Third Test: Australia v British and Irish Lions (06/07/13)

[Amiga500]

We're gonna get tanked.

Davies had to defend the 13 channel only a handful of times on Sat past. Good job he made of it too... even when he was being told what to do.

Expect Leali'ifano, AAC, Beale, Folau and Tomane to make multiple angles on the 13 channel and see how good his decision making is.


We've also only got SOB as a decent defensive breakdown operator. Expect lots of Aussie ball and expect it to be quick.

Australia by 10+. I would have said 20+ but for the possible 3 point machine of the scrum+halfpenny.

 

[Jbobo]

I think some people (most) will be eating many of their words come Saturday. I believe the lions will win by 3-10 points. And then, Hail Gatland!

He picked players largely from merit, i hope people will realise that this weekend.


EDIT - Easily the biggest mistake in selection is the decision not to start Tipuric.

 

[Amiga500]

He picked players largely from merit, i hope people will realise that this weekend.

Rubbish.

If that were the case, what is Mike Phillips doing in the 23?

 

[Jbobo]

Rubbish.

If that were the case, what is Mike Phillips doing in the 23?

Because we need the win. And Mike Phillips on form is better than any other option we have by quite a way in my opinion. Let's be honest, Youngs and Murray haven't been glittering either.

 

[munstermuffin]

Feic your comment about Sexton is interesting because BOD helped him with regards creativity and the loop move him and BOD use is an asset now removed.
But I for 1 hope Aus win as Gatland doesn't deserve a Lions test and well think he has ruined his reputation on this tour (not just because of BOD issue) but he is an extremely luck coach no doubt as in got 2 very lucky 6 Nations ***les and well the World Cup was absolute fluke no doubt about it. But his bias towards Wales has ruined the feeling of Lions tour and regardless of result his own selfishness has put dampner on tour regardless of result Saturday.

 

[Rich Taff]

Seriously think some people need to stop watching rugby, if they are starting to hope that Australia win (if they're not british/irish, I excuse the australians etc ). Some of the narrow-minded xenophobic attitudes I've been reading are the reason I moved away from places like 'yahoo eurosport' etc.

Not to say that some people haven't been making valid, thought-out points, but others are just.....well....

 

[munstermuffin]

Because we need the win. And Mike Phillips on form is better than any other option we have by quite a way in my opinion. Let's be honest, Youngs and Murray haven't been glittering either.

 

[munstermuffin]

Seriously think people need to stop watching rugby, if they are starting to hope that Australia win (if they're not british/irish, I excuse the australians etc ). The narrow-minded xenophobic attitudes I've been reading are the reason I moved away from places like 'yahoo eurosport' etc.

I was a fan of Lions Tours where the aim was building bonds and 4 becoming 1 not 3 follow 1 so I support Aus on Saturday as (despite being Irish) I like the team that want to play and are ambitious. We have reverted to a Welsh Team doing a Welsh tactic which just doesn't work and that is a fact which I think even Aus are bored of proving

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

Feic your comment about Sexton is interesting because BOD helped him with regards creativity and the loop move him and BOD use is an asset now removed.
But I for 1 hope Aus win as Gatland doesn't deserve a Lions test and well think he has ruined his reputation on this tour (not just because of BOD issue) but he is an extremely luck coach no doubt as in got 2 very lucky 6 Nations ***les and well the World Cup was absolute fluke no doubt about it. But his bias towards Wales has ruined the feeling of Lions tour and regardless of result his own selfishness has put dampner on tour regardless of result Saturday.

2 Grand Slams,3 Six Nations ***les,best of the Lions countries at the World Cup......I sense a pattern starting to emerge.

 

[Jbobo]

But I for 1 hope Aus win as Gatland doesn't deserve a Lions test and well think he has ruined his reputation on this tour (not just because of BOD issue) but he is an extremely luck coach no doubt as in got 2 very lucky 6 Nations ***les and well the World Cup was absolute fluke no doubt about it. But his bias towards Wales has ruined the feeling of Lions tour and regardless of result his own selfishness has put dampner on tour regardless of result Saturday.

1. Grandslams are never down to luck.

2. Your point about Wales's world up being a 'fluke' makes your comment about me being a troll so spectacularly redundant its amusing. In fact if Wales have done one thing since 2011, it is prove that our good performances in the world cup were anything but fluke.

