v AB'S - First Test

[Digby]

The Lions tried to fight fire with fire, but in the end we were left to watch their performance fade to black, sad but true.

Afraid that is slightly the Lions trying to rewrite history. Yes, they counter attacked which was good to see but in general play I think the plan was as we all expected

fine, fine, they were broken, beat and scarred

[dk4]

Difficult to replace Crotty and Ben S.
The last one they should give him the summer(winter) off to make sure he recovers.

For Kaino, i think he was smashed in the head or shoulder by a NZ prop in one of the Lions breaks.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Difficult to replace Crotty and Ben S.
The last one they should give him the summer(winter) off to make sure he recovers.

For Kaino, i think he was smashed in the head or shoulder by a NZ prop in one of the Lions breaks.

ALB and NMS or Savea (to wing and Dagg to full back) or Jordie or Damien McKenzie. That's really not tricky.

[zer0]

I'd wager that the Accountant will be covered by either Milner-Skudder to the wing and Dagg to fullback or Cruden to first five and Barrett to fullback. I doubt we'll see J.Savea or Naholo in the same back three as Ioane as they'd, collectively, be too insecure under the high ball. Especially if it's windy in Wellington. Which it always is.

[kk67]

oops...sanjay....

Yup.

[kk67]

On a seek and destroy mission tonight.

Nothing else matters

One

has No Remorse.

It was close murder.

[jared_7]

Lol, Gatland never learns

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/ar ... d=11881837

Just talk to officials in private, man. I can't help but feel he is doing his best impression of the Mourinho-being-under-siege-from-the-entie-world-will-make-my-players-perform coaching style.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Lol, Gatland never learns

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/ar ... d=11881837

Just talk to officials in private, man. I can't help but feel he is doing his best impression of the Mourinho-being-under-siege-from-the-entie-world-will-make-my-players-perform coaching style.

He's a bloody muppet.

[dk4]

Gatland should stop these comments. He has a good team and he should let them play the game _which they do very well_.
Can't wait for the next 2 games.

Wish i was in NZ...

[Digby]

Lol, Gatland never learns

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/ar ... d=11881837

Just talk to officials in private, man. I can't help but feel he is doing his best impression of the Mourinho-being-under-siege-from-the-entie-world-will-make-my-players-perform coaching style.

He's a bloody muppet.

Not a puppet master? Edit - now I think on that it should be master of puppets

In his defence there was at least one play where Kaino took out Murray's standing leg, and never mind the ball (which had gone anyway) that's never nice to see.

[Lizard]

Hang on a minute - does this mean Julian Savea is released for the Hurricanes?

Yes it does!

[Stom]

First half in, and my thoughts mainly run like this...

You can pick out individually poor performances - Furlong, both locks, SOB and Farrell were all poor, imo - but that's not really fair, as it is the system and structure failing the players.

I don't know how many times we failed to hit a ruck with speed and precision. Absolutely embarrassing. The pick of B&I should be able to do better than that. Decision making was consistently poor, which suggests it was not an individual thing but a team orders/tactical decision.

And now onto the one humongous gulf between the two teams. Support.

When a Kiwi makes a half break, we has minimum 1 passing option at all times, sometimes 3 or 4, even. At every half break. Often he will choose to pass or offload, and thus quickly move the ball and commit defenders. We know this is what they do anyway. But if he does not make the pass, when he hits the deck he will have immediate ruck support, clearing out cleanly and quickly, and allowing the SH - who is in support always - to immediately launch another attack.

When a Lions player made a half break - often Te'o - he would look up and see one risky offload option. So he would make the right decision and take the ball into contact. But then it takes a good second for the ball to be secured, and another second for the SH to be in place to play it, and another second for the "attack" to be in position to receive the ball.

So while NZ can move the point of attack with incredible speed, stretching a pack across the pitch thinner and thinner, the Lions are slow, coming up against a set defence and often losing the ball at the breakdown due to slow support anyway.

So, sorry, but on 40 minutes when we managed to stick to within 5 points of NZ, I am instantly predicting a big 3-0. Not even close. And if Gatland thinks he has a chance of coaching NZ, he has another thing coming.

