Blues v BI Lions
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@SimonAdd_2 said in Blues v BI Lions:
Question is starting to become: which game can the Lions win? Super rugby sides only get stronger from here, and the Lions are worryingly tepid.
It's easy to blame it on the difference in speed between the two hemispheres, but in both games so far the Lions have looked slower in thought and action than many of their club or national side, and also a lower than the past two tours.
They need a big reaction on Saturday.
Yeah, odd that those BIL's players look less bad against other BIL's players huh?
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@westcoastie said in Blues v BI Lions:
@SimonAdd_2 Crusaders catch the BIL in the more formative stages, I reckon the BIL probably beat the other three...I can't imagine any AB's being released for the Canes and without those guys the Canes are significantly weaker, same for Highlanders and Chiefs.
Christ, let's hope so.
In the meantime, can we get rid of Howler as attack coach?
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@Bones looked fine against all the Rugby Championship sides back in the Autumn too.
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@SimonAdd_2 said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Bones looked fine against all the Rugby Championship sides back in the Autumn too.
"All" of them you say?
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@Tim said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Bones Ioane and SBW are in cracking form. You let me have this.
Will be interesting looking for Rob Thompson in the squad tomorrow. Maybe he'll be one of those listed as not considered because of injury?
He'll have to settle for playing for the Maori. I think?
He'd be an AB, but it's written in SBW's contract that he MUST be selected, so he has to miss out.
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@Tim said in Blues v BI Lions:
Ioane is now clear favourite for left wing. Savea can't get by on rep forever.
Yeah, I was not convinced, but am now. He has the goods.
Tbh I was pumping for Duffey, but it wasn't his night.
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@Bones Ireland went 1-1 with the All Blacks in two tough games and beat Australia. England beat Aus, SA and Argentina.
So yes.
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Not impressed with Itoje. I was expecting a lot more.
I think the Lions will have a great chance against the Saders. Saders game plan will help the Lions.
Decent 9 will make huge difference to the Lions. -
@MiketheSnow said in Blues v BI Lions:
Thoroughly deserved from the Blues. Stuck to the task and clinically and brutally exploited the Lions lack of pace and spatial awareness.
With a bit more precision and YCs being shown it could easily have been 5 tries to 1.
5 mins either side of halftime killed the Lions.
Luatua, Williams and Ioane played themselves into contention.
As mentioned earlier Owens, Tipuric, Webb, Halfpenny in the box seats for test match 23.
Big competition for prop.
Itoje will be in test 23, Lawes won't.
Stander had a good match but not good enough to oust Faletau.
Biggar shithouse. Sexton not much better. Gatland's decision to select Farrell as an outside half borne out.
Centres never got a chance and you still have to fancy Te'o, Joseph and Davies to be vying for the test spots
Daley is class
Nowell played himself out of contention
Liam Williams will have to do something remarkable to even get a look inStill a bit early with some guys yet to play a fun game or play at all in some instances, however those guys haven't done themselves any harm. I wouldn't rule out Daly making a case for the 13 shirt, certainly a good bench option. Nowell straight to the dirt trackers sadly. Best's line out frailties in a Lions jersey have come back to haunt him, so likely a scrap between Owens and George - happy to see Owens start and George make an impact. Likely to be Itoje, Kruis and AWJ in the test 23 with AWJ lucky on form. Back row will be interesting, we have yet to see anything much of SOB and I think it is between him and Stander to break up an all Welsh back row. Prop is looking to be a real fight.
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@SimonAdd_2 said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Bones Ireland went 1-1 with the All Blacks in two tough games and beat Australia. England beat Aus, SA and Argentina.
So yes.
Well shit, get the rest of the Ireland team out there to add to the outstanding efforts of Best/Sexton/etc
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Well done Blues.
I'm going to stick with my first half men - Luatua, Rieko and SBW as the stars of that game, but also give an honorable mention to to the much maligned Collins. I thought he was pretty good.
Lions weren't quite as good in the second half, until the Blues reserves came on and then their forwards smashed the reserve props. One thing is certain - the Lions forwards and Blues backs would have put paid to the Blues forwards and Lions backs.
Actually, the Lions were better than I expected given it was this lot's first run together. I thought a lack of cohesion would see them get beaten quite convincingly, but in the end it was just a few silly mistakes and weak links that stopped them winning.
I thought Lawes and Itoje were good - and Stander. The front rows (starters and reserves) got the better of their opposites. Webb went well, but those outside him were pretty anonymous and occasionally got monstered (Nowell). Halfpenny was pretty good.
Gats will be pissed. Even the one point win would have bought him some breathing space, but now his week has been fucked.
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@ACT-Crusader said in Blues v BI Lions:
Great to see Collins back. Really missed his play on the weekend.
Picked it.....
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Good from teh Blues, overcame their limitations and found a way to use their strengths. Their broken play attack was good, and their offloads really fucked the Lions rush defense. Their best spoken about a lot already. Was Moala playing? Shit Patty T would have been handy, what a dumb fuck. Lot of big games from a lot of Blues players.
For the Lions, good up front when using power and pressure, and keeping the ball. But no play beyond catch and crash. It can still work, but they won't just over power teams. Their lineout was prime, but their scrum only got on top at certain times, for the most the Blues were good.
Webb was good, but both 10s and the midfields did fuck all to use the ball they were given. Halfpenny was really good though, goalkicking, cleaning up, and sniping on attack.
Every time the sort of sorted themselves out and got the game on their terms, they looked great, but there was no points coming out of it, and really that's the whole point of the game. This loss isn't the end, they were definitely better in a lot of areas, but they need to look where the points are going to come from, and just having the ball isn't going to get it. What is with their ordinary kicking game?
Great game, great occassion, plenty of feeling (on the field and on line) and the tour is really hot now!
