2013 British And Irish Lions Tour To Australia.

[Tiercel 6,986]

That fecking bent ref.... The last penalty should have been to the lions.... Their tight head stood up and the loosehead ran around..... kudos Beal missed it.

[Ossie n Arch 1,682]

Well a wins a win and thats about all. The ref aside (Dont like slagging refs off) the Lions looked very nervous and seemed to wait to see what the Wallibes did first before doing their own stuff. 3 injuries didn't help Austraila, or their kicker, but the lions didn't really look settled. Not many phases played to make space outside for the big players out wide. Roberts and Bowe to come back in (If fit) for BOD and Cuthbert. Play more phases and get out wide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One other thing needs sorting, Southern Hemisphere refereeing and the breakdown/scrums. I know the super 15 want quick Rugby but you've got to be allowed to compete at the breakdown/scrums. It seems the SH refs want leave alone ball and get on with it. Not really what we know up here.

 

 

 

 

 

............Oh, and by the way. I thought the Ref was sh*t.

[johnny boy68 11,726]

Well a wins a win and thats about all. The ref aside (Dont like slagging refs off) the Lions looked very nervous and seemed to wait to see what the Wallibes did first before doing their own stuff. 3 injuries didn't help Austraila, or their kicker, but the lions didn't really look settled. Not many phases played to make space outside for the big players out wide. Roberts and Bowe to come back in (If fit) for BOD and Cuthbert. Play more phases and get out wide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One other thing needs sorting, Southern Hemisphere refereeing and the breakdown/scrums. I know the super 15 want quick Rugby but you've got to be allowed to compete at the breakdown/scrums. It seems the SH refs want leave alone ball and get on with it. Not really what we know up here.

 

 

 

 

 

............Oh, and by the way. I thought the Ref was sh*t.

 

Spot on Arch.

[lanesra 3,994]

Thought The Ref Was A Joke At Times . . Can Say That With A Win , Would Off Sounded Like Sour Grapes If Lost .

Well Done Too The Boys And Fans Are Special .

[Linton Lad 90]

A wins a wins as has already been said, just need to up our game and adapt to SH refs for next week.

 

One thing i was disapointed in was Philips,s kicking from hand behind scrum,ruck and maul. Time and time again he kicked right into the opossition hand for them to attack again. Might have been better to use Sexton a few times.

 

Good luck to them next weekend tho.

[splitcane 5]

 

 

One other thing needs sorting, Southern Hemisphere refereeing and the breakdown/scrums. I know the super 15 want quick Rugby but you've got to be allowed to compete at the breakdown/scrums. It seems the SH refs want leave alone ball and get on with it. Not really what we know up here.

 

 

Quite - unless we're watching the other code. Some SH refs think as though they're in League.

[johnny boy68 11,726]

Well the Lions got the win, not the way they'd like to have won but they'll take it, I thought both teams did look "under cooked" at times and the second test will be a step up in intensity again.

 

The refereeing leaves me scratching my head at times but SH refs always do.

[Malt 379]

Interesting stats from the BBC website:

 

 

The Lions controlled both territory and possession by 55% to 45%.

They won 82 out of 86 rucks, while Australia won 75 of 79, but the Lions were penalised almost twice as often, 12 to seven.

All I want to see from a ref is consistency when I watch a rugby match. I don't care how strict, how lax, or how they interpret the rules as long as they do whatever they're doing equally..

[Tiercel 6,986]

We got Joubert next week and Poite for the last test. They had better sort the ruck out by next week or the same will happen again.

 

TC

[Ossie n Arch 1,682]

We got Joubert next week and Poite for the last test. They had better sort the ruck out by next week or the same will happen again.

 

TC

 

Personally i think Poite is probably the best Ref around at the moment. Lets the forwards get on with it, refs the breakdown well and dosen't love himself like one or two of the refs around now. If the series comes down to the last match then he's the best man for it IMO.

[johnny boy68 11,726]

Joubert is a good ref, at least he'll be consistent and sort the breakdown out, that Pollock was a pillock and let Australia get away with loads at the breakdown and anytime a Lion "contested" the ball they were pinged.

 

North was great, Folau for them was good too as was Genia, our front 5 were going well until they changed the front row which was a little bit too early imo, POC and AWJ worked hard all game.

 

Edited>>>>>Poite will let the forwards get on with it, he loves a good arm wrestle of a game.

[Malt 379]

Just seen that Bowe will be fit for the second test on SSN.. Given the performance of the wingers today, does anybody think he'll go straight into the test side, and if so what would he bring over either of the two lads who played today?

[johnny boy68 11,726]

Just seen that Bowe will be fit for the second test on SSN.. Given the performance of the wingers today, does anybody think he'll go straight into the test side, and if so what would he bring over either of the two lads who played today?

Apart from missing 1 high ball I don't think Cuthbert did anything wrong, so I think he'll be unlucky if he's dropped, though Bowe does offer a bit more imo, Bowe's a real solid defensive player and runs some great angles for a winger.

 

I think they'll start with Cuthbert and bring Bowe onto the bench over Maitland.

[topscaff1 13]

Bowe will probably get back in and they use Cuthbert as a sub for the center, thought Jonathan Davies & Heaslip has been exceptional all through the lions games they have played in, and Halfpenny could put em over from the carpark lol, Mike

[Ossie n Arch 1,682]

Well after a nice mooch with the dogs and a think about todays game, here are my thoughts on the team.

 

Front row.

 

Played Ok, nothing special but nothing wrong either. Didn't think the replacements had much of an impact. So no change for next week.

 

Second row.

 

As above, but just played that bit better than the front row. Same again next week.

 

Back row.

 

Again played ok without doing anything flashy. Heaslip was a bit AWOL at times I thought, but on the whole the back row did ok, but maybe need a bit more up tempo next time. No change for next week.

 

Half backs.

 

Sexton was solid without shining, got turned inside out by Folau, but who wouldn't have been. He'll start.

Phillips. Needs to play as a Scrum half rather than a 4th backrow. Somtimes i think he's to big for a Scrum half, and likes the rough stuff too much. Times he was a the bottom of a ruck and no one was home in the no 9 berth. He'll start but needs to read the game better next week, let the fat boys do the hard graft and then he can do the fancy sh*t.

 

Midfield

 

If Roberts is fit i'd play him with Davies, a-la Wales. Roberts will tie the Aussie defenders in more than Bod can, giving space out side for the real attacking to be done.

 

Back three.

 

2 out of 3 to play. Cuthbert will be unlucky, but i think Bowe will play. (Probably would have played today it not for injury) It might be just me but i thought Cuthbert looked slightly out off his depth today. Finished his try well, but just didn't stand out enough.

 

 

So, in conclusion. Roberts and Bowe back in. Bod and Cuthbert out, and the rest...........As you were.