[Sandydragon]

First half in, and my thoughts mainly run like this...

You can pick out individually poor performances - Furlong, both locks, SOB and Farrell were all poor, imo - but that's not really fair, as it is the system and structure failing the players.

I don't know how many times we failed to hit a ruck with speed and precision. Absolutely embarrassing. The pick of B&I should be able to do better than that. Decision making was consistently poor, which suggests it was not an individual thing but a team orders/tactical decision.

And now onto the one humongous gulf between the two teams. Support.

When a Kiwi makes a half break, we has minimum 1 passing option at all times, sometimes 3 or 4, even. At every half break. Often he will choose to pass or offload, and thus quickly move the ball and commit defenders. We know this is what they do anyway. But if he does not make the pass, when he hits the deck he will have immediate ruck support, clearing out cleanly and quickly, and allowing the SH - who is in support always - to immediately launch another attack.

When a Lions player made a half break - often Te'o - he would look up and see one risky offload option. So he would make the right decision and take the ball into contact. But then it takes a good second for the ball to be secured, and another second for the SH to be in place to play it, and another second for the "attack" to be in position to receive the ball.

So while NZ can move the point of attack with incredible speed, stretching a pack across the pitch thinner and thinner, the Lions are slow, coming up against a set defence and often losing the ball at the breakdown due to slow support anyway.

So, sorry, but on 40 minutes when we managed to stick to within 5 points of NZ, I am instantly predicting a big 3-0. Not even close. And if Gatland thinks he has a chance of coaching NZ, he has another thing coming.

I don't think the system and structure absolve the players of all responsibility. Kruis being robbed so easily of the ball in contact is an individual error. Williams not collecting a high ball is an individual error. Dropped and poor passes, also individual errors.

We created a fist of try scoring opportunities which isn't a bad effort against the ABs. I still think the ABs are the better team and will win the series, but I think the Lions have done better than I was expecting them too a few weeks ago.

As for the risk averse style of play in the north, Gatland is probably the most risk adverse coach, but we all rely on brute force more than subtlety. Our approach to the game needs to evolve and expecting that to happen over the course of a short tour is unrealistic.

[Timbo]

Just watching again, is it just me or is the Dagg pass for Codie Taylor's try a mile forward?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Just watching again, is it just me or is the Dagg pass for Codie Taylor's try a mile forward?

By definition if you are only determining that on re- watching, it's not a mile forward. I don't think it was forward at all.

[Timbo]

Theres an angle of the pass I'd not seen before. Pause this at 5:06/07 and then look at the lines on the pitch.



Just interested in people's thoughts.

[ALunpg]

It's one of those did the hands pass the ball backwards at the start ..and that is very difficult to determine from the camera angles but the ball does end up forward of the passing player but in my books it looks a legal pass .

[morepork]

So good to see this issue come up again. Like a home schooled cousin coming to visit.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Theres an angle of the pass I'd not seen before. Pause this at 5:06/07 and then look at the lines on the pitch.



Just interested in people's thoughts.

Who gives a monkey's? It's in the book.

[Timbo]

Fair enough. Should have just added a crappy pun and/or ska punk band reference. Clearly.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Fair enough. Should have just added a crappy pun and/or ska punk band reference. Clearly.

That would be more productive.

[paddy no 11]

He rotates his body alright but he chucks it forward otherwise it would have hit taylors bread basket. Not that it matters, bringing on cruden saved the lions 80 mins of barrett at 10 will be annihilation for the lions this week unless they actually have finally clued into this notion of finishing their chances

[Lord Llandaff]

Sexton to start with Faz and Foxy outside. Back 3 to remain. I'm not sure what benefit Halfpenny brings to the bench, given that Daly and Watson can both play FB if required.

Just remember you heard it here first

[Mellsblue]

Sexton to start with Faz and Foxy outside. Back 3 to remain. I'm not sure what benefit Halfpenny brings to the bench, given that Daly and Watson can both play FB if required.

Just remember you heard it here first

Then why didn't you do something to stop it?