3. Gatland has done with Wales what he could not do with Ireland because the ability and class of players is two steps up of what they were and a step above what they are now.

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

I was a fan of Lions Tours where the aim was building bonds and 4 becoming 1 not 3 follow 1 so I support Aus on Saturday as (despite being Irish) I like the team that want to play and are ambitious. We have reverted to a Welsh Team doing a Welsh tactic which just doesn't work and that is a fact which I think even Aus are bored of proving

Pathetic!!!! Put your dummy back in!!!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Because we need the win. And Mike Phillips on form is better than any other option we have by quite a way in my opinion. Let's be honest, Youngs and Murray haven't been glittering either.

Not necessarily, there's not much between Youngs and Phillips when they're both firing on 100%, they just offer different styles of game. I'd pick an on form Youngs 100/100 times over an on form Phillips.

However, neither are on form. In fact Phillips is on absolutely shocking form. Youngs didn't have a great game last week, but nowhere near the level of Phillips the week before. If Gatland is going on form, which he should be (and apparently is if you listen to the attempted justification, from some quarters, of the squad) then it should be Murray starting with Youngs on the bench.
Gatland is going off of reputation and what he knows, which also explains a barely fit Roberts coming straight in to start despite not-that-great-form for the past few weeks (/few years...)

 

[Maverick1987]

The main thing that smacks me about that Lions backline is that if Sexton has an off day they're sunk. There's no real creativity outside him. Good players, but I wouldn't count on any of them to make a big play on this stage.


I seriously can't believe that despite being available for the last two test we haven't seen BOD and Tuilagi together. Tuilagi is the most destructive back in the Northern Hemisphere, possibly a more effective version of Ma'a Nonu. BOD is still a hell of a smart player. They could have been devastating. An utter shame.

This is absolutely spot on . Wales also have a 33% win rate over the last yearish . 4 wins in 12 and 4 defeats to Australia in those 8 :/

although ill still be full on behind them . Hopefully they can pull it off but at the moment I'm afraid I can't see it

 

[munstermuffin]

1. Grandslams are never down to luck.

2. Your point about Wales's world up being a 'fluke' makes your comment about me being a troll so spectacularly redundant its amusing. In fact if Wales have done one thing since 2011, it is that our good performance in the world cup was anything but a fluke.

3. Gatland has done with Wales what he could not do with Ireland because the ability and class of players is two steps up.

Ok lets start with Slams - 2008 was a good Slam but were lucky in Irish game as the ref was poor and carded 3 Irish players harshly, Shane Horgan got a try that some debated hit whitewash but TMO said it was short (kinda forget the try myself)

2012 - Ireland again Ferris gifted it in a harsh again pen when it was very low morale Irish team.

And if you tell me 2013 (Worst 6N in years) wasn't a fluke then look fair enough.

World Cup Wales got lucky by Ire beating Aus and then yes they beat us in QF but we were poor but again bottled it against France in SF (but fluked avoiding SH team) and yes SW was a red card offese so no excuse.

Wales won 6 Nations but these are same guys that lost to Samoa at home etc and well what have regions ever done ......?

But I suppose Leinster Munster and Ulster achievements are 2 maybe 3 steps down hell even Munster have more wins than Wales over Aus in past few years

 

[Feicarsinn]

2 Grand Slams,3 Six Nations ***les,best of the Lions countries at the World Cup......I sense a pattern starting to emerge.

Okay, but this is the same Welsh team that has lost its last 8 encounters against Australia, was out of the top 8 in the world last year and was tanked in Dublin in the six nations. They're the best of the home nations sides, but good enough to have two thirds of a Lions starting fifteen? No chance. Not even the great English side of 2003 were that good and they were from another planet by Northern Hemisphere standards (actually, I probably wouldn't have begrudged it of them). In my mind the our best two centres are on the bench or out of the squad, the best hooker of the tour has been dropped, Mike Philips has been brought in despite being genuinely awful two weeks ago and Dan Lydiate is playing at 6 despite really not being what the Lions need there.

