Lions Tour

[Van wink 2,994]

How the ****  isnt Adams starting, or even on the bench, astonishing selection. 

[A Load of Squit 4,641]

A question for you Rugby fans.

Why do they name the teams 3 or 4 days before the game?

 

[keelansgrandad 6,678]

1 hour ago, A Load of Squit said:

A question for you Rugby fans.

Why do they name the teams 3 or 4 days before the game?

 

The rules of the game provide for teams being announced 48 hours before kick off.

Apart from that it is mostly tradition and as simple as programmes being correct, rugby was amateur and travel arrangements etc.

 

[Van wink 2,994]

13 minutes ago, keelansgrandad said:

The rules of the game provide for teams being announced 48 hours before kick off.

Apart from that it is mostly tradition and as simple as programmes being correct, rugby was amateur and travel arrangements etc.

 

Yep and players need to know who is in the team and the squad for full contact training during the week before the game, also practising line out calls etc

[keelansgrandad 6,678]

1 hour ago, Van wink said:

How the ****  isnt Adams starting, or even on the bench, astonishing selection. 

To be fair, Watson is one of the world's best and a great back three player. And Van de Merwe is another big winger.

I think Gatland is concerned about Kolbe who is quick and elusive. I have seen so many favourites get pounded into the ground in SA. Its as important to them as NZers.

They cannot allow the beggars to assume dominance or they will bury us. Curry has looked awesome and Itoje and AWJ should handle Etzebeth at the lineout. But the front row will find it difficult to out scrummage an awesome front row.

[Van wink 2,994]

Van de Merve will have a huge test under the high ball, we will see if his defence is up to it. Adam’s has been in fantastic form for Wales and the Lions, still a mystery to me how he isn’t playing, too much influence over selection for Townsend ?

[Feedthewolf 4,350]

Van de Merwe and Adams have both played well, but the selection of Watson implies that Gatland is prioritising strength and defensive acumen over attack (probably not unwise given Kolbe's phenomenal talent).

The front five and the backs are pretty much what I expected (although I did actually think he'd pick Adams); the back row is a bit of a surprise, especially choosing Lawes at 6 and not choosing Faletau at 8... and Simmonds not even in the 23 after scoring almost a try a game from 8 for Exeter this season? Hamish Watson is really unlucky to miss out, too.

Chris Harris was a bit of a bolter in the warm-ups, massively impressed with him. Not convinced Daly is best at 13, but Gatland's a wise old owl.

[keelansgrandad 6,678]

Great second half performance. We weren't in it for so much of the first half and I really feared the worst.

But the momentum changed right from the kick off and luckily some decisions went our way.

Itoje and Wynn Jones were a powerful  force in the rucks and mauls and delighted for our Norfolk boy Ali Price.

Itoje MOTM

[Van wink 2,994]

8 minutes ago, keelansgrandad said:

Great second half performance. We weren't in it for so much of the first half and I really feared the worst.

But the momentum changed right from the kick off and luckily some decisions went our way.

Itoje and Wynn Jones were a powerful  force in the rucks and mauls and delighted for our Norfolk boy Ali Price.

Itoje MOTM

Brilliant second half, great result and well done GATT’s, how could anyone ever doubt him. Itoje must be MOTM

Edited July 24, 2021 by Van wink

[Van wink 2,994]

9 minutes ago, keelansgrandad said:

Great second half performance. We weren't in it for so much of the first half and I really feared the worst.

But the momentum changed right from the kick off and luckily some decisions went our way.

Itoje and Wynn Jones were a powerful  force in the rucks and mauls and delighted for our Norfolk boy Ali Price.

Itoje MOTM

Norfolk seems to have a heritage of producing quality number 9’s KG

[keelansgrandad 6,678]

24 minutes ago, Van wink said:

Norfolk seems to have a heritage of producing quality number 9’s KG

Well that is four Lions now and two from Kings Lynn.

[keelansgrandad 6,678]

Does Will Greenwood think he is on WWE?

[Van wink 2,994]

4 minutes ago, keelansgrandad said:

Does Will Greenwood think he is on WWE?

His hair should go to TMO, clear and obvious mistake 

[sonyc 5,015]

Amazing game of two halves. That's why sport is so great. It produces things like this.

Massive second match to come and they will be so determined to fight back but the pressure is huge. Fancy losing to a team assembled in just a few weeks. That will hurt.

Sets it all up mind.

[Van wink 2,994]

So the absence of Adams and Liam Williams will now be rectified, all building up for the final test when hopefully Gats will pick the best "RUGBY" side available and not just the biggest.

Edited July 31, 2021 by Van wink

[keelansgrandad 6,678]

I am perturbed that Gatland, just like Eddie Jones seems to have no Plan B.

Our box kicking wasn't working Saturday but we continued to try and condense the game in the forwards who were second best. Watson got one pass in open play and that was at his feet.

