Warm Up Match 4: Highlanders v British & Irish Lions (Dunedin)

[Jakedood]

That was an interesting game, didnt watch it but from what I've heard and listened too, some players stuck their hands up, more showed they really are just fringe players

The wings didnt really shine, despite what is a pretty handy centre pairing, not sure if thats Biggar's distribution being not as effective, but one thing I would say is Gatland has gone done the road of defensively minded out halves, and yet wants to be able to play "chaotic" rugby. So he hasnt picked the players to suit that style of attack, or he'd have brought either Ford or Russell

Hearing Hendy went well, and could maybe push for a position at 6, rather than Lock, but he does need to become more consistent if he's to fulfill his potential

Lions team will be almost full strength for Saturday I'd imagine

Could see McGrath, george and Furlong together (I prefer George to Owens, but each to their own)
Krutoje
And He'll have Warbs back in, maybe Tipuric and warbs Starting together, and Faletau or Moriarty 8, thats not the best back row, but decent

Murray - Sexton/farrell (Probably sexton)

Te'o - Davies again I'd suggest, with Watson, North and Halfpenny the likely wings

Could have Liam Williams too, which would be a very very welsh team

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Marler ****.
George only hooker on tour for me.
Stander very one dimensional, never looks at the option of passing.
TBH, Warburton hasn't done enough to warrant a test.
Had we kept Webb on, would have probably won, Laidlaw is so slow..
Bigger went well, I agree with comments, why Farrell to kick straight off the bench wasn't a good idea.
Henshaw runs sideways to much, need to straighten up the attack.
Joseph was ok.
Nowell and Seymour both underwhelming..

Henderson and Payne had good games, so did tipuric, as you can tell from the post I'm ****** off to sit for 2 hours to lose to a out of form, aged highlander.. I'll just sit here and eat my Kiwi Humble Pie

Agree apart from Payne - way too many errors.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Thought Payne had a shocker

 

[Saint Matt]

Not too concerned about losing but I am somewhat concerned about the way certain things are going.

As others have said, there's clearly a big gap between our 'test team' and the rest, you throw those boys in together against club teams and naturally that evens the game out. I didn't see too much balance in terms of the back row, Payne wasn't great at full back and Nowell/Seymour had inconsistent games for me.

Webb looked really sharp when he was on and we should get a decent 80 out of that position with Murray and Webb. Biggar did some good things as well.

I still worry about our backs a bit. I think I'd probably go with Sexton and Farrell at 10/12 but we've seen the way our teams crumble defensively against NZ. 13 and 15 are issues for me, Joseph looks too small for me, Davies is what he is, I'd probably go with Teo. Watson and North on the wings perhaps balances that up somewhat.

 

[Penne Rara]

He went to the Crusaders to get consistent game-time in the midfield, since he was clearly gonna be over-taken by ALB at the Chiefs and there were no clear options at 13 for the Crusaders at the start of 2017. As it turned out, he only got one game at 13 as a result of the emergence of Goodhue and had to ply his trade on the wing, a position that he has said he doesn't want to play. With Goodhue now the clear young and established Saders 13, Seta won't be getting any gametime there barring injury. The Saders also have a number of great young wingers coming through, so his position there isn't even garunteed.
With the ongoing issues around Ngatai, who knows what his availability will be like next year. If he isn't available, and Seta is there, then ALB will go to 12 with Seta going to his preferred spot at 13. If these 2 can form an effective partnership, it would also do great things for Seta's ABs chances. There is also a clear lack of midfield depth at the Chiefs atm anyways, so Seta would be a very valued player.

Also, obviously, Colin Cooper is the Chiefs coach next year, which is probably the biggest factor. He has strong links with Seta (and Naholo) through Taranaki, so no doubt his presence will be a big factor in Seta's decision.

All things considered, it makes a lot of sense really. For his sake and the sake of the Chiefs, I hope that the rumors are true and that he does go back.

