The Rugby Thread

[dtaai-maai]

(Pollock I don't believe will make the Match Day Squad)

Not a starter perhaps, but I'll be very surprised if he's not on the bench.

As for Owen Farrell, I'm absolutely dumbfounded. That's a real slap in the face for quite a few backs not selected for the squad.

[pharvey]

(Pollock I don't believe will make the Match Day Squad)

Not a starter perhaps, but I'll be very surprised if he's not on the bench.

He does give options in the Backrow and it's interesting to see him selected at Blindside for the Waratahs match: -

British and Irish Lions: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Henry Pollock, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne (c), 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Scott Cummings, 21 Jac Morgan, 22 Ben White, 23 Marcus Smith

[pharvey]

Well, I've just finished watching the worst game of rugby I've seen for a long time. Wales were utterly, utterly abysmal throughout and for 55 minutes, Japan were actually 2nd best!! With injuries, Video Ref interventions and a 3 minute water break, the first half alone lasted an hour. The 32+ degree heat and high humidity lead to countless handling errors and missed tackles from both sides - the lineout and scrum turned into a lottery.

Faletau had his moments and Dewi Lake as Captain gave his all - a couple were quiet and numerous others need to have a long hard look at themselves. Hardy and Costelow at Halfback (hardly funny) shouldn't come close to a Welsh shirt again - simply clueless. Both gave away far too much possession through schoolboy errors and aimless kicking - when they didn't give the ball away they had no idea as to what to do with it!!

Despite this, Wales somehow found themselves 19-7 up with 25 odd minutes left to play. Then the "Brave Blossoms" actually clicked and there was a major shift. Fair play, they took the game to Wales and actually wanted to play rugby - by far the better team in the final quarter and a deserved victory handing Wales their 18th straight loss..... An utter embarrassment.

Truly hoping the Lions give me something to smile about a little later this morning.

[dtaai-maai]

I switched on for the 2nd half, but I'm afraid I turned over to the news after 10 minutes...

[pharvey]

I switched on for the 2nd half, but I'm afraid I turned over to the news after 10 minutes...

Yep, I guess even watching Starmer and Trump et al would have been preferable....

[pharvey]

So, my rugby viewing went from absolutely devastating to "oh well, we won".... I didn't watch the Pumas vs Lillywhites match, though apparently a few players there maybe feeling slightly aggrieved that they missed out on Lions' selection - not to mention the fact that Farrell jr. has been brought in!

Anywho, to the Waratahs vs British and Irish Lions... Massive advantage in territory and possession for the Lions, but again silly errors, the final pass and yet again just not "clicking" in certain areas. One worrying point was the amount of turnovers they conceded, several due to a certain Open Side playing for the opposition, who IMHO was clearly the Man of the Match - Charlie Gamble (watch out for him). Unfortunately, being on the losing side he wasn't even considered!! Though Mitchell at 9 for the Lions who was given the vote did have a great game (he did have enough ball)!

Neither Finn or his replacement "Girly" Marcus Smith did anything to get things going at 10 and that may be used for the reasoning behind Farrell being brought in (why wasn't Ford). Huw Jones had another great game at Outside Center and I would imagine he has to be a Test starter - a link with his teammate for club and country at 12 Tuipulotu (proper Scot) would seem to be on the cards especially with Russell being the choice starter at 10.

Keenan had a dire game at FB and "Springjock" Van Der Merwe has played himself out of the Test Squad IMHO. Ben Earl at No.8 had some great breaks, but gave away 3 or 4 stupid penalties - not what you want in a Test. Van der Flier had a good game at 7, but despite my Welsh bias, I do think Morgan should be there. With the constant (sweeping) changes made by the coaching team, it's a little difficult to see what partnerships, individuals, style of play they plan to use in the Full On Test Series.... And by all accounts Andy Farrell has accused the Waratahs of "watering the pitch too heavily" (no joke). Let's not embarrass ourselves too much shall we?

The Lions so far have relied on the simple fact that they have superior fitness and can call on a Bench packed with top class International players -come the Test Series, so can Australia!! We have so far played Provincial Teams shorn of multiple players not released by Australia (why would they). The Lions' Coaching Team are making far too many changes IMHO when at this stage we really should know at least who the "Saturday Squad" is if not a very good idea of the "Test Squad".

Next up it's the Brumbies vs Lions - let's hope for a better performance and a bit more cohesion!

Brumbies vs British and Irish Lions
GIO Stadium Canberra
Wednesday July 9th KO 11:00am (UK)

[404cameljockey]

Thanks for the very good reviews, very accurate IMO.

On Wales you sound like my Man U 'red 'til I die' friend, so painful but have to watch. It's your duty!

