Warm Up Match 3: Crusaders v British & Irish Lions (Christchurch)

[TRF Mr Fish]

 

[Reiser99]

Well supposedly everyone will start at least 1 game in the first 3 according to Gats so these should definitely start.

15:
14: Liam Williams (Or at 15)
13: Jonathan Davies
12:
11: George North
10: Owen Farrell (or possibly at 12)
9: Conor Murray
1: Mako Vunipola
2: Jamie George
3: Tadhg Furlong
4:
5: George Kruis
6: Sean O'Brien (Possibly at 8)
7: Peter O'Mahony (6 or 7)
8:

I'd say this has the foundations of a good team, question is will Gats give those who have played badly another chance, or will he be desperate for a win and pick those who have played well. If Gats was going to play Faz at 12 this could be the game, if not I'd say Te'o at 12. I'm not sure if he'll play Williams at 15 after today...does he want to see more of the wings or Hogg/1/2P? 4 is dependent on if he wants to see Henderson/AWJ again. 8 could well be Faletau for more game time with Warbs on the bench.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Crusaders playing well across the park and are the top NZ side at the moment, but much of their success in Super Rugby comes from their pack. That is something the Lions should be able to completely nullify surely?

Strangely i am talking myself into this being the second least difficult Super Rugby side for the Lions to beat (after the Blues). If they have Sexton at 10, Farrell at 12 and Hogg at 15 they would have far more creativity than we have seen so far and I'd probably pick them for the victory.

 

[Reiser99]

Crusaders playing well across the park and are the top NZ side at the moment, but much of their success in Super Rugby comes from their pack. That is something the Lions should be able to completely nullify surely?

Strangely i am talking myself into this being the second least difficult Super Rugby side for the Lions to beat (after the Blues). If they have Sexton at 10, Farrell at 12 and Hogg at 15 they would have far more creativity than we have seen so far and I'd probably pick them for the victory.

Hmm that would be the start of an interesting backline. Get North and Watson on the wings and has potential. I'm just not sure if Gatland will do it. He's already said he sees Farrell as a world class 10 and it would be a big change to his style. As for the pack I think it could do well if the 6-8 balance is right. I think that balance is probably the trickiest area of the forwards at the moment.

 

[Larksea]

the crusaders success is not from just having a strong pack, its from being the complete package. They have a strong pack and good set piece as well as a dangerous back line, strong ball carriers and a solid defense. you dont get a record like the crusaders have this year by just having a strong pack

 

[Radsy]

Crusaders playing well across the park and are the top NZ side at the moment, but much of their success in Super Rugby comes from their pack. That is something the Lions should be able to completely nullify surely?

I doubt they will nullify them. Match their physicality? Sure, maybe. Match their skill level and chemistry. Not a chance.

 

[Papsmear]

Matt Todd with a point to prove.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

I'm very interested to see if Dagg will start. Last week suggests that Robinson doesn't see him fitting into his current strongest starting side, and for that to change he'd have to drop Goodhue, Tamanivalu, Havili or maybe Bridge, which I don't see him doing.
It's interesting because Dagg really needs to justify his ABs selection and put his case forward for the starting 14 role that he has surely been picked for, but for him to do that he needs to start this game... I wonder if Shag will have a word to Razor or have any influence in that selection. It wouldn't surprise me, but it'd be really tough on whoever has to make way for Dagg.

 

[Radsy]

1. Joe Moody 2. Codie Taylor 3. Owen Franks 4. Luke Romano 5. Sam Whitelock (c) 6. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis 7. Matt Todd (vc) 8. Jordan Taufua 9. Bryn Hall 10. Richie Mo'unga 11. George Bridge 12. David Havili 13. Jack Goodhue 14. Seta Tamanivalu 15. Israel Dagg. Reserves: 16. Ben Funnell 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. Michael Alaalatoa 19. Quinten Strange 20. Jed Brown 21. Mitchell Drummond 22. Mitchell Hunt 23. Tim Bateman.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Full strength squad, going to be a blockbuster.

 

[ianw16]

Crusaders playing well across the park and are the top NZ side at the moment, but much of their success in Super Rugby comes from their pack. That is something the Lions should be able to completely nullify surely?

Strangely i am talking myself into this being the second least difficult Super Rugby side for the Lions to beat (after the Blues). If they have Sexton at 10, Farrell at 12 and Hogg at 15 they would have far more creativity than we have seen so far and I'd probably pick them for the victory.

Sorry, Bruce, but they were, by all accounts, on top of the Blues up front. Blues still won (better backline). Not sure how coming up against a better pack makes them a better bet! Of course, Read won't play, and they'd be silly to risk Whitelock. Still, I might look under my bed for some currency to place on the one-eyed South Island buggers!

ETA: Just seen the team announced above. Might look for considerably more currency!

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

1. Joe Moody 2. Codie Taylor 3. Owen Franks 4. Luke Romano 5. Sam Whitelock (c) 6. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis 7. Matt Todd (vc) 8. Jordan Taufua 9. Bryn Hall 10. Richie Mo'unga 11. George Bridge 12. David Havili 13. Jack Goodhue 14. Seta Tamanivalu 15. Israel Dagg. Reserves: 16. Ben Funnell 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. Michael Alaalatoa 19. Quinten Strange 20. Jed Brown 21. Mitchell Drummond 22. Mitchell Hunt 23. Tim Bateman.

