All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3
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Well, I needed to go our dinner and then walk home to calm down after that. And I'm still pissed.
What I find galling is the opposite-ness of this test to the previous one.
We have a player binned for a shot to the head (which was arguably fair or a penalty at least, but first contact was made with the ball), they don't have a player binned for a shot to the head and then he gets off at the judiciary (which I don't have a problem with).
We have a last minute penalty which is a correct decision even if harsh, then it is overturned, they get a penalty which is the correct decision even if harsh. I don't know where the lack of advantage played fits into it for them though ... I doubt they were in a position to score.
I'm unsure how a ref can bottle it like that. Add in the fact that two of the last three scrums seem to be refereed completely opposite to each other and I don't think anyone can claim he had an ok night.
Thought Jordie had a good game and he was one I was worried about. Fatty was ok, not as bad as some are making out, but not as good as his fluffer's are claiming - he dropped a sitter.
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@SimonAdd_2 said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Prickish behaviour from Read. Glad the ref caught that.
Hah, I imagine you'll be calling that for both sides...
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@Damo the worst was when we won the tighhead and Aaron threw a bullet pass (too hard) to Beauden running into a gap a mile wide close to the line. Ball spilled. But for my mind Aaron and TJ have same mindset (so not just TJ) and don't always get it right but I would rather have players that push the limits.
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Did Ardie play tonight?
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@ACT-Crusader If only Luatua was the impact sub.
Scott Barrett is a fine player, but this series demonstrated that he isn't a good bench option in these physical games.
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@Tim I think he's really only there for injury cover. A genuine lock that is a very good lineout option. They basically play the two starters for the whole game if they haven't got injured. Scott came on tonight for what 5 minutes?
I know this doesn't fit your Luatua argument
but if Squire is fit, he's in the 23. -
@ACT-Crusader Well, hopefully Tuipulotu gets his act together in the NPC.
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@akan004 said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@Tim Agreed. PT's physicality and ball carrying ability would have made a bigger impact imo.
I get the sentiment but I would've had my doubts about his impact in this series given he has been pretty poor since the EOYT. Got pretty bad for him that he wasn't a regular starter at the Blues. I think the coaches recognised that not all was right with him.
Hopefully he can return to form and to the sort of play that we've really only seen glimpses of at International level.
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@kev said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@Damo the worst was when we won the tighhead and Aaron threw a bullet pass (too hard) to Beauden running into a gap a mile wide close to the line. Ball spilled. But for my mind Aaron and TJ have same mindset (so not just TJ) and don't always get it right but I would rather have players that push the limits.
Yep, wtf was that? He put that farking thing in a cannon and launched it. Definitely should have scored there.
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@Rocky-Rockbottom by and large the platform was there but again it was how the backs used it. I thought Beauden did some good things like mixing the kicks (up and unders, kicks down the line into space, cross field) and then taking on the line.
The handling errors were at critical moments it seemed. You could see during the stoppages the experienced players - Read, Kaino, Whitelock, Smith - talking to the team trying to calm things.
Sure we didn't play scintillating running rugby but we did put ourselves in a position to win the test match.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
What utter bullshit.
But what really shits me is the decision to go to Dagg off the back of that scrum near the end there. Wtf was that shit?
That was our box of tricks right there. Shit boys, big time attacking scrum here, what have we got up our sleeves? Fuck, I've got it, Smith goes one off to Dagg who hits it up! Brilliant!
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@Tim said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Also, FFS have we learned nothing about the value of experience?
What are you referring to here? I'm gonna guess it's not starting Cruden over Barrett.
They just brought back Fekitoa and Savea for the last test for exactly that.
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I really want to be a "rugby was the winner" type guy right now, but everything in my being is telling me to find the nearest Citroen and fuck that shit up.
AB's fucked up. Jordie should have been kicking. Where does it say your 10 has to kick goals? We dropped balls on the last pass maybe 4-5 times with the line beckoning.
Hansen and co made sub for subs sake. Aaron Cruden got 50 up, well done, but Barrett was better off staying there. Stupid sub. Fekitoa did not need to come on. Him and his upright running style and die with the ball attitude can fuck right off thanks. Why leave TJ off until the last 7min? Thats not tactical, there is no point to that sub. Thats incompetent.
However - How is it possible that Poite can allow the entire Lions squad to talk to him but Read at the end is not allowed to ask a question? How is it possible that over this series that the ABs can be penalised for an offence and then the lions for the same offence only moments later go without punishment?
Anyway there are bigger things in this world to worry about. Well done the Lions for bringing it and playing what was in front of them....even when it was their own man.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Perenara was poor, again tonight. He's obviously got talent but far too often is found wanting when the pressure is on.
The concern is that we don't really have someone knocking on the door underneath Smith and him. I would've kept Smith for the 80 tonight.
Perenara was fine when he was on. Unlike last week
Smith though was limited. Perenara should start during the 4 nations to see if he can offer a bit more