We have to ignore what the Boks are best at and concentrate on what we are best at.

[Van wink 2,994]

2 hours ago, keelansgrandad said:

I am perturbed that Gatland, just like Eddie Jones seems to have no Plan B.

Our box kicking wasn't working Saturday but we continued to try and condense the game in the forwards who were second best. Watson got one pass in open play and that was at his feet.

We have to ignore what the Boks are best at and concentrate on what we are best at.

Yep, all I can say is he is an old fox and may still pull a rabbit out of the hat, but at the moment hard to see that happening. Maybe need a few more Welsh boys ……but I would say that wouldn’t I

I enjoyed the second test all the intrigue and focus on the ref, but for most casual observers it was a disaster. We can’t go on with the forensic analysis of every refs decision, having Owens on the commentary team was a mistake, the last thing rugby needs is to sell its soul to EPL culture

[Van wink 2,994]

A better looking side, tough on the new lads coming in who haven’t had the usual mid week games to stay match fit, but it’s tough all round in the current circumstances for both teams.

[keelansgrandad 6,678]

42 minutes ago, Van wink said:

A better looking side, tough on the new lads coming in who haven’t had the usual mid week games to stay match fit, but it’s tough all round in the current circumstances for both teams.

Surprised Watson was dropped considering he had only one pass in the last match.

[Van wink 2,994]

23 minutes ago, keelansgrandad said:

Surprised Watson was dropped considering he had only one pass in the last match.

Yes so was I,  and of the back three he made the least mistakes, if thats any recommendation. 

[Big Vince 281]

The final test will be decided up front. If the Boks carry on where they left off in the second half, then the Lions are dead and buried. South Africa is a graveyard for touring teams who are unable to at least gain parity in the scrummage. It will be hard for the Lions. The giant Springbok pack is worth an extra man in weight. And if they are supremely motivated as well, it becomes an irresistible force.

[keelansgrandad 6,678]

Well that ended poorly. AWJ saying its about emotion etc but what if the opposition have more emotion to give? I watched a team first to the breakdowns, quick up on the gain line and quite happy to drain our packs energy in mauls and drives.

Hats off to them, they deserved their triumph.

[Van wink 2,994]

1 hour ago, keelansgrandad said:

Well that ended poorly. AWJ saying its about emotion etc but what if the opposition have more emotion to give? I watched a team first to the breakdowns, quick up on the gain line and quite happy to drain our packs energy in mauls and drives.

Hats off to them, they deserved their triumph.

Poor game management by the Lions, architects of their own downfall in many ways but the biggest quality is knowing how to win, and SA were better at that than us. Glad the tour took place but will be remembered for all the wrong reasons

[Crabbycanary3 994]

Oh dear! I wander onto this non football section very rarely so no wonder I have missed this thread. I agree with Van WInk in that the players may be kicking themselves, as they didn't perform  to their best during any of the 3 games tbh, for the rest of their days at missing out on winning a Lions Test series. These chances do not come round often but this was the most winnable of series I felt.  Yes, SA did a job on us but we had the armoury to overcome that, we just didn't have the brains. 

I agree with some of the selections being questionable (e.g I really wanted Faletau in for game 2, for his pace, Conan didn't offer anything over and above what Faletau can).

[keelansgrandad 6,678]

3 hours ago, Crabbycanary3 said:

Oh dear! I wander onto this non football section very rarely so no wonder I have missed this thread. I agree with Van WInk in that the players may be kicking themselves, as they didn't perform  to their best during any of the 3 games tbh, for the rest of their days at missing out on winning a Lions Test series. These chances do not come round often but this was the most winnable of series I felt.  Yes, SA did a job on us but we had the armoury to overcome that, we just didn't have the brains. 

I agree with some of the selections being questionable (e.g I really wanted Faletau in for game 2, for his pace, Conan didn't offer anything over and above what Faletau can).

Elite Rugby is becoming less entertaining each year.

We have players appealing for everything, i.e. SA players appealing for head high tackle.

We have referees using TMO for something that is under their feet, i.e. the fairly contentious clear out at a ruck by SA.

Scrums, and now lineouts, are taking forever when they are a method of restarting the game.

Forward passes are now called lateral.

I will be much happier watching 15 local lads playing for the essence of the game and a pint or two afterwards.

[Van wink 2,994]

4 minutes ago, keelansgrandad said:

Elite Rugby is becoming less entertaining each year.

We have players appealing for everything, i.e. SA players appealing for head high tackle.

We have referees using TMO for something that is under their feet, i.e. the fairly contentious clear out at a ruck by SA.

Scrums, and now lineouts, are taking forever when they are a method of restarting the game.

Forward passes are now called lateral.

I will be much happier watching 15 local lads playing for the essence of the game and a pint or two afterwards.

Walsh