This side looks perfect, the Lions are well and truly up against it.
I didn't even consider that Havili could be an option at 12, but that's where he played a lot of provincial rugby, so that's a great call! There really is no clear weakness in this side, and the pack is incredibly strong... especially that tight 5! If Brodie's concussion symptoms persist, that may well actually end up being the ABs tight 5...

I'm going Saders by 10.

 

[ianw16]

This side looks perfect, the Lions are well and truly up against it.
I didn't even consider that Havili could be an option at 12, but that's where he played a lot of provincial rugby, so that's a great call! There really is no clear weakness in this side, and the pack is incredibly strong... especially that tight 5! If Brodie's concussion symptoms persist, that may well actually end up being the ABs tight 5...

I'm going Saders by 10.

Yep. The one advantage that the Lions had on the Blues was up front. Didn't help much. They won't have that against the Cru. 10 might be pessimistic, unless the Lions unleash heretofore unsuspected backline skills. One try and a bunch of goal kicks is the most likely outcome for them. Crusaders should have too much.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Gatland needs to field his best team.
Not so much about going for the win, but he needs to see his top line performers on the stage doing their thing and getting used to each other, under pressure.
Farrell needs to start in the back line. He has looked head and sholders above Sexton. He needs to show his game from the kick off.
Tempo will be key. The 'Saders play a high tempo. The Lions must match it or seek to slow the game down to their own tempo.
The Lions will be tested here but so will Gatland.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

15 Stuart Hogg – Glasgow Warriors, Scotland, 783
14 George North – Northampton Saints, Wales, #792
13 Jonathan Davies – Scarlets, Wales, #778
12 Ben Te'o – Worcester Warriors, England, #815
11 Liam Williams – Scarlets, Wales, #832
10 Owen Farrell – Saracens, England, #780
9 Conor Murray – Munster, Ireland, #790

1 Mako Vunipola – Saracens, England, #787
2 Jamie George – Saracens, England, #818
3 Tadhg Furlong – Leinster, Ireland, #817
4 Alun Wyn Jones (capt) – Ospreys, Wales, #761
5 George Kruis – Saracens, England, #819
6 Peter O'Mahony – Munster, Ireland, #833
7 Sean O'Brien – Leinster, Ireland, #796
8 Taulupe Faletau – Bath Rugby, Wales, #779

Replacements
16 Ken Owens – Scarlets, Wales, #829
17 Jack McGrath – Leinster, Ireland, #827
18 Dan Cole – Leicester, England, #794
19 Maro Itoje – Saracens, England, #825
20 CJ Stander – Munster, Ireland, #831
21 Rhys Webb – Ospreys, Wales, #820
22 Johnny Sexton – Leinster, Ireland, #791
23 Anthony Watson – Bath Rugby, England, #816

 

[TommiG88]

Hmmm, another Welsh captain...

 

[Goodey]

Think we can stick a fork in Farrell playing centre. Played twice at 10 with Te'o/Henshaw getting 80 minutes at 12.

With the exception of the back row I think this is close to the test team.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Looks to be by far the best team they've lined up so far. Still don't see them topping the crusaders though.

 

[The Jones Boy]

That's a mighty Lions side, but I'm a bit worried about AWJ, he was blowing hard in the Barbarians game first up. I don't know if he has the gas to keep up anymore.
He has been a mighty servant for Wales and the Lions in the past and he does have boat loads of experience, but he has questions to answer regarding his ability to keep going to the well.
Itoje is waiting in the wings, he's athletic, young, fast, fit and much better suited to keeping up with the tempo
I'm a fan of Courtney Lawes, I would have him in the mix as well. He's also very quick and athletic.
I would like to see him prove me wrong but I can see him being dragged on the 60 minute mark.

 

[Nubiwan]

1. Joe Moody 2. Codie Taylor 3. Owen Franks 4. Luke Romano 5. Sam Whitelock (c) 6. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis 7. Matt Todd (vc) 8. Jordan Taufua 9. Bryn Hall 10. Richie Mo'unga 11. George Bridge 12. David Havili 13. Jack Goodhue 14. Seta Tamanivalu 15. Israel Dagg. Reserves: 16. Ben Funnell 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. Michael Alaalatoa 19. Quinten Strange 20. Jed Brown 21. Mitchell Drummond 22. Mitchell Hunt 23. Tim Bateman.

More of these players are household names to me than those on the lions squad. A dislodged Englishman living overseas in the northern hem. Over the past 20 years, my tv has been tuned to more super 12, 14, 16, what have you, than what's been on offer from Europe. Seen more Dan Carter than Jonny Wilkinson to be honest. The lions are in for it here. They need to field a strong 15, and at least keep this respectable. If they can do that, then I'd have to suggest that they give themselves a decent opportunity when it comes to facing the All Blacks or Maori, simply because those teams will also have to deal with being a representative side thrown together. Albeit, ones that do it with a minimum amount of fuss. Going to be a battle royale, Saturday.

If the lions can win this one, and a very big if, then they'd swing a few believers in NZ, I am sure. Having seen what the lions have to offer, their squad etc, then it pains me to admit they could just as easily be on a hiding on the weekend. If the Cru score 30-40 points then it will hardly surprise many people who have seen what they can do. Can't say the same for their opposition, sadly. Lions will have to keep the cru under 20 to stand a chance.