v Maori

[jared_7]

This has been a great Lions performance, and a great marker for the All Blacks. They could be 40 points up if the Maori were punished earlier for repeated infringing and the Lions finishing was a bit better. I think for a side of their nature people are undervaluing how well they are getting into doing the basics well.

This really is the worst Maori side I have seen, though.

[Stom]

He has nailed the 13 spot today.

I wouldn't say that...(although he had before the series even started). He is even more like Mike Brown than Mike Brown...Can't pass, won't pass.

Give it a rest Stom, you're becoming even more boring. We get it you don't like JD.

Hey, look, he's been very good today. He's run good lines, he's made good tackles and he's put in some good kicks. He's had a good game, and deserves to start next week. But his handling ability and vision are nowhere near good enough. You surely cannot deny that.

[Stom]

Oh, and the last 5 have shown one thing: Webb needs to be the test 21... Laidlaw is absolutely shunt.

[WaspInWales]

Excellent from Te'o.

[bruce]

Too many changes now. I would have liked to see continued momentum and put a cricket score on the MAB.

[Stom]

Oh, and the last 5 have shown one thing: Webb needs to be the test 21... Laidlaw is absolutely shunt.

Can I revise this. What the flying F was that pass? That should have been at least a scoring opportunity. From an international 9. And we thought Ben Youngs was bad.


In other news, Ken Owens has really shown off his handling skills in his cameo.

[Stom]

Oh, and the last 5 have shown one thing: Webb needs to be the test 21... Laidlaw is absolutely shunt.

Can I revise this. What the flying F was that pass? That should have been at least a scoring opportunity. From an international 9. And we thought Ben Youngs was bad.


In other news, Ken Owens has really shown off his handling skills in his cameo.

And then he drops one :p

[Sandydragon]

Oh, and the last 5 have shown one thing: Webb needs to be the test 21... Laidlaw is absolutely shunt.

Can I revise this. What the flying F was that pass? That should have been at least a scoring opportunity. From an international 9. And we thought Ben Youngs was bad.


In other news, Ken Owens has really shown off his handling skills in his cameo.

Owens is normally very good in that respect. Webb would offer a lot more off the bench.

[jared_7]

Barnes is appalling.

[WaspInWales]

Oh, and the last 5 have shown one thing: Webb needs to be the test 21... Laidlaw is absolutely shunt.

Can I revise this. What the flying F was that pass? That should have been at least a scoring opportunity. From an international 9. And we thought Ben Youngs was bad.


In other news, Ken Owens has really shown off his handling skills in his cameo.

Not just bad passes, but so fwcking slow too.

[Which Tyler]

Barnes is appalling.

On that we're in agreement - along with 99.9% of the rugby watching public.

There must be a 0.1% somewhere out there who likes him? surely? at least his boss must think he's worth it.

[WaspInWales]

Good second half. Could've been great had they put the Maori to the sword properly, but much better all round.

Sexton and Murray were good. 12, 13 - good. Pack very good. Halfpenny kicked very well...solid even, just not world class, certainly no Farrell anyway.

Maori were crap. Expected much better from them, just like the Crusaders.

Will need a lot more to beat the ABs, unless they fall apart too.

[Stom]

Oh, and the last 5 have shown one thing: Webb needs to be the test 21... Laidlaw is absolutely shunt.

Can I revise this. What the flying F was that pass? That should have been at least a scoring opportunity. From an international 9. And we thought Ben Youngs was bad.


In other news, Ken Owens has really shown off his handling skills in his cameo.

Not just bad passes, but so fwcking slow too.

The slowness was my original problem. The Lions went from making a metric fecktonne of metres 1 out after quick service from Murray and forward/Te'o carries, to going backwards with glacial service and a set defense. That cannot happen against NZ, as we'd be picked off and destroyed.


On that match, I have to say I was not impressed with any Maori except NMS. They were poor, we were decent.

I thought our pack went very well, although their pack didn't turn up. But while Sexton is looking better, he's still not looking great...which isn't a good look for us. Te'o is so powerful and clever. Surely now George and Te'o will be England's 2 and 12...they have to be after these displays.

