Test Match 3: All Blacks v British & Irish Lions (Auckland)

[TRF_Olyy]

Not if he's injured, he'll be straight into treatment and rehab.
Hogg had surgery almost immediately after he landed back in Scotland

 

[Tadginator]

Jordie Barrett makes a lot of sense as a starter as they need a more consistent kicker on the pitch in case it's a close game again

 

[munstermuffin]

Indeed! I'd still fancy being on the Ale down under. Like I said. Old school.

Surely the Saints are giving him a week or two off in the summer.

Ever since Lions started this has been the process. Remember Paul O'Connell in Australia. There was shock he stayed but he was asked to. It's very rare any player stays on after injury. Even Payne who was staying on in NZ after for hol has left squad

 

[BobbyM]

1. Joe Moody (27)
2. Codie Taylor (18)
3. Owen Franks (93)
4. Brodie Retallick (63)
5. Samuel Whitelock (87)
6. Jerome Kaino (80)
7. Sam Cane (43)
8. Kieran Read (99) - Captain
9. Aaron Smith (61)
10. Beauden Barrett (52)
11. Julian Savea (53)
12. Ngani Laumape (1)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (12)
14. Israel Dagg (64)
15. Jordie Barrett (1)

16. Nathan Harris (7)
17. Wyatt Crockett (61)
18. Charlie Faumuina (49)
19. Scott Barrett (7)
20. Ardie Savea (15)
21. TJ Perenara (32)
22. Aaron Cruden (49)
23. Malakai Fekitoa (23)

Jordie starts - =D
Laumape starts - =D
Cruden on Bench - =(

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Surprised at the selection of Laumape after his defensive error led to Murray try. And Jordie starting debut at full back???!! Wonder if He will take over kicking duties from his older brother.

But not surprised at recalling of the Bus.

 

[Reiser99]

I think Lions have to target that midfield and put them under pressure. Both great players, but clearly inexperienced. I would also saying about kicking for Barrett but I think that would have been the plan anyway.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Lions team announced at 8pm BST.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Personally glad to see Julian being given a chance, I still rate him very highly.

Jordie is lucky he wasn't called upon to play out of position for the Maoris which would have made him look bad

I think this is way too early in his development for him but frankly I'm not sure the Lions have the guile to expose his defensive issues the way we have occasionally seen in Super Rugby this year. I'd have stuck with Dagg myself.

Not a whole lot of leadership in the backs if the Lions can get in about their mince; but with the amount of AB experience up front this shouldn't be an issue. Still, this AB selection certainly doesn't scream out invincibility to me like it was in 2016.

 

[Ground We Won]

Good to see Fekitoa at least on the bench and not Goodhue (why did he even list him as the injury cover then just call up Fekitoa anyway when **** hit the fan?) Fekitoa should really have been starting and should have been in the bloody team/bench since the first test anyway...

Jordie debut at FB? Cruden benched at his expense. I guess he's thinking if Jordie doesn't turn up he can chuck on Cruden to save our bacon.

Not overly impressed will see what the Lions put out before making a call. First thoughts are they are in with a decent chance.

 

[Nudger]

Cleaning out ruck pens are another burr in my ass. I am not here to justify players doing what Vunipola did, but frankly, players clean players out, leaving their own feet, multiple times in the match, and it is never ever called. I could post a video of such offences after each game we have seen. There is often no attempt made to bind going into the ruck. They simply throw themselves at the opponents and frequently hit shoulder first and like I said, have already left their feet. I am surprised more players don't milk pens from it. Thought Barrett made a bit of a meal of that to be honest.

Another pen Mako got was for being off his feet trying to secure possession in at tackle. He was clearly supporting his own weight on replay. Just a bad call. The late hit on Barrett, while another pen, was also pretty milked, and Mako was clearly attempting to block the kick, but just too fat to stop himself in time. That's life on the rugby edge. I wouldn't start Mako mainly because of his weaker scrummaging, not because he's a proven penalty hazard.

Also farrel was cleaned out he gets up not even a penalty if he stays down and does a Barrett who knows?

 

[Penne Rara]

Personally glad to see Julian being given a chance, I still rate him very highly.

Jordie is lucky he wasn't called upon to play out of position for the Maoris which would have made him look bad

I think this is way too early in his development for him but frankly I'm not sure the Lions have the guile to expose his defensive issues the way we have occasionally seen in Super Rugby this year. I'd have stuck with Dagg myself.

Not a whole lot of leadership in the backs if the Lions can get in about their mince; but with the amount of AB experience up front this shouldn't be an issue. Still, this AB selection certainly doesn't scream out invincibility to me like it was in 2016.

Jordie can't play for the Maori, and if he had been chosen, maybe he would have stood out! Akira put in a high level performance despite the Maori being rubbish on that day

 

[The Jones Boy]

I'm disappointed with Cruden, his game has really fallen away.

 

[munstermuffin]

That All Blacks team really doesn't put any fear in me. And part of me hopes they win but I struggling to convince myself they will

 

[munstermuffin]

Times saying Jack McGrath will be dropped as will CJ Stander out of 23

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Times saying Jack McGrath will be dropped as will CJ Stander out of 23

Yep and Marler to replace McGrath on bench, Tipuric to replace Stander. 18 minutes to find out if this turns out to be true.

 

[Scotty]

Team id like to see

1 mcgrath
2 geaorge
3 furlong
4 itoje
5 kruise or lawes
6 SoB (yes hes a 7 but a good carrier and will slow thr ball. Im putting stander on the bench but not disapointed if he starts with SoB and tips on thw bench)
7 tipuric (Sob at 6 si he can bring some pase)
8 falatau
9 webb (good sniper and doesnt kick asmuch as murray)
10 faz
11 nowell (daly has been solid but hasnt got the workrate of nowell and if nowell is having a shocker he can be subbed early rather than coming on late and failing)
12 sexton
13 davies or JJ (but JJ wont happen)
14 waton
15 williams

16 ken owens
17 mako (impact)
18 sinks (impact)
19 henderson (impact)
20 stander (or tips if stander starts)
21 murray
22 teo
23 daly (covers 11 13 14 15)

(Prob end up having ken owens, warburton, AWJ in the stating line up knowing gatland)

Thats my opinon on the 23 but my 23 is only good if he uses the SUBS! Rather than leaving about 5 out of 8 subs on the bench while against an all blacks side

Shpuld have lost that game because barrett left 9 points out there and tired bods against the all blsck dont work

 

[munstermuffin]

Yep and Marler to replace McGrath on bench, Tipuric to replace Stander. 18 minutes to find out if this turns out to be true.

So Mako survives indiscipline. No arguments on Tipuric he earned it but still hope its a hammering for Gatland.

 

[The Jones Boy]

That All Blacks team really doesn't put any fear in me. And part of me hopes they win but I struggling to convince myself they will

Is that the scent of over confidence I'm picking up?
Excellent.

 

[munstermuffin]

Is that the scent of over confidence I'm picking up?
Excellent.

No I'm hoping All Blacks win in a way. Just it's not as scary as past

 

[The Jones Boy]

But I just think that it's a bit bananas for some people to claim that the Vunipola and Williams incidents were equivalent / equally clear cut.

You will always get your dyed in the wool one eyed fans languishing in denial... they have to learn to live with it.
I'm glad Watson is ok. That would have been an ugly way to end his tour.