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Post by Stew on Jun 5, 2013 6:59:26 GMT
Cannot wait for this. Must be the best chance the Lions have of winning a series, unless the Refs take the piss. Welsh contingent look really impressive. First real game this morning!
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Post by Jayrannasaurus on Jun 5, 2013 7:17:31 GMT
Always love the Lions tours, been watching it since I was a kid. Obviously prefer when they play the Boks but still, should be a good series.
I fancy the Lions' chances this year, though the Wallabies have more than enough to edge the series, they can never be underestimated.
Expect the Aussies to have the upper hand in the backs and the Lions up front. Agree, the Lions have a big chance this year, but the Aussies are the type of team that performs best when they have their backs to the wall.
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Post by Bestie on Jun 5, 2013 9:08:47 GMT
Honestly, I disagreed with a lot of the selection policy but expected little different from Gatland.
The argument for filling the squad with Welshmen is that Wales won the 6 Nations, but this season's was probably the worst 6 Nations in years. France were awful and you only have to look at England were slapped aside in the last game to see how crap the competition really was. In the first half of the first game Ireland destroyed Wales but the Welsh went on to win the thing basically by default. Players like Toby Faletau seem to have been picked simply because he's Welsh. Jamie Roberts has been woeful this season.
Sam Warburton comes out and says he isn't in the right mental state to Captain his country, and yet he is somehow fine to Captain the Lions. Great stuff.
And then there's the English contingent. Gatland picked Hartley (over-rated; total c*nt) which was always going to end badly. And Tuilagi, also a complete tosser. Yet there is no Danny Care - a bit of a risk at times but Gatland picked Hartley so no excuse - or Robshaw, who is a gentlemen and would have been a brilliant senior guy just to keep the likes of Tuilagi in line.
And don't get me started on the Irish selections. Healy still seen as a better scrummager than Court for some reason. Best wasn't due to go at all when a few people were saying he could even be Captain. Connor Murray is a mistake because Care should have been there instead. Heaslip is also gash and shouldn't even be in the Ireland squad nevermind going to Austrailia.
All-in-all, I'm torn on wanting the Lions to do well as I love the tours, on the other hand I want Gatland and the Welsh lot to founder. Maybe even be whitewashed, that'd be pretty hilarious actually.
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Post by Stew on Jun 5, 2013 9:36:10 GMT
Murray is far from a mistake, he's outstanding. Heaslip is gash admittedly but Healy was always nailed on to your despite his scrummaging. I don't think the lions will be allowed go make their superiority in the scrum anyway, so Healy's ability around the park will be huge.
I'm surprised and disappointed in your post Bestie. You have problems with various Irish picks -Murray, Heaslip and Healy but think 2 Ulster players are hard done by? Best should have gone (and I fancy he'll star a test) but Court? Seriously? Care should have gone at the expense of Youngs, not Murray. Nearly every pundit I've read in the English press think he is fantastic. And nearly everyone of them has Healy to start for the Test team.
The Welsh team is miles ahead of the rest currently. Their destruction of Ebgland copper fastened their doninance of the tour party. Apart from one or two I cannot think of one of them that was undeserving of their place. The three players that didn't deserve it were Harttley, Stevens and Heaslip.
And as a very famous Ulsterman has said on every occasion he's asked- from now on there are no Welsh, Irish or English Lions, there are just Lions.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2013 10:06:00 GMT
Only just seen this thread, was going to knock one up but didnt think many would be interested, love my rugby and very much looking forward to the tour, would love to go over one year. As far as squad selection goes the performance against the baba's pretty much answers itself as far as the amount of welsh boys justification goes. It was based on the 6 nations and granted it was a poor one by any team however there isnt a player on current form that doesnt deserve to be there other than the exclusion of Robshaw, that was a suprise. Doesnt matter who the coach is 2bh that squad pretty much picks itself, hope Sexton has a good game today although he doesnt have to do much after the shocker Farrell had last week. Looking forward to the game against Western Force, should be a 100+ pointer given the strength of the side even if its been changed completely. I agree though it should just be the Lions. Fair play Bestie I admire your somewhat dislike towards the welsh lol, cant be down to arrogance because were not good at anything other than rugby  |
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Post by Jayrannasaurus on Jun 5, 2013 10:15:36 GMT
Looking forward to the game against Western Province, should be a 100+ pointer given the strength of the side even if its been changed completely. Western Force* I live in the Western Province, it's in South Africa  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2013 10:18:29 GMT
Looking forward to the game against Western Province, should be a 100+ pointer given the strength of the side even if its been changed completely. Western Force* I live in the Western Province, it's in South Africa Haha thats what I meant, my bad. Don't know why I put that lol thank you  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2013 10:42:40 GMT
What a different performance this is to last week, getting points gradually but considering the quality out there you expect a bit more.
