Sporty Yes mate i'm a wee bit hard to please but to hell with it. I might as well try to see it from another point of view rather rolling in behind some of Gat's decisions and saying nothing
I'll be watching it at home. Nothing amazing about that i suppose. No beer for me.... but the 52" flat screen makes it easier to live without beer.
2nd Test Team is announced:
Lions team: Leigh Halfpenny, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Jonathan Davies, George North, Jonathan Sexton, Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (c), Jamie Heaslip.
I'm not happy that the Welsh Worsley is in for Croft but I think playing Heaslip and Croft unbalanced the backrow a little as they both like to play in space rather than do the grunt work.
Absolutely delighted that Ben Youngs is in for Philips, queue mass rejoicing on this board!
Bowe as expected is in for Cuthbert, good call there.
I'm not sure I would have started Mako at loosehead but Wig knows his props well and as long as he hits properly he's got enough strength to pull through.
Parling had to come in once they decided to drop Croft otherwise the lineout would have suffered. If they'd kept Croft I'd have selected Gray instead of Parling.
Not even a bench spot for Manu? SOB brought onto the bench with Croft who is covering lock it seems
Ohh wow just noticed Philips isnt even on the bench...fair play to Gats, the guy played like a drain on Saturday where as Murray had a really solid game on Tuesday so is being rewarded...strong, fair management in my opinion.
Here are the two full squads:
Australia team: Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels); Israel Folau (NSW), Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW), Christian Leali'ifano (ACT Brumbies), Joe Tomane (Brumbies); James O'Connor (Melbourne Rebels), Will Genia (Reds); Benn Robinson (NSW), Stephen Moore (ACT), Ben Alexander (ACT), James Horwill (Reds - capt), Kane Douglas (NSW), Ben Mowen (ACT), Michael Hooper (NSW), Wycliff Palu (NSW).
Replacements: Saia Fainga'a (Reds), James Slipper (Reds), Sekope Kepu (NSW), Rob Simmons (Reds), Liam Gill (Reds) Nick Phipps (Rebels), Rob Horne (NSW), Jesse Mogg (Brumbies).
Lions team: Leigh Halfpenny, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Jonathan Davies, George North, Jonathan Sexton, Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (c), Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Ryan Grant, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Sean O'Brien, Conor Murray, Owen Farrell, Alex Cuthbert.
No cover at centre bar Farrell - seems a bit odd, no Tuilagi or Roberts - very surprised at that and I hope O'Driscoll and Davies stay fit
Still Phillips out and O'Connor at fly half again!!!!
"The Welsh Worsley" thats harsh ...
... on Joe Worsley
Weird bench with 2 flankers. Croft is a specialist 6 is he not?
Ye no cover for center, but Sexton plays 12 regularly with Ireland and Leinster.
Phillips out. Properly out. No bench spot nothing. FFFFFFFFFING delighted!!!!
Just like to mention that everyone's favourite prop did actually predict that philips would be dropped for the second Test before the first Test in a previous thread.
Well done there Sporty, you're expertise obviously stretches beyond the scrum - just
What would happen if Halfpenny got clobbered, bot so much for taking the kicks but as fullback - Bowe? Farrell?? North ??? Dan Cole ?????
Cole for me, can never have to many props on the park.
Also imagine Parling or AWJ get injured in the first minute we d have croft at lock for the whole game!
Thank god we're not playing the Springboks, I know exactly what they'd do!
Would you go Croft at lock or shove Lydiate forward and put Croft at 6, or Warburton even?
Warburton no. I read Lydiate can cover lock but my guess is that it would be croft. I'm a big croft fan and this nonsense about him not grafting isn't true but if you have SOB on the bench then surely you drop croft for gray!
I am pretty happy with that team to be honest, woohoo no Phillips! I agree about Croft, either start him or leave him out. The Aussie backline looks stronger too, looking forward to the game
Ye croft is to only real questionable call. To be fair to all of them, there is a hell of a lot of competition in the back row.
Still i would possibly have picked Richy Grey in Croft's spot. Just to have a genuine Lock option off the bench and hes a good jumper as well as being pretty good around the park. (At least he once was)
Surprised you guys are not calling for Manu. Is there something i don't know? Is he still injured or what?
BOD and Davies didn't look great together last week to be fair. If Manu is available i would have him instead of Davies.
