British and Irish Lions Tour - 2013

[Blue Til Death]

Gatland has lost the plot. Some messsed up decisions for me. I would of had O Driscoll in at centre with Jamie Roberts. BOD may well not be firing but he offers a hell of a lot on the pitch both defensively , leadership , and can do a bit of magic. I was all for Roberts replacing Davies. Think this is a huge fuck up by Gatland.

The number 9 holy fuck Mike Phillips had a nightmare in the first game with slow ball time and time again and his link up with Sexton was too slow. I would of had the same 9 and 10 from the last game.

Those 2 decisions for me has me thinking to myself what the fuck is going on here. I dont mind the back of the scrum or the front row but there is some really what the fuck moments.

I honestly think with these fuck ups that the Aussies are now favourites to win the series. We are lacking real leadership. No Warburton , O Connell and O Driscoll 3 leaders of men and none in the match squad due to injury and non selection.

I hope the Lions in future just get rid of National coach as a Lions coach in future. Who remembers Clive Woodwards selection when he was Lions coach a few seasons ago this Gatland selection has the same feel to it.

In saying that I wouldnt mind seeing Woodward getting the Lions tour next time around.

Gatland puts 10 Welsh players in the team for Saturday and is back managing the Welsh team on Monday morning. Part of me hopes the Lions get dicked now lol

Sorry I don't agree mate, Im English through and through but aside from not including BOD I have no truck with his team, I believe he has picked a strategic team to do a specific job so he has to have the benefit of the doubt, to say you hope the Lions get dicked because he has picked 10 very good Welsh players is ridiculous, I would cheer the Lions no matter what as would any Lions fan!!!!

 

[without a dream]

Gatland has lost the plot. Some messsed up decisions for me. I would of had O Driscoll in at centre with Jamie Roberts. BOD may well not be firing but he offers a hell of a lot on the pitch both defensively , leadership , and can do a bit of magic. I was all for Roberts replacing Davies. Think this is a huge fuck up by Gatland.

The number 9 holy fuck Mike Phillips had a nightmare in the first game with slow ball time and time again and his link up with Sexton was too slow. I would of had the same 9 and 10 from the last game.

Those 2 decisions for me has me thinking to myself what the fuck is going on here. I dont mind the back of the scrum or the front row but there is some really what the fuck moments.

I honestly think with these fuck ups that the Aussies are now favourites to win the series. We are lacking real leadership. No Warburton , O Connell and O Driscoll 3 leaders of men and none in the match squad due to injury and non selection.

I hope the Lions in future just get rid of National coach as a Lions coach in future. Who remembers Clive Woodwards selection when he was Lions coach a few seasons ago this Gatland selection has the same feel to it.

In saying that I wouldnt mind seeing Woodward getting the Lions tour next time around.

Gatland puts 10 Welsh players in the team for Saturday and is back managing the Welsh team on Monday morning. Part of me hopes the Lions get dicked now lol

Sorry I don't agree mate, Im English through and through but aside from not including BOD I have no truck with his team, I believe he has picked a strategic team to do a specific job so he has to have the benefit of the doubt, to say you hope the Lions get dicked because he has picked 10 very good Welsh players is ridiculous, I would cheer the Lions no matter what as would any Lions fan!!!!

I don't mind the number of Welsh players in fact I'd happily keep it the same number just get Phillips, Hibbard and AWJ out of there.

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

Gatland has lost the plot. Some messsed up decisions for me. I would of had O Driscoll in at centre with Jamie Roberts. BOD may well not be firing but he offers a hell of a lot on the pitch both defensively , leadership , and can do a bit of magic. I was all for Roberts replacing Davies. Think this is a huge fuck up by Gatland.

The number 9 holy fuck Mike Phillips had a nightmare in the first game with slow ball time and time again and his link up with Sexton was too slow. I would of had the same 9 and 10 from the last game.

Those 2 decisions for me has me thinking to myself what the fuck is going on here. I dont mind the back of the scrum or the front row but there is some really what the fuck moments.

I honestly think with these fuck ups that the Aussies are now favourites to win the series. We are lacking real leadership. No Warburton , O Connell and O Driscoll 3 leaders of men and none in the match squad due to injury and non selection.
I hope the Lions in future just get rid of National coach as a Lions coach in future. Who remembers Clive Woodwards selection when he was Lions coach a few seasons ago this Gatland selection has the same feel to it.

In saying that I wouldnt mind seeing Woodward getting the Lions tour next time around.

Gatland puts 10 Welsh players in the team for Saturday and is back managing the Welsh team on Monday morning. Part of me hopes the Lions get dicked now lol

Sorry I don't agree mate, Im English through and through but aside from not including BOD I have no truck with his team, I believe he has picked a strategic team to do a specific job so he has to have the benefit of the doubt, to say you hope the Lions get dicked because he has picked 10 very good Welsh players is ridiculous, I would cheer the Lions no matter what as would any Lions fan!!!!

I dont agree either. I would have named Alun Wyn Jones captain for the tour. He's a great leader and should be Wales captain also, I dont see what their obsession with Warburton is. Its always been the same with him through the age grades, and the Cardiff bias factor may have a lot to do with it. He doesnt finish enough games for me, too injury prone.

 

[blumoon]

Gatland has lost the plot. Some messsed up decisions for me. I would of had O Driscoll in at centre with Jamie Roberts. BOD may well not be firing but he offers a hell of a lot on the pitch both defensively , leadership , and can do a bit of magic. I was all for Roberts replacing Davies. Think this is a huge fuck up by Gatland.

