B&I Lions 2017

MajorRage

@Hooroo Because the games Gardner referees tends to be quite well flowing, well communicated and free of pedantic ridiculous penalties.

The NH press boys wouldn't have stood for this, and there would be a thousand tweets a second going towards Gosper & Pichot of the red nosed gin brigade.

MajorRage

I stilll remember the vitriol Pollock faced after he dared penalise O'Driscoll in test 1 of 2013. It was personal, unfounded, unfair and for the most part, bullshit.

I think everybody agreed test 1 was a cracking test match - Pollock had a lot to do with that, but then he got absolutely slated by the entire NH who effectively did what NZ did to Barnes.

Bovidae

Speaking of refs, I watched the Maori-Lions game from the 2005 tour last night. I went to the game and probably haven't seen a replay since shortly after that time.

Steve Walsh was at his arrogant, condescending best. The scrums were a mess, the breakdown a free-for-all and I don't think either side would have happy after the game. OK, the Maori would have been slightly more happy.

And Mex was commentating. How times have changed.

antipodean

@rotated said in B&I Lions 2017:

Ayoub will TMO all three tests.

How the fuck is he employed?

Stargazer

I don't like Romain Poite. He's always micro-managing a game, using his whistle way too often. He also loves handing out cards. Well, at least when I'm watching Top 14 games.

MajorRage

@Stargazer Which is exactly why the journo's up north love him. I think there is a strong expectation that there are going to be at least 2-3 Yellows and probably a red against the AB's in each test, as they are finally "refereed properly".

Stargazer

@MajorRage I think you should qualify that "journos up north" though. A lot of Frenchies I talk to, dislike the guy with a vengeance. If you're right, it's "journos in the UK & Ireland".

MajorRage

@Stargazer Fair call. Although from what I've understood about French fans, alot of them are firmly on the ABs are cheats and refs a lenient to them bandwagon!!

Derm McCrum

@Stargazer said in B&I Lions 2017:

@MajorRage I think you should qualify that "journos up north" though. A lot of Frenchies I talk to, dislike the guy with a vengeance. If you're right, it's "journos in the UK & Ireland".

Errr. No.

Margin_Walker

I agree. It's hard to move up here without stumbling across a Romain Poite puff piece in the press.

Derm McCrum

@Margin_Walker said in B&I Lions 2017:

I agree. It's hard to move up here without stumbling across a Romain Poite puff piece in the press.

Err No!!

Margin_Walker

@Pot-Hale said in B&I Lions 2017:

@Margin_Walker said in B&I Lions 2017:

I agree. It's hard to move up here without stumbling across a Romain Poite puff piece in the press.

Err No!!

alt text

Billy Tell

So what are we thinking people? 4 locks?

Whitelock & Retallick.

Then 2 from Romano, Barrett, tuipolotu and a resurgent bird.

Anyone else?

Frye

@Billy-Tell said in B&I Lions 2017:

So what are we thinking people? 4 locks?

Whitelock & Retallick.

Then 2 from Romano, Barrett, tuipolotu and a resurgent bird.

Anyone else?

Franklin should be in the discussion. Maybe Fifita too if he returns and hits form.

But Romano, Barrett and Tuipulotu are probably the front runners.

I'm certainly not concerned about our lock depth. (Y'know as long as we actually pick locks and aren't trying to throw games)

rotated

@Billy-Tell said in B&I Lions 2017:

So what are we thinking people? 4 locks?

Whitelock & Retallick.

Then 2 from Romano, Barrett, tuipolotu and a resurgent bird.

Anyone else?

Good call on having Bird at least in the frame. I am a huge Tuipolotu & Blues fan - absolutely love his game and he has been pretty good all things considered this season - but jeez Bird this year has something about him that makes me want to see him in black this season and coming off the bench.

Billy Tell

@rotated said in B&I Lions 2017:

@Billy-Tell said in B&I Lions 2017:

So what are we thinking people? 4 locks?

Whitelock & Retallick.

Then 2 from Romano, Barrett, tuipolotu and a resurgent bird.

Anyone else?

Good call on having Bird at least in the frame. I am a huge Tuipolotu & Blues fan - absolutely love his game and he has been pretty good all things considered this season - but jeez Bird this year has something about him that makes me want to see him in black this season and coming off the bench.

I personally think Bird will miss out, simply because to include him would involve ditching recent ABs in Barrett, Tuipolotu and Romano who are all currently in good form. I imagine he would command decent money in Europe, it's hard to see how Canterbury/the Chiefs/NZRU would find a way to keep him here. I hope Hansen at least initially names an extended squad, so he can include players like Bird, and let them know they are not out of the picture.