at the top of his game. Oly could never pull this off.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Some of youse other Englanders need to be taking notes when Tigs Man posts. A true professional at the top of his game. Oly could never pull this off.

You wanna hurt me? Go right ahead if it makes you feel any better. I'm an easy target. Yeah, you're right. I talk too much. I also listen too much. I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you, but I don't like to hurt people's feelings. Well, you think what you want about me. I'm not changing. I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. 'Cause I'm the real article. What you see is what you get.

 

[Amiga500]

You wanna hurt me? Go right ahead if it makes you feel any better. I'm an easy target. Yeah, you're right. I talk too much. I also listen too much. I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you, but I don't like to hurt people's feelings. Well, you think what you want about me. I'm not changing. I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. 'Cause I'm the real article. What you see is what you get.

I didn't realise you could even hear the noise us peasants make never mind listen to it!

 

[Nubiwan]

1st Test: 12m made (3rd most for a forward, behind SOB and Sinckler), 21 tackles, (most tackles made in the game)
2nd Test: 22m made (most for a forward), 12 tackles (joint 2nd, with SOB, behind Itoje)

I agree it's been a quieter series from Faletau than we're used to seeing but I think that's because when you're playing a team as good as the All Blacks it's harder to make highlight reel plays. Stats show he's still getting through a ton of work.
I think he's definitely the best option at 8 for the weekend.

Hmm 20 of those 22 Faletau meters made scoring that try, which is just fine by me.

Dilemma might be at centre where clearly we got more going forward from Farrell with Sexton, but T'eo has been in decent form. Can't really compare outings against an under strength side you just about beat, to that of a full side you lost to. I am expecting Sexton and Farrell to be paired again, as it leaves an option for first receiver in 2 directions, or multiple phases. Lets not kid ourselves they will likely see less ball and more defending on the weekend.

 

[Nubiwan]

Mako should definitely not start the next Test.
He had a poor game on Sat. probably because of the conditions.

He gave away 4 penalties and received a yellow card.
I think he would make an impact off the bench if he could cut out the mistakes.

Cleaning out ruck pens are another burr in my ass. I am not here to justify players doing what Vunipola did, but frankly, players clean players out, leaving their own feet, multiple times in the match, and it is never ever called. I could post a video of such offences after each game we have seen. There is often no attempt made to bind going into the ruck. They simply throw themselves at the opponents and frequently hit shoulder first and like I said, have already left their feet. I am surprised more players don't milk pens from it. Thought Barrett made a bit of a meal of that to be honest.

Another pen Mako got was for being off his feet trying to secure possession in at tackle. He was clearly supporting his own weight on replay. Just a bad call. The late hit on Barrett, while another pen, was also pretty milked, and Mako was clearly attempting to block the kick, but just too fat to stop himself in time. That's life on the rugby edge. I wouldn't start Mako mainly because of his weaker scrummaging, not because he's a proven penalty hazard.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Reading between the lines of Ian foster it sounds like fekitoa won't start. Will see.

We are a bit depleted in the backs which is a shame because I wouldn't mind some changes to fit but you can't afford to have too many changes.

ione doesn't deserve to keep his place Plus the coaches have obviously decided Ione is their man so they are hardly going to back track on that.

Did dagg perform at fullback? Is he more effective on the wing at the moment at this level? Could we instead play Aaron at first five, beau den at fullback?

Given they won't want to change too much and they tend to have faith in their own decisions I think they will go with
Smith
Barrett
Ione
savea
Laumape
alb
Dagg
Reserves, tj cruden fekitoa

What they should do is..... Jeez I don't even know.... I don't want either Julian or Ione as neither are busy enough nor great under th high ball but they are the only two wingers in the squad. Dagg can play there but that still leaves one.

Smith
Cruden
Jordie Barrett
Alb
Fekitoa
Dagg
Beauden
Reserves, tj laumape Mckenzie

That's presuming 3 fullbacks in the 10 plus a first five starting at fullback is a good idea

Confused faced emoticon

 

[MikeTheNative]

As a lions fan I would rather face Cruden at 10 than Barratt, not that Cruden is a bad choice at all though. Do you think that they might give Jordie Barratt a go at fullback?

 

[Da Grappla]

Also it isn't soccer it is football FFS.

Things like american football (USA), Aussie rules football (Aus) and Celtic Football (IRE) are all poverty version of the main football.

Which is Rugby Football

 

[Umaga's Witness]

As a lions fan I would rather face Cruden at 10 than Barratt, not that Cruden is a bad choice at all though. Do you think that they might give Jordie Barratt a go at fullback?

Beau den is pretty effective at fullback and cruden is our most experienced back at the moment. I think we kinda need cruden, plus he has a bigger bag of tricks, and two playmakers is even more tricks.

I think there is a very reasonable chance Jordie will start at fullback. But having ione laumape alb Jordie all starting seems a bit too much inexperience even for these coaches. Alb is a given though, but I think they'd only go with 2 of the remaining 3. That could mean ione makes Way for savea, laumape makes way for fekitoa, or Jordie makes way for savea (positional rejigs where necessary)

 

[Penne Rara]

I think there is a very reasonable chance Jordie will start at fullback.

