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

[Groundhog]

We do need to be so much more clinical. Left so many tries begging there.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Whitelock said their mistakes kept us in it but honestly the lions could have scored a lot more. How close did the crusaders even get to the try line?

 

[Truth]

Crotty has to start for the ABs after witnessing that.

After seeing that loss? SBW helped his team to WIN against the Lions. Big difference...

 

[SomeOke]

Well played the Lions, definitely won me over and I'm more excited for the tour than ever.
Kicking Game: Excellent (Murray and Faz make a big difference)
Defense: Excellent (In all facets the Crusaders looked flat)
Set-Piece: Pretty good (Scums a minor worry perhaps, but otherwise good).
Attack: Also Pretty good actually (butchering 2 (3?) tries is definitely something that needs looking at BUT at least the opportunities were there).

The Crusaders had a weak game there is no denying that but it's unfair for us to just say "the Saders played badly", they did but it's equally accurate to say the Lions didn't allow the Crusaders to play well. Richie, Havilli, Bridge and Dagg looked poor and can all do better but I'm sure they'll be back on the pace soon enough.

 

[Groundhog]

If Owen Farrell wasn't a pro rugby player he'd be a Stark in Game of Thrones 'wih tat Novin accent uf is.'

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Dane Coles? Or...? Typo, right?

We already knew you didn't watch NH rugby, you don't need to remind us.

 

[Skylinerd1]

80 minutes. No tries. The All Blacks would've scored tries against the Crusaders.

Many many tries.... atleast 30 points clears worth infact.

 

[GoTheNaki]

Tour on!

I'm now more excited for the tests. Lions were the better team at the end of the day. Strong forward play and good kicking.

Crusaders luck has finally caught up with them. Can't say I feel too bad for them since I'm a Highlanders fan.

I dont like the Crusaders, but you cant say that last part. Their backline was absolutely terrible. Terrible lines, terrible decision making. I honestly didnt realise how much Crotty did for that team.

 

[GoTheNaki]

We already knew you didn't watch NH rugby, you don't need to remind us.

Well then he's never seen Dane Coles run, ya dope. Good one .

 

[The Jones Boy]

Congratulations to the Lions.
The tourists showed a real lift in energy and motivation and desire for the fight.
The pack was excellent for the Lions tonight, a victory based in the front eight. Magnificent effort.
THe tour has just come alight and that is fantastic.
This will help the Lions build belief and lift themselves to another level.
A lot of opportunities missed at the last hurdle but more games will help that issue.
The 4th test is next Saturday against the Maori.

Great result for the tour.
Great result for.... AUCKLAND. hahahahahahahaha
The Jafaaa's in Canterbury are crying now but they just didn't offer anything on attack.
Yes the Lions defence was good and strong but even without Read to strech the Lions defence and Crotty to marshall his young lads the Crusaders were still very average.
Dagg?
Well...
I'm just saying that Hansen should be looking elsewhere for utility backs etc.

 

[smartcooky]

I can''t agree with the commentators waxing lyrical about how the Lions are "back on track". They aren't....their backline is still clueless and their scrum got a scrummaging lesson from the Crusaders. If we had a half decent referee who didn't wait until the 77th minute before he rewarded a clearly dominant scrum, then the result might have been considerably different.

IMO, nothing much has changed. If they think they can beat the All Blacks with this sort of game plan, accumulating points three at at time, they are in for a rude shock on June 24.

 

[Maverick1987]

Warburton under HUGE pressure now . SOB was my Man of the match today closely followed by POM . With Tipuric playing really well too I can't see how Sam can be picked tbh

I can''t agree with the commentators waxing lyrical about how the Lions are "back on track". They aren't....their backline is still clueless and their scrum got a scrummaging lesson from the Crusaders. If we had a half decent referee who didn't wait until the 77th minute before he rewarded a clearly dominant scrum, then the result might have been considerably different.

IMO, nothing much has changed. If they think they can beat the All Blacks with this sort of game plan, accumulating points three at at time, they are in for a rude shock on June 24.

I disagree on the scrum domination ..... first half we had gathered 3 penalties vs 1 for the Crusaders . Tbh I thought it was fairly even, the referee was very keen to give a penalty at almost every scrum

However I do agree on the commentators . This was a far better performance but the still tonnes of work to do

 

[Skylinerd1]

I dont like the Crusaders, but you cant say that last part. Their backline was absolutely terrible. Terrible lines, terrible decision making. I honestly didnt realise how much Crotty did for that team.

It was like the 2014/15 saders team. They were that stinking bad you'd of thunk Blackadder was coaching them again. Any Lions supporter that thinks this is a huge victory is going to be sadly mistaken come the tests. Incredibly poor saders backline.

 

[GoTheNaki]

We already knew you didn't watch NH rugby, you don't need to remind us.

And also, why would i feel the need? The best players in the NH couldnt beat the lowly Blues ffs.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

George - test 2
Kruis - test 5
POM - test 6
SOB - test 7
Faletau - test 8
Murray - test 9
Sexton - test 10
Farrell - test 12

Handy game for Gats that!

 

[galumay]

Well done Lions, some pride salvaged tonite I imagine.

Saders were shite tonite, looked like entitled wankers, assumed their undefeated run in Super rugby made them invincible, no doubt seeing the Lions performance in the first two games added to that attitude.

Lions still have nothing in attack and the fact that they borrowed Rutchie's cloak of invisibility helped their cause. Refereeing was below standard, but was in no way an excuse for the Saders being so far off form.

Potentially the most important effect of this game is the hope it will give the other NZ Super teams of beating the Saders.

Ultimately the Lions dominated the Saders in nearly every aspect of this game, and while thats partly the result of a better game plan and better execution, the fact is the Saders were truly awful tonite. Some Lions fans will say thats because its as good as the Lions let them play, common sense from a neutral tells me it was more than that. I suspect that tonitie will be the highlight of the Lions tour.

 

[Ground We Won]

George - test 2
Kruis - test 5
POM - test 6
SOB - test 7
Faletau - test 8
Murray - test 9
Sexton - test 10
Farrell - test 12

Handy game for Gats that!

Still incapable of scoring tries though, which will prove their undoing come test time I think.

 

[Truth]

The reff asked the Lions players when they were given a penalty in the first half "What do we do?"

 

[Bluemoon]

Warburton under HUGE pressure now . SOB was my Man of the match today closely followed by POM . With Tipuric playing really well too I can't see how Sam can be picked tbh

With my welsh glasses on, I think you are right. I think the problem with AWJ and Warbs is they weren't playing rugby before the tour and are relying on really difficult midweek matches to catch up. Gats has some big decisions to make.

Hope the Jonathan Davies injury isn't bad as I think he and Henshaw would be a really good partnership. I wonder whether, after this forced sub, they might consider Farrell and Te'o 12-13 now?

 

[Ground We Won]

Can I just say that McKenzie losing out to Sopoaga, J.Barrett AND Dagg is a disgrace.

The All Blacks selectors should be ashamed of themselves, the first time in a long time.