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

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

On the Lions Team:
1. Marler - 3rd choice LHP
2. Best - 3rd choice hooker
3. Sinckler - Hoping this isn't a "mid-week side" type team because Sinckler deserves to be in the test 23 over Cole.
4. Lawes - Should be in the test 23 IMO, has been in great form recently, although his carrying seems to be lacking.
5. Henderson - Start of the tour would've had him as my 19, now needs a big performance to not be the 5th choice lock
6. Haskell - Last choice back row
7. Warburton - Needs a very big game IMO, I'm sure he'll start the tests anyway but needs to put in a huge performance to even slightly deserve a spot in the 23 after the performances of other back rowers.
8. Stander - I've always seen him as a shoe-in at 6 but after O'Mahony's performance, he's gonna have to battle it out with Faletau, a battle that he's losing ATM.
9. Webb - Doesn't need to do anything really, Murray's guaranteed at 9 and Laidlaw cannot make the test side. Just has to not get injured.#
10. Biggar - 3rd choice 10.
11. Seymour - I don't rate him too highly but others do so I suppose a good performance could see him in the test side with no ther wingers really putting their hand up for selection.
12. Henshaw - Te'o's been in really good form so far, Henshaw's gonna need to big game to take the shirt back.
13. Joseph - Same as Henshaw but with Davies.
14. Nowell - Needs to put in a big performance, he's test match quality, he has to show it this game.
15. Payne - Good to see options outside of Halfpenny and Hogg being explored, neither have had tours to remember so far.

16. Owens - Gonna be interesting to see who gets the 2 shirt out of this man and George, gonna be a close fight that Owens is gonna have to really try for.
17. McGrath - Stiff competition with Vunipola, needs a big performance.
18. Cole - Meh
19. Jones - Why after playing a full 80 minutes on Saturday is he on the bench 3 days later? Gatland's clearly trying to give him all the game time he can and it's frustrating me. Both Itoje and Kruis are more rested.
20. Tipuric - Part of a very competitive back row battle.
21. Laidlaw - Go home.
22. Farrell - Bolted on 10 for me.
23. Daly - Good performance could easily see him into the test 23.

 

[Jockstap]

Halfpenny starts in the tests then?

 

[General Melchett]

Halfpenny starts in the tests then?

I fear so. Flanked by North and Watson most likely.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Gats knows the team he wants for the first test. I'd normally be ecstatic to see JJ and Henshaw in midfield, however they won't shine outside Biggar. It takes options away from Gatland. He won't put our attacking backs out together.

Amen to that. Playing outside Biggar simply doesn't allow a midfield player to show anything IMO.

On the Lions Team:
1. Marler - 3rd choice LHP
2. Best - 3rd choice hooker
3. Sinckler - Hoping this isn't a "mid-week side" type team because Sinckler deserves to be in the test 23 over Cole.
4. Lawes - Should be in the test 23 IMO, has been in great form recently, although his carrying seems to be lacking.
5. Henderson - Start of the tour would've had him as my 19, now needs a big performance to not be the 5th choice lock
6. Haskell - Last choice back row
7. Warburton - Needs a very big game IMO, I'm sure he'll start the tests anyway but needs to put in a huge performance to even slightly deserve a spot in the 23 after the performances of other back rowers.
8. Stander - I've always seen him as a shoe-in at 6 but after O'Mahony's performance, he's gonna have to battle it out with Faletau, a battle that he's losing ATM.
9. Webb - Doesn't need to do anything really, Murray's guaranteed at 9 and Laidlaw cannot make the test side. Just has to not get injured.#
10. Biggar - 3rd choice 10.
11. Seymour - I don't rate him too highly but others do so I suppose a good performance could see him in the test side with no ther wingers really putting their hand up for selection.
12. Henshaw - Te'o's been in really good form so far, Henshaw's gonna need to big game to take the shirt back.
13. Joseph - Same as Henshaw but with Davies.
14. Nowell - Needs to put in a big performance, he's test match quality, he has to show it this game.
15. Payne - Good to see options outside of Halfpenny and Hogg being explored, neither have had tours to remember so far.

16. Owens - Gonna be interesting to see who gets the 2 shirt out of this man and George, gonna be a close fight that Owens is gonna have to really try for.
17. McGrath - Stiff competition with Vunipola, needs a big performance.
18. Cole - Meh
19. Jones - Why after playing a full 80 minutes on Saturday is he on the bench 3 days later? Gatland's clearly trying to give him all the game time he can and it's frustrating me. Both Itoje and Kruis are more rested.
20. Tipuric - Part of a very competitive back row battle.
21. Laidlaw - Go home.
22. Farrell - Bolted on 10 for me.
23. Daly - Good performance could easily see him into the test 23.

1) Don't agree that Watbs has to absolutely smash it - I think he has to show fitness and play well, the shirt is his to lose despite other performances. He is the captain, and that counts for a lot.

2) Agree on Henshaw and JJ, worry that it's to no avail however - see above

3) Does McGrath not starting suggest he's inked in to start Saturday? I would suggest so.

