The Rugby Thread

[1986]

10 days ago Conor Murray was the new Lions captain . Now he can't even make the team .

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Ali Price is better and Murray was only a placeholder as captain for AWJ.

 

[Jabbawolf]

Only slight surprise for me was no Josh Adams but I am more than happy with Watson on the wing.

Surprised me too but VDM and Watson probably make sense for a tight, attritional, physical first test.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I like the choice of Henshaw and Daly as centres. Surprised at the selection of Lawes but he is a bloody superb back row forward. Conan is picked on form too. I fully expected Faletau at number 8.

I think it’s a great selection and I am really looking forward to the match.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Think fact he picked Conon & Price over Falateu and Murray is that Gatland is looking at speed & mobility, move the big south africans about the place.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

And no Aki says maybe not Gatland ball in the centres.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Really looking forward to this. Two fantastic sides.

 

[Paul]

First Lions test I've missed seeing on telly in living memory

 

[Dinowolf]

Had a family day out at Newmarket today so had to record the game and watch it when we got back.

I'd been looking forward to it and wasn't disappointed. What a superb game of rugby that was, with some immense performances from the Lions esp. Itoje, Lawes and Price.

 

[Newbridge Wolf]

Great result and a good game, I missed the fightback but saw the game start to open up and was certainly not suprised.

The disallowed try was the correct decision, even taking my Lions hat off there was a forward pass and the player was clearly in front (fine margins) this was clear enough to over turn. I have no idea what the comms team were going on about..

Our forwards were immense with Itoje the icing on the cake, to have someone able to win t/o legally is a vital skill, to do it numerous times against one of the worlds best packs is brilliant.

We limited them breaking our line with those crunching tackles. It was of course not perfect, and I also witnessed one of the worst line outs ever, but we did what we wanted to do, match them in the forwards.

The "A" team that we played may have played into our hands as it could have helped our forwards get the measure of them

 

[1986]

Four Irish players chosen for the Lions at the weekend . Great to see that number being selected plus Beirne on the bench . Gatland aiming to keep it tight and under control .

 

[Dinowolf]

Four Irish players chosen for the Lions at the weekend . Great to see that number being selected plus Beirne on the bench . Gatland aiming to keep it tight and under control .

Don't see what difference their nationality makes.

Gatland has made three changes to the starting line-up, trying to improve things slightly, starting Mako, Conor Murray and Chris Harris.

Taulupe Faletau replaces Hamish Watson - who was lucky to avoid a sin-binning off the bench in the first Test - among the replacements.

I'm surprised that Dan Biggar is starting again as he hasn't trained since his injury on Saturday.

 

[1986]

Don't see what difference their nationality makes.

Gatland has made three changes to the starting line-up, trying to improve things slightly, starting Mako, Conor Murray and Chris Harris.

Taulupe Faletau replaces Hamish Watson - who was lucky to avoid a sin-binning off the bench in the first Test - among the replacements.

I'm surprised that Dan Biggar is starting again as he hasn't trained since his injury on Saturday.

It's a big deal for us , maybe not the English .

 

[Dinowolf]

It's a big deal for us , maybe not the English .

Surely the 'big deal' is that we get the right players for the game regardless of which of the four nations they come from.

 

[1986]

Surely the 'big deal' is that we get the right players for the game regardless of which of the four nations they come from.

Could not agree more , and when someone of the experience of Gatland chooses 4 Irish lads then it clearly means that he rates them highly .
That's a big boost for us as a Rugby nation .
We've made great strides on the International front since 2000 , but keeping coming up short in World Cups . We are however producing some great young players at present that consistently have our U 20 s competing strongly .
The future looks bright .

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

A gripping first fifteen minutes. The two teams are so well matched

 

[Tony Towner]

I very rarely watch rugby, think this is the first game since the WC final, but from my very small sample size that little long haired prick is beyond annoying

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I very rarely watch rugby, think this is the first game since the WC final, but from my very small sample size that little long haired prick is beyond annoying

He's a twat. Brilliant player though.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Faf? Quality player but a total pain in the arse!

 

[Parkins left foot]

Just waiting for a full 30 man brawl (well probably 28 or 29 as they won't all be on the whole time)

Faf is good - agree though that he is a pain - been absorbing though without being exciting