1st test - Australia v British & Irish Lions

[Derpus]

It is weird how disparaging the press are of Australia as if it is somehow shameful that we can't compete with the Lions.

Even if you ignore all the contextual factors holding Australia back - the Lions should be able to beat any single nation easily in the context of the professional era, including NZ and SA. They are, after all, comprised of three of the top six best nations in the world and have a 5-6 game run + a month or so to build cohesion. That's a better run in than a world cup.

 

[Hmmmmmm]

You left out the bit that they were beaten by Scotland.

Losing two players on game day and not being able to train on a pitch for more than an hour for their whole week in Scotland will do that to you

 

[Derpus]

Losing two players on game day and not being able to train on a pitch for more than an hour for their whole week in Scotland will do that to you

That kind of **** happens to the Wallabies every time though. They should be used to it.

 

[Hmmmmmm]

That kind of **** happens to the Wallabies every time though. They should be used to it.

Losing Bell and Williams was huge. They’d been two of their best

 

[Hmmmmmm]

 

[Derpus]

So no Skelton, Valetini, Tupou, LSL or Gleeson. That's probably our five most physical players not selected or injured.

Lynagh's third cap, first starting and with a scrum half he's never played with before. Jesus.

Lions by 30+

 

[Ddanno]

Oof yeah. That pack is going to get beaten up. Lynagh won't see much ball so I wouldn't worry about him so much

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

Keenan, Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong. Itoje, McCarthy, Beirne, Curry, Conan.

Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Chessum, Earl, Mitchell, Smith, Aki

Leaks were pretty accurate then. I’d feel hard done by if I was Morgan and VDF. Both were significantly better performers than Curry. Curry hasn’t hit form since his return. Britney too hasn’t really done much this tour

 

[Ddanno]

5:3 bench, what is this 2014?

 

[General Melchett]

Britney too hasn't really done much this tour

Oops Farrell did it again.

 

[TopTen2003]

Not what I would call the form players on tour at 6 and 7 especially. We know they’re absolute class when at their best so over to them now to go and show it.

Good bench options to have and hoping we can physically drain Aus before seeing them off in the final 20.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Keenan, Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong. Itoje, McCarthy, Beirne, Curry, Conan.

Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Chessum, Earl, Mitchell, Smith, Aki

Leaks were pretty accurate then. I'd feel hard done by if I was Morgan and VDF. Both were significantly better performers than Curry. Curry hasn't hit form since his return. Britney too hasn't really done much this tour

Which Smith is it on the bench?

 

[TobesHodges]

I see all the pundits talking about the Aus backline but I think their pack is going to be phenomenal, huge front 5 with Skelton, Topou, Bell. But the backrow is really good, I suspect they'll go Valetini 6 McReight 7 and Wilson 8.

Fraser McReight is an elite back rower, I think to counter the Lions have to go grunt, Conan, Morgan, Curry counters with curry being a bit more defensive than earl, pollock and Bierne

I did say grunt is what will counter act the wallabies back row, but I’m surprised at the omission of Morgan, but not surprised it’s Bierne to add more physicality

 

[General Melchett]

Which Smith is it on the bench?

Kwagga

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Up the Aussies. Justice for Handsome Josh.

 

[OllyM97]

That’s a very uninspiring, mediocre Lions Team. They’re very lucky that Australia are so average because if they were playing a good Wallaby team, and certainly if they were touring SA or NZ, I’d be worried about a 3-0 whitewash. What is the point of warm-up games if they don’t have a massive bearing on test selection?. The Lions concept with one of the national coaches as the head coach is a busted flush - it needs radical changes.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Mixed feelings. From 1-5 and 8-23 that’s the exact team I’d have gone for. But #6 and #7 really put a damper on it. I absolutely love T. Curry but he and Beirne have both been sleep walking so far this tour. J. Morgan can feel very hard done by.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Up the Aussies. Justice for Handsome Josh.

You already used your make a wish request to get Aki into the 23

 

[General Melchett]

Up the Aussies. Justice for Handsome Josh.

Good to hear you're firmluy behind Tuipolotu.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nick Frost starting at lock
Nick Frost recently cast as Hagrid in the new Harry Potter show
Hagrid body double in original movies was Martin Bayfield
Martin Bayfield was an international lock


Makes you think