Wales are a good side, but they're far from as good as that test side would make out. And their record against Australia is quite frankly an embarrassment. These players and these tactics have been proven not to work against the Wallabies time and time again over the past 18 months, yet the coach persists with them despite so many other options at his disposal. With that in mind, followers of the other home nations have every right to be unhappy with this team selection.

 

[munstermuffin]

Okay, but this is the same Welsh team that has lost its last 8 encounters against Australia and was tanked in Dublin. They're the best of the home nations sides, but good enough to have two thirds of a Lions starting fifteen? No chance. Not even the great English side of 2003 were that good and they were from another planet by Northern Hemisphere standards (actually, I probably wouldn't have begrudged it of them). In my mind the our best two centres are on the bench or out of the squad, the best hooker of the tour has been dropped, Mike Philips has been brought in despite being genuinely awful two weeks ago and Dan Lydiate is playing at 6 despite really not being what the Lions need there.

Wales are a good side, but they're far from as good as that test side would make out. And their record against Australia is quite frankly an embarrassment. These players and these tactics have been proven not to work against the Wallabies time and time again over the past 18 months, yet the coach persists with them despite so many other options at his disposal. With that in mind, followers of the other home nations have every right to be unhappy with this team selection.

That was in Cardiff but good post agreed again

 

[irelandfan123]

My opinion is similar to this

 

[dullonien]

what i meant was with a change of tactics utilising the pace of croft for a flanker gives us in affect an extra winger/link man. Sure it takes a coach to change tactics GEECH used it to great affect in 2009. My problem is not lydiate, its gatlands stubborn/lack of tactical noose not to change a game plan he has been using since he started coaching. He is all wrong if your creative player or a side which wants to play a free flowing game with ball in hand.

I agree Tipuric should be playing, his link up play is great for going forward. My dissapointment from day 1 was for a Lions coach gatland is all wrong, for what a Lions side should be all about and play.

Agree 100%. Most Welsh fans feel exactly the same about the tactics he uses with Wales.

We're gonna get tanked.

Davies had to defend the 13 channel only a handful of times on Sat past. Good job he made of it too... even when he was being told what to do.

Expect Leali'ifano, AAC, Beale, Folau and Tomane to make multiple angles on the 13 channel and see how good his decision making is.


We've also only got SOB as a decent defensive breakdown operator. Expect lots of Aussie ball and expect it to be quick.

Australia by 10+. I would have said 20+ but for the possible 3 point machine of the scrum+halfpenny.

Slightly OTT reaction. Firstly Davies is a great defensive 13. He got it wrong on Sat, yes, but he's part of an extremely strong Welsh midfield defence. He barely missed a tackle in the 6 nations, with a better tackle success rate than any other 6 nations centre, yes better than Barritt.

So whilst he shouldn't be immediately forgiven for that defensive lapse last week, it is out of character. His understanding with Roberts will certainly help in this regards.

 

[Feicarsinn]

That was in Cardiff but good post agreed again

That's about the 9th time I've made that mistake on here, lawdy.

 

[Groundhog]

This selection has really ruined the tour. I really can't wish ill on the Lions, they're still my team, but Gatland has really made a rift for so many fans. It's bad, but I have heard so many people in work today say that they kind of hope we lose on Saturday just to disgrace Gatland. It's not just the O'Driscoll issue, although that's the main one. 10 Welsh players was never going to be balanced and fair, and I can't wrap my head around guys like Roberts starting. I really am not pushed over Heaslip or Faletau starting, but to drop him completely? Nah that's too far. The bench as well, we're ****ed for back three cover. Guys like Tuilagi, Youngs and Youngs must be ****** off at the moment.
Even if we win this match, it won't mean a thing. He's just made a right mess of things, ruined the good, together atmosphere of a Lions Tour and brewed up a ****storm worthy of Matt Dunning's toilet in the morning. Naturally I'll still be cheering for the Lions, but it's left a real bitter taste in my mouth. The guys who were unceremoniously dropped from the squad owe Gatland nothing, and are true professionals for sticking with it. BOD's statement after being dropped was really graceful
TL;DR Gatland can go deep throat a cactus, the giant thundercunt
EDIT: Davies may be a good defender, but for all his 'faults' I'm fairly sure BOD didn't miss a tackle Saturday. Good look seeing the ball North and Bowe.