- May 18, 2006
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I'm going for NZ to win by 15
I hoped I was being pessimistic, but we were lucky to get that close.
I'm going for NZ to win by 15
Itoje was good when he came on. Large grunts at lock won't disrupt the all blacks. Athleticism is the way IMO
Retallick gave a masterclass today
I think the Lions need to revert to a more traditional power-based forward/kicking game. It's the only way they'll compete with NZ. It's a folly to try this short, intricate passing game - the Lions just don't quite have the skills. They should have scored in the opening stanza and we could have seen a quite different game unfold. CJ and Itoje as starters for me.
I think the Lions need to revert to a more traditional power-based forward/kicking game. It's the only way they'll compete with NZ. It's a folly to try this short, intricate passing game - the Lions just don't quite have the skills. They should have scored in the opening stanza and we could have seen a quite different game unfold. CJ and Itoje as starters for me.
You either spread it wide (and play into the ABs hands) or look for forward drive over many phases with some cute kicking. The Lions scored a great try and that might have signalled a false dawn. The tight five must be allowed to play to their strengths.Do you really see is overpowering them though? I think today showed conclusively not.
Our lineout collection was excellent but we couldn't drive it anywhere.
Our scrum was okay but never made any yards.
I don't think power will work.
Well I think we have to try that but I don't think it will work.
Anyone know if Davies can play 12? He was excellent today but we need a try scorer in the team and for me that means JJ.
I'd stick with the back three as I don't think anyone else offers more in terms of attacking threat.
If we're going 'Athletic' do we then drop POM and bring in Stander? Front three of Mako, George and Sink?
I don't know. I suspect it won't make a difference.
The first 5-10mins of the second half were key. We made a great break, got within a couple of yards of their try line (which you're not going to get often so you have to walk away with points when you do) and Murray drops the ball at the base of the ruck, gets turned over, NZ clear their lines. Then you add in Kruis not timing his jump to lose a 5m libeout ( the only other time we got to a few yards out in the 2nd half) and we lose the ball, NZ clear their lines. Then we're attacking their 10m line and Sexton puts in a poor pass to Farrel, we lose the ball, NZ clear their lines but this time a poor error from Williams costs us 7 points. All from their 10m line.
Yeah, there were other areas we were 2nd best in but cut out that stupid shit, especially at the start of the second half, and it could've been a different result.
Athletic second row was my meaning mate. Sink wouldn't hold up in the scrum IMO. The thing is, Lawes and Itoje are athletic but also possess enough physicality too.
I think people don't realise how difficult a Lions tour to NZ is
I think the Lions need to revert to a more traditional power-based forward/kicking game. It's the only way they'll compete with NZ. It's a folly to try this short, intricate passing game - the Lions just don't quite have the skills. They should have scored in the opening stanza and we could have seen a quite different game unfold. CJ and Itoje as starters for me.
Fine margins. The all blacks made a few mistakes but we didn't capitalise like they did on ours. Momentum changes immediately and it's suddenly game over
I have just been watching the game again, as when I visited my parents my dad was catching up with the game after being out all morning. Some extra thoughts:
The forwards will be disappointed, individually and collectively. We didn't win the arm wrestle, made no headway in the scrum, were definitely second best at the break down, and no player got the better of his opposite number (from 1-8 it was basically in NZ's favour). The only area we had joy was the lineout. I don't think they can be that bad again, but it was a reason for the struggle. Our backs/attacking play didn't really do much after that opening break in terms of creating chances from phase play and patient build up, but Davies + the back three worked wonders off counter attacking ball and broken field play.
Defence was also patchy, as I said earlier. Started well first 10 minutes with good linespeed, NZ put some phases together and marched forward and then we lost confidence and became more passive. Picked it up again at the start of the second half and had our best spell, and then reverted back to being passive and we need a greater intensity across 80 mins.
Individually quite a mixed bag.
Mako didn't have his best game round the park, at the breakdown etc, and didn't carry too well. Ditto for George. Furlong much the same but probably a little better. AWJ took a head knock about 20 mins in, after that the game just passed him by - should he have been out there at all after that you'd have to question...? Kruis was trying, but couldn't make an impact apart from lineout and made three bad errors in contact and had a bad game. POM was good in the lineout, average around the park. SOB finished off a great try but didn't do enough at the breakdown or around the park. Faletau put in a lot of effort making tackles, didn't really have much impact carrying.
Murray started well with some good box kicks, faded and no running game makes him predictable and easy to contain if his team is on the back foot.. Farrell didn't have a great game at all, no direction or control and some poor passes. Te'o did what he does quite well, runs hard and tackles hard, but never passes. JD had a good game with ball in hand and showed composure. Watson had a pretty good game. Daly had some nice touches but ropey in defence at times and I don't think he should have been so narrow for the opening try. Ditto for Williams who had the sublime (the break for the try) with the not so (completely failing to gather the ball for the last try). The bench wasn't brilliant, Itoje was the standout for the intensity and impact he brought. Apart from that Webb sniped for a try at the end close in, Sinckler had one run... The rest offered very little.