Where Can the Lions Find Competitive Games?

[The big Kangaroo]

Why does expressing dissatisfaction with the number of blow outs mean that people are looking for excuses? Ignoring the oft used "undercooked" worries, are you suggesting that the situation is satisfactory?

If we're speculating over the reasons for posts, what do you think the reason is for such a defensive stance from so many Aussies online?

No one likes to see massive blow out's but three tuff games should be enough for the lions to prepared for the walabies.it has just seemed to me that in the past British fans use the lack of player time together for your repeated series losses. In 2001 there were much more blowouts with only one tuff game before the first test and the lions did not come into the series "undercooked". So this year you have already had one close game and I would expect that there will be two more before the first test so yes I think the situation is satisfactory . Sorry I should of put a smilie face in to not seem so defensive but when you think compared to the wallabies it looks like we will have a 10 playing his second cap in that position and a bunch of players playing internatinal rugby for the first time this year and we have seen how that has goes with losses to soma and Scotland in the last two years. So I don't think having 3 big wins is going to make the test matches unfair for the lions.

 

[TRF_heineken]

This will always be a point during the B&I Lions. But to be honest, I can't see the problem.

The SANZAR team they will be facing, has no warm-up matches before/during the tour. Their first match will be against the Lions in the first test. This to me, gives an unfair advantage to the Lions. as they have had game time, and know how to play together, and got their combinations going. Whereas the SANZAR teams only train together, and that will help up to a certain extent, but ask any pro, and they will say that game time is very vital to getting to where you want to be.

The Aussies also have some new faces, and some might even make their debuts against the Lions. In such a demanding series, I'd say the SANZAR team is in an unfair position, not the Lions.

 

[Peat]

Ben Kay has said, on twitter I think, that we should play Samoa, Fiji and Tonga.
Would be good, imo, but they'd have to be staged in the host country and the host country might not be as keen as I presume they'd rather their own sides play (and I presume they'd get more cash from them, as the other countries would want a cut?)

Beat me to it. And if the host country doesn't like it, they can guarantee us some decent competition. I believe this tour is worth £15m to the ARU. That pot is up for renegotiation anyway - but there's certainly enough money to go around if needs be.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

The issue is that the Lions tour (and the other tours) run during Super Rugby - so midweek games often don't even have the best players avalible that aren't on the national team. Looking at France vs AB's, best player for the Blues in Luke Braid wasn't chosen - while neither was captain Ali Williams.

That's basically what I said

A Lions Tour will never have warm-up games of any value as long as they are during the Test Series season (June or November). They can maybe play teams like Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and France as a warm up, but then again, what if the Lions tour South Africa? They could possibly play Argentina but who else? Namibia or Madagascar are not even Currie Cup standard.

 

[TRF_heineken]

That's basically what I said

A Lions Tour will never have warm-up games of any value as long as they are during the Test Series season (June or November). They can maybe play teams like Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and France as a warm up, but then again, what if the Lions tour South Africa? They could possibly play Argentina but who else? Namibia or Madagascar are not even Currie Cup standard.

Ah, but we do have the Emerging Springboks...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Griquas, Free state, WP, Natal and Bulls should all give the B&I Lions a decent game even without their Bok players and like you said the emerging Bokke should also be competitive if the selectors work along settled combinations and have at least a week to train. They'll have tough matches in NZ as well.

I think the issue is being blown up to some extent though at this stage. Lets wait for the other fixtures before complaining about blow-outs as the Force A and Country XV are pretty much non-teams and the Reds could easily have won TBH.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Griquas, Free state, WP, Natal and Bulls should all give the B&I Lions a decent game even without their Bok players and like you said the emerging Bokke should also be competitive if the selectors work along settled combinations and have at least a week to train. They'll have tough matches in NZ as well.

I think the issue is being blown up to some extent though at this stage. Lets wait for the other fixtures before complaining about blow-outs as the Force A and Country XV are pretty much non-teams and the Reds could easily have won TBH.

I agree.

Was this even an issue in 2009??

there were some blow-outs then, and there was even a draw vs the Emerging Boks. So what does the B&I Lions public want from the SANZAR Nations?

The tour could've been cut short and just had the 3 tests vs. Australia. what would the Lions then have said? You can't pick a team without practice. Now they get practice, and almost lost to the Reds (without their best players, except for Quade) and now they still ***** and moan.

There is just no pleasing them. This tour is not just about the matches, it's much bigger than this. When the Lions toured SA in 2009, there were many tv programs showing how the Lions team went on Safaris, toured townships, visited hospitals, etc. There were even shows about the large contingent of Lions fans, and how the experienced the HOST nation. When I went to the 2nd test, after the match I went to Hatfield Square, which is the local student hang-out in Pretoria, but it was overrun by Lions fans. I had such a great time, getting to know some guys, having a few beers together, talk ****, etc...

The tour generates so much income for tourism in the Host country, that it would be a shame if these tours were cut short/cancelled. They just have to live with the opposition they get. It would've been nice if the Lions brought a undercard team with them for the Aussies to play against before the first test...