B&I Lions 2017
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You'd think our accent is thuck as pugshut
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Looks like Gatland is getting this tour off to a good start engaging with the community.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11868548
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11868886
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@taniwharugby Wales did the same at the 2011 RWC, and Gatland said he was keen to repeat that community engagement.
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@jegga said in B&I Lions 2017:
@Pot-Hale how is Gatland though of in Ireland after coaching there?
Hard to beat this site for analysis of Irish rugby and retro-articles.
The Gatland seasons: How Ireland fared during the four years when Warren was king
The Wales coach led Ireland between 1998-2001.
Gatland has some pluses (capping young players with potential)
some minuses (RWC 1999 defeat to Argentina, speculation that he was ousted by his backs-coach Eddie O'Sullivan, later years Mourinho-style grandstanding)
sometimes both together (radical pick of 4 first-caps for Scotland game in 2000: Stringer, Hayes, Horgan, O'Gara -
who went on to get a huge number of caps:
Stringer 98 caps; Hayes 105 caps; Horgan 65 caps; O'Gara 128 caps: not bad for a Yank)He seems limited in several ways: style of rugby, antagonistic with the press/opposition
but he has won lots of trophies - another example of being like Mourinho?- getting the English club team Wasps
- from the lower parts of the English league to winning it in 2003 + 2004 +2005
- winning the European Cup in 2004
- with Wales
- Grand Slams in 2008 + 2012
- 6 Nation winners in 2013
- with Lions: series win in Australia (debate scale of achievement and selection issues elsewhere)
- getting the English club team Wasps
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@Megweya cheers interesting stuff there. I was working with an Irish crew during the 1999 Rwc and had a look at their newspaper to see what their press said after the loss to Argentina . One columnist was asking why they had to have a kiwi coach and the Brazilians were good at football but no one thought their coaches were any better and reckoned the same applied to New Zealand and their coaches. Would love to remember that guys name and see how he feels about that theory.
That 2001 6n game vs the poms was a cracker , as was our come from behind win which was Richie's first test . -
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No.
I think the Lions will be fine.
I reckon they'll win them all. But by the same token any 4 of them (not the Blues) could also beat them.
Edit. No, I expect 1 franchise victory.
I don't think we're as good as some think, with Sanzar partners making us look good. At the same time this is the depthiest I've ever seen the 4 home unions. Even Scotland are pretty good at the moment.
The unknown is what makes this tour that little bit more interesting. I'm guessing here.
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@Rembrandt said in B&I Lions 2017:
Well its 50 mins gone and the Lions are still losing to our provincial barbarians. That's got to be a real concern.
I wouldn't speak too soon. The baabaas have been excellent and thoroughly motivated. See what the last 20 holds.
I remember some AB games against Scotland/Italy where we took a while to dominate completely...
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@Rembrandt said in B&I Lions 2017:
@Bones how about now?
Feel free to give me grief if the Lions destroy our super sides.
Fitzy is of the same opinion.
So I'm way off the mark.
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When do the Blues name their side? Can't be Thursday.
By the way, our mate Stephen Jones mentions in passing in his write up of the Baabaas game that he watched the Saders play the Highlanders and reckons both would be easily accounted for by Saracens.
What must it be like to live in a delusion bubble?
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@Sneakdefreak said in B&I Lions 2017:
Itoje is a behemoth of a person.
Interesting. I was always under the impression he was a bit small for an international lock
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@Crucial said in B&I Lions 2017:
he watched the Saders play the Highlanders and reckons both would be easily accounted for by Saracens.
What must it be like to live in a delusion bubble?
This really is the best thing about a Lions tour. Putting these jokers back in their box.
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@Frye said in B&I Lions 2017:
@Crucial said in B&I Lions 2017:
he watched the Saders play the Highlanders and reckons both would be easily accounted for by Saracens.
What must it be like to live in a delusion bubble?
This really is the best thing about a Lions tour. Putting these jokers back in their box.
Thing is though. These guys aren't bad players and they look really good playing in their own comps which is what tricks everyone.
Eddie Jones at least recognises this and has worked to create something good within their limitations that can at least compete and disrupt the faster speed of thought from the faster SH teams.
The Walrus is deluded because he thinks the team cohesion of Saracens is enough to make up for the fact that the few errors they make aren't ruthlessly exposed by their opposition as they would be against any of the NZ super teams including the Blues.
