B&I Lions 2017
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@Rapido said in B&I Lions 2017:
It's really hard to get from Argentina to NZ. It's like 1 direct flight a week.
Maybe via Sydney is more frequent?Oh ffs our Super players do it and deal with the travel. It's hardly like they fly cattle class now is it?
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@MiketheSnow I reckon Launcbury in particular was unlucky to miss the cut in the first place. Hartley (experience/captaincy/lie of the land) Brown and even Care could have been given the nod after the first game against Argie. England still would have won. Warburton not named in the squad to play the Chiefs. Will he be fit for the 1st test?
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@Crash said in B&I Lions 2017:
@MiketheSnow I reckon Launcbury in particular was unlucky to miss the cut in the first place. Hartley (experience/captaincy/lie of the land) Brown and even Care could have been given the nod after the first game against Argie. England still would have won. Warburton not named in the squad to play the Chiefs. Will he be fit for the 1st test?
Definitely to Launchbury.
Jury out on Care
Hartley was 4th choice hooker after 6N
Brown's had two good games in Argentina, but didn't have a good 6N. There were better players ahead of him, and with the exception of Hogg are still there. So not even in the mix, and shouldn't have been one of the players Monye et al were bleating about.England wouldn't have won without Launchbury, Hartley, Care, Brown and Ford if we're sending English players.
Warburton part of the 23 so training and resting.
Having taken time to watch the match again the Test backrow should be
O'Maoney (Capt.), O'Brien, Faletau with Warburton on the benchAWJ on the bench for Tuesday and I suspect he will be on the bench on Saturday.
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@taniwharugby Scrum penalties, offside lines, entering the breakdown from the side and Gatlands selections?
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@MiketheSnow said in B&I Lions 2017:
@Crash said in B&I Lions 2017:
@MiketheSnow I reckon Launcbury in particular was unlucky to miss the cut in the first place. Hartley (experience/captaincy/lie of the land) Brown and even Care could have been given the nod after the first game against Argie. England still would have won. Warburton not named in the squad to play the Chiefs. Will he be fit for the 1st test?
Definitely to Launchbury.
Jury out on Care
Hartley was 4th choice hooker after 6N
Brown's had two good games in Argentina, but didn't have a good 6N. There were better players ahead of him, and with the exception of Hogg are still there. So not even in the mix, and shouldn't have been one of the players Monye et al were bleating about.England wouldn't have won without Launchbury, Hartley, Care, Brown and Ford if we're sending English players.
Warburton part of the 23 so training and resting.
Having taken time to watch the match again the Test backrow should be
O'Maoney (Capt.), O'Brien, Faletau with Warburton on the benchAWJ on the bench for Tuesday and I suspect he will be on the bench on Saturday.
Can't argue with any of that Mike. Telling it like it is. I still reckon that Gatland will go with Warburton, AWJ and North though. To be honest I think he can make quite a good case for Warburton and North. Warburton as he's been playing well but has been a bit unlucky and North because none of the other wingers have really had the chance to stand out and he's been there, done that. AWJ is the hardest case to argue with Itoje and Kris having very good performances.
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@Crash said in B&I Lions 2017:
@Rapido said in B&I Lions 2017:
It's really hard to get from Argentina to NZ. It's like 1 direct flight a week.
Maybe via Sydney is more frequent?Oh ffs our Super players do it and deal with the travel. It's hardly like they fly cattle class now is it?
Not 3 days out, they don't.
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Wasn't sure where to out this but to me seems like a case of pots and kettles.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11879001
Lions seem to be big on obstruction so far in my admittedly biased opinion:
- running a screen in front of their backline. Sure a lot of teams (ahem) do similar but when those players are not in position to catch the ball, continue to advance into the defence and the players in possession run behind them (not just pass) it is obstruction IMO.
