Warm Up Match 6: Waikato Chiefs v British & Irish Lions (Hamilton)

[Umaga's Witness]

Chiefs team was just announced... the only Maori players are Messam and Elliot, and they're both on the bench. The Beaver to captain!
Lions should take this IMO, the Chiefs are very under-strength. It would take a massive effort from the Chiefs boys and a poor Lions performance for it to go the Chiefs way.
Then again, you can never underestimate the Chiefs... They did dismantle Wales with a very under-strength side last year...

Here is the side...
1. Fisiihoi
2. Polwart
3. Laulala
4. Bird
5. Allardice
6. Brown
7. Boshier
8. Sanders
9. Christie
10. Donald
11. Alaimalo
12. Faauli
13. Nanai-Williams
14. Pulu
15. Stevenson

16. Elliot
17. Ross
18. Moli
19. Messam
20. Karpick
21. Taumateini
22. Laulala
23. Tiatia

Yes, very under strength. 13 chiefs were in international duty over the weekend , though 3 have made this team - the two you mentioned on the bench plus nanas williams starting

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Lol - you can never have enough decent kickers in a lions XV ....

.

Shhhhh.... You're revealing garlands secret.
Plan a - halfpenny kicks us to victory
Plan b - Farrell kicks us to victory
Plan c - sexton kicks us to victory
Plan d - Daly kicks us to victory

 

[Nubiwan]

Shhhhh.... You're revealing garlands secret.
Plan a - halfpenny kicks us to victory
Plan b - Farrell kicks us to victory
Plan c - sexton kicks us to victory
Plan d - Daly kicks us to victory

Make sure we just have them all on the field. Just in case.

 

[MikeTheNative]

I'm looking forward to 1st test Lions victory where All Blacks score 5 tries but the Lions kick 12 penalties, who is going to be laughing then? Have you seen the Lions so far? I don't think they are going to score many tries so I think as many kickers as possible, any of the pack been practicing?

 

[Nubiwan]

Gatland loving Halfpenny and Hogg's injury is exactly why he is nailed on. If I was coach, Williams would have had a chance at 15 before tomorrow and probably Watson would be my test 15 on form so far. Halfpenny is a good defender and good in the air, he's not crap but doesn't exactly offer much attacking threat with the ball in hand... quite similar to a lot of other test Welsh players to be honest.

Well, that might just suit Gatland and the Lions out wide. ON basis of what I have seen in the series so far, we're toothless in fairness.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Lol - you can never have enough decent kickers in a lions XV ....

.

Shhhhh.... You're revealing garlands secret.
Plan a - halfpenny kicks us to victory
Plan b - Farrell kicks us to victory
Plan c - sexton kicks us to victory
Plan d - Daly kicks us to victory

I'm looking forward to 1st test Lions victory where All Blacks score 5 tries but the Lions kick 12 penalties, who is going to be laughing then?

But each time you get a penalty you can only kick one goal, even if you have four goal kickers on the field

 

[Nubiwan]

I'm looking forward to 1st test Lions victory where All Blacks score 5 tries but the Lions kick 12 penalties, who is going to be laughing then?

That'll teach them a lesson in rugby.......

 

[Nubiwan]

Gatland loving Halfpenny and Hogg's injury is exactly why he is nailed on. If I was coach, Williams would have had a chance at 15 before tomorrow and probably Watson would be my test 15 on form so far. Halfpenny is a good defender and good in the air, he's not crap but doesn't exactly offer much attacking threat with the ball in hand... quite similar to a lot of other test Welsh players to be honest.

Disappointing that in 4 years of rugby (since last Lions tour), 1/2 P, a decidedly average player IMHO, but very good kicker, is the best we can offer up at fullback. Certainly when you consider the options available to our opponents. all of who are better players then 1/2P. (Smith, Daag, McKenzie, Barrett off the top of my head)

 

[MikeTheNative]

Disappointing that in 4 years of rugby (since last Lions tour), 1/2 P, a decidedly average player IMHO, but very good kicker, is the best we can offer up at fullback. Certainly when you consider the options available to our opponents. all of who are better players then 1/2P.

If you go watch the highlights from the previous tour he offered a lot more running threat than he does now, whether that's because of his body catching up with him after injuries or it being coached out of him I don't know. But it's a great example of Gatland with Wales and Lions over the years selecting a 'safe' player over ones with more flair and attacking threat because of a supposed increased risk of turning over the ball to the opposition. Gatland's usual tactics centre around possession, power runners and grinding out penalties over line breaks though back moves, which suits Halfpenny.

 

[ncurd]

Just remember NZ fans Gatland sees this as chance to 'impress' so he can take over after Hansen.

The Lions/Wales style is your future.

 

[Nubiwan]

If you go watch the highlights from the previous tour he offered a lot more running threat than he does now, whether that's because of his body catching up with him after injuries or it being coached out of him I don't know. But it's a great example of Gatland with Wales and Lions over the years selecting a 'safe' player over ones with more flair and attacking threat because of a supposed increased risk of turning over the ball to the opposition. Gatland's usual tactics centre around possession, power runners and grinding out penalties over line breaks though back moves, which suits Halfpenny.

Might be overstepping myself here, but not unlike the Waikato side he represented for so long in the early 90s. Very forward oriented.

 

[valley commando]

I'm looking forward to 1st test Lions victory where All Blacks score 5 tries but the Lions kick 12 penalties, who is going to be laughing then? Have you seen the Lions so far? I don't think they are going to score many tries so I think as many kickers as possible, any of the pack been practicing?

The Lions do have the greatest ever kicker as their kicking coach

 

[MikeTheNative]

Just remember NZ fans Gatland sees this as chance to 'impress' so he can take over after Hansen.

The Lions/Wales style is your future.

Yeah, NZ's laugh it up now but wait until you are waiting to be disappointed by a Gatland/Howley team selection. I don't think the starting 15 is that bad, bar the Biggar Laidlaw partnership.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

If Daly and Halfpenny are both on the pitch and there's a penalty from within their own half, who takes it?

 

[Big_Grumper]

.....I don't think the starting 15 is that bad, bar the Biggar Laidlaw partnership.

I'm going to Sky+ the game and watch it on x30 when we have scrum and breakdown possession. That'll speed up the distribution.

 

[MikeTheNative]

If Daly and Halfpenny are both on the pitch and there's a penalty from within their own half, who takes it?

Probably Halfpenny but you don't see him take them from his own half anymore which says to me he might not have the range anymore.

 

[Nubiwan]

If Daly and Halfpenny are both on the pitch and there's a penalty from within their own half, who takes it?

Neil Jenkins..... He's on the "welsh committee"

 

[SomeOke]

Pretty weak Chiefs side and it seems from the comments a pretty weak Lions side as well, pretty much confirmation that they shouldn't have played the Wednesday before the first test. Won't tell us anything either way.

 

[Big_Grumper]

Pretty weak Chiefs side and it seems from the comments a pretty weak Lions side as well, pretty much confirmation that they shouldn't have played the Wednesday before the first test. Won't tell us anything either way.

Not necessarily. From a Lions point of view it will allow a few of the fringe players the chance to challenge the 23, perhaps not this one but maybe for the second test.

 

[MikeTheNative]

It being a Tuesday game i can see players playing in this game and maybe getting on the bench for Saturday.