Thanks for clearing things out for me

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

If I was picking the test team I'd go
McGarth George Furlong
Lawes Kruis
POM Faletau SOB
Murray Sexton
Farrell Davies
North Halfpenny Watson

Owens/Best Mako Sink Itoje Warbs Webb Henshaw Daly

Outside of these players I reckon only Te'o, Stander, AWJ and Williams should be considered. That should offer the strong kicking and defensive game the Lions need while having the potential to create a few linebreaks. Can't see past 3 zip to NZ though.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Thanks for clearing things out for me

No probs m8

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

McGarth George Furlong
Lawes Kruis
POM Faletau SOB
Murray Sexton
Farrell Davies
North Halfpenny Watson

Agree 7 of your pack. Warbs will have to come in for one of the O's.

Backs I'd go with Murray, Faz, North, Teo, JJ, Williams, Watson. feels like a decent blend. Let Faz run the game from his true position, he can move out later if needs be. Teo may be a bit of a gamble, but he's been going OK and will keep the defence honest.

Certainly wouldn't pick 1/2p if you've already got both Faz and Sexton.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

If I was picking the test team I'd go
McGarth George Furlong
Lawes Kruis
POM Faletau SOB
Murray Sexton
Farrell Davies
North Halfpenny Watson

Owens/Best Mako Sink Itoje Warbs Webb Henshaw Daly

Outside of these players I reckon only Te'o, Stander, AWJ and Williams should be considered. That should offer the strong kicking and defensive game the Lions need while having the potential to create a few linebreaks. Can't see past 3 zip to NZ though.

Exactly what I'd go with too. Probably our best bet and yet it's not a team I'd massively rate at all.
I can't think beyond two playmakers right now. The quality of passing has been so absolutely terrible at times. Te'o either starts or isn't in the 23, he doesn't make sense on the bench.

On another note, if Launchbury and Ringrose were out here we wouldn't be 4 from 4, we'd be 5 from 4.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Just watched the game. I thought for the most part the Lions did alright apart from our terrifyingly poor ability to compete in the air, did we win a single contest there apart from Seymour's try? The ABs would've been watching that and they'll now know that every time they put in a cross field kick their players will get the ball. It's a serious concern for us.

As far as individual performances go I actually thought that Biggar had a pretty good game. Webb had a few very impressive moments and a few very unimpressive moments. Haskell simply doesn't deserve to be on the tour. I like him but he's just not good enough. Poor hands and goes nowhere ball in hand.
Warbs took his try well but I still don't believe he's done anything to suggest he should be selected over Tipuric and SOB. Sinckler again had a stormer, he's got a hell of a future with the red rose. Henderson too showed a major improvement on his outing vs the Barbarians. Nowell didn't do much wrong but has nothing to play himself into contention. Henshaw and Joseph were both impressive but again have done nothing to play themselves into contention.

For me Stander was our MOTM. Carried constantly and was always making tackles in defence. His work rate is huge but sadly I can't see him fitting into the test XV.

 

[Jakedood]

Does anyone else think discipline is still one of our biggest overriding issues? Our breakdown play was not sharp first half, especiall yin support of the ball carrier, though marked improvement second half

Still just lots of basic basic errors happening though, like obstructions etc

Also watching some of the game now, and Im thinking Joseph is looking classy as hell. His running lines are superb, he's catching bad passes, making yards and looking slippery, regularly hitting weak shoulders,

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Agree 7 of your pack. Warbs will have to come in for one of the O's.

Backs I'd go with Murray, Faz, North, Teo, JJ, Williams, Watson. feels like a decent blend. Let Faz run the game from his true position, he can move out later if needs be. Teo may be a bit of a gamble, but he's been going OK and will keep the defence honest.

Certainly wouldn't pick 1/2p if you've already got both Faz and Sexton.