The number 9 holy fuck Mike Phillips had a nightmare in the first game with slow ball time and time again and his link up with Sexton was too slow. I would of had the same 9 and 10 from the last game.

Those 2 decisions for me has me thinking to myself what the fuck is going on here. I dont mind the back of the scrum or the front row but there is some really what the fuck moments.

I honestly think with these fuck ups that the Aussies are now favourites to win the series. We are lacking real leadership. No Warburton , O Connell and O Driscoll 3 leaders of men and none in the match squad due to injury and non selection.

I hope the Lions in future just get rid of National coach as a Lions coach in future. Who remembers Clive Woodwards selection when he was Lions coach a few seasons ago this Gatland selection has the same feel to it.

In saying that I wouldnt mind seeing Woodward getting the Lions tour next time around.

Gatland puts 10 Welsh players in the team for Saturday and is back managing the Welsh team on Monday morning. Part of me hopes the Lions get dicked now lol

Sorry I don't agree mate, Im English through and through but aside from not including BOD I have no truck with his team, I believe he has picked a strategic team to do a specific job so he has to have the benefit of the doubt, to say you hope the Lions get dicked because he has picked 10 very good Welsh players is ridiculous, I would cheer the Lions no matter what as would any Lions fan!!!!

Lol.......I was jesting my friend. The Lions is about getting the best out of the 4 nation players in my humble opinion, We aint seeing the mixture of the four teams though and his plan to steamroll the Aussies on Saturday after whats nearly been a year long season is brave or quite reckless.......We shall see.

 

[waterloo blue]

Anyone in Sydney to see this game ,should get the train to Concord West and go in the pub there.
If you get the train into the stadium station you will be greeted by the sight of 60,000 people attempting to enter one pub,it's chaos everytime I've been there and Brisbane is light years ahead of Sydney in this.
Make your way back to Concord West and exit that way as everyone who leaves the stadium queues for the one train out back into town,I'll be there cheering on the taffs,but not wearing red.

 

[EalingBlue2]

I think a few points are being woefully missed here, I can see a strong case for every single change, my only concern to be honest is no specialist number 7 and whether this will hurt.

The main argument seems to be that Wales always lose at the death to australia (3 times after 80th minute in last few years) well at the end there is likely to be more English than welsh players on the pitch - so maybe Gatland has addressed that .

Youngs hasn't been dropped he is being saved for the second half - Gatland has Tom for strong scrum first half - which looks sensible after melb with youngs and Vunipola being used second half for a looser period with tiredness and a weaker Aussie scrum. Also it means the best line out at the death. Seems very sensible to me to bring Hibbard and Corbs for first 50.

Backrow the changes are good if SOB doesn't get beaten at the breakdown. Faletau should have played all games he is better than heaslip, in better form and is much better in the offload and god with Lydiate.

Roberts had to some in two outside centres wasn't working and Davies who has been one of the best players in the northern hemisphere for a year or two was not thriving. So Roberts had to come in with Tuilagi for impact on bench so the only call was BOD or Davies on form and on the combination Davies edged it.

As for scrum half I don't think there is that much in it, none of them have been any better than the others and all come with pro's and cons. Clearly the game plan is to bit australia hard and fast and physically get over the gain line and to tackle hard that is Phillips strength so Gatland has gone for that.

All the fuss for me has missed a few of the subtleties of the changes and it is a game of 20 players or more not 15. Vunipola, Tuilagi, Tipuric, youngs, cole will all play a big part and some of the players are played for the finish not the start. Remember the line out in Sydney 12 years ago , remember the line out last week, remember the first half scrum penalties last week, remember the welsh beating the Aussies for 80 mins and losing - these changes address a lot of that in a big alway<br /><br />-- Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:04 am --<br /><br />The lions have rarely ever been a true blend of equal numbers they have always been half of the best side and the other half made up of the rest. At times it has become more even but in the 70's and today it was half welsh for years in the 90s and noughties there was English domination it is based on form and the best players

 

[jft20b]

Far too many sheep shaggers in the team. We are fucked. Leek tossing wankers will fuck our chances right up.

Moron.

 

[bluemoon32]

Gatland puts 10 Welsh players in the team for Saturday and is back managing the Welsh team on Monday morning. Part of me hopes the Lions get dicked now lol

Sorry I don't agree mate, Im English through and through but aside from not including BOD I have no truck with his team, I believe he has picked a strategic team to do a specific job so he has to have the benefit of the doubt, to say you hope the Lions get dicked because he has picked 10 very good Welsh players is ridiculous, I would cheer the Lions no matter what as would any Lions fan!!!!

I don't mind the number of Welsh players in fact I'd happily keep it the same number just get Phillips, Hibbard and AWJ out of there.

To want AWJ out of the side is completely bonkers, he's been hugely impressive all tour.<br /><br />-- Thu Jul 04, 2013 8:17 am --<br /><br />

Far too many sheep shaggers in the team. We are fucked. Leek tossing wankers will fuck our chances right up.

Cnut

 

[big gaz]

Last chance saloon, make the yards keep the ball should be ok. Sexton has to step up, I said we were weak at 10 now he has to come good ( no better picks).
Oh well hoping for the best.

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

Now the selection stuff has settled down, its time to take the positives. It wull be a great game, not only is it the decider but Gatland has made it quiet clear what the game plan. The Lions are going straight up the guts and for the gainline, attritionally. I like the fact that its that obvious, its do that or fcuk it up. We'll only spread it out in the right areas and the backs wont see it until we're in their 22 and still only off a solid platform. Dont forget the bench, because that type of game is sapping to play so all will get on the field. I really think Faletau and Lydiate will make the difference in such a game. It will be OK, have faith