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Western Force v British & Irish Lions - 5/6/13

TRF_Cymro

Cymro The White
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5th June, 19:35 (Local), 11:00 (UK, BST)
Subiaco Oval, [FONT=Tahoma, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]Perth[/FONT]
 

So happy for BOD, and that center partnership is one I'm looking forwards to. The wings also very exciting hopefully Sexton brings them in to the game better then Farrel did over the weekend.

Pack also looks good the front row is very good around the field all 3 doing lots of work in the breakdowns. 2nd row offers good options in the line out but we know about how these two play with each other so nothing new there but lineout (if best hits the jumpers) will be secure. Interesting to see how the backrow respond after the good performance on the weekend.
 
Tbf, that is some team.


(Actually, by re-reading it, I realize I am starting to develop an anti-Welsh bias)
 
Very strong looking team. Looking forward to see what sort of form Bowe can drum up, and obviously that center partnership could be tasty.
 
Very strong team. Not wanting to be accused of English arrogance but from what I've seen of the Force in Super Rugby this year this could be a bit painful for them. Someone who gets to watch full matches rather than highlights please correct me but they've looked inconsistent for much of the season so far and certainly shouldn't pose a threat to the Lions.

My one quibble is Tuilagi at inside centre. Unless the Lions have taught him to pass (if they have then Warren Gatlands has performed a miracle for English rugby) then the outside backs might suffer some ball starvation.
 
Very strong team. Not wanting to be accused of English arrogance but from what I've seen of the Force in Super Rugby this year this could be a bit painful for them. Someone who gets to watch full matches rather than highlights please correct me but they've looked inconsistent for much of the season so far and certainly shouldn't pose a threat to the Lions.

My one quibble is Tuilagi at inside centre. Unless the Lions have taught him to pass (if they have then Warren Gatlands has performed a miracle for English rugby) then the outside backs might suffer some ball starvation.

The Force have been inconsistant to an extent not as bad a the Rebles or even the Reds. Their attack is pretty poor TBH but they're defensive system works really well at keeping teams working hard for points. I think however the Force won't be as focused on this game as they have the Force this Saturday so I except them to push hard the team is nothing if not committed but they lack he class.

Tuilangi can pass he just dosen't really seem to know when to do it, so I hope BOD and Howley will have been helping him with that. I expect however we'll see Tuulangi take a hit up from 12 then BOD will be looking to be part of the play aiming bringing Bowe and North in.
 
Very strong team. Not wanting to be accused of English arrogance but from what I've seen of the Force in Super Rugby this year this could be a bit painful for them. Someone who gets to watch full matches rather than highlights please correct me but they've looked inconsistent for much of the season so far and certainly shouldn't pose a threat to the Lions.

My one quibble is Tuilagi at inside centre. Unless the Lions have taught him to pass (if they have then Warren Gatlands has performed a miracle for English rugby) then the outside backs might suffer some ball starvation.

Whoever teaches Tuilagi to pass will have created an animal!!!! BUT i can't see him learning to. I think he should ahve watched roberts at the weekend and taken note!
 
Love that side - would have started youngs but I can understand wanting to have a familiar 9/10. Hope youngs gets some time with sexton as, on form, think they'll work well together.
Few tweaks to the side (especially the bench) and that'd be my test side.

Also Tuilagi can pass, watch how he plays for Leicester. He's used poorly by England, but hopefully not by the lions.

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk 2
 
The Force won't reveal their team to meet the Lions until Tuesday, but based on their training this morning, it appears many of the Force's first-choice players will not play.
With a Super Rugby competition game four days later on Sunday, coach Michael Foley looks to have prioritised victory over the Tahs above piling his best players into Wednesday's night match in the hope of a giant-killing scalp of the Lions.
Captain Matt Hodgson, who will be one of a handful to play both matches, said the selection of two teams to win two games was "a challenge" but echoed Sheehan's sentiments about giving the Lions a tough western welcome.
"Any loss will be a blow to them. They have probably come out and pencilled in victories in most of their games leading up to the Test match. If we can't get the win, we can hopefully get a solid performance and hopefully hurt a few of their bodies," Hodgson said.

Should be a walkover if the Lions can find their shape.
 
The Force have been inconsistant to an extent not as bad a the Rebles or even the Reds. Their attack is pretty poor TBH but they're defensive system works really well at keeping teams working hard for points. I think however the Force won't be as focused on this game as they have the Force this Saturday so I except them to push hard the team is nothing if not committed but they lack he class.

