Warm Up Match 2: Blues v British & Irish Lions (Auckland)

[Leonormous Boozer]

Right, that's the only reason we won.

You should remove that NZ flag impostor.

Only against the Lions bro. These new high tackle laws are fun though, wonder what game made World Rugby implement those?!

 

[Nubiwan]

I


EDIT: Anyone else think Gatland should just play his strongest side against the crusaders? A loss against the blues, the weakest SR side, looks bad, but a win against the best side would give huge momentum to the tour. Maybe this game needs to be treated as the unofficial first test. Thing is, if we rotate again completely we're not going to win.

Who do you have in mind? Honestly! Finding it difficult to think of a Lions impact player. Teo, Felatau. Itoje, Farrell, Murray, Lawes, would alll get a start for me.

I'm a little worried that losing 8 or 9 games on this tour could spell the end for the lions . Sponsors want competitiveness . Interest will cool very fast if they don't get that in the same way it has for Barbarians rugby

Fortunately its only to NZ every 12 years

 

[Ground We Won]

Haha simmer down mate . I don't dislike Collins, I just think that Nanai is and definitely has the potential to be a better player... and a lot of people feel the same way... I think there's a reason he was called into the ABs last year
Collins was outstanding tonight though... actually probably the best performance I recall seeing from him. Definitely justified his selection, so well done to him.
And no prejudice here mate... the only slight prejudice I have is for my Canes boys

Just sticking one in for my lad But I do think he's been good this season, which has kept Nanai on the bench, who is also a great player/prospect. SBW coming back in with Ioane going back to wing kind of screwed him and Duffie and Collins form. Collins at fullback this season has been decision maker than Nanai IMO, his running game is superb. I'd like to see him go to the Chiefs with McKenzie moving into 10, or even just putting Nanai on the wing at the Chiefs, I think he'd fit in really well there.

 

[HenryChinaski]

Who do you have in mind? Honestly! Finding it difficult to think of a Lions impact player. Teo, Felatau. Itoje, Farrell, Murray, Lawes, would alll get a start for me.

Why though? Anyone who watches any Northern Hemipshere rugby at all knows theres a ton of talent in the squad. The question was always going to be can the likes of Gatland and Howley get the best out of it; the answer was always doubtful. But if you've been watching these games (not you, but people in general), you have to know that the problem is one of how the lions with Gatland are trying to play the game rather than do they have the players to play good rugby.

 

[Nubiwan]

I


EDIT: Anyone else think Gatland should just play his strongest side against the crusaders? A loss against the blues, the weakest SR side, looks bad, but a win against the best side would give huge momentum to the tour. Maybe this game needs to be treated as the unofficial first test. Thing is, if we rotate again completely we're not going to win.

Who do you have in mind? Honestly! Finding it difficult to think of a Lions impact player. Teo, Felatau. Itoje, Farrell, Murray, Lawes, would alll get a start for me.

I'm a little worried that losing 8 or 9 games on this tour could spell the end for the lions . Sponsors want competitiveness . Interest will cool very fast if they don't get that in the same way it has for Barbarians rugby

Fortunately its only to NZ every 12 years

So, the lions barely got away with a win against a random number of nzers who happened to be playing across the stadium last week and now lost to the worst

Maybe not the brumbies, but i'm probably closer to Stormer2010's position than yours. I'd say the Sharks are clearly above the blues right now and i'd say the Stormers and the Blues are about par.

In laymen terms, the Blues are nothing more than a mid tier team in Super Rugby. They'd get a play off spot if they were in Australia's Group, but they'd be dismantlement after that.

Has anyone thrashed the Blues this year? Like Super Rugby teams generally get thrashed in NZ? I suggest not.

 

[Nubiwan]

Why though? Anyone who watches any Northern Hemipshere rugby at all knows theres a ton of talent in the squad. The question was always going to be can the likes of Gatland and Howley get the best out of it; the answer was always doubtful. But if you've been watching these games (not you, but people in general), you have to know that the problem is one of how the lions with Gatland are trying to play the game rather than do they have the players to play good rugby.

Dont think Gatlands tactics are a mystery. I do not watch enough British rugby to have a sensible opinion on the Lions squad, if I am being honest, but have seen enough of the 6N and European Cup this year to raise my eyebrows at some of the players who made the squad.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

How did 1/2P play today?

100% from the tee and good on defence, I remember at one point he got bumped off but still managed to get the guy down on the 2nd attempt, a lot of players wouldn't have managed it.
Bad on attack though, I'm presuming he's injured because he looked really really slow, and I mean that. I wouldn't be surprised if only the props were slower than him out there today, it was weird.

 

[Nubiwan]

100% from the tee and good on defence, I remember at one point he got bumped off but still managed to get the guy down on the 2nd attempt, a lot of players wouldn't have managed it.
Bad on attack though, I'm presuming he's injured because he looked really really slow, and I mean that. I wouldn't be surprised if only the props were slower than him out there today, it was weird.

By the time the Lions did manage to get the ball wide today it was all rather congested and too close to the sideline to have any threat. It all looked a bit laboured in reality. As long as each game gets better, and the Lions were decidedly better today, then we can hope for improvement. Its hard to see then winning many games if I am being honest.