4) Don't agree Farrell is bolted on at 10. Saturday showed there is a lot of scope for a Sexton-Farrell double playmaker axis

5) I think Nowell is pretty much out the running, but I guess with the lack of standout winger performances he might be in with a shot if he produces a real stormer of a game (especially defensively)

 

[mosfeldt]

It's a real shame Hogg hasn't really had a chance to prove himself yet. I was really looking forward to seeing him yesterday

 

[Penne Rara]

It's a real shame Hogg hasn't really had a chance to prove himself yet. I was really looking forward to seeing him yesterday

Do you know if he's concussed? Or will some stitches do?

 

[General Melchett]

It's a real shame Hogg hasn't really had a chance to prove himself yet. I was really looking forward to seeing him yesterday

He did ok for the short time he was on the field. Was good under the high ball but wasn't on long enough to show what he can do.

Looked like a nasty gash. Quite surprised it was so bad given that Murray was stationary with his arms in the air. Guess it was more to do with him running full pelt straight into his elbow.

 

[MarkyH]

Do you know if he's concussed? Or will some stitches do?

Looks pretty sore on his instagram post. OUCH

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVKEyddDOqC/?taken-by=stuarthogg21&hl=en

 

[mosfeldt]

Do you know if he's concussed? Or will some stitches do?

As far as I know he's not concussed but he's undergoing HIA protocols which bar him from playing for a few days, meaning he can't play on Tuesday. I'm not sure if Gatland will pick him on Saturday, if he hasn't had the game time... though I would hope so. He's one of our few attacking threats.

To be honest I just can't see anything past a 2-1, with 3-0 being more likely. The drop in standards in certain positions is too much. Imagine if we had to start Laidlaw and Biggar against the ABs. If Ireland's 2nd match against them in November is anything to go by they are going to be very physical, and that's not including all the non-test matches to come. The schedule is just insane. The drop in quality for the ABs is not as steep as it is for the Lions.

 

[General Melchett]

I imagine 1/2P is being saved for Saturday and so I can't see Hogg getting back in until at least the following midweek game assuming he comes through the HIA

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

If Warburton goes off at 50 mins i reckon he will be starting on Saturday.

Suspect Maori game we will see.
1) Vunipola, 2) Owens, 3) Furlong
4) Itoje, 5) AWJ
6) POM, 7) SOB, 8) TF
9) Murray, 10) Sexton
12) Faz, 13) T'eo
11) Williams, 14) North, 15) Halfpenny

16) George, 17) McGrath, 18) Cole
19) Lawes, 20) Moriarty
21) Webb, 22) Daly/Davies, 23) Watson

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

If Warburton goes off at 50 mins i reckon he will be starting on Saturday.

Suspect Maori game we will see.
1) Vunipola, 2) Owens, 3) Furlong
4) Itoje, 5) AWJ
6) POM, 7) SOB, 8) TF
9) Murray, 10) Sexton
12) Faz, 13) T'eo
11) Williams, 14) North, 15) Halfpenny

16) George, 17) McGrath, 18) Cole
19) Lawes, 20) Moriarty
21) Davies, 22) Daly/Davies, 23) Watson

Davies at 21? Gats won't put Faz at 12

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Davies at 21? Gats won't put Faz at 10

Got Webb and Davies mixed up. a Welsh 9.

I didn't put Faz at 10.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Got Webb and Davies mixed up. a Welsh 9.

I didn't put Faz at 10.

My apologies, meant 12.

 

[Jockstap]

If Warburton goes off at 50 mins i reckon he will be starting on Saturday.

Suspect Maori game we will see.
1) Vunipola, 2) Owens, 3) Furlong
4) Itoje, 5) AWJ
6) POM, 7) SOB, 8) TF
9) Murray, 10) Sexton
12) Faz, 13) T'eo
11) Williams, 14) North, 15) Halfpenny

16) George, 17) McGrath, 18) Cole
19) Lawes, 20) Moriarty
21) Webb, 22) Daly/Davies, 23) Watson

In the post game press conference Gats mentioned that Sexton and Farrell hadn't trained at all at 10/12 and they just winged it on the night. If that's true looks like we won't be seeing them together again bar injury. That's warrenball for you.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

In the post game press conference Gats mentioned that Sexton and Farrell hadn't trained at all at 10/12 and they just winged it on the night. If that's true looks like we won't be seeing them together again bar injury. That's warrenball for you.

IF that's true.

 

[Jockstap]

IF that's true.

But why lie? Everybody thought it would be the test 10/12 combination going out, surely Hansen would have prepared for it.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

If Gats doesn't pick the Sexton - Faz combo people will start insulting me for ripping off an AC/DC hit single.

 

[Ground We Won]

You may take our seats, but you'll never take our stadium! *cringe*

 

[Umaga's Witness]

looks like a pretty weak highlanders team. will be interesting to see how they do against what must be close to the mid-week lions side. mid-week lions will still have a strong scrum though.