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Hogg snubbed at 15 for first test in favour of bandy legged Welshman.
Take that TJ 😆😆😆
AWJ dropped for an Irish utility player.
Getitrightupye AA
AWJ dropped
He's captain according to beeb
British and Irish Lions: Williams; Adams, Henshaw, Aki, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Murray; Sutherland, Owens, Fagerson, Henderson, AW Jones (c), Beirne, H Watson, Conan
Replacements: George, W Jones, Furlong, Lawes, Faletau, Price, Farrell, A Watson.
Looks dirt trackerish to me.
No Englandshire players in starting 15...take that Krypton 😀😀😀😀
No Englandshire players in starting 15
Well, they're only playing Japan, should be a walk in the park.
No Englandshire players in starting 15…take that Krypton
Of course, why would they be in the B team?
There's not much to read into anything....
Hogg along with a whole load of other English and French based players were unavailable for selection this weekend since they have only just joined the squad after being involved in domestic league playoffs. Plus Gatland has stated that as is often the case every player will get a start over the first few warmup games. It's only really once we get close to the first test that it will become clear who's in contention for a starting Test spot.
tenacious_doug
Don't come here with your reasoned posts!!!
Its so the bandy legged welsh git can get his red card out of the way early! then the smooth scottish superstars can come in
My real worry is pundits saying finn at 10 and Farrell at 12? thats just not going to work!
My real worry is pundits saying finn at 10 and Farrell at 12? thats just not going to work!
You’re not used to this, but you need to learn to trust in Gatland. If he plays Russell at 10, along with Farrell at 12, then it will work. However, if like you say “that’s just not going to work”, then Gatland won’t try it. 😀
Ps just read that H Watson is out (concussion in training) and Tipuric is in, for Saturday’s game against Japan.
So how are we all watching this? I think I'll get a carefully timed NowTV pass with Boost (HD) on the 13th July. I'll miss the first couple of games but get to see the import ones and not have to pay for 2 months subscription.
plenty of places on the net to watch for free but the japan game is free to air is it not?
Japan yes, Channel 4.
plenty of places on the net to watch for free
Such as?
So how are we all watching this? I think I’ll get a carefully timed NowTV pass with Boost (HD) on the 13th July.
I might do this, thanks for tip.
Japan game on C4 I think
Kryton - pirate streaming sites
PM me if yo want a link. Better not to put it on the forum
Kryton,just pay for the 2 months. Teej will just send you a link to niche prawn anyway.
Very niche. The Scots all get ******
Kryton,just pay for the 2 months
I’m far too right to pay a second month for one game 😀 I’m not too bothered about the earlier matches when they’ll be highlights about an a commentary here anyway. There’s a glut of Sports - F1, Le Tour, England A and this - over the next few weeks and only so much time to watch it all.
Squidges analysis is interesting and seems to heavily pitch Townsend as the architect of the South African demise. Hmmmm.
Hogg snubbed at 15 for first test in favour of bandy legged Welshman.
Take that TJ 😆😆😆
Umm Hogg is on the bench today at Twickenham. Although your point still stands, he isn't even the best full back in the Chiefs never mind the BIL..
Looks like broken wrist for AWJ gutted for him
Yeah that is bad news for him and the tour. So who will be called up to fill the space?
Tips off? 😫
Henshaw looking good.
Biggar and Adams too.
Glad VDeM scored a try, because he looks somewhat suspect in defence.
Hills are probably offering odds on the next Welshmam broken. That was some shot Tuipric took in the ribs, a bit naughty for a friendly.
Thats crap,hopefully there is a way back to play for him. He needs to retire raging against the dying of the light, not in a meaningless warm up game. Sore for a week, I would imagine there would be value in taking him.
Hopefully AWJ is back in a few weeks albeit flying out late. A good performance I thought, several stand out performances, Ken Owens, Bierne, Conan, Furlong, Aki, Williams, Adams, Murrey. Sinckler put in a good shift when he came on, Farrell seemed not to add much, and Lawes although good in defence brought the England problems with him - Pings & a mistake on the line.
As an England supporter I think this shows our players issue - good when the right players in the right team do the right thing, individually sub par to the other nations.
Anyway, I enjoyed that 😀
Tipuric to miss tour too 🤕😥
Alun Wyn Jones will miss the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa because of a shoulder injury and Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray will captain the side instead.
Jones dislocated his shoulder during Saturday's warm-up game against Japan, where Justin Tipuric also sustained a tour-ending shoulder injury.
Wales' Adam Beard and Josh Navidi have been called up as replacements.
"Alun Wyn will obviously be a big loss," head coach Warren Gatland said.
Tipuric to miss tour too 🤕😥
That is such a shame. I was so looking forward to him producing some special moments on tour.
It must be devastating for these players to work so hard to get into the team and ready to play, and then get injured like that.
Thats shit for the two of them.
I enjoyed the lions game. Biggar was fine and showed exactly why I would have his as starting 10, I liked the centre combo, Pack looked strong with Bierne the standout. Furlong good as well. Price did well when he got on. I can see him forcing his way into the test side.
