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19:35 (08:35), 08/07/2017
Eden Park, Auckland
Really wish Gats will drop AWJ and start Lawes and Itoje with Henderson on the bench.......BUt that isn't going to be happening.
Least SOB will be playing.
This could be the Match of Matches if the Lions wouldn't have Gatland&Co. as their coaching staff.
I like the line up that munstermuffin posted, an all irish backrow for Murray, with the exception of Daly. It doesn't seem he's doing anything worth of keeping him on the pitch. He's been largely irrelevant so far.
George North in spite he's not impressed us, has a lot more potential of being the impact player the Lions need and he showed that in the last mid-week game.
If I was to pick a team I'd go
1. McGrath
2. George
3. Furlong
4. Itoje
5. Lawes
6. Henderson
7. SOB
8. Stander (Faletau hasn't been superb but if he plays fair enough)
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Daly
12. Farrell
13. Davies
14. Watson
15. Williams
16. Owens
17. Mako
18. Sinckler
19. & 20. Stander or Faletau/O'Mahony/Tips
21. Webb
22. Te'o
23. Nowell
Faletau absolutely has been superb. Statistically the best player on tour (tops the tackle count week in week out) and that's before you get to his carrying and that finish.
Big fan of his but it has felt like a quieter tour for him carry-wise. Has anyone got stats on meters gained for him?
Appreciate defensively he does a lot of unsung work.
As I said and others have it just feels he's been quiter but equally as I said if he plays I'm not complaining either and as Olyy states I probably didn't factor in it was against NZFaletau absolutely has been superb. Statistically the best player on tour (tops the tackle count week in week out) and that's before you get to his carrying and that finish.
Fekitoa has been called in to the ABs to cover SBW, doubt he'll play though. Our midfield options are ALB, Laumape, Goodhue, Fekitoa and at a stretch Ioane, but that would be dumb imo.
Considering they were the 2 originally in the squad and have been playing pretty well, I'm confident we'll see Laumape and ALB starting, which is exciting.
I think they have the potential to be great together, but they're a brand new pairing so the fluidity might not be there.
I think they'll bring the bus back this week in place of Ioane, and he'll need a big game. It would be a shame if he just fell off and never reached that ABs try scoring record that he has seemed destined for. I don't think that'll happen, but he needs to prove himself. Someone just needs to get it ingrained in his head that he needs to get his ass involved more!
No idea what the weather's doing but I'm expecting a big performance from the ABs regardless. Losing at home will hurt, and Mt Eden is a fortress. Wouldn't be surprised by a blow-out, but I won't predict it. This Lions side have earned more respect than that. They'll really need to be on their game's to be in this though, more so than they were in Wellington IMO.