1st test - Australia v British & Irish Lions

[TommiG88]

Marcus Smith being a test lion just doesn't feel right.

Eh what?

 

[curtbob7]

Eh what?

Quins fan?

 

[Jimbo]

I criticise Sheratt all the time for his half time inability to i.prove performance, Farrell has to be criticised a bit here too, Aus came out hard and is was scrappy and catch up from 55 mins. Subs lost all momentum, and error count was awful.

I dont think many starters lose their spot, back 3 weren't great but I think all 3 survive, Tuipolotu is nailed on next week, as are 9, 10.

Mccarthys injury might cause a change, otherwise starting tight 5 were world class.

I think theres a decision to make in the back row, Conan grew into things, still doesn't look 100% but he and Beirne looked energetic last 20. With Piardi card happy, id go with VDM start with Morgan replacing Earls on the bench.

Hindsight’s a wonderful thing, he doesn’t have the same time a much bigger squad to pick from, it clearly didn’t go right today and there will be work ons but they haven’t met that kind of intensity, Morgan is defiantly due some time and has earned it, tbf though it isn’t like Earl hasn’t injected a lot of energy in previous games had it have been the other way around it could have been a similar story.

 

[TommiG88]

Quins fan?

Nope. Just a comment out of nowhere when he didn’t do anything wrong when he came on

 

[dirty harry]

Hindsight's a wonderful thing, he doesn't have the same time a much bigger squad to pick from, it clearly didn't go right today and there will be work ons but they haven't met that kind of intensity, Morgan is defiantly due some time and has earned it, tbf though it isn't like Earl hasn't injected a lot of energy in previous games had it have been the other way around it could have been a similar story.

I agree, I thought Earl had been really good, and wouldnt have sniffed at him starting tbh, I think Earl suffered from Sheehans ability out wide, the same way Morgan suffered from Keefe not allowing breakdown contests..

 

[LIONSxv]

I criticise Sheratt all the time for his half time inability to i.prove performance, Farrell has to be criticised a bit here too, Aus came out hard and is was scrappy and catch up from 55 mins. Subs lost all momentum, and error count was awful.

I dont think many starters lose their spot, back 3 weren't great but I think all 3 survive, Tuipolotu is nailed on next week, as are 9, 10.

Mccarthys injury might cause a change, otherwise starting tight 5 were world class.

I think theres a decision to make in the back row, Conan grew into things, still doesn't look 100% but he and Beirne looked energetic last 20. With Piardi card happy, id go with VDM start with Morgan replacing Earls on the bench.

Earl is on the bench to cover the whole back row including 8. Morgan can only play flanker. It's the reason why Earl was picked instead of VDF. He can even cover 12 should two centres get injured.

 

[AlRums]

Stand out play of the game was Russell's pass for the first try

 

[Jimbo]

I agree, I thought Earl had been really good, and wouldnt have sniffed at him starting tbh, I think Earl suffered from Sheehans ability out wide, the same way Morgan suffered from Keefe not allowing breakdown contests..

I think the uniqueness of the lions also forces the use of subs to keep it in the spirit of what it is and fans happy, I often find changes are made for changes sake rather than needed and improve things. Plus SA aside there is usually a significant drop off in some permissions between starters and benches depending on if the perceived strongest players start or are held back, where as for the lions there isn’t very much of that at all so I think it’s very hard to draw comparisons.

 

[HenryChinaski]

Wigglesworth and Spencer were both excellent box kickers, unfortunately they both had other elements missing, England generally don't product WC all round 9s I just don't think BK is their glaring weakness.

Agree I mainly just have a general fatigue from seeing so many English 9s with great facets to their games but not the complete package. When was the last undisputedly world class 9? Youngs and Care would pull out occasionally great performances but not consistently, and had a proclivity for low IQ moments

 

[Hmmmmmm]

Scoreline flattered the Aussies honestly. Lions had that won at 10-0 up. Good atmosphere in the pub I was in to start but by the end people wanted the Aussies to score.

Hope T2 is a better game

No. You expected a pasting and didn’t get it. The score line reflected the game. Wallabies came out much better in the 2nd half and for the most part, their bench was better. They had more than 1 try held up. They’ll be better in game 2.

 

[Derpus]

My thoughts as an Aussie:
- blown off the park physically. At least start blokes like Bell and Pollard if our big boppers arent fit ffs.
- OKeefe is the limpest dick the universe has ever seen. Tackle in the air, direct contact to the head with the shoulder, 8+ penalties within the 22, no arms tackle on the try line - no yellow. Get the **** out of here you sheep ******* spastic.
- Lions best back was an Aussie so we still win. Suck my dick.
- only losing by 8 is kind of remarkable. If we get all of our guys back and actually pick LSL we may still be a shot of snatching one.