The way they used the back row forwards was very different to how Scotland do so it will be interesting to see if Watson can adapt / how they use him in the next game
Duhan was very good going forward ball in hand and can make a good chase down tackle but got caught out of position again. Adams look great on the other wing as did the bandy legged stroppy git
Japan - some of their offloading and set piece moves were just fabulous. The Lineout dummy maul they scored from was a thing of beauty
Kryton agree about Lawes, I dunno why he is on the team at all. Always been a penalty magnet.
Price did well when he got on. I can see him forcing his way into the test side.
Er....
I still think Van Der What's it will be found out.
Faletau was a poor 7, hence Biggar getting run over a few times.
With Tipuric out can Watson step up and play out wide as an attacker. He's used down the middle for Scotland as a bosh merchant, has he got the skills to play heads up rugby.
You could be right on Duhan VDM. He is young and inexperienced and it shows but once again beat a load of players, made good yards, scored a cheeky try ( and was out of position a few times)
Watson has the skills for sure - but its not how he is used to playing. He might love it and flourish or he might not. It also looked a different defensive set up. Him and Tips were really fighting over a place. Navidi will let no one down tho
Price - see what he does if / when he gets a start. He should do in one of the next two games. He has been in the form of his life over the last wee while
Watson is surprisingly quick and can step inside to contact a soft shoulder.
Watson is surprisingly quick and can step inside to contact a soft shoulder.
No doubt, but can he play like an extra distributer like Tips can.
Day of mourning in Wales:-( gutted about AWJ and Tips. Faletau looked broken as well. He limped the whole game:-(((
Adam chuffing beard???
Interesting looking side for Saturday:
Lions: Stuart Hogg (C); Louis Rees-Zammit, Chris Harris, Owen Farrell, Josh Adams; Finn Russell, Ali Price; Wyn Jones, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, Jonny Hill; Courtney Lawes, Hamish Watson, Taulupe Faletau.
Reps: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Zander Fagerson, Iain Henderson, Sam Simmonds, Gareth Davies, Bundee Aki, Elliot Daly.
Farrell / russell? this may come to blows or it may be a stroke of genius. I don't see the wings getting much ball unless they come inside looking for it
I like the look of the team tho
I am struggling to get into it all with the backdrop of how bad covid currently is in SA.
five scots in the team and Hogg as captain. changed days
Finn / Faz. Its gonna be fun. Either we will see some fantastic synergy or they will come to blows in the first half!
any guesses? will it work?
Well I pressed on Sky Sports Action or whatever and it said I can upgrade for £4 a month, albeit for 12 months but that’ll keep me going through winter lockdowns…
Anyway here we go with a few more of the A team playing, exciting times.
Great hands in the Lions team.
Hogg, Itoje and Watson playing really well, Falatau gone missing completely
missed the firsthalf - i fell sleep
how did finn / Faz go? i missed the first half. In the second i did't see Finn pass to him 🙂
how did finn / Faz go? i missed the first half. In the second i did’t see Finn pass to him 🙂
I missed the whole game, so I'd be interested in a quick summary with player ratings 😃
I think Russel is a bit too unpredictable for Farrels brain to be outside him 😀
Of the starting 15 I’d say Faletou and Farrell are probably the worst on the pitch. Everyone else had an outstanding game, the replacements and/or fatigue turned the game into an unstructured mess compared to the first half. But as Havana said, this was the team that finished last recently. Odd that Daly subbed at 13 seemed to upstage most of Slade’s England career in the space of 20mins…
When you think about who didn’t play it would appear Gatland has an embarrassment of riches tbh.
Watched the first half now ( its on youtube)
H9ogg must have nailed down the 15 spot with that performance. Harris very good. Price very good. I said aldi Price could force his way into the test team.
finn / faz did not really work and both had a bit of a mixed bag. Farrell doing a lot of good ruck clearing but also ball watching a lot and missed a tackle because of it. Russell with a lot of kicking but a few overcooked.
Watson was immense and again must have made the test shirt more likely for him. Itoje and lawes good as well.
Russell with a lot of kicking but a few overcooked.
In fairness to him, his pin point kicks must take a lot of practice and become 'muscle memory'. It must be very difficult to quickly allow for altitude.
A couple of pin point ones as well
Falatou was curious, played down the middle compared to his wide role for Wales and looked lost, showed a few nice touches but a poor game overall. Not helped by the saffa commentator thinking he was Lawes, at one point Lawes made a good run and it was passed out of the ruck to Lawes who made another good run!
Aye - he didn't play as well as he has. Overshadowed by Watson? BTW I hope you saw the numerous crisp passes Watson thru from the back of mauls
BTW I hope you saw the numerous crisp passes Watson thru from the back of mauls
I did notice his distribution off the back of lineouts to incoming wingers wasn't as accurate as Tipuric, but you know they are very different players. He was excellent in attack and defence yesterday
Eh? It was pinpoint passing!
I saw at least 2 where Adams had to check his run, who knows who was at fault, could be miss timed run or miss timed pass
OK
the checked run always annoys me.
