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

[Nubiwan]

Thought Payne had a shocker

He will be remembered for that restart knock on which essentially set the tone for the last 20 minute of the Lions absolute amateur blunder show. Next it was Biggar's missed touch finder, from a penalty they were awarded, from some good defence on the 5 meter line. AWL then wanders offside through a line out by like 5 meters. I thought I was watching division 2.

Back to Payne - Considering the lions pack under scrum pressure, knocking on in NZ should come with compulsory hanging. If it's not already a law down there....

 

[Nubiwan]

My test team so far.
Mako-George-Furlong
Kruis-Henderson
Itoje-Faletau-Warburton

Murray-Farrell
Williams-Teo-Joseph-North
Watson

Owens,Cole,McGrath,AWJ,SOB,Webb,Sexton,Daley

Other than be tour captain, what has Warburton done to warrant a test? hardly had an impact last night. Got on the end of one try.

 

[Nubiwan]

Marty will be a tremendous loss for both the Highlanders and Tasman

What a shame his talents are going to be wasted playing in Europe's rugby backwater.

Wherever he goes in Europe, my suggestion is that he will become a star for their side. He'll get more recognition than he does in a talent laden NZ pool. I have always liked him, and reckon his game well suited to Northern Style tactics. Tough competing with the 10's in NZ (Cruden and Barrett) - never mind Sopoaga.

 

[Nubiwan]

Agreed Henderson played okay, but Biggar and Webb were the only decent backs for us and I reckon they will both make the test bench.

The more I see Biggar, the more I wonder what he brings to this that we would not get from Ford. Size? Big lad. He was OK last night, but he's never ever going to try and break the line. Is that in his locker? I confess to not knowing him all that well. Bit one dimensional.

 

[Nubiwan]

Farrell missing out of the 23 ...... oh my Jesus

I'd be tempted to put Halfpenny on the wing for kicking duties because he's the best kicker in the squad but I wouldn't compromise the whole squad for it . Watson has proven himself to be a far superior full back .....

Farrell Sexton or Hpenny are all decent enough kickers to warrant that not being a worry - indeed part of the criteria - for test selection. Can't believe I just read that.

 

[Nubiwan]

Smart play from the Highlanders with the small kicks turning the Lions D around.
Surprised Crusaders didnt try this tatic when Plan A wasn't working. Bet the Crusaders are also screaming for an indoor stadium.

All in all it was a good game. Entertaining and impressive from the Highlanders missing so many quality players.

I think the Lions support play is jusy not good enough. They make a lot of breaks and should have scored a couple more tries if there had been more red jerseys following up. When there is support they find it difficult delivering that pass after a break. Credit to Highlanders defence though for scrambling back. They need to take these chances.

Yup - Lions offload is laboured. NZ lads just throw it in the knowledge they will have a jersey either side.

 

[Nubiwan]

You could tell from Gatlands expression at the final whistle that he was deeply unhappy at the result.
The Lions are good enough to beat a depleted Otago team and they should have won the game on storength of squads, but they fell short, just, and he was not a happy camper.
He knows that winning that one would have helped matters in the camp at least a little bit.

Yup - winning breeds more winning............

 

[Chief Pete]

The more I see Biggar, the more I wonder what he brings to this that we would not get from Ford. Size? Big lad. He was OK last night, but he's never ever going to try and break the line. Is that in his locker? I confess to not knowing him all that well. Bit one dimensional.

Would have been interesting to see how the "mid week" winger's would have got on if given a chance to play with Sexton at 10 instead of Biggar, don't get me wrong I like Biggar but as you say maybe a bit one dimensional...

 

[Nubiwan]

Would have been interesting to see how the "mid week" winger's would have got on if given a chance to play with Sexton at 10 instead of Biggar, don't get me wrong I like Biggar but as you say maybe a bit one dimensional...

While I though Henshaw and Joseph did well too, the passing through hand is sometimes a bit wanting. Regardless of who has been playing in our backs, it takes an eternity to move it wide at times, and too often a pass is just a bit behind the receiver - slowing the momentum entirely. My opinion is that, in the limited matches I have seen, there has been more incisive decision making, with ball in hand, when Farrell has been 10. I will submit to being biased. Our general back play is best described as laboured.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Massive overestimation I think in some quarters e.g the media of Webb's performance. Watching back the first 20minutes he makes a lot of mistakes in addition to a few nice breaks.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Massive overestimation I think in some quarters e.g the media of Webb's performance. Watching back the first 20minutes he makes a lot of mistakes in addition to a few nice breaks.

He was responsible for 5 turnovers, some very nice touches but he's not worrying Murray.

 

[valley commando]

Occurred to me last night that Banks is like a very good Northern Hem style player. At least that is my opinion when I watch him in Super Rugby. Something not NZ about him.... dunno why I think this......

Totally agree on Ford. Nothing flash, but a steady eddie, no nonsense, no panic, player. Also part of a winning England squad. Makes a big difference to mentality many of these players have brought with them, in my humble one. Irish and Welsh players who have all lost to Scotland for instance. How confident can they really feel. The class shows in their good players (Felatau, SOB, Omahiney etc.), as much as the resident doubt in probably half of this Lions squad.

****, Mike Brown would have improved over Payne last night. Brown might make some major cock ups, but he's got a bit of x-factor which, quite frankly, outside of Joseph last night, appears to be absent in our back 3 (wingers and fullback).

Brown is a complete knob and an average player

 

[valley commando]

Massive overestimation I think in some quarters e.g the media of Webb's performance. Watching back the first 20minutes he makes a lot of mistakes in addition to a few nice breaks.

And you think Skylinerd is a wind up merchant, take a look in the mirror.
On reflection Nubiwan or is it Knobiwan is a far bigger wind up merchant than Skylinerd

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

And you think Skylinerd is a wind up merchant, take a look in the mirror.

Are you denying that he made a few mistakes? Because his pass he made after his break from the maul was a shocker. Skimmed the floor immediately after leaving his hand. His box kicking's been shaky all tour. I'm in no way saying he's a bad player, he's excellent, but to deny that he's made some errors is ludicrous.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

He was responsible for 5 turnovers, some very nice touches but he's not worrying Murray.

Exactly. His kicking was definitely better but 5 turnovers is terrible, and some of his decision making not great either.

 

[General Melchett]

Brown should be nowhere near the squad. Better to designate Watson as a full back and just call up another winger.

 

[The Jones Boy]

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Back to Payne - Considering the lions pack under scrum pressure, knocking on in NZ should come with compulsory hanging. If it's not already a law down there....

Backs who drop the ball should be burned at the stake.

 

[Every Time Ref]

He was responsible for 5 turnovers, some very nice touches but he's not worrying Murray.

Don't remember 5 turnovers to be honest but I'm generally of the opinion that turnovers aren't usually the ball carriers fault

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Don't remember 5 turnovers to be honest but I'm generally of the opinion that turnovers aren't usually the ball carriers fault

Depends on the situation. One of the turnovers would have been when Webb tried to keep the ball infield when he was being hustled Into touch, but just gave it to a Highlanders player. Another one would have been that crappy pass he fired after he made that break. Stats will count these instances as turnovers usually.

 

[Nubiwan]

Brown is a complete knob and an average player

Ronaldo is a complete knob and a great football player. What is being a kjnob got to do with anything? Most sports knobs play for teams you don't like, but you wish you had them in your side. Brown is no worse than Payne's performance last night.