[Sandydragon]

Decent scoreline. Plenty of positives if not the attacking rugby style we would like to see (and I suspect won't). However, considering that the Lions last time out lost that fixture, I think the team will be happy enough with that performance and result.

[canta_brian]

Good second half. Could've been great had they put the Maori to the sword properly, but much better all round.

Sexton and Murray were good. 12, 13 - good. Pack very good. Halfpenny kicked very well...solid even, just not world class, certainly no Farrell anyway.

Maori were crap. Expected much better from them, just like the Crusaders.

Will need a lot more to beat the ABs, unless they fall apart too.

Maori and sanders bad? Possibly, but I wonder if this version of the lions match day team is actually ptettygood at shutting teams down.

Still, both oppositions need to learn to catch a bomb. That would have made a huge difference in both games.

[Mikey Brown]

Can I revise this. What the flying F was that pass? That should have been at least a scoring opportunity. From an international 9. And we thought Ben Youngs was bad.


In other news, Ken Owens has really shown off his handling skills in his cameo.

Not just bad passes, but so fwcking slow too.

The slowness was my original problem. The Lions went from making a metric fecktonne of metres 1 out after quick service from Murray and forward/Te'o carries, to going backwards with glacial service and a set defense. That cannot happen against NZ, as we'd be picked off and destroyed.


On that match, I have to say I was not impressed with any Maori except NMS. They were poor, we were decent.

I thought our pack went very well, although their pack didn't turn up. But while Sexton is looking better, he's still not looking great...which isn't a good look for us. Te'o is so powerful and clever. Surely now George and Te'o will be England's 2 and 12...they have to be after these displays.

Ha. This is what we've putting up with for years attempting to get this Scotland team moving (and look what happened this morning without him) and is frankly exactly how I feel about Youngs, just trade goakicking for the occasional linebreak.

[Mikey Brown]

Have any of the wingers done anything good yet?

[Stom]

Have any of the wingers done anything good yet?

How? With the gameplan and the centres inside them, they don't really stand a chance...

[Mikey Brown]

I wasn't suggesting anything otherwise. I haven't really been paying attention and wondered if anyone has actually done anything positive. That's all.

I was going to start banging the Seymour drum again really. Given the lack of attacking will his qualities seem like they'd be useful. But I don't see it mattering much.

[kk67]

This has been a great Lions performance, and a great marker for the All Blacks. They could be 40 points up if the Maori were punished earlier for repeated infringing and the Lions finishing was a bit better. I think for a side of their nature people are undervaluing how well they are getting into doing the basics well.

This really is the worst Maori side I have seen, though.

It's a good thing the Lions forwards are scoring tries because the backs look utterly hopeless.
Rob Howley needs to put himself out of our misery. Give him a webley, bottle of scotch and point him towards the library.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Rob Howley needs to put himself out of our misery. Give him a webley, bottle of scotch and point him towards the library.

Fuck off! some of us are kipping in there. Let him do it in the drawing room after the ladies have retired, like a decent chap.

[skidger]

Will Gatland go back to his favourites in AWJ and Warburton?

[16th man]

The game could really have done with Peyper stepping up and using his cards earlier.

Good performance by the forwards, though there were a few instances throughout the game where undermanned rucks got turned over as players stood and watched.

Laidlaw is just breathtakingly poor.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Rob Howley needs to put himself out of our misery. Give him a webley, bottle of scotch and point him towards the library.

Fuck off! some of us are kipping in there. Let him do it in the drawing room after the ladies have retired, like a decent chap.

He'd bloody well miss anyway.

[fivepointer]

The rugby was mostly dire but the result is just what the Lions needed. Maori were desperately poor (the 4th test, really?) but the Lions got control, never lost it and won very comfortably doing a number of things very well. I think you can forget about an all singing all dancing attacking game. This side is built for solidity, containment and pressure. Most of the starters will play next week i imagine. Final back row selection will be interesting with Falateau and SOB surely inked in already. Warburton may have to settle for the bench, while AWJ doesnt look close to unsettling the Saracens lock pairing.