Rugby 2017 Discussion
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Pick 2 Scottish players too. Mainly as Wales and Scotland are close. Which makes Cory Hill selection even worse as he was picked over the Grey brothers.
I saw 10 mins of it and scotland won me 50 bucks.Where's @Mitchell Nicholas ?I was sick yesterday and I slept through the first half, the one day I need the matchtracking...
So i assume they played well
Maybe @Mitchell Nicholas was too gutted to post after Scotland match...
Great performance by the Boks, showing that last week's performance wasn't a fluke. Mostert and Kolisi were particularly impressive. Hopefully, this is a sign of better days to come.
Looks like Erasmus is going to leave Munster. On the cards really when he was non-commital towards the end of the season,but a pity all the same. Guided them through a very, very tough period.
Going back home it seems
He hasn't posted on here since
Hope you're alright @Mitchell NicholasHe hasn't posted on here since
Time for ROG to step up?, looks like POM will captain the lions in the first test as well
I'll be pretty pissed off if he leaves now after saying he was definitely staying back in April.
I obviously don't mind a man leaving to answer the call of his national side but if he was going, he should have been upfront about it then and given us time to recruit his replacement.
My preference would be Nienaber to take over as head coach with Flannery and Jones stepping up and a more experienced DoR coming in over them. Would be the least disruptive outcome at this stage.
Rog has already said he's not coming home until he thinks he's a good enough coach and in his own words, that's a long way off yet. Can see him taking a couple more jobs before Munster including maybe a stint in the southern hemisphere if he can get it.
Game 6: Lions vs Chiefs
Well, the note of "meh" in the commentator's voice there going through these new subs was... interesting.
Yeah, can't see him coming back yet, he seems a realist. Following the career path you mentioned would be great for everyone and show typical determination from him.
On Rassie, I didn't realise the April thing, I'd only read the articles where he was humming and hawing. This next coaching decision is crucial for Munster to stay out of the doldrums and keep the gains they've made.
Marler Feck sake.
Feck sake.Laidlaw cementing his position as 3rd choice scrumhalf.
13-6 at halftime, Payne and Henshaw have done themselves no favours.
FFS! Thought this was Wednesday! 
The game, not the day btw!
The game, not the day btw!Penalty try … the NZ press are going to totally ignore the constant infringements and write the equivalent of "another penalty at OT" conspiracy theories before the first test.
Penalty try, deserved really. Alun Wyn Jones on for Lawes, as the commentators have noted making a mockery of this bringing in Welsh lads to protect potential test players.
Haskell cleans out the ball at the ruck and Great feet by Nowell goes over to put the Lions out of sight! Wish I'd have seen this all the way through as it seems that the Lions have totally demoralised one of the best club sides in the Southern Hemisphere. All-be-it depleted of their international players!
Nowell and Williams put Payne in and he goes over to put this out of any doubt!
Chiefs lineout demoralised themselves too. Another try!
Thought Ross had uncharacteristically ducked out of the tackle but it looks like a hamstring – sad
Not Lions related but Sale have signed James O'Connor. Good signing for them. He needs to get his head down though.
Payne one for the tour video
Haskell in there once again for TO … doesn't amount to anything but the discipline in defence is rock fecking solid!
Don't often see the ref physically getting dug in!
Cole
I'd be sending him home with the Welsh schoolboy selection and keeping Davies on to be honest. He was brutal again today.
Other than Rory Bests standard lineout meltdown in the second half, everyone else was excellent. Particularly impressed with Cole, Lawes, Haskell, Daly and Williams.
You know what, maybe that's why another scrumhalf was brought on after all - perhaps Laidlaw has been brutal in training too for the whole tour.
Coupled with his confused looks at the ref as if the ball was dead straight!
I thought Cole was excellent today, Lawes + Daly will on bench. Lawes a great option to come on if we are winning or losing because he's an animal in defence. Daly a great option to cover most positions.
I think Lawes should bench but wont. I never really rated him before (always thought he was a talented liability) but he's been superb on this tour. Was one of the few to hold his head up high in those early midweek matches and has been a consistent menace throughout.
Gatland putting him back on after the HIA today though, coupled with Jones being hooked immediately means the Welshman will be on the bench for Saturday I reckon.
I'd say we're looking at:
Vunipola George Furlong
Kruis Itoje
O'Mahony Faletau O'Brien
Murray Farrell
North Te'o Davies Watson
Halfpenny
McGrath, Owens, Sinckler, Jones, Warburton, Webb, Sexton, Daly
Only question marks really are whether he starts Warburton ahead of either O'Mahony or O'Brien and whether he goes balls out with Sexton and Farrell together. I don't think he will at this stage.Kruis Itoje
O'Mahony Faletau O'Brien
Murray Farrell
North Te'o Davies Watson
Halfpenny
McGrath, Owens, Sinckler, Jones, Warburton, Webb, Sexton, Daly
Pretty much agree with that. North is under a bit of pressure from today, but Williams and Nowell have both had poor performances in the tour too before today. Halfpenny is a dead cert due to Farrell's dodgy kicking. Expect Sexton to get game time in the first test for sure. Warburton is one there that could put a spanner in the works if Gatland goes with his old boys rather than form players.
