British and Irish Lions v Argentina

[AlRums]

British and Irish Lions: Bundee Aki says his partnership with Sione Tuipulotu has 'got to get better'

Bundee Aki says it was "frustrating" that he did not link up better with midfield partner Sione Tuipulotu in the British and Irish Lions' defeat by Argentina in Dublin on Friday.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[AlRums]

Farrell was quoted as saying he selected Marcus because of his ability to play at 10+15. I don't want to bash him either but will be amazed if we see him at 15 again unless it's a case of needs must. I also think Duhan has a massive uphill battle to get into the test 23 as Schmidt will just target him with bombs. The back three selection just exposed his weaknesses even though he is just back after a lay off.

I thought Daly looked decent when he came on and I would start him at 15 on Saturday if Keenan isn't fit. We also look light at 12 and I assume Sione will get a start there with Jones or Ringrose outside him. I know we joke about Tom Jordan but him instead of Marcus would have made so much sense. He was in better form, is a better 15 and also covers 12 which is a position where we look a bit light.

Jordan also covers fly half

Occupied positions by Tom on start team :
Fly-Half : 44 times ( Fly-Half 73% )
Center : 14 times ( Inside Centre 23% )
Fullback : 2 times ( Fullback 3% )

Tom JORDAN profile and stats

Tom JORDAN : bio, stats, play time, birthdate, height, weight...

all.rugby

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

Jordan also covers fly half

Occupied positions by Tom on start team :
Fly-Half : 44 times ( Fly-Half 73% )
Center : 14 times ( Inside Centre 23% )
Fullback : 2 times ( Fullback 3% )

Tom JORDAN profile and stats

Tom JORDAN : bio, stats, play time, birthdate, height, weight...

all.rugby

I'm pretty sure he's been listed as a 10 in the confirmed squad for Bristol next season

 

[Saintjay]

Must be annoying not to be the best 10 for Scotland. Then you get a club move and now you're not even the best 10 in the west country.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Farrell was quoted as saying he selected Marcus because of his ability to play at 10+15. I don't want to bash him either but will be amazed if we see him at 15 again unless it's a case of needs must. I also think Duhan has a massive uphill battle to get into the test 23 as Schmidt will just target him with bombs. The back three selection just exposed his weaknesses even though he is just back after a lay off.

I thought Daly looked decent when he came on and I would start him at 15 on Saturday if Keenan isn't fit. We also look light at 12 and I assume Sione will get a start there with Jones or Ringrose outside him. I know we joke about Tom Jordan but him instead of Marcus would have made so much sense. He was in better form, is a better 15 and also covers 12 which is a position where we look a bit light.

The irony is that Warren Gatland picked Duhan Van De Merve to start all 3 tests on the previous Lions tour to compete for all the box kicks! Shows how wrong Gatland was. The tactics on that tour didn't match the team selection.

 

[dirty harry]

Farrell was quoted as saying he selected Marcus because of his ability to play at 10+15. I don't want to bash him either but will be amazed if we see him at 15 again unless it's a case of needs must. I also think Duhan has a massive uphill battle to get into the test 23 as Schmidt will just target him with bombs. The back three selection just exposed his weaknesses even though he is just back after a lay off.

I thought Daly looked decent when he came on and I would start him at 15 on Saturday if Keenan isn't fit. We also look light at 12 and I assume Sione will get a start there with Jones or Ringrose outside him. I know we joke about Tom Jordan but him instead of Marcus would have made so much sense. He was in better form, is a better 15 and also covers 12 which is a position where we look a bit light.

Id fancy myself over Marcus at 15 right now tbh. Daly, Jordan, Keegan, **** it Bealham!!!!

I think Farrell was probably referring to his ball playing abilities and allowing the bash bros to have a go in the midfield. I don't see that working tbh.

I think people are harsh on VDM in the air, not world class but he isn't a weakness, I can't criticise him for it last week, Smith just wreaked havoc from 15. Freeman was the best of the 3, but even he was out of kilter positionally, it was so hard to read what Marcus was doing.

