And they're off! - and stinking to high heaven!

[Renniks]

All Blacks will be absolutely quaking in their boots after that!

[WaspInWales]

We'll win by at least 20.

Stress not.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Just 2 more converted tries and I would've been spot on.

May have a pop at the lottery later.

[Sandydragon]

That was fecking dire.

Positives. Faletau, the impact Tipuric made and I'd give a thumbs up to Farrell as well.

Some players were alright.

Too many poor performances. Not even jet lag and rust can explain some of the utter dirge.

[Sandydragon]

½P in for the first test then

Hogg has properly pissed on his chips with that performance.

[Mikey Brown]

Oh, we've got some footage now to work on D. Hooray. Why did I doubt you, Sam?

[Mikey Brown]

Did I miss more things that Hogg messed up? Did that crap pass to a static Watson and was in touch, but did more attacking than Halfpenny has done in the last 5 years, with very little to work with. Not that it was a good game from him by any stretch.

[jngf]

Faletau awesome (possibly best game I've seen him play) more dynamic and pacier than Billy V would ever have been imo. Tipuric a class above Warburton in many eyes, shame not in Gatland's . Farrell showing just why he's not England's first choice 10 - one trick goal kicking pony.
AWJ past it, Launchbury Is the far better player and should have been selected to tour instead imo.

[Sandydragon]

I actually thought that Farrell gave us a lot more shape, but that could be a reflection on how poor sexton was.

[16th man]

Oh, we've got some footage now to work on D. Hooray. Why did I doubt you, Sam?

If I were the coaching team, beyond a quick line on "that wasn't good enough, lets pick it up", I'd be tempted to just pretend that game never happened and treat Auckland on Wednesday as if it was game 1.

[Renniks]

Justin Marsh assuming that Lions might be holding something back…
They're not - this is just all Gatland has to offer

[jngf]

Justin Marsh assuming that Lions might be holding something back…
They're not - this is just all Gatland has to offer

Yes that starting XV was pretty close to the side I anticipate Gatland had earmarked for the first test match.

[MrK]

Poor : Hogg, Sexton, Henderson
Meh : Best, Warburton, AWJ, Seymour
As expected : Marler, Moriaty, Laidlaw, Teo, Joseph, Watson
Credit : Sinkler, Faletau, the other 14 that didnt play.

From the bench

Farrell, Vunipola, Kruis, Tipuric, Webb all made a difference but hard to judge

Liam Williams has a huge opportunity if given the chance to play at FB in one of the next 2 games.

I think Sexton and Hogg now have a lot of work to do to make the test team. As does that second row pairing.

Early days and this will change after every game but I'd go
McGrath, Owens, Furlong, Kruis, Itoje, Stander, Tipuric, Faletau, Murray, Farell, Nowell, Henshaw, Joseph, Daly, L Williams
George, Vunipola, Sinkler, Lawes, Obrien, Webb, Sexton, Payne,

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Justin Marsh assuming that Lions might be holding something back…
They're not - this is just all Gatland has to offer

Yes that starting XV was pretty close to the side I anticipate Gatland had earmarked for the first test match.

Really? I only see Best, AWJ, Warburton, Faletau, Joseph and possibly Watson being test starters... Am I missing anyone obvious?

[jngf]

Haskell to be the team mascot wearing a lion mask and filming footage

[Eugene Wrayburn]

We managed to beat a bunch of party timers. Let's all enjoy that whilst it lasts. Any of our other opponents would have put 50-100 points on us with that performance .

[Len]

Although its a win its a bloody shallow one. If the Lions cop a hiding from a couple of the super rugby sides (which they will if they play like that shower) then moral might plummet and Gatland could lose the room. They need a much better performance next up.

[Mikey Brown]

I thought Seymour was good actually. Great kick cchasing and ran some nice lines. Not sure he got a chance to do more than that did he? I certainly felt before the tour he was more likely to take to Gat style quickly than Hogg for example.

[zer0]

How many players are arriving in the second wave? Just trying to figure out what the turnover might be like for the Blues match...

[Eugene Wrayburn]

How many players are arriving in the second wave? Just trying to figure out what the turnover might be like for the Blues match...

I think they all arrived together. I believe there will be a high turnover as everyone is due to get a start in the first 3 games.

[16th man]

How many players are arriving in the second wave? Just trying to figure out what the turnover might be like for the Blues match...

I would imagine a completely different starting XV with some of the same guys on the bench. No point asking guys to play twice in a week this early.

[ALunpg]

Poor player execution was the byword today. And despite a few exceptions there were a few that really did not take their opportunity.The Barbarians were well organised with a simple game plan well executed.it just shows that there are no weak teams in the matches on this NZ tour.

The Lions coaches should use this as a real opportunity to drive home that this will be a hard and bruising tour...and if they are not up for it...not a successful one.

The backs were short of spark and looked ineffective with the exception of Teo and flashes of promise from Watson.

The forwards were not united as a pack but looked a lot better with Kruis in place. They were often a half metre too late at the breakdown and lucky not to get pinged too often.there were a few individual quality displays but without support it is a major uphill battle.

So.... poor display as a team but it was more use than the first match on the last tour.

Only two players did anything that gives them a circle around their name as potential in the starting test 23 ..Teo and Falateu.. and two that really didn't help their cause were Henderson and Hogg, although it doesn't yet rule anyone out as plenty of matches yet.

[Puja]

Watching AWJ and Henderson was painful when you consider that Launchbury and Gray have been left at home. Thankfully, literally any other second row partnership that the Lions can put out from here will be better.

Puja

[WaspInWales]

Poor : Hogg, Sexton, Henderson
Meh : Best, Warburton, AWJ, Seymour
As expected : Marler, Moriaty, Laidlaw, Teo, Joseph, Watson
Credit : Sinkler, Faletau, the other 14 that didnt play.

From the bench

Farrell, Vunipola, Kruis, Tipuric, Webb all made a difference but hard to judge

Liam Williams has a huge opportunity if given the chance to play at FB in one of the next 2 games.

I think Sexton and Hogg now have a lot of work to do to make the test team. As does that second row pairing.

Early days and this will change after every game but I'd go
McGrath, Owens, Furlong, Kruis, Itoje, Stander, Tipuric, Faletau, Murray, Farell, Nowell, Henshaw, Joseph, Daly, L Williams
George, Vunipola, Sinkler, Lawes, Obrien, Webb, Sexton, Payne,

Not a bad looking team...but I really hope Sexton sorts his shit out.

[kk67]

Good thing they won that game as I now fear they might not win another.

Baa-baa's line speed on D was very impressive and their full back had a blinder.

[fivepointer]

OK the Lions have had no prep time, have only been in NZ for a few days, have put out a side compromised by other commitments but jeez they were still bloody awful. Difficult to pinpoint one area in which they excelled, or looked remotely good enough to negotiate the challenges ahead. To say there's work to do is a massive understatement.
Thought Te'o was pretty easily the Lions best player.
Another 9 games of Harrison and Barnes may not be something I can stand.