 

[Jimbo]

Agree I mainly just have a general fatigue from seeing so many English 9s with great facets to their games but not the complete package. When was the last undisputedly world class 9? Youngs and Care would pull out occasionally great performances but not consistently, and had a proclivity for low IQ moments

That’s fair we certainly haven’t had since the glory days, early signs were Quirk could eventually be especially working with FDC but injury and maybe too much early excitement has ended all that for the moment atleast.

 

[Jimbo]

No. You expected a pasting and didn't get it. The score line reflected the game. Wallabies came out much better in the 2nd half and for the most part, their bench was better. They had more than 1 try held up. They'll be better in game 2.

I think both statements can be true, lions butchered a few and should probably have come away with more before HT.

 

[Reiser99]

Overall a dull game personally. Australia never looked in it, Lions took their foot off the gas and Australia scored late to make the scoreline look more respectable. Hopefully the Australian changes for next week will have the impact needed otherwise this could well be one of the most boring tours ever.

 

[Derpus]

Overall a dull game personally. Australia never looked in it, Lions took their foot off the gas and Australia scored late to make the scoreline look more respectable. Hopefully the Australian changes for next week will have the impact needed otherwise this could well be one of the most boring tours ever.

There will never be a more boring tour than the teenage ***** fest that was 2021.

 

[Derpus]

Overall a dull game personally. Australia never looked in it, Lions took their foot off the gas and Australia scored late to make the scoreline look more respectable. Hopefully the Australian changes for next week will have the impact needed otherwise this could well be one of the most boring tours ever.

I guess that's why they took the 3 in the second half eh? Just couldn't even be bothered to roll the try in.

 

[Jimbo]

My thoughts as an Aussie:
- blown off the park physically. At least start blokes like Bell and Pollard if our big boppers arent fit ffs.
- OKeefe is the limpest dick the universe has ever seen. Tackle in the air, direct contact to the head with the shoulder, 8+ penalties within the 22, no arms tackle on the try line - no yellow. Get the **** out of here you sheep ******* spastic.
- Lions best back was an Aussie so we still win. Suck my dick.
- only losing by 8 is kind of remarkable. If we get all of our guys back and actually pick LSL we may still be a shot of snatching one.

The officiating wasn't great at times but your going on Rassie level rants and not balancing anything here, how about the neck roll on Earl before one of the second half try's, the massive time/phase discrepancy on penalty advantage heavily in Aus favour, the scrum penalty that was called when the ball was already in the SHs hands, the ruck side entry's, holding on pens when there was no legitimate attempt to attack the ball, the reffing was most certainly not of the highest standard just don't think it was as one sided as you are making out. The alleged direct contact to the head is BS rugby incident and passive as **** if it was that bad where was the HIA for all the whinging it had to be bad….

 

[dirty harry]

Earl is on the bench to cover the whole back row including 8. Morgan can only play flanker. It's the reason why Earl was picked instead of VDF. He can even cover 12 should two centres get injured.

I get it, i think Curry, or Morgan could cover 8 though, its not like they face Valentini.

If Earl was genuine centre cover, I dont think we see Aki on the bench, who wasnt good coming on tbh.

 

[dirty harry]

The officiating wasn't great at times but your going on Rassie level rants and not balancing anything here, how about the neck roll on Earl before one of the second half try's, the massive time/phase discrepancy on penalty advantage heavily in Aus favour, the scrum penalty that was called when the ball was already in the SHs hands, the ruck side entry's, holding on pens when there was no legitimate attempt to attack the ball, the reffing was most certainly not of the highest standard just don't think it was as one sided as you are making out. The alleged direct contact to the head is BS rugby incident and passive as **** if it was that bad where was the HIA for all the whinging it had to be bad….

Although i agree, it did feel like Lions were getting the rub, both the head contact, tackle in the air, and Aus try could have all gone bad for Lions on another day.

With next week's ref I expect a card if we make those mistakes.

 

[Derpus]

The officiating wasn't great at times but your going on Rassie level rants and not balancing anything here, how about the neck roll on Earl before one of the second half try's, the massive time/phase discrepancy on penalty advantage heavily in Aus favour, the scrum penalty that was called when the ball was already in the SHs hands, the ruck side entry's, holding on pens when there was no legitimate attempt to attack the ball, the reffing was most certainly not of the highest standard just don't think it was as one sided as you are making out. The alleged direct contact to the head is BS rugby incident and passive as **** if it was that bad where was the HIA for all the whinging it had to be bad….

Are you talking about that one advantage where they went 20m down the field? I stopped reading at this point because it became apparent you don't understand the advantage rule.