All Blacks v BI Lions Test #2
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@Smuts said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #2:
Problem for Gatland was that his squad doesn't contain any real answers for where the Lions were beaten - the close pitched gainline battle. There aren't mad dog loosies, locks or hookers on tour. No Teagues, no Johnstons, no Woods/Moores. That's what he needed to answer the ABs close quarters, quick recycle ruck game.
Instead he's reacted with what he's got: Warburton and Itoje, with Lawes and Stander on the bench. Not sure it will do the trick. And it probably nullifies the one real advantage the lions had in the 1st test: the lineout.
I reckon there was a strong argument to play O'Brien and Tipuric together. High workrate in the tight and loose. Hard at the ball when needed and could've made the ABs pick and go game harder to generate quick ball.
Itoje is growing into that role IMO but has to mature as a player. Come 4 years against the Boks he could be a real handful.
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@taniwharugby that's pretty disappointing from someone that was a fantastic referee in his time. Rent-a-quote alright.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #2:
@Billy-Tell so its AB's clap clap clap vs LIONS, LIONS LIONS
neither likely to win 'NZ or Britains Got Talent'Whatever happened to "BLACK BLACK BLACK BLACK ..."?
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@Salacious-Crumb The Chiefs used to use Motorhead's "The Game" as the players ran out.
The reliance on music at stadiums to generate atmosphere has always annoyed me. But not as much as the Mexican wave at a rugby game. There were some 20-something muppets in Rotorua trying to start one near the end of the match. At an T20 or ODI cricket game, maybe, but at the rugby - fuck right off!!
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Music over the PA should only be played if it enhances the atmosphere. At the sevens people would actually sing along to the pop songs over the PA. The music worked in that sense. However, most often the music is just a distraction. It should be limited to perhaps a distinctive team song pre-game.
There was actually one point in the first test when there was some chanting and a song came on and the crowd stopped immediately.
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@hydro11 said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #2:
Music over the PA should only be played if it
enhances the atmosphere.Music over the PA should only be played if it's metal.
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@mooshld said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #2:
To be fair side entry has been very poorly reffed for most of this year.
But sir which gate....
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@Catogrande said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #2:
Well, I've taken the time to cool of a little and to reconsider my level of foreboding, forcing myself not to comment on the Lions selection until I'd given it some cold hard thought. Sadly my levels of foreboding have only receded a little, but at least I won't be in full rant mode when discussing the squad.
First off the selection looks like it is a knee-jerk reaction to Plan A not working. Knee-jerk reactions are seldom very good ones and especially so if you really do not have a Plan B to back up with and certainly haven't given any thought to implementation of one all tour. (Some would say the whole coaching career).
The biggest sea-change is the two playmaker idea. In itself not a bad idea but the devil is in the detail. Firstly none of the 10s on tour have played particularly well and you can't say that any are on any real form. Secondly all the tour starting teams have gone down the 10 playmaker with a big lump outside - anytime this has not been the case has been because an injury has forced this on the coaches. Additionally Teo defended well in his channel and broke the line as much as anyone. It just smacks of desperate measures and this worries me against a team as good as NZ.
From 13 outwards all is as good as it could be given injuries and form. The backs on the bench are 2/3rds correct but the inclusion of Nowell is an odd one and I think with North injured, that this time I would have gone with Halfpenny instead of Nowell.
The forwards, the forwards. Where it all starts and ends. Front row, starting and bench is fine by me, but both second row and back row again show heaps of confused thinking. Kruis goes from the one nailed on second row to out of the squad altogether on the back of one so-so performance. O'Mahoney goes from test captain to the invisible man on the back of a pretty good performance. AWJ keeps his staring place after a(nother) poor showing and Warburton seemingly has to be fitted in. Don't get me worng Warburton played well when he came on and he does offer something different to O'Mahoney, but where is the balance?
What really shits me is that I have to get up early on Saturday to watch all this unfold. Is 8.30am too early for a beer? Not usually when rugby is on the menu but this time I think I will be hosing it down to numb the pain.
I've also taken time to mull ths selection over.
There's a reason why the USA Basketball team does so well in international competition. They're the best practioners combined, playing against mostly inferior opposition.
The Lions v NZ is the polar opposite of that.
The Lions is great for the Home Nations because world class players in shit teams get a chance to play with world class players against world class players.
And every decade or so individuals and the team flourish, win a series, and become immortalised.
England could well have beaten NZ last week. And on current form over a three match series, you'd expect them to win at least one match.
The same can't be said of the Lions.
I have a real sense that not even the best 23 players in the touring squad, let alone the Home Nations have been selected for the 2nd Test. And even if a player is the best in his position, his form is well below his capability.
As Wales found out last Summer, brutally in the 2nd and 3rd Tests, you can't hope to beat NZ anywhere in the world unless you have your best 23 players at your disposal, and all 23 players give their individual and collective best.
I can see this series going the way of 2005, with Barrett emphatically inheriting Carter's crown.
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@jegga said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #2:
Not good news .
Shame
That's a cracking shot for any era, but especially the film days of the 70s
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@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #2:
@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #2:
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #2:
could well be wrong , but im guessing gats may have waited to see the ab team before confirming his starting side ,
once he saw the relatively inexperienced (combination wise )back 3 named , he leaned towards this 10 12 combo to pepper them with kicks.
if they started with bb and dagg in the back 3 he may have started teo .......just a hunch
If we do that we're
Why the fuck would I want a caravan that's got no fockin wheels
You like dägs?
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@MiketheSnow You're not hungover on gin are you mate? You sound very depressed (and depressing).
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@Catogrande said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #2:
@MiketheSnow You're not hungover on gin are you mate? You sound very depressed (and depressing).
Ha ha, that's why I drink it - no hangover.
No, realism has set in.
Gatland making the same mistakes he's made for Wales.
Primarily the non-selection of players who offer something different from the norm.
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@MiketheSnow I think that is a massive strength with these AB coaches, J Savea & Fekitoa gone. Jordie and Laumape given a chance. I wrote before the team was selected that I was worried they'd just pick the tried and true which I thought was a bit too boring. I mean who in their right mind would drop a player with the strike rate of Savea? Proved me wrong and I'm picking Naholo and Laumape to be inspired picks tomorrow.
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@Rembrandt said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #2:
@MiketheSnow I think that is a massive strength with these AB coaches, J Savea & Fekitoa gone. Jordie and Laumape given a chance. I wrote before the team was selected that I was worried they'd just pick the tried and true which I thought was a bit too boring. I mean who in their right mind would drop a player with the strike rate of Savea? Proved me wrong and I'm picking Naholo and Laumape to be inspired picks tomorrow.
Absolutely. Constantly evolving versus consolidating.
Stuff