Tuilangi can pass he just dosen't really seem to know when to do it, so I hope BOD and Howley will have been helping him with that. I expect however we'll see Tuulangi take a hit up from 12 then BOD will be looking to be part of the play aiming bringing Bowe and North in.

True, the Rebels have produced some disastrous performances whereas the Force, at their best, have been pretty good. From what I've seen it depends a lot on how Matthewson plays. If they are really putting out a second string side then they might, as rat says, get walked all over.
 
Force will give this thing horns, make no mistake. The pack has been standing up well and they aren't losing anyone to the Australian squad so they should get a good bit of pill from set piece. But it's at the breakdown where the Foce have set the platform for some good rugby.
 
Very strong team. Not wanting to be accused of English arrogance but from what I've seen of the Force in Super Rugby this year this could be a bit painful for them. Someone who gets to watch full matches rather than highlights please correct me but they've looked inconsistent for much of the season so far and certainly shouldn't pose a threat to the Lions.

My one quibble is Tuilagi at inside centre. Unless the Lions have taught him to pass (if they have then Warren Gatlands has performed a miracle for English rugby) then the outside backs might suffer some ball starvation.

The Force have only got 3 wins this year, but have been unlucky in a few others, just losing in the final few minutes. They haven't really had too many floggings. The Lions should be too powerful for them though and if they play well could put 30 points on the Force. And I think the Force will be under strength as well, so it should be a comfortable win. I'm going to the game and looking forward to seeing BOD & Tuilagi in the centres.
 
With the exception of Halfpenny and Sexton this side has a midweek feel to it. Possibly Healy challenging for a test spot but overall think Gatland is going to stick with the side that won in Hong Kong
 
Lions got 6 local clubs to battle, plus the 3 Aussie tests...there's no way the Lions should have any difficulty here.
Their scrum will likely destroy the Force's...AND they've got some nice backs there: Bowe, O'Driscoll, Tuilagi, North - watch out !!

3rd row may be the only aspect that is so so maybe...not super intimidating.
 
With the exception of Halfpenny and Sexton this side has a midweek feel to it. Possibly Healy challenging for a test spot but overall think Gatland is going to stick with the side that won in Hong Kong

I don't think so at all the fight for places will be very tight this year in my opinion and I think Healy, Best, Wyn Jones, Heaslip, O'Brien, Croft, Sexton, Tuilagi, O'Driscoll, North, Bowe and Halfpenny could all make the test side if they hit some form. I certainly can't see Gatland sticking to one team all tour like Woodward did in '05, I don't think that will ever happen again. I actually think thats a better team than Saturday, the only place Saturdar beats it is with a more balanced backrow, the front 5 is about even, halfbacks are better, centres are better players and it'll be interesting how they work and that back 3 is the starting back 3 for me!

Anyone hear about Kearney pulling a hamstring and possibly being out for the tour?
 
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With the exception of Halfpenny and Sexton this side has a midweek feel to it. Possibly Healy challenging for a test spot but overall think Gatland is going to stick with the side that won in Hong Kong
I really hope that side wasn't the one that will be played :/. From where I'm standing with my green tinted sun glasses, I like the look of this team. I'll do a 15 when I'm arsed but I'd start about 7 of these guys
I'd just like to add that I saw on our school twitter that Johnny Sexton is the Ninth person from our school to play for the Lions. I reckon I'll make it 10, but it's still a good record.
 
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I don't think so at all the fight for places will be very tight this year in my opinion and I think Healy, Best, Wyn Jones, Heaslip, O'Brien, Croft, Sexton, Tuilagi, O'Driscoll, North, Bowe and Halfpenny could all make the test side if they hit some form. I certainly can't see Gatland sticking to one team all tour like Woodward did in '05, I don't think that will ever happen again. I actually think thats a better team than Saturday, the only place Saturdar beats it is with a more balanced backrow, the front 5 is about even, halfbacks are better, centres are better players and it'll be interesting how they work and that back 3 is the starting back 3 for me!

Anyone hear about Kearney pulling a hamstring and possibly being out for the tour?

umm green tinted glasses on Im afraid, the backrow is certainly not better than the one on Saturday, Murrey better than Phillips? Tuilangi better than Roberts? BOD in better form than Davis?.

regards sticking to one side for the test team, apart from 09 thats what normally happens and Gatland does not have the luxury of time....
 
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