The Rugby Thread

[Deutsch Wolf]

There's at least three in that XV that I'd much rather be out in NZ at the moment.

 

[Dinowolf]

British and Irish Lions to play Crusaders on Saturday.

15 Stuart Hogg, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Ben Te'o, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Conor Murray, 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 5 George Kruis, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Sean O'Brien, 8 Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Maro Itoje, 20 CJ Stander, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Johnny Sexton, 23 Anthony Watson.

 

[Nando]

Underhill is injured I assume.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Davies and Liam Williams, man. Just dross (on current form).

Crusaders have won 13 out of 13 in Super Rugby, they're going to batter us.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Davies has been excellent lately.

Williams I agree with you.

 

[Nando]

Davies has by all accounts been in good nick at the back end of the season. Usually a Liam Williams fan but he was daft against the Blues.

Oops - beaten to it by Paddy.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Williams is a bandy legged oddity of a player. When he is good he catches everything under the high ball. When bad he is a complete liability.

 

[Dinowolf]

Tom Curry must be the youngest forward ever to play for England in a Grade A Test.

We look a bit lightweight in the centre.

 

[Dinowolf]

Underhill is injured I assume.

Still not recovered from neck injury against BaaBaas. Should be fit for 2nd Test.

 

[Tredman]

Hogg started badly again. Maybe he just looks good for Scotland as his fellow backs aren't that good.

 

[Tredman]

Much much better from the lions so far. Farrell making the difference, done more in 15 mins than Sexton has done all tour.

 

[Paul]

Agree, still don't look anything like the complete article, that will come

 

[Tredman]

Losing Davies, is a big blow. Te'o doing well again.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

far better today the 9/10/12 combo of murray with farrell & sexton swapping looks decent. great defence

still not clinical enough, whats it 2 tries in 3 games, will need a couple every game to beat NZ

 

[Tredman]

Watson should be in prime position for full back, in fact the back 3 of Williams, Watson and North looked good together.

Farrell and Sexton together still just looks a bit light for me, especially as Te'o isn't really a 13

 

[Nando]

Hopefully Watson can slot in at full back permanently when he's back for England.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Watson should be in prime position for full back, in fact the back 3 of Williams, Watson and North looked good together.

Farrell and Sexton together still just looks a bit light for me, especially as Te'o isn't really a 13

If you play Watson as full back rather than 1/2p then Farrell must start because you need the kicking certainty. So I would leave Sexton out and play Farrell at 10.

 

[Tredman]

If you play Watson as full back rather than 1/2p then Farrell must start because you need the kicking certainty. So I would leave Sexton out and play Farrell at 10.

After today Farrell has to play regardless, he was the one who made the difference to the store of play by being flatter and right on the gain line.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Play him as a fly half then, and you have interesting options with both Connor Murray and Rhys Webb available. Then you just have to find the 12 to connect with Te'o, who has been a revelation.

 

[Tredman]

I agree, I'd like to see the 4 we started with today - Murray, Farrell, Davies and Te'o. That said Sexton was much better today with Farrell next to him.