The Lions in New Zealand thread for the 2017 tour.

[bluemoon32]

Ask NZ if they were 'friendlies'

They were still friendlies, don't take me wrong, it's still a great result to beat NZ anytime but friendlies away from home are very different beasts to games at home against the Lions.

 

[bluemoon32]

One thing i will say, SH refs do not ref the game properly and never have. The amount of 'homer' decisions in that 1st half was mental

 

[Free Ian Brown]

One thing i will say, SH refs do not ref the game properly and never have. The amount of 'homer' decisions in that 1st half was mental

I think 2nd and 3rd tests are reffed by frenchies. Hopefully not too late by then

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Neither lock is playing well, POM hasn't shown at all and O'Brien ( apart from his try) isn't playing as well as we know he can.
The biggest difference for me is that their forwards have hugely better ball skills than ours do

That's about right.
In defence, the ball is being switched so quickly that it's away from them, and there's barely a ruck forming before the ball has gone. Difficult for them to influence that.

Ball skills are great to watch - the speed of passing from the front five is a different game, and they don't look spherical either!

 

[bluemoon32]

Lots of cheap shots by NZ, they got a bit rattled.
The Ireland v NZ game in Dublin was also full of cheap shots by NZ, they don't like being got at

 

[MillionMilesAway]

One thing i will say, SH refs do not ref the game properly and never have. The amount of 'homer' decisions in that 1st half was mental

Thought he was doing ok so far. Five penalties isn't bad.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

JD is having a great game. Another failure to complete the try though.

 

[bluemoon32]

Thought he was doing ok so far. Five penalties isn't bad.

Lots of going off their feet like fucking missiles and nothing from the ref, lots of cheap shot late hits and again nothing

 

[bluemoon32]

Oooof, Te'o batters Sonny Boy lol

 

[MillionMilesAway]

That was a terrible lineout move.