But all in all this is a far better side than we saw last week. I'm expecting a big win for the Lions.... Calling it too soon perhaps?
no Tuilagi what a feckwit
I'm just happy no Phillips Ding. I would prefer Manu to Davies but after he played the whole game on tuesday I knew he wouldn't be in the test XV. Still would have been a better bench option than Cuthbert. Tuilagi covers wing and centre.
Exactly Aristo. The cover situation is a little thin. Which is compounded by not having a versatile back on the bench and not having a Lock either. 2 flankers on the bench is a bit odd too. But still im much happier than before. This is a debatable selection but not a horrible selection. Last week was on the verge of a horrible selection and a very annoying section.
Hey guys!!! Another quick ye or nay hypothetical question....
Would you prefer a 3 zip lions victory (Ye)
or Oz win 2moro and a
Dramatic winner takes all final game next week? (Nay)
Got to say a 3 zip victory sounds great but given the Ozzy injuries a win for Oz and a drama next week would add validity to the tour as a whole...
So in fact shocker of shocks im gona say NAY! Give me some drama!
Dings come up with a seriously good question (it had to happen eventually )
I really don't know what I prefer. I think right now I'd take the three nil but come the third Test if it were 1 - 1 at that stage I'd probably be glad it was still all to play for, if that makes sense?
3-0 every day of the week. The fact that Australia are ranked 3 in the IRB rankings adds enough validity for me.
Can I go for 2-1 under the absolute guarantee of a last minute win in the third test?
Not sure the nerves could take it, but it would be a great one to look back on.
I still think we'll win tomorrow though
Get out Sporty you git! Ur just jealous i get the girls out on the wing while u got ur head in someones nether regions :-P
Ye it occurred to me last night as i watched my wife (Spanish) eating her nails during the Italy v Spain penalty shootout.
Heel of a lot of drama. But the nerves and the disappointment are too much to take IF you lose.
However, given this particular Ozzy line-up I would be hard pressed to consider them 3rd best in the world. At full strength its a different matter.
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Wallabies v Lions: 1st Test Match Thread
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posted on 26/6/13
Sporty Yes mate i'm a wee bit hard to please but to hell with it. I might as well try to see it from another point of view rather rolling in behind some of Gat's decisions and saying nothing
I'll be watching it at home. Nothing amazing about that i suppose. No beer for me.... but the 52" flat screen makes it easier to live without beer.
posted on 27/6/13
2nd Test Team is announced:
Lions team: Leigh Halfpenny, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Jonathan Davies, George North, Jonathan Sexton, Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (c), Jamie Heaslip.
I'm not happy that the Welsh Worsley is in for Croft but I think playing Heaslip and Croft unbalanced the backrow a little as they both like to play in space rather than do the grunt work.
Absolutely delighted that Ben Youngs is in for Philips, queue mass rejoicing on this board!
Bowe as expected is in for Cuthbert, good call there.
I'm not sure I would have started Mako at loosehead but Wig knows his props well and as long as he hits properly he's got enough strength to pull through.
Parling had to come in once they decided to drop Croft otherwise the lineout would have suffered. If they'd kept Croft I'd have selected Gray instead of Parling.
Not even a bench spot for Manu? SOB brought onto the bench with Croft who is covering lock it seems
posted on 27/6/13
Ohh wow just noticed Philips isnt even on the bench...fair play to Gats, the guy played like a drain on Saturday where as Murray had a really solid game on Tuesday so is being rewarded...strong, fair management in my opinion.
posted on 27/6/13
Here are the two full squads:
Australia team: Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels); Israel Folau (NSW), Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW), Christian Leali'ifano (ACT Brumbies), Joe Tomane (Brumbies); James O'Connor (Melbourne Rebels), Will Genia (Reds); Benn Robinson (NSW), Stephen Moore (ACT), Ben Alexander (ACT), James Horwill (Reds - capt), Kane Douglas (NSW), Ben Mowen (ACT), Michael Hooper (NSW), Wycliff Palu (NSW).
Replacements: Saia Fainga'a (Reds), James Slipper (Reds), Sekope Kepu (NSW), Rob Simmons (Reds), Liam Gill (Reds) Nick Phipps (Rebels), Rob Horne (NSW), Jesse Mogg (Brumbies).
Lions team: Leigh Halfpenny, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Jonathan Davies, George North, Jonathan Sexton, Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (c), Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Ryan Grant, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Sean O'Brien, Conor Murray, Owen Farrell, Alex Cuthbert.
