How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?
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I'm happy with that explanation except for this: Why pick Jordie? He's only played at 15 at super level , and there is plenty of cover there with Smith and Dagg - do we need to carry a 3rd FB? I'd have rather had another loosie in there, or a fullback wing like NMS or even Nanai. They must reaaaaaly like Jordie. I agree he has the tools, but I don't see why we need to carry a third FB - unless he's seen as a better FB than Dagg.
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@Toddy said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
DMac does have a really high error rate that would be punished at test level.
Yeah, he just has so many involvements at such a high pace and a percentage of those are always going to go awry. It's fine at Super level but agree it needs tightening at test level.
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Hansen is confident Kieran Read's thumb will have sufficiently healed to lead out his team at the start of the series, although he is set to sit out Friday night's clash with Samoa at Eden Park.
Jerome Kaino will take the field this week after completing his recovery from knee surgery, while Brodie Retallick and Ben Smith are both free of concussion symptoms and Ryan Crotty will be "touch-and-go" with his damaged ribs.
Aaron Cruden will miss the Samoa match but should be available against the Lions, having received good news from this morning's scan on the knee he hurt in the Chiefs' win over the Hurricanes on Friday night.
Scott Barrett (knee) has also been passed fit, leaving only two All Blacks as confirmed absentees for the first test, with both Dane Coles (concussion) and Liam Squire (thumb) long expected to miss out.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11874333
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@Donsteppa said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
Excellent news. Very happy that Kaino will be playing
this week.Fixed that for ya
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Good photo of the 3 of them, but they probably needed Ardie next to them to give us some context.
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The shape of things to come must be looking clearer to Shag after today's game.
The Lions will continue to play in the way they played against the Crusaders but in order for that to beat the ABs they must do so with precision. Having a rush D and kicking means you have to be very accurate and not allow the ABs a sniff of turnover ball. You also need good communication behind the D line to get back quick and secure any deft chips or prod throughs.
For me this means that Gatland is going to have to settle on his test team straight away and play the combos to help with understanding. We should see a shadow test team v Maori and the dirt trackers will be put out against the Chiefs (which will be a complete clash of styles)
The way the Lions play is very dependent on being mistake free. Make no mistakes and provide few chances and the score remains close. Make a mistake and suddenly you have ground to make up on the scoreboard and a temptation to go searching for points and ignoring the gameplan.
Today they made errors and the Highlanders made them pay. -
@Stargazer said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
It all depends on the photo/camera angle/posture. In this photo Scott looks slightly taller:
After seeing all three together, you'd almost think Beauden is a midget!
He definitely made it to the dinner table the quickest.
