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

[Nubiwan]

He meant Borat.
Beauden and Jordie Borat.

 

[munstermuffin]

I will ask though IF Lions loose and loose by a bit does that mean last week was a fluke against 14 players who played without a backrow?

 

[Nubiwan]

I will ask though IF Lions loose and loose by a bit does that mean last week was a fluke against 14 players who played without a backrow?

If we get the floor wiped with are arses, then many would say status quo has resumed. Nothing to see here.

If the Lions can at least keep this competitive, or win, then what a statement for Northern Hem Rugby.

Put another way, if the Lions get reduced to 14 men, I would not fancy their chances. The ABS could easily have won the 2nd test. Better goal kicking for one...... Difficult therefore to predict a Lions win outside of a monumental effort. Blacks are favourite.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

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.

Just because association football is a dumb as **** name doesn't mean you get to call it football. Football is of the Gaelic variety, rugby is rugby, the rest are ****!

 

[Groundhog]

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.

What was the ball game called you and your uncle David played in the McDonald's ball pit when you were 5, until Uncle David had to go away for 10-15 years?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I will ask though IF Lions loose and loose by a bit does that mean last week was a fluke against 14 players who played without a backrow?

I feel like you could already say that tbf

 

[MikeTheNative]

I think it will be the same starting 15 bar Vunipola getting swapped with McGrath.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Mods do something to stop this bullying please.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Mods do something to stop this bullying please.

It's attack therapy, you'll be strong soon.

 

[Goodey]

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.

I think you're right, with the conditions the way they were and Laumape coming on to blast down the centre channels, he might as well have taken off Ioane who barely got the ball all night.

 

[Goodey]

I will ask though IF Lions loose and loose by a bit does that mean last week was a fluke against 14 players who played without a backrow?

The All Blacks played badly in the second test, that doesn't mean it was a fluke, that means that the Lions are good enough to catch them if their high standards slip.

NZ are the best team in the world by far, it doesn't mean they're inhuman or their performance doesn't vary.

 

[munstermuffin]

The All Blacks played badly in the second test, that doesn't mean it was a fluke, that means that the Lions are good enough to catch them if their high standards slip.

NZ are the best team in the world by far, it doesn't mean they're inhuman or their performance doesn't vary.

True but they made errors like playimg with 7 forwards. Alot of what ifs and we will never know

 

[Goodey]

True but they made errors like playimg with 7 forwards. Alot of what ifs and we will never know

I mean, getting sent off is just playing really badly.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

It's attack therapy, you'll be strong soon.

I'm strong already.

I'll just go to my safe spot and watch some good old fashion BRITISH comedies like
Alan Partridge, Fawlty Towers and Father Ted

 

[mosfeldt]

Definitely not a fluke. The Lions played some of their best rugby when it was even. And being a man down is not always the guaranteed disadvantage that's implied. See Ireland v SA, England v Argentian, Munster v Glasgow, etc. Sure you can argue "if Barrett had gotten two better kicks" but then you can say "if Mako didn't give away two penalties" etc etc. Fact of the matter is that the All-Blacks indiscipline, poor tactical judgement by Hansen, Barrett's average kicking and their inability to break the Lion's defense were why they lost. Also of course the Lions being able to score two tries, having a tight defense and a better kicker. Feel like people are reading too much into this match sometimes (as a whole not specifically munstermuffin), but what else are we gonna do until test 3 starts?

Also how much has this AB side really been tested since the departure of their greats? This will be a real testament to their resolve on Saturday. I don't feel apart from Ireland they've really been under huge pressure the past 18 or so months. South Africa, Oz and Argentina were all shocking in last year's RC (seriously the worst one I've ever followed, I stopped in rd3) and their Super Rugby counterparts don't really seem to be offering much apart from 1 (2?) Saffa team(s). Who know, maybe a loss would be a good thing in the long term for this squad

 

[The Jones Boy]

Is anyone in London watching the third test this Saturday morning?
I will be in Belushi's Bar in Hammersmith (right across from the picadilly and district line tube station) with some of my scaley mates, including 'Landmass' (he's a big one)
Anyone looking for a venue is welcome to come down, have a jar, a chin wag and tell some lies.
It's gonna be a great occasion

 

[Da Grappla]

Definitely not a fluke. The Lions played some of their best rugby when it was even. And being a man down is not always the guaranteed disadvantage that's implied. See Ireland v SA, England v Argentian, Munster v Glasgow, etc. Sure you can argue "if Barrett had gotten two better kicks" but then you can say "if Mako didn't give away two penalties" etc etc.

Farrell missed a kick or two, didn't he?

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

He should be so lucky.

While Tadhg belts out "You've got to showww me love!" on the karaoke..

 

[Every Time Ref]

I will be in Belushi's Bar in Hammersmith

That's so antipodean.

Admit it, if it was still open you'd be watching in the Redback wouldn't you?

 

[mania]

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.

agree. i think with the platform they set in the first half more of the team could take advantage from it and do all the higher level dynamic plays making everyone look good.
its still amazes me how big a ticker whitelock and retallick have and how hard they work.
whitelock in particular is an unsung hero and just as vital as retallick