No cover at centre bar Farrell - seems a bit odd, no Tuilagi or Roberts - very surprised at that and I hope O'Driscoll and Davies stay fit
Still Phillips out and O'Connor at fly half again!!!!
posted on 27/6/13
"The Welsh Worsley" thats harsh ...
... on Joe Worsley
posted on 27/6/13
Weird bench with 2 flankers. Croft is a specialist 6 is he not?
Ye no cover for center, but Sexton plays 12 regularly with Ireland and Leinster.
Phillips out. Properly out. No bench spot nothing. FFFFFFFFFING delighted!!!!
posted on 27/6/13
Just like to mention that everyone's favourite prop did actually predict that philips would be dropped for the second Test before the first Test in a previous thread.
posted on 27/6/13
Well done there Sporty, you're expertise obviously stretches beyond the scrum - just
What would happen if Halfpenny got clobbered, bot so much for taking the kicks but as fullback - Bowe? Farrell?? North ??? Dan Cole ?????
posted on 27/6/13
Cole for me, can never have to many props on the park.
Also imagine Parling or AWJ get injured in the first minute we d have croft at lock for the whole game!
posted on 27/6/13
Thank god we're not playing the Springboks, I know exactly what they'd do!
Would you go Croft at lock or shove Lydiate forward and put Croft at 6, or Warburton even?
posted on 27/6/13
Warburton no. I read Lydiate can cover lock but my guess is that it would be croft. I'm a big croft fan and this nonsense about him not grafting isn't true but if you have SOB on the bench then surely you drop croft for gray!
posted on 27/6/13
I am pretty happy with that team to be honest, woohoo no Phillips! I agree about Croft, either start him or leave him out. The Aussie backline looks stronger too, looking forward to the game
posted on 27/6/13
Ye croft is to only real questionable call. To be fair to all of them, there is a hell of a lot of competition in the back row.
Still i would possibly have picked Richy Grey in Croft's spot. Just to have a genuine Lock option off the bench and hes a good jumper as well as being pretty good around the park. (At least he once was)
Surprised you guys are not calling for Manu. Is there something i don't know? Is he still injured or what?
BOD and Davies didn't look great together last week to be fair. If Manu is available i would have him instead of Davies.
But all in all this is a far better side than we saw last week. I'm expecting a big win for the Lions.... Calling it too soon perhaps?
posted on 27/6/13
no Tuilagi what a feckwit
posted on 27/6/13
I'm just happy no Phillips Ding. I would prefer Manu to Davies but after he played the whole game on tuesday I knew he wouldn't be in the test XV. Still would have been a better bench option than Cuthbert. Tuilagi covers wing and centre.
posted on 27/6/13
Exactly Aristo. The cover situation is a little thin. Which is compounded by not having a versatile back on the bench and not having a Lock either. 2 flankers on the bench is a bit odd too. But still im much happier than before. This is a debatable selection but not a horrible selection. Last week was on the verge of a horrible selection and a very annoying section.
posted on 28/6/13
Hey guys!!! Another quick ye or nay hypothetical question....
Would you prefer a 3 zip lions victory (Ye)
or Oz win 2moro and a
Dramatic winner takes all final game next week? (Nay)
Got to say a 3 zip victory sounds great but given the Ozzy injuries a win for Oz and a drama next week would add validity to the tour as a whole...
So in fact shocker of shocks im gona say NAY! Give me some drama!
posted on 28/6/13
Dings come up with a seriously good question (it had to happen eventually )
I really don't know what I prefer. I think right now I'd take the three nil but come the third Test if it were 1 - 1 at that stage I'd probably be glad it was still all to play for, if that makes sense?
posted on 28/6/13
3-0 every day of the week. The fact that Australia are ranked 3 in the IRB rankings adds enough validity for me.
posted on 28/6/13
I want the 3-0
posted on 28/6/13
Can I go for 2-1 under the absolute guarantee of a last minute win in the third test?
Not sure the nerves could take it, but it would be a great one to look back on.
I still think we'll win tomorrow though
posted on 28/6/13
Get out Sporty you git! Ur just jealous i get the girls out on the wing while u got ur head in someones nether regions :-P
Ye it occurred to me last night as i watched my wife (Spanish) eating her nails during the Italy v Spain penalty shootout.
Heel of a lot of drama. But the nerves and the disappointment are too much to take IF you lose.
However, given this particular Ozzy line-up I would be hard pressed to consider them 3rd best in the world. At full strength its a different matter.
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