BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?)
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@reprobate said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
in my opinion crotty has the best defence of the 3, and makes the least errors, so he is in. SBW easily the most errors, so he's out: ALB's offloading game is as good, and he fucks up less.
the best rugby SBW ever played was at the chiefs where he was just running hard and straight and focusing on retaining possession - if offloads came they came. right now he's playing more like he was at the crusaders, looking to do too much every time and coughing the ball up too often. should be an easy fix, but i'd like to see it happen before picking him.Agree with all this. SBW is a good player when he is performing but has had one good game since the World cup. If Crotty is good to go then i would have him at 12 and ALB at 13.
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@Billy-Tell said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
My fellow forum users. Please take a moment to remember this day, 20th June 1987
I was only 2. So was SBW (just to keep it on topic)
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@kiwiinmelb said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
This test is shaping as a classic ,
I think it's fair to say now we have a genuine challenge on our hands , the lions have a bit of grit about themThey certainly do except that it is a high risk gameplan they are following.
Obviously not high risk in the manner that they play but pinning your game on being perfect in defence while accumulating slowly runs a big risk of putting you in a bad position if you get behind on the scoreboard. It works well against second string super rugby sides that can't match the power for 80 but the ABs will absorb and repel then pounce on any sniff of a chance.I'm not saying that it will be easy, I expect a close game but the whole AB game for a few years now has been to marry that same toughness in close and on D with an ability to switch in blink of an eye to the type of attack that the BIL will have trouble with.
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@Crucial I fear you're right mate. We have seen a number of sides bring good defence v NZ and it can work to a degree but there have only been a limited number of times that it has proved ultimately successful.
Most NH Ferners have been saying all along that if the Lions are to succeed they will have to be able to score tries. We might get one win just on a smothering defence but not a three match series. We have to be able to switch from D to attack in an instant and we have shown little inclination to do that let alone ability.
Anyway back on topic. Who has furthered their case for the Lions after the Maori and Chiefs games?
The shadow test side (v Maori) mostly performed like the first stringers. The front row went well save Furlong's brainfart. I did like him getting schooled in ruck law from the fullback, I just wished he'd returned the favour after the full back dropped a high ball.
I feel Itoje did enough to keep AWJ on the bench. Kruis nailed on. Likewise SOB did enough to keep Warburton on the bench. Murray is nailed at 9. 10 is a conundrum. Farrell to my mind HAS to play but will it be at 10 or 12? I can see the merit of him playing outside Sexton (who has improved considerably) but it is a late call to change your game plan, so I feel the 12 & 13 combo we saw v the Maori will continue. Watson on one wing and likely North on the other but on form I'd go with Daly. If Farrell plays then I would consider Williams at full back but if no Farrell then Halfpenny has to play.
Guys that put their hands up v the Chiefs - Daly and Williams, possibly Lawes but I see him as fourth choice lock. Improvers, Henderson, Nowell, Haskell. Gone backwards, Laidlaw, Best, Marler (FFS sake, keep your hands in your pockets), Seymour.
The mystery man to me on tour so far is Tipuric. I reckon he could be the bloke to make a difference, but he won't get the chance.
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@Catogrande said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
@Crucial I fear you're right mate. We have seen a number of sides bring good defence v NZ and it can work to a degree but there have only been a limited number of times that it has proved ultimately successful.
Most NH Ferners have been saying all along that if the Lions are to succeed they will have to be able to score tries. We might get one win just on a smothering defence but not a three match series. We have to be able to switch from D to attack in an instant and we have shown little inclination to do that let alone ability.
Anyway back on topic. Who has furthered their case for the Lions after the Maori and Chiefs games?
The shadow test side (v Maori) mostly performed like the first stringers. The front row went well save Furlong's brainfart. I did like him getting schooled in ruck law from the fullback, I just wished he'd returned the favour after the full back dropped a high ball.
I feel Itoje did enough to keep AWJ on the bench. Kruis nailed on. Likewise SOB did enough to keep Warburton on the bench. Murray is nailed at 9. 10 is a conundrum. Farrell to my mind HAS to play but will it be at 10 or 12? I can see the merit of him playing outside Sexton (who has improved considerably) but it is a late call to change your game plan, so I feel the 12 & 13 combo we saw v the Maori will continue. Watson on one wing and likely North on the other but on form I'd go with Daly. If Farrell plays then I would consider Williams at full back but if no Farrell then Halfpenny has to play.