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Post by Stew on Jun 5, 2013 10:44:19 GMT
I'd say they'll run away with it in the 2nd half.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2013 10:57:22 GMT
Ohhh just fuck right off!!! Where are the real lions when you need them.  |
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Post by Bestie on Jun 5, 2013 11:24:18 GMT
Murray is far from a mistake, he's outstanding. Heaslip is gash admittedly but Healy was always nailed on to your despite his scrummaging. I don't think the lions will be allowed go make their superiority in the scrum anyway, so Healy's ability around the park will be huge. I'm surprised and disappointed in your post Bestie. You have problems with various Irish picks -Murray, Heaslip and Healy but think 2 Ulster players are hard done by? Best should have gone (and I fancy he'll star a test) but Court? Seriously? Care should have gone at the expense of Youngs, not Murray. Nearly every pundit I've read in the English press think he is fantastic. And nearly everyone of them has Healy to start for the Test team. The Welsh team is miles ahead of the rest currently. Their destruction of Ebgland copper fastened their doninance of the tour party. Apart from one or two I cannot think of one of them that was undeserving of their place. The three players that didn't deserve it were Harttley, Stevens and Heaslip. And as a very famous Ulsterman has said on every occasion he's asked- from now on there are no Welsh, Irish or English Lions, there are just Lions. The only reason I said Murray was a mistake is because I think Care should have been there in his place. Hartley shouldn't have been one of the hookers in the first place, I would have had Youngs and Best. So that's why Murray would have given way. I just don't rate him as highly as he usually is, still a good player though. But he's too slow, too indecisive too often. Drives me mad. Also, the hard pitches would suit Care. As for Tom Court, he's been one of the best front rowers in the hemisphere this season. All the times he was (wrongly) left out of the Ireland squad he was dominating everyone he scrummed against. And his play about the pitch has been excellent all season too, there was a reason Ulster were unbeaten until Christmas. Also, he can play both sides which is the only rational reason for Stevens going. It honestly isn't an 'Ulster-bias' thing, Court really has been that good this season in my opinion. You mention Willie John McBride, but even he questioned Warburton as Captain for exactly the reason I'm worried/annoyed. I don't disagree that there should be a whole raft of Welsh players in the squad, they're a great side. My issue with the 'They're all Lions now' idea is that it feels like Gatland has done his level best to make it the Welsh and the Rest Lions. Like I said, I was expecting it. Once the Tests start, I'll probably get into Lions mode again, but right now I'm feeling pretty switched off to the whole thing. |
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Post by Stew on Jun 5, 2013 11:24:25 GMT
That's the end of Healy anyway.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2013 11:31:59 GMT
It will make for an interesting selection against the Aussies, the welsh boys dominated the game agaisnt the baba's and the Irish boys are dominating the game today. As for Jamie Roberts having a poor season I agree however he had a shit hot game against the Baba's last week so its a difficult one. Think the wings and the backs will pick themselves, Can't see anyone starting ahead of Halfpenny at fullback regardless of how the other players play. His kicking today has been sublime, most of which have been tricky. Think Sexton is ahead of Farrell, Tuilagi is a shout for centre but then him and Roberts are both similar players so can't see the both playing at the same time.
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Post by Stew on Jun 5, 2013 11:34:27 GMT
Halfpenny should be nailed on. Cracking player and some goal-kicker.
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Post by Stew on Jun 5, 2013 11:35:47 GMT
Tuilagi is having a good game. BOD is having a ball playing outside him.
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