 

[General Melchett]

The irony is that Warren Gatland picked Duhan Van De Merve to start all 3 tests on the previous Lions tour to compete for all the box kicks! Shows how wrong Gatland was. The tactics on that tour didn't match the team selection.

Yeah true - I think Gatland gets all starry eyed and weak at the knees with beefcake wingers who can plough through defenders and is happy to tolerate any weaknesses they may have.

 

[Saintjay]

Id fancy myself over Marcus at 15 right now tbh. Daly, Jordan, Keegan, **** it Bealham!!!!

I think Farrell was probably referring to his ball playing abilities and allowing the bash bros to have a go in the midfield. I don't see that working tbh.

I think people are harsh on VDM in the air, not world class but he isn't a weakness, I can't criticise him for it last week, Smith just wreaked havoc from 15. Freeman was the best of the 3, but even he was out of kilter positionally, it was so hard to read what Marcus was doing.

Freeman isn't shabby at 15 either certainly better than Smith. For some reason Borthwick and now Faz senior see a 15 in Smith.

 

[dirty harry]

Freeman isn't shabby at 15 either certainly better than Smith. For some reason Borthwick and now Faz senior see a 15 in Smith.

I havnt seen Freeman play 15 tbh, he didnt seem that versatile last week, but like DVM I wouldnt criticise him.

 

[BrokenWing]

They see a playmaker in Smith who's best fit outside 10 is 15.

He's only there for England because Furbank isn't available and the same for the Lions with Kinghorn or Keenan

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I can't see past Lowe and Freeman on the wings to be honest. Kinghorn is a great second playmaker and if Keenan plays his way into the XV, Farrell has let him and Ringrose share that role too when Hansen has been absent. Kinghorn can cover wing as could Jones and Ringrose in a real bind and Freeman can cover 13 too.

I suspect Smith will get another chance to prove himself at 15 and I think Farrell would want him to go well because he likes his 23 to be a centre with everything else covered from the pitch (or occasionally Crowley at 22 covering 15) but if it goes bad again it probably plays into Ringrose's hand a bit more as you'd trust him as a makeshift 12 more than Jones, he's done it a few times.

Feel like Farrell shot himself in the foot a wee bit by not utilising Jamie Osborne in the last 12 months as much as he could have, would really be the 23 the squad is looking for covering 11 - 15. He has the talent in spades and deserved chances ahead of Henshaw in green.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

If another country is added, that would make a full Lions tour cycle 16 years. 12 is already quite long but 16 before they visit again? It just seems like it starts getting daft.

 

[AlRums]

They see a playmaker in Smith who's best fit outside 10 is 15.

He's only there for England because Furbank isn't available and the same for the Lions with Kinghorn or Keenan

Then why didn't they try smith at 12 rather than 15?

I mean he'd never played fifteen until she put him there

 

[BrokenWing]

Why are you asking me? I'm not Steve Borthwick

 

[AlRums]

Blair Kinghorn has the credentials to cover 10, 11, 14, 15

Occupied positions by Blair on start team :
Fullback : 125 times ( Fullback 64% )
Fly-Half : 39 times ( Fly-Half 20% )
Winger : 31 times ( Left Wing 11%, Right Wing 5% )

Obviously his main focus is 15

 

[BrokenWing]

Ok…and?

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Kinghorn is a class player but if we go into any test matches with him as 10 cover then something has gone very wrong.

 

[AlRums]

Kinghorn is a class player but if we go into any test matches with him as 10 cover then something has gone very wrong.

Better than smith at 15

 

[BrokenWing]

Better than smith at 15

I don't think anyone is arguing with you. But however good he is, he's not good enough to play 15 for The Lions whilst simultaneously playing on the wing for Toulouse.

 

[odw26]

I don't think anyone is arguing with you. But however good he is, he's not good enough to play 15 for The Lions whilst simultaneously playing on the wing for Toulouse.

I think you underestimate King Blairhorn