SF - Lions v Highlanders
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Caught a replay while entertaining my boy so only had half an eye on the game, but Lions very much deserved winners. They scored some fantastic tries, they are a very enjoyable team to watch.<br><br>
Jantjies was fricken outstanding, the most naturally attacking 10 I can remember from SA, would expect him to be starting for the Boks in the RC if they know what is good for them. I'm a big fan.<br><br>
Bring on the final. If this game was being played in SA then I'd be picking the Lions. But going all the way to NZ to play a Canes team that is simply on fire is a huge ask.<br><br>
Two best teams are in the final and if they both play to their potential we are going to have an absolutely cracking game. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="601807" data-time="1469917867"><p>Caught a replay while entertaining my boy so only had half an eye on the game, but Lions very much deserved winners. They scored some fantastic tries, they are a very enjoyable team to watch.<br>
Jantjies was fricken outstanding, the most naturally attacking 10 I can remember from SA, would expect him to be starting for the Boks in the RC if they know what is good for them. I'm a big fan.<br>
Bring on the final. If this game was being played in SA then I'd be picking the Lions. But going all the way to NZ to play a Canes team that is simply on fire is a huge ask.<br>
Two best teams are in the final and if they both play to their potential we are going to have an absolutely cracking game.</p></blockquote>If one team plays to potential I'll be happy
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While a loss isnt so surprising and disappointing , to be so comprehensively outplayed was,<br><br>Still not convinced Dixon is a test level loosie , has had a lot of good press from the media the last 12 months ,just not convinced the onfield stuff actually matches the hype,<br><br>I would be selecting Luatua ahead of him personally
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="601822" data-time="1469924010">
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<p>While a loss isnt so surprising and disappointing , to be so comprehensively outplayed was,<br><br>
Still not convinced Dixon is a test level loosie , has had a lot of good press from the media the last 12 months ,just not convinced the onfield stuff actually matches the hype,<br><br>
I would be selecting Luatua ahead of him personally</p>
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<p>Yeah, to me it seems like him, Squire and Luatua are fighting for two spots. I'd say that Luatua had already done enough to get in, and I wondered if Squite might go. After that game, probably Elliot is first on the block - he hasn't been playing very well since coming back from the ABs.</p> -
<p>only seen extended highlights, but jeez there was some very poor d by the Highlanders, some pretty horrid attempts at tackles.</p>
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<p>That said, I think it is good for the game to have these 2 teams in the final, regardless what happens, we will have a new champion. and if the Lions do get up, they will also be the first non NZ team to win away from home too (I think that is the case) </p>
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<p>But go Canes! </p> -
<p>Dixon had a mare. Too nightmarish to be true. I think he is better than that. But his display on the day could play against him cometh the time.</p>
<p>Squire did not disgrace himself and made the hard yards. But will he be selected as he is only a bench warmer at the Highlanders ?</p> -
So sayeth ye.
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Watching that game was like watching any test from Joburg when the Boks seem to be full of juice and throw the ball around, kick 60 odd metres and just do some freakish shit. Thankfully the abs usually ride that out but the Landers just weren't in it. Lethargic is the word. The urgency just wasn't there. <br><br>
What I still don't understand is how Dixon just dropped the ball over the line. That could have changed the game.<br><br>
Faddes has always looked like a bloke selected out of the crowd and he sure played like it last night. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="601891" data-time="1469947523"><p>Dixon had a mare. Too nightmarish to be true. I think he is better than that. But his display on the day could play against him cometh the time.<br>Squire did not disgrace himself and made the hard yards. But will he be selected as he is only a bench warmer at the Highlanders ?</p></blockquote><br>Cane used to get selected when he was mostly a bench warmer at the Chiefs
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="601861" data-time="1469931571">
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<p>Never saw what everybody else has seen in Elliott. However one game doesn't mean you're complete cactus.</p>
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<p>Yeah I'm in the same boat. I think he's alright, I just don't rate him anywhere near as highly as others. I suppose having cult hero status like he does tends to help your cause a bit.</p> -
<p>Lions worthy winners.</p>
<p>However, on watching the replay the Clan weren't <em>that</em> bad overall. Halftime score of 17-6 could have been 10-11 but for a big missed tackle by Whitelock in the lead up to the second try and the Dixon drop. Whitelock badly missed Jantjes on way to Skosan try although cancelled out (but not conversion) by soft Faddes response. 25-11. Then another bad missed tackle, this time by Dixon led to Kriel try. 35-11 but on another day might have been 20-16 at that stage. Game lost shape at that stage (about 65) with heavy Lions substitutions. </p>
<p>Naholo and Ben Smith were excellent. Sopoaga also very good. Faddes very mediocre and Aaron Smith ran out of gas mid second half. In forwards Hohneck struggled, and Clan generally overpowered. Elliot Dixon excellent in lineouts but a shocker elsewhere. Greg Pleasant-Tate and Squire added real go forward and mongrel when they arrived.</p>
<p>My money's on the Canes. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="601937" data-time="1469963363">
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<p>Yeah I'm in the same boat. I think he's alright, I just don't rate him anywhere near as highly as others.<strong> I suppose having cult hero status like he does tends to help your cause a bit.</strong></p>
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<p>Cult hero status didn't really help Duane Monkley .... ;)</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="601953" data-time="1470000174">
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<p>Was Coltman injured or just leapfrogged by Pleasants-Tate ?</p>
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<p>I like how one of the commentators couldn't figure out how to say Tate, first he tried a Maori pronunciation, then an African sounding one before settling on the English sounding Tate like his fellow commentator. He had a decent match.</p> -
<p>Full credit to the lions, simple as that. Highlanders fell off a heaps of tackles and you can blame whatever you want, but I think they just couldn't live with the speed of the high flying Lions.</p>
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<p>I guess we'll see if it's travel factor or not this weekend, but either way it should be a cracking final.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bbarcs" data-cid="602029" data-time="1470010029">
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<p>Anyone in Wellington looking to flick off some tickets - I be keen. Got the heart of a Lion though :biggrin:</p>
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<p>You'll probably be able to get walk-up tickets, based on the general apathy of Wellingtonians for a play-off game last week. :fishing:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Smudge" data-cid="602049" data-time="1470013933">
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<p>You'll probably be able to get walk-up tickets, based on the general apathy of Wellingtonians for a play-off game last week. :fishing:</p>
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<p>It wasn't apathy - they were all hiding under their beds with large bottles of Baxter's cough syrup, multiple packets of Fishermen's Friend and detailed instructions on the Heimlich Manoeuvre.</p>