[pharvey]

On Wales you sound like my Man U 'red 'til I die' friend, so painful but have to watch. It's your duty!

Sad but true!!

Anywho, onto Wednesday's match (UK Time), the Lions have named what many believe is close to the Test Side... If so, how on earth is Curry there - can't believe he's starting let alone in the 23 (somewhat pissed off that Morgan is unlikely to get there). Truly thought the Scottish rather than the Irish partnership would be there at 12 and 13, but that's Farrell for you. Back 3 look good, Halfbacks as expected, Itoje obvious.... But I'm still questioning the Backrow......

Brumbies vs British & Irish Lions
KO 11:00 am (UK)
GIO Stadium, Canberra


Line-ups

Brumbies: Muirhead; O'Donnell, Sapsford, Feliuai, Toole; Meredith, R Lonergan (capt); Leli, L Lonergan, Van Nek, Shaw, Neville, Hooper, Scott, Tualima.

Replacements: Bowron, Orr, Fotuaika, L Hooper, Reimer, Goddard, Debreczeni, Creighton.

British and Irish Lions: Kinghorn, Freeman, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje (capt), McCarthy, Chessum, Curry, Conan.

Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Van der Flier, Pollock, Mitchell, M Smith, Hansen.

[dtaai-maai]

... the Lions have named what many believe is close to the Test Side... If so, how on earth is Curry there - can't believe he's starting let alone in the 23

If he doesn't perform tomorrow he may not be in the Test side. With 2 more preparation games to come after tomorrow, you'd expect Farrell et al to be closing in on the test 23, but it's not going to be cast in stone until Saturday week.

[pharvey]

... the Lions have named what many believe is close to the Test Side... If so, how on earth is Curry there - can't believe he's starting let alone in the 23

If he doesn't perform tomorrow he may not be in the Test side. With 2 more preparation games to come after tomorrow, you'd expect Farrell et al to be closing in on the test 23, but it's not going to be cast in stone until Saturday week.

For sure not "cast in stone", but many pundits are looking at this as being very close to what the Coaches are going for come the Test Match(es).

Let's see what tomorrow brings!!

[pharvey]

Well it was a win for the Lions!! Again though, let's be absolutely honest, this was against a side shorn of multiple players not released from the Australian Squad.

You can take nothing away from the Brumbies as they gave it everything and simply did not give up. They caused problems especially in loose play and at the breakdown which surely has to be a concern for the Lions' management. With regards to the Backrow, Curry didn't have a bad game at Openside, but I'm sticking with my view that he shouldn't be in the Matchday 23. Pollock made an energetic impact from the bench, but again, this against a side shorn of players and late on in the match. Yep, he can certainly make an impact (and also some errors), he covers the Backrow - but.... IMHO, for the 1st Test at least we need a proven Test player and that is Morgan or Van der Flier starting with the other on the Bench.

The Lions Centres were very good despite Ringrose's error in defence leading to a try for the Brumbies, this partnership must now be favourites to start - that said, the Lions let in 4 tries which must be another major concern.

The Front 5 were pretty bloody good and they will start the Test IMHO, Russell and Gibson-Park are the Halfbacks despite some uncharacteristic errors by the 9. Kinghorn is a worry at 15 after going off with a knee injury, but "Girly no-knob" Smith is there for cover (if not pretty much guaranteed a place in the 23. The Backrow is the key for me at the moment - far too many turnovers today.

In summary, the Lions ultimately put on a better display than they did last Saturday against the Waratahs, but brought in what was supposedly close to their Test Team and narrowly beat a "Regional" side missing a multitude of players. Once again, there were far too many errors which they will get punished for dearly against a full strength Wallaby side! Perhaps they tried to play too much and looked for the Golden Pass/Pass Kick or break - play the basics well and then look further afield.
We let in 4 tries which is extremely poor quite frankly. The referee missed a fair bit (for both sides), which didn't alter the result, but the Lions and Itoje need to "play to the ref" and not rely on his decisions..... I realise these comments will piss off certain individuals, one of which I believe is competent (even proficient) in French and is now sending the afore mentioned referee some instructions as to what to do with himself!

I expect another shed load of changes for Saturday's match, but do hope Morgan gets another outing to prove his worth (biased of course).

[pharvey]

[dtaai-maai]

I realise these comments will piss off certain individuals, one of which I believe is competent (even proficient) in French and is now sending the afore mentioned referee some instructions as to what to do with himself!

No time to reply in full at the moment, I'm busy brushing up on my Welsh...

[pharvey]

No time to reply in full at the moment, I'm busy brushing up on my Welsh...

A ddylem ni wylio gemau ar S4C yn y dyfodol felly?

[dtaai-maai]

Nage, ro'n i'n trio mynd i mewn i Rugbypass ond rhoddais i'r gorau