Boon
United Bench Warmer
plg%%Evra%%
Posts: 733
|
Post by Boon on Jul 3, 2013 20:45:01 GMT
Paul it's just every time there's been a spot on the team available you have said a welsh player should get it even though most of the time there has been better players available
|
|
|
|
Post by Bestie on Jul 3, 2013 20:52:22 GMT
Well, Davies doesn't deserve to be starting ahead of BOD for a start. I couldn't be arsed going through the rest of the XV but Richie Gray should have started at least one of the tests. Ditto Rob Kearney. And don't get me wrong, a fit Roberts starts, but he's playing his first test in the most important one of all. BOD isn't even on the bench, what happens if Roberts' hammy goes again in the first half? Tuilagi comes on to change the game? Yeah right. Gatland's "brave and bold move" was going back to what he knows which is the rugby equivalent of the modern Barcelona. Successful but shite to watch. He could have taken a brave and bold move to change the style of play to something expansive and entertaining, instead he's gone back to usual. He's essentially put all blame on O'Driscoll for the lack of penetration this week by dropping him and leaving the rest pretty much unchanged. Even if they win, the style is not befitting a Lions tour. No excitement, no subtlety, no guile. All power and grind. Oh, and to prove I'm not being arbitrarily anti-Welsh, Ian Evans should be playing ahead of Parling. As I've said many times not instead of presuming it will be boring, shite rugby let's wait and see first. I think it will be a very good game Saturday. I agree with the whole team selection apart from BOD and Cuthbert. With the exception of those 2 it is the best Lions line up even on form. You won't know it its befitting a Lions tour because they haven't even played yet. People are assuming too much before it even happens. He's chosen to drop BOD, whether it turns out to be a good or bad mistake we will see Saturday but it's his choice, he has to live with it so don't see why he should be ridiculed for it. I agree that he should have started on the bench as I'd have rathered him come on for Roberts than Tuilagi. I agree with you on that point. But to suggest Wales play boring, shite to watch rugby is absolute absurd nonsense. that's your opinion and your entitled to it. To show i'm not being "bias" I even thought the likes of Robshaw deserved to be in the squad but was left out. It's hard to not seem bias when half the squad is from your own country, im just justifying them being there which they do deserve. Just to catch on a previous statement aswell, Yes the 6 Nations weren't great but again to say that we won it by default is rubbish. We wen't to France, Italy and Scotland and won, that aint easy by a country mile. We slaughtered the English to win it and stop them from winning the Grandslam, that takes some doing, The Irish deserved to beat us, they outplayed us in the first half, we played better in the 2nd but gave ourselves too much to do. I know I was at the game. We weren't great and after that game I even wrote us off but we more than deserved to win it, especially after the dismal Autumn internationals were we played shite. Also if they win the series, it'll be the first time in 16 years so I couldn't give 2 fucks who the side is made up of providing they get that win. France were shit this year, England were never going to do the Grand Slam and it was fluke they went to the final game with a chance of it. Beating Scotland and Italy is expected, there's a reason they fight for the wooden sppon every season. My point about Gatland and the tactics is that he has picked all power and no guile players. It's clear what tactics he wants to play. Ground-and-pound, his usual. And my point about that is that is simply not how the Lions are supposed to play. If I want to be entertained by huge men pounding-running the ball in lines every play, I'd watch the Patriots in the NFL. That's where that sort of play belongs. Like I said, I got into watching the Lions and into rugby properly due to that because of the champagne style. Everyone went ape of North's carry last weekend, but just before that BOD passed the ball out backwards through his legs. That's inventiveness and what Lions tours used to be all about. You keep saying if they win it doesn't matter. But it should. |
|
|
|
Post by Stew on Jul 3, 2013 21:21:32 GMT
Wales plsy very good rugby and its enjoyable to watch.
However, this Lions team is playing turgid, dull, safety first rugby and its awful to watch. The 2nd half of last week was a betrayal for me. We're adhering to every stereotype about Northern hemisphere, regimented, powerful, lack of imagination etc. Well we've tried that and it's failed. If the Aussie centre hasn't been knocked out we'd be looking at a whitewash. The tactics are terrible and its the only Luons tour bar Woodwards nonsense I haven't enjoyed. And the real shame in this is that this Ausdie side is ordinary. The AllBkacks will make shite of them in the tri-nations.