Guys that put their hands up v the Chiefs - Daly and Williams, possibly Lawes but I see him as fourth choice lock. Improvers, Henderson, Nowell, Haskell. Gone backwards, Laidlaw, Best, Marler (FFS sake, keep your hands in your pockets), Seymour.
The mystery man to me on tour so far is Tipuric. I reckon he could be the bloke to make a difference, but he won't get the chance.
Agree with most of that.
Halfpenny, Watson, Davies, Te'o, Daly, Farrell, Murray
Vunipola, George, Furlong, Kruis, Itoje, O'Mahoney, O'Brien, FaletauBut Gatland will pick North
Owens, Sinckler, McGrath, AWJ, Warburton
Webb, Sexton and DalyThink Gatland will try to beat NZ the way he thinks h knows how. If that's unsuccessful, then expect to see a different style and team makeup for 2nd Test
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Agree about Tipuric.
He'll be like Alan Bateman. Not played until it's too late, and then the uninitiated will say 'where's he been when we needed him?' -
Think Joseph was missing today in case Davies isn't fit.
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@MiketheSnow said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
Think Joseph was missing today in case Davies isn't fit.
Is Davies carrying a knock? He and JJ are very different types of 13.
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I hadn't heard re Davies but I did hear a rumour that Halfpenny was a bit suss for the first test. To be honest though I think I'd prefer Williams at full back.
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@SimonAdd_2 said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
@MiketheSnow said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
Think Joseph was missing today in case Davies isn't fit.
Is Davies carrying a knock? He and JJ are very different types of 13.
He's always carrying knock. Hamstrings like old rubber bands.
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@Catogrande said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
I hadn't heard re Davies but I did hear a rumour that Halfpenny was a bit suss for the first test. To be honest though I think I'd prefer Williams at full back.
The way Williams played today, definitely.
The way he played last week, no way Jose.
If Farrell doesn't play, then Halfpenny has to.
But I think Gatland is going to go with who and what he knows.
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@Crucial yeah, if I had to predict how this will go ,
im going to predict how it goes quite often ,
Tight game for most of the game , scores close at half time with perhaps the lions slightly in front ,
Somewhere in the last 20 , we run in a few tries that seals it on the scoreboard , and some will say after the game the scoreboard doesnt reflect how it close it was .
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@kiwiinmelb even with our habit of blowing it out just before halftime?
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WHEN IS THE TEAM NAMED!!!
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@No-Quarter thnk the team naming Facebook poll expires tomorrow.
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Just on the SBW/Crotty debate. So far on tour what i have seen is the teams that have beaten the Lions have done so through the use of "x-factor" backs breaking them open.
The Lions aren't going to squash our forwards like they did to the Maori, and last night as well. The Blues, while early in the tour, matched them up front (and even shaded them in certain areas) but were able to break the Lions open with skill. That last try to win it was fucking great, but also high risk on a couple of occasions.
I am not overly concerned about the need for a rock solid defensive midfield, as i don't think they are bringing anything any of our midfield options would be able to deal with. However someone who can unlock that rush defense with an in-contact offload would be invaluable. And i don't see the need to wait 60 minutes to do it either. Put them under scoreboard pressure early, and make them play a game they look less comfortable doing.
If we start SBW, the question then becomes, is Crotty the best bench option?
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Yeah, I've changed to SBW starting due to form and fitness. He was running hard and straight against Samoa, if he does that he's going to draw a lot of defense and he has the ability to offload in traffic to free up others.
If we don't have Crotty on the bench then we really need SBW/ALB to play 80 minutes, unless we trust Rieko to cover centre in the event of an injury. I'd prefer Crotty for test one - he's reliable as fuck - and depending how that goes Rieko could come onto the bench for test two.
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Yes. I think he's better than the other options, unless they want to go full beast mode and run out Laumape in the last 20.
After last week, I'm not quite as convinced about Rieko nailing his winger duties enough to go to the bench - and cover midfield as well - especially when we have Barrett who can go back to 15 and B smith to the wing. So, midfield cover is crucial.
For me, Crotty covers SBW playing badly, injury at 12/13, and can come on for whoever is buggered or needs to be pulled.
Laumape is risky, but could be awesome in the last 20. Laumape and ALB could be unbelievable - want to see that at some stage.
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Ha ha. Snap.