Before this game North was in by default as outside of Watson no other winger was playing well. However I thought Nowell/Daly both play well today so it'll be interesting if North starts. 15 is interesting too, with Sexton/Farrell in my opinion you don't need Halfpenny kicking but before this tour he was nowhere near my 23 but to be fair he has played well this tour but I have concerns with him going forward. Williams would be my pick as in 6N he was excellent but that's too late now it'll be Halfpenny.
For me if Farrell is fit which Gatland said he is, he has to play, I know Te'o has played very well but I still go Sexton/Farrell at 10/12. On kicking I think Farrell is a world class kicker, one he missed few games back maybe it's me but he was hobbling before taking the kick, think he was injured.
Back row it's got to be POM/O'Brien at 6/7 with Tipuric on bench. I don't think Warburton is a good impact sub and the 2 Irish lads have outperformed him. Sadly I think Gatland will start Warburton/O'Brien. Same goes for 2nd row AWJ no way should be close to 23 I know he's a good leader but I'd rather the better players but I think Gats will start him.
Farrell's going to start now, and Farrell has kicking flubs. I don't think he's world class at the minute - he's had two flubs this tour and that really weird one in the 6N against Italy when Italy were still in that match. If he was injured, he should never have taken that kick - that ego is a bit of a concern then too. I just don't trust him kicking in high stakes situations at the moment. Halfpenny is much more reliable at the moment so he'll be in. Williams definitely in with a shout for the later matches. It'll be really interesting to see if Sexton plays too. Word is too that POM is going to be named captain - great stuff.
I think Gatland feels the best chance to shut down Savea is to have North opposite him - basically like Folau/North from 4 years ago.
That side is what I think Gatland will pick. If I was the selector I'd go for:
Vunipola George Furlong
Kruis Itoje
O'Mahony Faletau O'Brien
Murray Sexton
North Farrell Joseph Daly
Williams
McGrath, Owens, Sinckler, Lawes, Stander, Webb, Joseph, Watson
Kruis Itoje
O'Mahony Faletau O'Brien
Murray Sexton
North Farrell Joseph Daly
Williams
McGrath, Owens, Sinckler, Lawes, Stander, Webb, Joseph, Watson
Savea just casually dropped. Ruthless NZ.
SBW, Crotty is interesting at 12 and 13. Don't think I've seen them play together before.
You'd also have to wonder if Kaino, Read and Ben Smith are all 100% fit. As weird as it is to say it, the back row is definitely an area we should be attacking because of doubts over their two world class players fitness and Sam Can who is a good, but not great player.
It's a frighteningly strong 23 (any side who can leave Savea and Milner Skudder out completely is ridiculous) but it's not as strong as 12 years ago and this Lions team will be much stronger than we were back then.
I think it'll be competitive and if the Lions are going to have a shot at this series, they need to win this first one.
You'd also have to wonder if Kaino, Read and Ben Smith are all 100% fit. As weird as it is to say it, the back row is definitely an area we should be attacking because of doubts over their two world class players fitness and Sam Can who is a good, but not great player.
It's a frighteningly strong 23 (any side who can leave Savea and Milner Skudder out completely is ridiculous) but it's not as strong as 12 years ago and this Lions team will be much stronger than we were back then.
I think it'll be competitive and if the Lions are going to have a shot at this series, they need to win this first one.
New Zealand
15. Ben Smith, 14. Israel Dagg, 13. Sonny Bill Williams, 12. Ryan Crotty, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Beauden Barrett, 9. Aaron Smith; 1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Jerome Kaino, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Kieran Read (captain).
Replacements: 16. Nathan Harris, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Charlie Faumuina, 19. Scott Barrett, 20. Ardie Savea, 21. TJ Perenara, 22. Aaron Cruden/Lima Sopoaga, 23. Anton Lienert-Brown.
15. Ben Smith, 14. Israel Dagg, 13. Sonny Bill Williams, 12. Ryan Crotty, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Beauden Barrett, 9. Aaron Smith; 1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Jerome Kaino, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Kieran Read (captain).
Replacements: 16. Nathan Harris, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Charlie Faumuina, 19. Scott Barrett, 20. Ardie Savea, 21. TJ Perenara, 22. Aaron Cruden/Lima Sopoaga, 23. Anton Lienert-Brown.