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

[Groundhog]

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

Okay I had no ill will towards the Highlanders, but this video was just so bad that I want to demolish them. Forget the All Blacks, Highlanders have committed sins against video editing, humor and Mel Gibson.

 

[nik]

Dry ball and dry pitch underfoot hopefully we get to see some running rugby from both sides. Whilst completely different team, its a short turn around so i believe there might be a hangover after saturdays win. Highlanders need to exploit this.

 

[Penne Rara]

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

Damn that was painful to watch

Go the Highlanders!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

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.

Think you've mostly got that spot on Imo.

Only areas I disagree are....
Lawes. I think Kruis has been the best lock forward so far but Alun-Wyn had a much better second game than given credit for. itoje hasn't shown anywhere near his best but has still been good. Lawes worked hard against the Blues but I didn't feel he was as impactful as the others. currently number 4 for me and that could all change if Henderson can rectify things.

Re Joseph I think he's one of the most up in the air players. We know Gatland likes Davies but the latter hasn't had too much gametime. I feel this spot could still be for the taking.

I think McGrath still shades it over Vunipola due to his better scrummaging.

 

[Ground We Won]

Okay I had no ill will towards the Highlanders, but this video was just so bad that I want to demolish them. Forget the All Blacks, Highlanders have committed sins against video editing, humor and Mel Gibson.

That's a bit harsh lol!

I love the Landers, great bunch of blokes and all have a great sense of humour, particularly Joe Wheeler, a good team spirit and rapport with the fans. They've always been given the short end of the stick too, a small franchise but has the biggest heart, very proud of my team and how well the players represent the region.

 

[Groundhog]

That's a bit harsh lol!

I love the Landers, great bunch of blokes and all have a great sense of humour, particularly Joe Wheeler, a good team spirit and rapport with the fans. They've always been given the short end of the stick too, a small franchise but has the biggest heart, very proud of my team and how well the players represent the region.

Ah I'm sure they're a great bunch of lads. To be fair there's likely more guys of Scottish descent playing for the Highlanders than the Lions. Place is pretty much named directly after Edinburgh after all.

 

[Ground We Won]

Ah I'm sure they're a great bunch of lads. To be fair there's likely more guys of Scottish descent playing for the Highlanders than the Lions. Place is pretty much named directly after Edinburgh after all.

Aye, there's even a statue of Robbie Burns in the Octagon (centre of town).


Interested to see how we deal with the Lions rush defense, this is something the Crusaders didn't deal with or adapt to, a learning curve for Scott Robertson.

Predicting Sopoaga to be doing a lot of chip kicks in behind and turning the Lions midfield and I'm expecting us to play with some deep runners and width. Naholo will likely come inside a lot and attack the line off our rucks. Fekitoa will be fired up too, big tackles and hard hitting running.

I think the Lions rush defense suits our game plan, if Sopoaga finds some form he's one of the best tactical kickers in the country.

I'm going to predict a narrow victory for our boys.

 

[MikeTheNative]

Not as positive seeing this team as the one before.

 

[The Jones Boy]

'Dunedin' is the old Gaelic name for Edinburgh.

http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/dunedin-history/scottish-heritage

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Pretty sure that the Irish and Scots are Celtic not Gaelic, both come from the same tribe......................(now we wait)

 

[Amiga500]

Looking forward to seeing Payne at fullback.

Probably the most potent attacking weapon in the squad when played at 15.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Looking forward to seeing Payne at fullback.

Probably the most potent attacking weapon in the squad when played at 15.

Now that is a very debatable comment.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Pretty sure that the Irish and Scots are Celtic not Gaelic, both come from the same tribe......................(now we wait)

If I wasnt too sound to use the dislike button!

 

[The Jones Boy]

Im looking forward to Joseph getting some go forward ball and seeing him attack the line.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Im looking forward to Joseph getting some go forward ball and seeing him attack the line.

Wouldn't get your hopes up, Biggar's at 10

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

This drinking game will definitely get you hammered:

Any time Biggar or Webb whinge or act like football players, drink. That's it.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

This drinking game will definitely get you hammered:

Any time Biggar or Webb whinge or act like football players, drink. That's it.

That game could get you drunk off water.

 

[Bluemoon]

Okay I had no ill will towards the Highlanders, but this video was just so bad that I want to demolish them. Forget the All Blacks, Highlanders have committed sins against video editing, humor and Mel Gibson.

Hahaha, wow. Perhaps they should have done this rather than the haka?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

If I wasnt too sound to use the dislike button!

I do miss the old rep system.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Be very afraid All-Blacks, Bigger is going to "force" his way into the lions test team. Be very afraid.

I don't much like the team here but what I'm hoping is that the continued progression of this tour will now be fuelled by players who have fallen behind wanting to prove themselves. I think players like Henderson, Nowell and Warburton who are top players but currently falling behind with their performances they will feel like they've missed out and will be desperate to prove something. They will also be frustrated at not being part of the squad which beat the crusaders. I'm hoping this frustration wild drive the competition for places.