Geech seems to be the only one that can get them to play with some flair. I'd rather lose 2-1 like last time than watch another match like Saturdays.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2013 22:28:09 GMT
Wales plsy very good rugby and its enjoyable to watch. However, this Lions team is playing turgid, dull, safety first rugby and its awful to watch. The 2nd half of last week was a betrayal for me. We're adhering to every stereotype about Northern hemisphere, regimented, powerful, lack of imagination etc. Well we've tried that and it's failed. If the Aussie centre hasn't been knocked out we'd be looking at a whitewash. The tactics are terrible and its the only Luons tour bar Woodwards nonsense I haven't enjoyed. And the real shame in this is that this Ausdie side is ordinary. The AllBkacks will make shite of them in the tri-nations. Geech seems to be the only one that can get them to play with some flair. I'd rather lose 2-1 like last time than watch another match like Saturdays. Agree totally, last Saturday was atrocious and don't want to see a re-run of that game. This is probably more why i'm not too disheartened about BOD out and Roberts in, although I don't agree with being dropped completely, he has had to take a risk in order to try and win the series, unfortunate for BOD it's him but then 5 other players have been changed, if taking BOD out and putting Roberts in makes us play better rugby on Saturday then bring it on. Personally I'd have started with Roberts and BOD but i'm not the coach and there has to be a belief that we can go out and do this. @ Bestie - It does matter, what I mean is getting the win is important beyond everything else, I don't want to win it ugly, I want us to go out and win it and deserve it, if we can do that with the 15 named for Saturday then good on them. It's not impossible so we'll have to wait and see what happens. @ Carrick dude - The only positions I have named Welsh players to take over is Faletau who more than deserves his chance Saturday and is well overdue and Justin Tipuric who I feel is one of the most over looked and under rated flankers for Wales and the Lions. Although I am happy with O'Brien being there as he's played well. I have mentioned Richie Gray, Connor Murray, Alex Cobisiero, Geoff Parling (All aren't Welsh) So to say ive only picked Welsh players is bollocks. |
|
|
|
Post by Stew on Jul 3, 2013 22:45:34 GMT
There does seem to be something almost belligerent about Gatlands selections though. 6 changes after a win last week, 7 this time? He's always been a bit different.
For me it still boils to whether or not Davies is in better form than BOD. He isn't so there is actually nothing to be gained by dropping BOD. Gatland came out with some horseshit about him bring a left foot kicker earlier today? Nonsense. You take away so much and potentially what is there? Davies played well against NSW but missed 3 tackles last week. In tight test matches that is big. It's baffling. Ask yourself this- how do you think this news was greeted by the Ausdie camp? Delight and they will be drawing up plays to attack the wide space now because BOD defends that better than any centre in the last 30 years.
I have no problem with Heaslip losing pug so it's not pro irish. I'd feel the same if BOD was English. It's a terrible way for his Lions career to end and unnecessary. Maybe Davies has the game of his life on Ssturday but Zi can't see it,
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2013 22:57:23 GMT
I agree that the changes have been excessive, look at the warm up games, as much as I think he's a legend of the game what was the point in Shane Williams being called up for the Brumbies game? Things like that are unsettling and have a knock on effect, I've laid blame at the hands of Gatland, it's impossible not to (If I was Bias then I wouldn't say that). I think Davies is a hell of a centre, but I also agree that Roberts and BOD would have been a better partnership, I'm not against the fact that Davies is playing there though as I know on his game he can produce so world class rugby, the tour stats have proved that.
They went over too confident, Gatland although I think this team selection is a good one (no not because there are 10 welshman) has messed about with the selection and tactics a bit too much. What I am hoping is the players get it drilled into their heads what is at stake and they go out and give it the fight of their lives. It's possible, whether or not it will happen we shall see Saturday morning.
I feel for BOD, simply because he's not been on the winning end of a tour for the Lions and now there is a realistic chance he's going to miss out on it. That is a shame and a loss, but the thoughts have to go beyond that and towards the team that are there to hopefully deliver a series win, we should be losing this series 2-0 anyway as we haven't been great, on the tour only the Ba-Ba's game sticks out for me, as that is the rugby I love to watch, just hoping some of that can return for Saturday.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2013 11:40:15 GMT
What happened to your post Bestie  Damn that boring rugby eh  Halfpenny is unstoppable in anything he does. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2013 11:45:19 GMT
What happened to your post Bestie Damn that boring rugby eh Halfpenny is unstoppable in anything he does. I was wondering what happened to that |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2013 11:49:06 GMT
Take a fucking bow Warren Gatland. As I said wait and see how his choices fare, well theres your answer. Its about a team not an individual. Egg on faces.