- moving a pod of players to a point in front of where the ball is landing at kick off with no intent to actually catch the ball but just get in the way of the approaching players is obstruction
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@booboo said in B&I Lions 2017:
Wasn't sure where to out this but to me seems like a case of pots and kettles.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11879001
Lions seem to be big on obstruction so far in my admittedly biased opinion:
- running a screen in front of their backline. Sure a lot of teams (ahem) do similar but when those players are not in position to catch the ball, continue to advance into the defence and the players in possession run behind them (not just pass) it is obstruction IMO.
- moving a pod of players to a point in front of where the ball is landing at kick off with no intent to actually catch the ball but just get in the way of the approaching players is obstruction
Yep, if we are starting to throw those sorts of things around, I'd be pointing the ref to the MAB game - lots of examples of players joining the ruck from in front of the player with the ball or in front of the players driving past (i.e., from the side).
There were a few crackers in the Maori game where TKB got taken out waaaaay off the ruck too.
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I'm going to predict a Lions win in first test.
I still think NZ are good enough to win the series 2-1.
But will learn a lot about our post-2015 senior leadership.
French ref I think for test 2 (and maybe 3)? Will be fascinating if nz are playing catch up in those circumstances.
I could be totally wrong, NZ can turn it up big time and we've got a game in. But I think it's been a good tour by the Lions. Getting better each week, cohesion and trust is there now.
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@Rapido we haven't lost at Eden Park since Belshazzar was a young fulla. That's a fairly significant mental hurdle for visiting teams to get over.
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@mariner4life didn't think about that.
But, part of the reason our Eden Park record is so good is that it was usually the venue for the tour finale, not the opener.
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@mariner4life The Lions also have already lost at Eden Park this tour (shamelessly finding a way to reference the Blues win over the Lions )
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@KiwiMurph Media should be all over that fact, add to the Eden Park hoodoo given a number of the Lions players will also have played on it for their home nations and lost too.
I find it interesting Hansen is keeping pretty quiet this week, Gats would say he's worried.
I see Mark Treason has written (I expect an awful one, as I don't read his tripe) opinion piece about how enough is enough, the ABs need to stop cheating...man, imagine if all teams pushed the boundaries like the ABs, chaos would no doubt ensue!
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You could almost say there's a certain "aura" about Eden Park.
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@taniwharugby said in B&I Lions 2017:
I find it interesting Hansen is keeping pretty quiet this week, Gats would say he's worried.
Thankfully Rugby Union hasn't gone the way of Championship Boxing.
No need to shit talk your opponent to 'scare' them and sell seats.
Hansen the smartest man in the room saying sweet FA
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British & Irish Lions to respond to All Blacks haka with traditional Maypole dance — The Betoota Advocate
ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact The touring British and Irish Lions have revealed their plans to respond to the All Blacks haka this weekend in Aukland – and it’s the most British thing ever. Set to the tune of Pink Floyd’s seminal 1975 prog rock masterpiece, Shine On You Crazy Diamond...
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@MiketheSnow said in B&I Lions 2017:
he is not normally shy of having his sly digs though, although maybe what they want to point out or respond to might reveal part of the game plan.
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@taniwharugby said in B&I Lions 2017:
@KiwiMurph Media should be all over that fact, add to the Eden Park hoodoo given a number of the Lions players will also have played on it for their home nations and lost too.
I find it interesting Hansen is keeping pretty quiet this week, Gats would say he's worried.
I see Mark Treason has written (I expect an awful one, as I don't read his tripe) opinion piece about how enough is enough, the ABs need to stop cheating...man, imagine if all teams pushed the boundaries like the ABs, chaos would no doubt ensue!
I really don't want to look for the article and give him a click but if you have already read it does he mention the Lions and their cheating/pushing boundaries as well? Running past the ruck, blockers in front of catchers, screaming out noises as the lineout throw is being made and the good old foot in front of the offside line?
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As a bit of relief from the phoney war - nice interview with Ken Scotland on 59 tour from the BBC
