How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?
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@Kruse said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@wowrp1 @Crucial
Yeah - I considered trying to get the guy to compromise on the ridiculous initial statement, but realised he'd drawn his line in the sand and was going to stick to it no matter what. And then got angry with myself for even engaging.
Yep, the low expectations for results in this particular tour probably lessens the appeal to many, which is a shame.When comparing it to the 6 Nations - I was quite confused about how popular those games are when I first arrived on these shores, but then thought about it a bit - internationals between very geographically-close countries (making it very very viable to "pop over to Rome to watch a game"), with rivalries (as in wars, not just rugby) dating back to before NZ existed; and with a reasonable number of the games being decent quality... it's a fairly tasty comp. I'm sure I'd enjoy it a lot more if I had a horse in the race. So yeah, the 6N is very likely to dwarf this particular tour.
Yeah the 6N is a bit of a rugby festival. A lot of viewers don't watch any other rugby during the year. Going to Edinburgh or Rome, for example, is great fun, as well as hosting the fans the Dublin.
But... I wouldn't disrespect the Lions tour. It has some historical relevance and is an interesting concept. Plus it's good to have some other rugby to watch when the season is over here. -
@wowrp1 welcome aboard. Hope you stick around. Good to have some more NH posters on the lead up to the BIL tour.
I think one thing the last tour of Australia showed was that there was still some fire in the belly from players for playing in the red jersey.
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all that stuff is valid, but it is also nice to have something different to watch - i guess it is more different for us (every 12 years) than for the NH guys being every 4 years. even so, that seems at least some sort of a drawcard to me over an every year 6 nations - or for us oz/sa/arg.
plus it's more of an old-school tour with games outside tests, and it's kinda cool getting to see guys who usually play against each other playing together. if we had the equivalent opportunity to see guys like burger, horan etc combining with some of the great ABs I think most nz fans would be keen to see it. -
@wowrp1 I will like any post that includes a David Mitchell clip. Welcome aboard!
That's a shame that it may not be regarded as such a big event over there. I was in London for both the Oz and SA lions series and found the tests as being 'must watch tv' amongst kiwi, aussie, saffer and english rugby fans. I'd still say all my mates over there will be watching the NZ lions series but that might be more reflective of who my friends were. Support certainly isn't anywhere near football levels.
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Thanks guys. There's actually a really good article in the Irish Times today IMO, written by Gordon D'Arcy, about the tour and the Lions in general. He makes the point that NZ should always beat the LIons but you always "hope for the impossible". It's probably a fair point and you never really know how the group will gel or the tour will go, it's so unpredictable in that sense, regardless of the test match results.
It will feel funny actually supporting players from a team like Saracens however!Gordon D’Arcy: No steeper rugby incline than a Lions tour
And facing the All Blacks in New Zealand is the ultimate test for any rugby team
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Meanwhile, All Blacks captain and No 8 Kieran Read, who broke his thumb playing for the Crusaders against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on April 30, said there is a chance he won't play a game before the first test against the British and Irish Lions on June 24. Read told Radio Sport he didn't want to rush back to action if the thumb was not fully healed. "In terms of match fitness I won't have too much to be honest going into that first test but I've done this gig a few times," he said. "I've got the confidence in myself that I can turn up and play at a high level. I'll back myself and I'll be good, ready to go." -
Read isn't Richie. Cut him. Luatua to start the first test.
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headline taken out of context with the intention of the comment I think, the story that keeps on keeping on!
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That, right there, is a completely pointless article. Seriously, it adds nothing to the incident, Kev and Bwian didn't even talk about it. Then half of it is from Tana's book.
Jesus fuck this tour can't start soon enough
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@mariner4life said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
Read isn't Richie. Cut him. Luatua to start the first test.
My blood pressure couldn't take Luatua starting a big test at 8...
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@ACT-Crusader said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@mariner4life said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
Read isn't Richie. Cut him. Luatua to start the first test.
My blood pressure couldn't take Luatua starting a big test at 8...
Agree, much better option at 6. So frustrating he's leaving while playing so well and there about to be a Kaino sized hole in the ABs.
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@Kirwan said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
Agree, much better option at 6. So frustrating he's leaving while playing so well and there about to be a Kaino sized hole in the ABs.
Maybe not.
Kaino was on the TV3 news last night talking about playing through the 2019 RWC - "...dependent on the body and form, but..."
Which will doubless help make @Nepia 's day!
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@Chris-B. When I watched that story I was surprised JK said that with a straight face. Look at all of the tape on his shoulders now, and he is starting to get more injury niggles.
That said, I can fully understand he's not going to come out and say "nah, I'm just hanging on for the Lions series". If Kaino is still playing for the ABs in 2019 he'd be the same age as Brad Thorn was in 2011.
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That would be awesome if they could nurse Kaino through to 2019 ,
Put him in cotton wool for 2 years , offer him a sabbatical , what ever it takes ,
just get him there nice and healthy
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Kaino at 2019 doesn't excite me. He's not very quick now, at his age 2 years is a lot of pace to lose.
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@mariner4life said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
That, right there, is a completely pointless article. Seriously, it adds nothing to the incident, Kev and Bwian didn't even talk about it. Then half of it is from Tana's book.
Jesus fuck this tour can't start soon enough
It matches up with the story of O'Driscoll burying the hatchet some years with Umaga in France. They didn't talk about the incident at the time and moved on.
Put the fucken media couldn't do the same.
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The final word should go to BOD which you can hear here (go right towards the end): http://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/Off_The_Ball/Rugby_on_Off_The_Ball/188496/Gatlands_2017_Lions__WNR_with_BOD_Woody_and_Gerry
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@antipodean said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
The final word should go to BOD which you can hear here (go right towards the end): http://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/Off_The_Ball/Rugby_on_Off_The_Ball/188496/Gatlands_2017_Lions__WNR_with_BOD_Woody_and_Gerry
The other guys weren't happy with his reasoned/rational answer, were they? Kept pushing, pushing... and when he wouldn't give them what they wanted, just pretended that he had.
