All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1
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@mimic said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
@Rembrandt said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Anyone else got that lingering doubt about an AB team without a power winger? I thought Reiko was great against a fresh-off-the-boat lions side but they are a different beast now as he found out during the Maori game. Jules was very good against an albeit weaker Samoan sude while Naholo is in terrific form. I always feel those British teams really struggle with big powerful outside backs more so than the deft skillful ones. How big is Reiko anyway in comparison?
Rieko is pretty powerful. For fun, he likes to hold up forwards, to try and call for a maul. At Super level this year, he's broken the line more than Jules/Naholo and makes more tackles.
Also heard someone from the All Blacks camp say he's faster than Beauden and Naholo.. Not sure over what distance though.. I found that surprising..There was a discussion on here after a Blues v Canes game that Reiko might have caught Beauden on one runaway try but he dived too early.
It was pretty much dismissed, coz, Bauden is the fastest EVA. I've taken notice of his speed since then. He's fast.
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Not a bad captaincy prediction here:
@Frye said in B&I Lions 2017:
11 Apr 2017, 16:29
What about Peter O'Mahony?
Likely starter (imo), captaincy experience, proper hard bastard, etc -
It's obvious that Crotty has been moved out one position to accommodate SBW.
Crotty is an accurate player so I don't have any issues with him at centre. I do think a Crotty-ALB combo would be better.
From what I've seen neither Te'o or Davies offer much deception on attack. They'll be using changes of angles rather than speed of hands/feet to break the line. So SBW will need to be much better on defence than he was vs Samoa.
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@akan004 said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
@Tim Would have Vunipola over Moody but Codie over George. Dagg and Watson would be evens for mine.
This is George's first start in test rugby. Nothing qualifies him to be anything but an even, at best, IMO.
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Hansen from the 9.00 mark. Talks about the midfield and wing selections.
http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/radiosport/2017.06.22-12.30.00-S.mp3
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I like starting with SBW and Crotty - although I do think Crotty is a better 2nd 5 than centre. With the rush defense and ball runners the Lions will go with off ruck and set piece having SBW to blunt them is a good call.
They know SBW will attack the ball when making tackles, which will hopefully commit more Lions to rucks, and mean more opportunities for turnovers and breaks. It's a bonus that he's returned with more gas than before he was injured too.
This all sets us up nicely to see ALB coming on and gives us options about which of Crotty/SBW stays on.
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@Frye said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Not a bad captaincy prediction here:
@Frye said in B&I Lions 2017:
11 Apr 2017, 16:29
What about Peter O'Mahony?
Likely starter (imo), captaincy experience, proper hard bastard, etcThe arrogance of some NZ fans, even predicting Lions stuff and then quoting themselves
In all seriousness though, it's a great selection by Gatland. O'Mahony and O'Brien have been the pick of the forwards on this tour so far IMO.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Wait, people are questioning Rieko's power? I assume some people have never seen him play?
I'm assuming it's the same people that think SBW is some kind of almighty and super powerful battering ram that skittles players everywhere, while Crotty and ALB are liable to fall over if someone whispers boo.
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@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
I think if alb comes on for sbw , crotty moves into 12 , alb to 13 .
I reckon they like to change the shape a bit when the subs come on , bit like beuady to FB, bsmith to wing , moves the point of the threats .
It keeps the opposition guessing , the advantage of having utilities
I reckon we might see Crotty lining up at 12 and SBW at 13 at least some of the time.