I don't think Warburton starting is good for the team regardless of captaincy and I see a whole lot wrong with that back line. It would have Faz, a limited playmaker at 10, as the only playmaker in the back line. The weakest 12 and 13 defensively so far on tour (more a case of Henshaw being faultless a than Te'o being bad) and so far, horribly out of form Williams. In terms of the back 3 I think the 4 players in my original side are the only ones who haven't been bad, probably the strongest options for the kickchase too which is the Lions only hope!

 

[The Jones Boy]

Marler ****.
...as you can tell from the post I'm ****** off to sit for 2 hours to lose to a out of form, aged highlander.. I'll just sit here and eat my Kiwi Humble Pie

I don't understand, can you extrapolate?

 

[MarkyH]

Does anyone else think discipline is still one of our biggest overriding issues? Our breakdown play was not sharp first half, especiall yin support of the ball carrier, though marked improvement second half

Still just lots of basic basic errors happening though, like obstructions etc

Also watching some of the game now, and Im thinking Joseph is looking classy as hell. His running lines are superb, he's catching bad passes, making yards and looking slippery, regularly hitting weak shoulders,

Agreed, people ripping into Joseph cause he got bumped once. Watched it back already and his tacking was ok, but that's only going to get better on tour. His gain line success, lines and footwork was fantastic. Also, great hands...

It will just go down to combos and how Gats wants to play. Don't think T'eo or JD have shone above Henshaw and JJ. Its all down to Gats...

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Just watched the game. I thought for the most part the Lions did alright apart from our terrifyingly poor ability to compete in the air, did we win a single contest there apart from Seymour's try? The ABs would've been watching that and they'll now know that every time they put in a cross field kick their players will get the ball. It's a serious concern for us.

As far as individual performances go I actually thought that Biggar had a pretty good game. Webb had a few very impressive moments and a few very unimpressive moments. Haskell simply doesn't deserve to be on the tour. I like him but he's just not good enough. Poor hands and goes nowhere ball in hand.
Warbs took his try well but I still don't believe he's done anything to suggest he should be selected over Tipuric and SOB. Sinckler again had a stormer, he's got a hell of a future with the red rose. Henderson too showed a major improvement on his outing vs the Barbarians. Nowell didn't do much wrong but has nothing to play himself into contention. Henshaw and Joseph were both impressive but again have done nothing to play themselves into contention.

For me Stander was our MOTM. Carried constantly and was always making tackles in defence. His work rate is huge but sadly I can't see him fitting into the test XV.

To be exact, Haskell carried all of two meters today. For an 18 stone bloke who supposedly can also play 8, that's hopeless.

Surprised you see Stander as MOTM; granted, he grew into the game but he started off poorly.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

To be exact, Haskell carried all of two meters today. For an 18 stone bloke who supposedly can also play 8, that's hopeless.

Surprised you see Stander as MOTM; granted, he grew into the game but he started off poorly.

Can't argue on Stander but it's also a bit to do with there not really being another outstanding candidate. Lawes was great before going off. Sinckler was immsense but only played 47 minutes... any other suggestions?

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Much prefer JJ to Davies, Payne or Te'o or Henshaw at 13. His try was a case in point, not just his pace, but he actually holds the ball in two hands when he runs with it. Just can't see Gatland picking him there for the tests.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

fool why u try to use big words like extrapolate u cant go round sayin stuff like that just 2 sound smart bro, u as smart as cucumbers (not that smart mate)

Your username appears to be spot on.

 

[MarkyH]

Some cracking new forum users today (and by that I mean they're not very good)

 

[Saint Matt]

Can't argue on Stander but it's also a bit to do with there not really being another outstanding candidate. Lawes was great before going off. Sinckler was immsense but only played 47 minutes... any other suggestions?

Don't think Stander would be too far off, you know what you'll get with him. I'd probably have gone with Webb purely for his enthusiasm, thought he looked really sharp around the ruck and kept them honest. Did a few poor things as well but you could probably say that about the whole team.