The Lions in New Zealand thread for the 2017 tour.

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

Yes I think the next referee is South African

Another Frenchman refereeing next week so they couldn't really ask for much better.

 

[SWP's back]

Its going to be even tougher then unfortunately as i have no doubt the all Blacks will be allowed to get away with far more than they did today.

Hopefully not another 13 forward passes like the first test.

 

[SWP's back]

Its going to be even tougher then unfortunately as i have no doubt the all Blacks will be allowed to get away with far more than they did today.

Hopefully not another 13 forward passes like the first test.

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

Another Frenchman refereeing next week so they couldn't really ask for much better.

Youre right, its Romain Poite. Happy with that,I thought it was a SA ref. Bonus!

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

Another Frenchman refereeing next week so they couldn't really ask for much better.

Youre right, its Romain Poite. Happy with that,I thought it was a SA ref. Bonus!

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Yes I think the next referee is South African

No.
It's Poite.

Poite, Garces and Peyper have rotated through the matches.

 

[Free Ian Brown]

The team was a lot better with Murray and Sexton at 9 and 10 and with Farrell at 12 for me. Murray took his try well and was a key player all game long. I honestly think Vunipola may well miss out the decider giving away too many pens and I would say a impact sub role would be best for him. Flankers no change but what shocked me more was CJ Stander not getting a run out in the game as a impact sub be it as a replacement for Faletau near the last 10 minutes or so. Gatland decision to play both Sexton and Farrell worked. Farrell stood up and kicked well he needed a big game as if he didnt then he would of been out of the line up next week. We have a lot of key players there but Farrell aint a first pick centre on tour and Gatland lost faith in him as a number 10 it seems but what will happen in the next game who knows with this tour and injuries.

FFS I know you favour the Irish from the Boxing thread but is this a parody?

Murray was in danger of being replaced before he sniped well for his try, he'd played well but his game was nullified when we were behind. Stander has been awful all tour and had no place on the bench. Sexton is nowhere near Farrell as a 10 these days, its not 2013 now. Ironically the unlucky Irishman was Henderson but Lawes offers far more off the bench.

 

[Free Ian Brown]

You dont understand the game if you dont see the donkey work he does.
Trying to captain Vunipola and Itoje is a thankless task, neither have a brain

If someone comes on and says Warburton was poor, then they clearly have no clue. He was immense at the dirty work. The AB's had no quick ball, largely through SW's work at the breakdown, reflected in zero tries - when was the last time they were outscored 2 tries to none?

Itoje was excellent but gave away pens in dangerous areas - I feel he will correct that, he's switched on enough. Mako on the other hand was thick, and will probably find himself on the bench as a result.

 

[jimharri]

FFS I know you favour the Irish from the Boxing thread but is this a parody?

It's no parody. Come back next year to the six nations thread if you don't believe me.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

If someone comes on and says Warburton was poor, then they clearly have no clue. He was immense at the dirty work. The AB's had no quick ball, largely through SW's work at the breakdown, reflected in zero tries - when was the last time they were outscored 2 tries to none?

Itoje was excellent but gave away pens in dangerous areas - I feel he will correct that, he's switched on enough. Mako on the other hand was thick, and will probably find himself on the bench as a result.

Barring injuries, only 1, 12 (and therefore 10) are obvious decision areas, and I don't see much likelihood of 10/12 changing.

When Richard Hill played at 6 in Australia, you never noticed him, and rarely heard his name, but they fouled him out of the series because he was so effective. SW does the same, and freed up O'Brien a little too, I think. Faletau was good again at 8, in an unshowy way. Decent wing finish too.

Itoje had a bit of an odd time, some good, some bad. He'll continue in the next match, as will AWJ.

MV's two senseless hits in a row (the late blundering into the kicker, and the hit on the floor) surely must be recognised by the coaches. Poite is reffing, and very hot on the scrum, s the best scrummaging front row should play in the next one. Not sure if that works against George, but MV isn't a great scrummager.

Daly was quiet (but got almost no ball), and Seymour's had a decent tour, but Gatland obviously likes Daly.

 

[Free Ian Brown]

Daly was quiet (but got almost no ball), and Seymour's had a decent tour, but Gatland obviously likes Daly.

Daly can produce that bit of magic and also has the 'score a pen from your own half' boot option. He'll stay in.

Seymour has been a bit lucky for me. Popped up with a couple of decent tries granted. But he's nowhere near Nowell. In fact he's probably lucky to be there as a token jock - he's no better than the likes of Jonny May or even Simon Zebo.