 

[MojoPin]

Bit harsh on Marler imo . He made a big impact when he came on

Yeah, in hindsight I think you're right to be fair. He did well in the scrum, just shows how those little things stick out I guess. Think I was just frustrated he tried to make that extra half a yard rather than recycle safely while they had momentum.

 

[Goodey]

Lions played well and still couldn't handle it. This is gonna be a long, painful tour, for the sole reason that this is NZ.

 

[Brigantine]

I don't think I can bear another month of New Zealand fans on here glorifying in how brilliant they are.

Don't worry. After the Sunwolves beat the Blues in their next match, you won't hear any more about it

 

[HenryChinaski]

Dont think Gatlands tactics are a mystery. I do not watch enough British rugby to have a sensible opinion on the Lions squad, if I am being honest, but have seen enough of the 6N and European Cup this year to raise my eyebrows at some of the players who made the squad.

There were certainly some notable omissions and some notable (missions? ) but that's not the problem right now.

If you look at Henshaw for Leinster
Hogg for Glasgow and Scotland
Jonathan Joseph for England
Daly for Wasps
Williams for Scarlets.

There is plenty of attacking ability. I'm not going to throw too much crap at Gatland and company right now because they're trying to put a scratch gameplan together and in difficult circumstances, but there was always a doubt about Gatlands ability to play a different style of rugby.

Its important because if the likes of stuart Hogg are not going to be allowed to play their natural game why bring him? Might as well just play Halfpenny (to be fair, 1/2 was good today). But basically I think what we might end up seeing si that the form of these players for club and country is going to be completely irrelevant, because now they're in a scratch system with a coach who doesn't approach rugby the same way. The real test is who has the ability to adapt to the conditions and stand up in big games.

One big point I'd make, is that I keep hearing how only the tests matter. I just think that's not true; if we go into the first test on a string of defeats, we're lost. Winning mentality is so important, and we have to show that the Blues defeat was a blip. That's why I would treat this next game as a proper test match.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Dont think Gatlands tactics are a mystery. I do not watch enough British rugby to have a sensible opinion on the Lions squad, if I am being honest, but have seen enough of the 6N and European Cup this year to raise my eyebrows at some of the players who made the squad.

To be fair to Gats (I'm defending him again, I hate Lions' tours!) I think, with the exception of Ringrose in place of Payne and Dunbar for Te'o he did pick his most talented squad. His mistake thus far has come in not picking enough players who can execute his game plan, Te'o and Payne are actually both good fits, Payne was probably the only great player kick chasing selected today whereas they need about three on the pitch to contest NZ. Seymour will do a job, Payne too if he gets fit, Williams and Halfpenny blow hot and cold and Watson can be ok from time to time but after that there's nothing. Either a change to the game plan is needed, and I don't think there's a coach good enough to implement anything more intelligent on the this tour, or a care package of Kearney and/or Zebo is needed to see some improvement to the kick chase. I don't think there's many coaches who could be in anyway successful on this tour but a couple who could chose trips to Japan and Argentina instead!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Kind of wish we had taken Ringrose over Payne.

Payne is a good player but he is steady, Ringrose would at least bring an extra element to the backline.

 

[MarkyH]

I'm gonna say it The game today would've suited Mike Brown!

 

[HenryChinaski]

Kind of wish we had taken Ringrose over Payne.

Payne is a good player but he is steady, Ringrose would at least bring an extra element to the backline.

Sure Ringrose would be nice but with Joseph and Daly there its not as if we don't have options. But Daly won't even get played there because for some baffling reason every coach wants to play him on the left wing WHERE HE HAS NEVER PLAYED.

 

[Big_Grumper]

I've been in the office since 07:30 and have recorded the game to watch later. I couldn't find a way to shut myself off and know the result and am aware of the analysis. I'll still watch it.

As for Saturday's game we must pick our strongest XV and take it from there.

 

[HenryChinaski]

100% from the tee and good on defence, I remember at one point he got bumped off but still managed to get the guy down on the 2nd attempt, a lot of players wouldn't have managed it.
Bad on attack though, I'm presuming he's injured because he looked really really slow, and I mean that. I wouldn't be surprised if only the props were slower than him out there today, it was weird.

I don't think he was bad on attack, he had more of crack than I've seen in a long time and not a single other player did anything in attack.

 

[smartcooky]

Joe Marler was excellent in his cameo as far as I can see, also I really don't think he was held for that to be a penalty.

I don't think he was held for that last penalty, either.

Disagree... I thought he was clearly held by Akira Ioane who had a hold of his left ankle, and that was all that was needed.

I have been getting annoyed for the last couple of seasons with tackled players "re-positioning" or rolling over a couple of times after they have been brought to ground. I know exactly why they do it too; aside from gaining another metre, they are also hoping to roll into the legs of any potential jackler and cause him to overbalance and have his hands touch the ground.

The tackle Law says that tackled players can place, pass, release or push the ball along the ground, and whichever they choose, they must to do it immediately. Its does NOT say they that they can re-position their body to achieve the above with greater advantage. In doing so, they have failed to act immediately to release the ball

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Haven't seen it yet, but doesn't sound great.

Winning's a habit and it's one the Lions had better get into sharpish or they're toast. Quite apart from how good the Kiwis are, the organisation in the modern game means that it's getting harder and harder for scratch sides like the Baa Baas or even the Lions to overcome the cohesion of teams that have been playing together for a long time.