Crusaders vs B&I Lions
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Ruck.co.uk says 58% of the ball and 62% territory. I thoughts stats on the day had about those numbers but the other way around.
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Cheers. Probably first half stats.
Anyway, hard to against the Lions being the better team when you see those numbers.
Key area I should have added above - don't play the game in your own half. Saders have Murray (and themselves) to thank for that.
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@Donsteppa said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@Bones said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
I'm surprised that for 2% of the game, no team was considered in possession.
The ball spent a lot of time being hoofed in the air...
aimlessly
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@Stargazer said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@Bones said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
I'm surprised that for 2% of the game, no team was considered in possession.
I'm not allowed to state the obvious on the Fern, so here are the numbers from the Lions website:
They should have given the sky more credit!
Hmmm.. smiley face keeps vanishing.
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Garces is an excellent ref. One of the worlds best.
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From the Book of Wise after the Event: Had Chch taken 3 points instead of trying to macho a try, they would have gone in 9-6 down. Even as late as the last five the dynamic of the Lions having to defend a match losing try versus the immeasurably simpler matter of preventing two scores would have put the Lions under real pressure, at which point mistakes happen. Here endeth the lesson.
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Random thoughts:
Don't know why people are saying the Lions tight 5 were superior. The Lions loosies were more physical, accurate, and influencial and their 9-10-12 were (and are) so much better. Best team won.
The tight 5 mmmm.... , the Lions scrum was protected by the ref, they pulled the lineouts down illegally a few times (Jones). The Crusaders tight 5 esp. Romano, were fairly brutal on defense I thought.
The Lions were smart however, knew a few tricks, and showed what happens when you bring together an experienced pack of internationals. No way were they going to let the Crusaders score and shut down attacks both with good defense and a bit of shennagins at times.
Tour is back on! -
@Samurai-Jack Couldn't agree more. Reminded me that Todd is an exceptional Super player but AB journeyman.
No one seems to have cottoned on to what Lions have learned, viz Mako/George/Furlong are a bench impact combo and Coles/Owens/McGrath need to start or ABs will have Lions scrum under pressure. POM needs to start as Lions need three jumpers with Read playing. Suspect AWJ/Kruis with Itoje becnh wll be test lock combo. They will be looking to get Warburton up to speed, but if it were me I'd be very tempted to stick with SOB. -
@Bones said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
Todd has hardly been shown to be a journeyman at AB level. Quite the opposite.
Agreed. The advantage the Lions had in the backrow overall made it very difficult for Todd. Bedwell Curtis is obviously a bit out of his depth and Taufua as well struggled against Faletau, arguably the Lions best player.
Replace those two with All Blacks and it's a big difference.
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How Conor Murray, Owen Farrell and Jonathan Sexton ignited the Lions attack
Two tries from 240 minutes of rugby hardly seems the sort of return to generate excitement, but the British and Irish Lions’ attacking game is starting to click.
Thought this was an interesting analysis of the accidental midfield created in yesterday's match.
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@Pot-Hale said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
How Conor Murray, Owen Farrell and Jonathan Sexton ignited the Lions attack
Two tries from 240 minutes of rugby hardly seems the sort of return to generate excitement, but the British and Irish Lions’ attacking game is starting to click.
Thought this was an interesting analysis of the accidental midfield created in yesterday's match.
Can't access the article.
Seems like quite a lot of confidence building though.Excellent!
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Two tries from 240 minutes of rugby hardly seems the sort of return to generate excitement, but the British and Irish Lions’ attacking game is starting to click.
After a run of 14 straight Super Rugby victories, the Crusaders understandably began this match as two-point favourites with the bookies. When Owen Farrell booted the ball into the crowd to end the game, a 12-3 scoreline flattered the hosts.
Besides suffocating their opponents in phase-play, the Lions comfortably edged the scrum exchanges and derailed the Crusaders’ lineout. With props Joe Moody and Owen Franks and lock Sam Whitelock likely to start the first Test for New Zealand, the set piece would have brought a significant psychological boost.
Perhaps even more impressively, the Lions made nine clean breaks to the Crusaders’ three. Composure in the 22 was sorely lacking, yet the tourists consistently created openings. Conor Murray, Owen Farrell and replacement Jonathan Sexton were central to the incisiveness. Here is a closer look at how the three combined.
Urgency from the off
Whereas the Lions seemed soporific and reactive in Whangarei, they seized impetus here. Note Conor Murray’s starting position from this lineout, in the five-metre channel:
Lions_analysis
As the throw comes in, referee Mathieu Raynal awards the Lions a free-kick, ruling that the Crusaders have closed the gap between the sides. Owen Farrell begins 10 metres back in the defensive line:Lions_analysis
Clearly, a free-kick means the Lions would give away the lineout if they kicked the ball to touch. With this in mind, Farrell gets hold of the ball, glances across to Murray…Lions_analysis
…and takes a quick tap:Lions_analysis
He feeds Murray…Lions_analysis
…who draws Crusaders wing Seta Tamanivalu and chips ahead:
