BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?)
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bollocks, clicked on a Treason article...
headline:
Lions tour: All Blacks should be 'fearful' of Lions - upbeat British and Irish media
First line:
Jet lag seemed to have crippled the drowsy Lions, but now All Blacks coaches will have sleepless nights after watching the Crusaders lose 12-3 in Christchurch, according to British and Irish media.
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@No-Quarter Pretty close IMO. I've got Sonny-Bill locked in as a starter. I think he'll be paired with ALB due to Crotty being uncertain - but, I'm fairly sure they'd like to have all three in the match day 23.
Hansen's explanation of the midfield options and Laumape's selection (and Fekitoa's non-selection) seemed a bit convoluted - he seemed to be saying they needed Laumape as a 2nd five option, but then noted that all four of his midfielders could play 2nd five, but Crotty and ALB could also both play centre.
So, as a wildcard, I reckon Hansen might pull a swift one and pick SBW at 12, but actually play him at 13.
Taylor and Harris could swap and, as you say, A. Smith and TJP.
Dagg might be under an injury/form cloud, so we could see Rieko take his place or - as I suggested on another thread, Ben Smith move to the wing and Jordie start at fullback (which would be a big call).
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@Chris-B I'd be pretty surprised if Dagg is not picked, regardless of form. They'll want two proven fullbacks in the back three, and Dagg's boot will come in handy. As unpopular as that will be on here...
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@No-Quarter Yeah - I'm sure they'll be very keen to have Israel if he's fit. He was very good in the first half vs the Lions, but not in the second. Saw one of the English scribes referring to him as "an ailing Dagg", which reflects comments on here. If he's not 100% they can't afford to pick him - but pairing any two of Savea, Ioane, Naholo weakens the "two fullbacks" theory.
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Masterstroke from Gatland and Warburton, and showing why Warburton is the Tour Captain.
British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton admits he could miss out on the first Test against New Zealand.
The Wales open-side has recovered from an ankle injury to lead the side against the Highlanders on Tuesday.
But with fierce competition for places, Warburton says his current form has not yet secured a Test spot.
"If I play Tuesday and I still feel I'm a bit undercut, then I might not be ready for that first Test," said Warburton.
"Maybe that would be the situation, or maybe I could have a blinder on Tuesday and feel absolutely fine so we'll see how it goes really."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40242020
With the Test 23 starting to take shape, Warburton's anouncement / admission / kidology will keep the squad united with all feeling they have a shot at test selection if they play to their potential.
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@MiketheSnow I wasn't happy about Warburton being made tour captain when he was out injured as I felt this was Gatland painting himself into a corner (much the same as Woodward's over reliance on an injured Wilkinson in 2005). However great credit to Warburton in the way he is conducting himself. I hope he does gain sufficient fitness, he's a very good player and deserves his chance.
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@Bovidae said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
The Crusaders game has reinforced the need to have wingers who are safe under the high ball. That makes Dagg a certainty on the right wing.
Savea will likely be their target though.
Bring back CJ.
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No change to my 23 after tonight's match
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@MiketheSnow My general impression is that you're on the money.
Webb got a rattled a couple of times tonight and maybe Laidlaw will push him?
Warburton probably did enough to see off any pressure on his spot.
Left wing is a weakness - I haven't been that impressed with Watson, but I've not seen anyone better. I thought Joseph went well on attack - has he played wing at all?
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@Chris-B. said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
@MiketheSnow My general impression is that you're on the money.
Webb got a rattled a couple of times tonight and maybe Laidlaw will push him?
Warburton probably did enough to see off any pressure on his spot.
Left wing is a weakness - I haven't been that impressed with Watson, but I've not seen anyone better. I thought Joseph went well on attack - has he played wing at all?
Not sure. But Watson, Daly and Liam Williams offer more across the back three.
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@hydro11 said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
Naholo, Dagg and Ben Smith should definitely be the back three if all are fit.
Naholo made a big claim for the 11 jumper tonight, but my 23 above hasn't changed for test one. They'll be keen to have as much experience on the park as possible and Naholo is far from proven at test level (bear in my that was a weaker Lions team).
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@MiketheSnow Mark Reason is a terrible troll, but he's sometimes interesting when he might not be simply planting clickbait.
He doesn't agree with us on Warburton...
Sam Warburton reached out and somehow planted the ball over the line. It seemed like a metaphor for his tour. Held together by bandages Warburton is stretching every sinew to captain the test side.
The Welshman is a very fine man, a top leader and, at his best, a marauding flanker.
But at the moment he is a metre off his usual pace and at this level that loss of gas is catastrophic. No one has ever accused Warren Gatland of romanticism, so it will be a huge call if he includes his captain in the Saturday side on the strength of one try.*
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@No-Quarter Naholo has never looked as comfortable on the left wing. He played very well tonight and was strong under the high ball, usually a weakness.
It may mean they revisit their plans and look to include Naholo on the bench, which is a mistake as it takes away midfield cover. Moving BFA into centre should not be an option.
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@pakman said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
If Reiko starts at 11, for Maori chance to make a statement for test. But I suspect 11/12/13/14 will be Lowe/Ngatai/Reiko/NMS. Throw in DMac and not a bad back five!
That is a set up I would love to see the Lions kick the ball to.
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Naholo was really good, haven't seen dagg or savea have a game like that in a while, I'd pick him.
Warburton was pretty good.
I reckon Webb is horrible, if the opposition know that he tends to have a crack himself then he's not going to be that hard to stop, and hungus and halfback just don't really mix.