Lions XV to face the Sharks: Liam Williams; Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Mako Vunipola, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Zander Fagerson, Iain Henderson (captain), Adam Beard, Josh Navidi, Tom Curry, Sam Simmonds.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Rory Sutherland, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Stuart Hogg, Chris Harris
Thoughts?
It would appear that on Wednesday we’ll see much stiffer opposition. Looks like a decent team to me.
Like the idea of Daly at 13. Beard is a tackle bag holder, back row looks a bit unbalanced.
That team is to give everyone a decent crack and everyone has a chance to stake a claim for a test start.
Fagerson gets his chance to shine. I really hope he goes well. He has the potential to be a real great. Remember most props are not considered first team regulars at his age. ( he is still only 26 but has 38 caps)
Most of those starters will be the midweek side I think but a good display may alter that. G Davies is going to have to play very well to put his claim ahead of Price. Biggar we need another assured display from but he is certainly the front runner at 10 IMO ( russell on the bench?)
Daly at 13 might be a good call - again another who really needs to shine
I think we can see the shape of the team Gatland wants. MObile locks, a big guy or two in the back row to make up for the back row hobbits, Big strong centres and fliers in the back 3
I'd be interested to see of the forwards pop-pass trend shown on Sunday continues, I see this as a theory that Gatland has seen a gap around the big SA forwards when they like to dominate the tackle / double team a player.
So at 10. Is Biggar better?
Who can tell?
For me, Biggar is a god. There isn’t anyone better under pressure in big games.
Its an interesting call between Russell and Biggar at 10. Russell will create more tries but Biggar will make fewer mistakes. Biggars kick chase in particular is just fantastic but he just cannot create space with trickery like Russell can
Neither will let the lions down tho and I don't really care who starts at 10. ( so long as its not farrell)
I love Biggar, he has balls like water melons and is a real scrapper, but he kills any attack. He won't let you down but he's not a top step world class player. That said I'm not sure Russell is either yet.
Russell is one of the best 10s in the world. But he will always have you biting your nails. Racing pay him a million quid a year - they must love him. I watch a lot of the racing games and he is just fabulous with those great players around.
The issue we have is we don't have a Dan Carter, we have 3 10's with various attributes.
Farrell is notoriously and sometimes dangerously defensive for the most part, Russell a maverick that you can take a chance on in attack and Bigger likely combines a bit of both of them (which is why I think he's the match day 10) without out-shining either of the others in any one facet of his play.
I'd be playing Bigger in SA match one with Farrell/Aki outside for kicking and a read into the tactics, then potentially Sub Biggar for Chris Harris/Daly if we build a lead. That leads you to a 2H Farrell, Aki, Harris/Daly defence with a Farrell, Harris/Daly Aki attack - its pretty strong 3/4 allowing the wings & FB to be released.
Having said that, the first match should feature Russell 1H as we need to see if he can confuse/undo the 'Boks with his unpredictability.
And now I've written that I'm less sure!
I’d be playing Bigger in SA match one with Farrell/Aki outside for kicking and a read into the tactics, then potentially Sub Biggar for Chris Harris/Daly if we build a lead.
No no no
I can see the arguement ( but do not agree) that Farrell at 12 outside Russell is a good idea but outside Biggar? Waste of a position. Biggar can do everything Farrell does and better and if yo have a steady 10 you need ball players outside him
Can Biggar play 12?
I would be starting with Biggar at 10 with aki and harris.
Can Biggar play 12?
Unlike EJ I can't see Gatland playing people out of position.
I would be starting with Biggar at 10 with aki and harris.
I don't disagree, but surely then thats Farrell on the bench to cover 10,12 and kicks for goal. Against SA you'll need a forward dominant bench I suspect, so it make sense to have Farrel and maybe Daley, or A.Watson and a SH benched. That gives you cover for 10,12,13, both wings and FB.
Which wings is another question - Josh Adams played well but against the worst opponent we'll face, Anthony Watson needs a good game tomorrow to be in consideration for the test team.
Russell also covers full back - he has played there a few times IIRC and is OK and has also played at 12
I simply see no place for farrell. He is the 3rd 10, the 3rd 12 and while a good kicker is not significantly better than either Biggar or russell. Its a waste of a [position to have him there as a kicker
I see Farrell best suited to 10 and captain of the midweek side. I think thats the right role for him
Bench for me is a SH and either the bandy legged git ( Williams) or the vain stroppy scot ( hogg) on the bench - the other playing. If its 3 backs then whichever of harris / aki and henshow not playing as well
Hogg can play 10 in emergencies, williams and Hogg any back 3 position
Saturday's game off due to covid in the Bulls team
From BBC:
Two British and Irish Lions players are isolating after one of the management team tested positive for coronavirus.
Organisers say Wednesday's game against the Sharks will go ahead provided another round of testing does not produce any more positive results, but kick-off will be moved to 19:00 BST.
The whole tour is looking very dubious now.
[Considering the efforts they have made to prevent this happening, compared with the lax attitude I see day-to-day, it’s all rather concerning.]
Farrel into 10!
I cannot find this on the radio : (
Sounds like a big score is coming.
Talksport 2 radio
You are a legend! A thousand thanks!
Farrel very good at 10. SA team very poor.