Warm Up Match 5: Maori All Blacks v British & Irish Lions (Rotorua)

[Every Time Ref]

I don't think it was genius, but the Lions played to their strengths today and it more than shut down a very creative team. They also played the conditions well. The pack is near ready. Thought Owens and George both really nailed the shirt down.

Are we holding back some backs moves to try and surprise the ABs. That might be the Lions coaching plan, but it's risky.

Yeah, Howley has been holding them back for the best part of a decade, ready to finally unleash next Saturday ...

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Does anyone else not find it so cringey when Greenwood asks the NZ players to "tell the viewers back home how good these lions players are" - he's just resisting to say "they're going to get battered mate"

 

[Bluemoon]

We can but hope. Otherwise, our plan is basically to have Te'o walk the ball up right into contact almost as if he's trying to form a maul.

Welcome to the Gatland plan haha.

ETR - I'm with you. I wasn't suggesting it will work, but I certainly think it's something the Lions team would have been looking at doing!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Halfpenny had a good game but otherwise I'm a bit tired of seeing the outside backs being completely irrelevant to the game. Watson, Daly, North....it almost doesn't matter who has those shirts.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I love Maro
He should just be the official spokesman

2021 or 2025 Lions captain

Farrell's only defence thoguh isn't he? Defence was good.

Unless you think he's overstepping his bounds like he did with Lancaster's England, which is far from inconceivable

Yes, but surely there must be interaction between the two/go hand in hand -i.e. Turning defence into attack.

 

[Truth]

Does anyone else not find it so cringey when Greenwood asks the NZ players to "tell the viewers back home how good these lions players are" - he's just resisting to say "they're going to get battered mate"

After reading some of the Lions posters criticisms of their own players, I think Greenwood does need to reassure Lions fans. With all the criticism from Lion "fans" on here, leaves a Lions hater with nothing to say.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Welcome to the Gatland plan haha.

ETR - I'm with you. I wasn't suggesting it will work, but I certainly think it's something the Lions team would have been looking at doing!

The trouble is the outside backs have barely played together anyway, despite nominal time spent on the pitch! They're not going to suddenly be slick as hell running some brand new unheard of moves having been spectators in attack for the tour so far. If there is some mysterious move they've only practiced in training then they'd have gained a lot more from practicing it in a real match than they'd gain from the Kiwis not seeing it in advance IMO.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

After reading some of the Lions posters criticisms of their own players, I think Greenwood does need to reassure Lions fans. With all the criticism from Lion "fans" on here, leaves a Lions hater with nothing to say.

This community is the elite, the Spec ops of rugby punditry, led of course by Valley Commando.
I'm not sure what the plebs think. BBC comments will probably give you a good idea.

 

[ncurd]

Garland giving 1/2p a shoutout for being a solid kicker.....be nice if we weren't going to try winning 3 points at time.

This is why Wales keep loosing against the ABs even at their height absolutely no ambition.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If only Samoa had Halfpenny yesterday, they might have only lost by 75, 72 or even 69pts

 

[Nubiwan]

As Lions fans, what can we really gather from that? Another makeshift opposition, with no games under their belts to speak of, but littered with a who's who of NZ provincial rugby, and one or two All Blacks (past, present, future). To be perfectly honest, the Maori put in a worse performance than the NZ Barbarians. They looked and played rather like the Lions did in their opener. 15 lads just chucked together last Wednesday. This Lions team, in contrast, has the luxury of 2-4 games of high intensity under their belts, and it showed. Lions benefiting from the rigours of 4 very tough previous contests.

Again, the Lions got out really strong from the kick off. Putting 10 or so phases together and come away with 3 points. They sure do restart well from their kick offs.

I mentioned how much I liked Kerr Barlow in a previous post, and tonight showed some of the reasons why he's just not a test option for the ABS. Ill discipline, was unnecessary, and rather cost his side 14 points. Not that it made much difference. There are some truly fine players in this Maori line up and they were all basically shut out. NMS indeed. 2 touches that I recall. Snuffed out otherwise. No small feat.

The real negative again is the Lions inability to convert tries inside the red zone. Certainly off long breaks by their backs. They just do not arrive at the resultant breakdown with enough intensity, and the best outcome has been 3 points from penalties.

You can probably bet several of the Lions will have secured test spots from this outing, when in truth, the opposition was in all fairness, the poorest we have come up against. You can now bank on Sexton and 1/2P for test spots, and I am not sure this game is the one they should be judged on, to be honest. Lions have had harder games on this tour.

The sort of game I would rather hoped we would have put together against all our previous opposition in the end, but been under much much more intense pressure from the opposition. The Lions were structured, disciplined, dominant, and clinical in the forwards. Some great line breaks and power running at times from centre, but nothing flash outside.

Essentially, that should be our starting pack for the test. Murray will be halfback. (Laidlaw will not see the bench IMHO - his passes are lame ducks). Sexton will now be 10, but really, it was his easiest game, and he's not coped when under pressure all that great. His last two games he's still played well. T'eo has really looked the part at 12. Can't see who is better. I think Davies will get the "welsh" vote from Gatland, when Joseph probably might have a case in more trying contests. Bit of a coin toss. Davies was good tonight, all the same. Wingers and Fullback, I am still not impressed at all. Tonight also secures 1/2Ps "welsh test nomination". Watson has been our best wing and fullback running threat. Compared to his last Lions tour, George North has underwhelmed.

Our inability to finish off chances is the biggest disappointment still. Tonight's match rather made it look like it is all coming together for the Lions, but the opposition was at sixes and sevens, and Lions were able to totally dominate them. Bodes well for a test against the ABS who will not have had this level of intense games behind them. Licking our lips for next Satdee? Perhaps. It might be our best chance to get a win, I would suggest.

 

[smartcooky]

Utterly dominant performance against a mistake-ridden Maori side that seemed devoid of ideas. . They committed far too many unforced errors which served to compound the problems caused by the errors that came from pressure by the Lions.

After leading 29-10 at the 54 minute mark, with over 72% possession and 75% territory, a totally dominant scrum and massive 14-4 penalty count in their favour, the Lions should really have put the Maoris away, Broken tackles 21-8, missed tackles 16-6, Rucks and Mauls 122-53. yet all they could manage was a single penalty goal in the last 25 minutes of the game. They should have won by a lot more than they did.

No doubt they will be happy with the win, but if Gatland is not concerned about their inability to finish off a team that played so poorly, then he should be. All that possession, territory and dominance, yet they were only able to score two tries, one of those was a penalty try. The All Blacks will not miss all those tackles and make all those errors (forced or unforced) next weekend.

One a side note, there were several players in the Maori side who appear to have played their way out of an All Blacks jersey. This match was a sharp reality check for those calling for the selection of Damien McKenzie. He is nowhere near ready for the big time!!!

 

[Truth]

If only Samoa had Halfpenny yesterday, they might have only lost by 75, 72 or even 69pts

Halfpenny, Fullpenny...Samoa still would have lost.

 

[galumay]

This match was a sharp reality check for those calling for the selection of Damien McKenzie. He is nowhere near ready for the big time!!!

To be fair, its always hard for backs to perform when the forwards are dominated to that extent, and he was playing out of position. I dont disagree he had a poor game, but it needs to be seen in context.

I have more knowledge than you on this subject, for years as a Wallabies fan I have watched this effect on our backs created by the failure of the boys with the little numbers on their backs to do their job!

 

[Nubiwan]

Utterly dominant performance against a mistake-ridden Maori side that seemed devoid of ideas. . They committed far too many unforced errors which served to compound the problems caused by the errors that came from pressure by the Lions.

After leading 29-10 at the 54 minute mark, with over 72% possession and 75% territory, a totally dominant scrum and massive 14-4 penalty count in their favour, the Lions should really have put the Maoris away, Broken tackles 21-8, missed tackles 16-6, Rucks and Mauls 122-53. yet all they could manage was a single penalty goal in the last 25 minutes of the game. They should have won by a lot more than they did.

No doubt they will be happy with the win, but if Gatland is not concerned about their inability to finish off a team that played so poorly, then he should be. All that possession, territory and dominance, yet they were only able to score two tries, one of those was a penalty try. The All Blacks will not miss all those tackles and make all those errors (forced or unforced) next weekend.

One a side note, there were several players in the Maori side who appear to have played their way out of an All Blacks jersey. This match was a sharp reality check for those calling for the selection of Damien McKenzie. He is nowhere near ready for the big time!!!

You could probably argue the 7 or 8 changes made, just after the hour, put end to any cohesion in the Lions side as well. The game was over as a contest on the hour, and those that came in, while maintaining a reasonable level, never offered up much. Lions cant run a try across the line to save their lives. Their inability to convert line breaks will more than likely haunt them in the tests. It will be interesting to see just how much this Lions side can pressure the ABS, if at all. If they are unable to, then going to be a long night. If they can keep it tight, error free, and solid in defence, as most of their games have been so far, then who knows. Best chance will be to make a statement in the opening test. The game Wednesday now takes on little significance outside those wanting a spot on the subs bench for the Lions.

 

[MikeTheNative]

I was hoping for a rampaging North this tour but we have got the devoid of confidence North that his teammates won't even pass too! Davies and Teo combo doesn't work, you have to pick one or the other, no point have wings if you do. Pack is looking good though.

 

[Nubiwan]

Lots of rucks tonight were players were clearly not behind the erm, "last foot". Both Lions and Maori. I am not arsed to watch the video again, but it happened more than several times in the matches, and no one batted an eye. Easy game for the ref, and finally a NZ player penalized for obstructing the kick chase. Well, well, well, 3 holes in the ground......

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I was hoping for a rampaging North this tour but we have got the devoid of confidence North that his teammates won't even pass too! Davies and Teo combo doesn't work, you have to pick one or the other, no point have wings if you do. Pack is looking good though.

You haven't much chance with a midfield of 12. Won't pass 13. Can't pass.
I'm being harsh on Te'o - he's shown a strong offloading ability and the lack of passing is probably just the terrible support play. I'm not being harsh on Davies.

 

[McTallshort]

So angry this morning when I read about the replacements feeling a little better now sounded a good game on the radio.

Take it the ref had a shocker.....

 

[Truth]

To be fair, its always hard for backs to perform when the forwards are dominated to that extent, and he was playing out of position. I dont disagree he had a poor game, but it needs to be seen in context.

I have more knowledge than you on this subject, for years as a Wallabies fan I have watched this effect on our backs created by the failure of the boys with the little numbers on their backs to do their job!

Everyone thats played or watched rugby long enough, knows the old adage 'it starts up front'. The thing is for me is that Damian McKenzie seemed to lack direction. He's been playing fullback and looked out of position tonight.