As far as the Welsh lads not beating the Aussies, well I think thats put that to bed.
Been a poor tour overall but a fucking sweet ending. Its a lovely Lions win.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bestie on Jul 6, 2013 12:08:32 GMT
I deleted it as no-one seemed to have noticed. Didn't realise people were actually perusing the thread.
Switched off after the third try, although I could see it coming the whole game. Austrailia had a 'mare of a start with the drop and never looked like getting back into it. End of the day, Gatland has ruined the tour for me, and I can't enjoy a Lions tour win. It's a very sour taste.
Also, as predicted, Bowe made the first try, Sexton got the all important second. But, of coure, 'The Welsh lads' beat Austrailia. Delighted for North though, he's fucking machine.
And, as I said, Gatland gets plaudits for team selection even though the first half was all set piece and no rugby, second half fair enough eventually a big score has been put up but the Aussie's were beaten by then.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2013 12:15:32 GMT
Not saying the "Welsh lads" beat them, but the fact they havent beaten them in 8 attempts proves they can get over the line. It was a good team effort by all nations involved. Gatland has made a lot of people eat humble pie. Wonder if you'd feel the same way if he wasnt the Welsh coach Bestie. Its not all about the tries, it's about the points on the board and the way they conduct themselves, we should know about that with all the 1-0 grinding wins, we got the job done, certainly aint going to complain about that. Dnt lie Bestie you deleted it because your post was made to look silly when the points cropped up THAT WAS a Lions proper performance. |
|
|
|
Post by Stew on Jul 6, 2013 12:25:40 GMT
Great stuff by the Lions but I really don't see Gstland making people eat humble pie Paul. Don't see that Davies did anything today that BOD won't have. The biggest issue I had was not having him on the bench. Would it have killed Gatland to give him the final 10 minutes? The reasoning is Tuilagi covers centre and wing which is horseshit.
Faleteau was outstanding, great call. O'Brien the same. Philips wasn't so you win some, lose some. Anyway, they had to win this series. Aussies are pretty ordinary at present so this was a must.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2013 12:30:59 GMT
Maybe nt mate, im just made up we won the series and the amount of shit Gatland has had. Agree would have been nice for BOD to have been on the bench, agreed on what you say about the players.
As good a tour win as it is, 4 years time against the Kiwi's will be different though so it needs to be better.
Made up for Halfpenny, deserves player of the series.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bestie on Jul 6, 2013 12:37:29 GMT
Not saying the "Welsh lads" beat them, but the fact they havent beaten them in 8 attempts proves they can get over the line. It was a good team effort by all nations involved. Gatland has made a lot of people eat humble pie. Wonder if you'd feel the same way if he wasnt the Welsh coach Bestie. Its not all about the tries, it's about the points on the board and the way they conduct themselves, we should know about that with all the 1-0 grinding wins, we got the job done, certainly aint going to complain about that. Dnt lie Bestie you deleted it because your post was made to look silly when the points cropped up THAT WAS a Lions proper performance. Like I said, turned it off when the third try was scored. Austrailia had their chances to rack up points and turned them down to go for tries. Great stuff by the Lions but I really don't see Gstland making people eat humble pie Paul. Don't see that Davies did anything today that BOD won't have. The biggest issue I had was not having him on the bench. Would it have killed Gatland to give him the final 10 minutes? The reasoning is Tuilagi covers centre and wing which is horseshit. Faleteau was outstanding, great call. O'Brien the same. Philips wasn't so you win some, lose some. Anyway, they had to win this series. Aussies are pretty ordinary at present so this was a must. Precisely. Again, like I said before, Gatland has left me with a seriously sour taste when I should be over the moon about a Lions tour victory. It's a shame. |
|
|
|
Post by Stew on Jul 6, 2013 12:42:23 GMT
Maybe nt mate, im just made up we won the series and the amount of shit Gatland has had. Agree would have been nice for BOD to have been on the bench, agreed on what you say about the players. As good a tour win as it is, 4 years time against the Kiwi's will be different though so it needs to be better. Made up for Halfpenny, deserves player of the series. They'll need to have a serious look at the back play in New Zealand. |
|