I secretly (not anymore) hope he does, but it'd be more reasonable to see him come off the bench.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

All it takes is another player to have another brain fart like Sonny Bill did and Boom ! we're in a world of hurt.
One of the joys of rugby is that its not a done deal like some other sports and the Lions are no mugs.

Hansen needs to get his players by the scruff of the neck and let them know that under no circumstances are they to behave foolishly in front of the cameras. Clean up the tackling, its not rugby league.
If we keep 15 players on the park I'm quietly confident but after last week, who knows?

That's absolutely always the case though - whatever the game, whatever the level, you're only only ever one moment away from a lop-sided game. And the stats will show that not a lot of all-blacks have ever been red-carded. So I don't think Hansen will need to say much about it at all, nor should he. You want your players to play on the edge and with physicality - the moment you start holding back out of fear something could go wrong, you lose the physical battle. You just have to trust in your accuracy and decision making. I don't believe for a moment that Williams wanted to slam Watson in a the face for example, he just made a questionable decision to join an already ongoing tackle (note that lot of cardable incidents occur when a second player joins a tackle because he has no control over the dynamics of the tackle). Discipline, sure, will be a key word, but also decision making and accuracy. Better to urge caution in specific areas such as joining a tackle and tackling a player in the air, than to talk about general scenarios. You don't discourage playing on the edge when the physical battle could determine the result.

 

[Nubiwan]

As a lions fan I would rather face Cruden at 10 than Barratt, not that Cruden is a bad choice at all though. Do you think that they might give Jordie Barratt a go at fullback?

On seeing both Barrett and Cruden over the years, I have to agree. Barrett can hurt you personally. Cruden is pretty predictable. Just watch me eat these words now..... Is Barrett spelt with an "A"?

 

[Nubiwan]

Has anyone questioned Hansen taking a forward off for a back in the match, after the SBW red card? Haven't really followed the forums or 2nd Test thread on this matter. Given the wet conditions, and the nature of the Lions game, then I'd probably considered leaving the backs short a man for the contest, and keeping parity or better up front. If anything, Hansen gave the Lions the Parity they needed at scrum time, and in the loose. I reckon if he had hiss time back, then he''d have kept Kaino (sp?) on the park. Think it was a mistake to take a loose forward off. Certainly for a guy who is on debut. In fat, I'd go so far as to say it cost his side the match.

 

[Nubiwan]

Jamie George!!!! The lads found himself. Great line out ball, some really great hits. Surely nailed on for the decider.

I might consider using Mako as an impact sub, and can see Gatland leaving AWJ and Itoje as a lock pairing. Lawes had decent impact. Good cleaning out by him over Watson, secured Felataus try. But AWJ was reasonably solid, in fairness. Other locks have more than deserved a sniff. Kruis, Henderson and Lawes.

Gonna be interesting to see what Gatland does in the backs, but think he will keep the Sexton Farrell combo at the base of things. Thought they executed well together. It looks a good bond and understanding.

I think we can all agree it is going to be 23 man effort to have any chance in the 3rd test, so simply making it onto the bench will be important, as you get to play a key role in the deciding test. Impact from the bench might be everything,

Hoping for a tight grizzly match. Hope the ref doesn't have the final say, and that the best side wins. I still think the ABs will have too much, but not prepared to put anything on it anymore.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I think we can all agree it is going to be 23 man effort to have any chance in the 3rd test, so simply making it onto the bench will be important, as you get to play a key role in the deciding test. Impact from the bench might be everything,.

Up to a point. Maybe Gatland didn't get it wholly right last week, but I applaud him for not emptying the bench for the sake of it. Sometimes it's better to have a tired player in the rhythm of a match rather than simply a fresh pair of legs. Substitutions also disrupt units and in my view should be used more judiciously than they are. Any coach who pre-determines that, for instance, a front row should be replaced on 50 minutes should be shot. Or flogged. Or hung, drawn and quartered. Play what's in front of you, not what's on the blackboard in the team room.

 

[Penne Rara]

On seeing both Barrett and Cruden over the years, I have to agree. Barrett can hurt you personally. Cruden is pretty predictable. Just watch me eat these words now..... Is Barrett spelt with an "A"?

He meant Borat.
Beauden and Jordie Borat.

 

[Nubiwan]

Up to a point. Maybe Gatland didn't get it wholly right last week, but I applaud him for not emptying the bench for the sake of it. Sometimes it's better to have a tired player in the rhythm of a match rather than simply a fresh pair of legs. Substitutions also disrupt units and in my view should be used more judiciously than they are. Any coach who pre-determines that, for instance, a front row should be replaced on 50 minutes should be shot. Or flogged. Or hung, drawn and quartered. Play what's in front of you, not what's on the blackboard in the team room.

Yes! But it will be more then just 15. Those who come in have to have positive impact.

I agree. A coach who makes changes according to some preconceived game plan needs to be hung by the gnads. You see what the contest throws your way, and decide accordingly.