Blues v BI Lions
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So, similar to the xv against the Chiefs. Notable changes/selections:
Perofeta starts, West on the bench
SBW bracketed with TJ
Collins starts. Nanai is bracketed with TJ on the bench
Scrafton and GCT start, Tuipulotu on the bench
Pryor and Nock both make the bench
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Apart from Collins - that's about the best lineup the Blues can put out. All those bench players deserve their spot. Even if SBW starts i'd prefer Nanai on the bench to TJ - I think Faiane is better suited to start.
Still - its clear Blues are going all in to win this one. Should be brilliant.
I don't blame Tana for putting Pat T on the bench - he's shown glimpses this season but certainly has not stamped his mark as the Blues best lock.
Perofeta at 10 is my favourite call - love it.
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Great to see Collins back. Really missed his play on the weekend.
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Is Sonny Bill Williams still playing rugby?
I thought he'd taken up boxing or hang gliding or badge-patching or something...
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Great to see Collins back. Really missed his play on the weekend.
@ACT-Crusader Very droll.
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Nanai must be the worst trainer in the history of professional rugby. It's fucking criminal he isn't starting, let alone only bracketed on the bench. The fuck Tana?
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Glad West is back in time to be in the 23. That ankle injury could have cost him this unique experience. If Perofeta is too green to cope on Wednesday, the Blues have more experience on the bench. Just hope West doesn't re-injure that ankle again (I'm already thinking Mitre 10 Cup).
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I thought SBW and Faiane were going to pair up in the midfield for this game when I heard their names called together, but I didn't pick up that they were bracketed. I was really hoping this was the midfield for this game.
Perofeta's been given a pretty big game to start. I don't mind the selection as I want him to get some experience before next season.
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Lions team to play Blues
Halfpenny; Nowell, Payne, Henshaw, Daly; Biggar, Webb; McGrath, Owens (captain), Cole, Itoje, Lawes, Haskell, Tipuric, Stander
Replacements: Best, Marler, Sinckler, Henderson, O'Mahony, Laidlaw, Sexton, L Williams
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Tana side stepped a couple of questions about 2005 in the presser as well.
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Tana side stepped a couple of questions about 2005 in the presser as well.
@taniwharugby said in Blues v BI Lions:
Tana side stepped a couple of questions about 2005 in the presser as well.
Good on him. That ship sailed a long time ago.
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looking forward to these games ,
really interested to see how the Lions deal with super rugby style play , not because they are inferior , but more because it may be very different to what they are used to,
is it possible that one of these super rugby sides gets a roll on and puts on a big score ? Not so sure they would be good for rugby though
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Lions team to play Blues has already been posted, but here it is again
L Halfpenny; J Nowell, J Payne, R Henshaw, E Daly; D Biggar, R Webb; J McGrath, K Owens (capt), D Cole, C Lawes, M Itoje, J Haskell, J Tipuric, C J Stander.
Replacements: R Best, J Marler, K Sinckler, Henderson, O’Mahony, Laidlaw, J Sexton, L Williams.
Nowell and Daly
Henshaw and Payne
Webb and Biggar
Lawes and ItojeMurray, North, Davies and O'Brien to get their jerseys against Crusaders.
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Lions team to play Blues has already been posted, but here it is again
L Halfpenny; J Nowell, J Payne, R Henshaw, E Daly; D Biggar, R Webb; J McGrath, K Owens (capt), D Cole, C Lawes, M Itoje, J Haskell, J Tipuric, C J Stander.
Replacements: R Best, J Marler, K Sinckler, Henderson, O’Mahony, Laidlaw, J Sexton, L Williams.
Nowell and Daly
Henshaw and Payne
Webb and Biggar
Lawes and ItojeMurray, North, Davies and O'Brien to get their jerseys against Crusaders.
@Pot-Hale Try to keep up old chap.
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@Pot-Hale Try to keep up old chap.
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Lions team to play Blues has already been posted, but here it is again
L Halfpenny; J Nowell, J Payne, R Henshaw, E Daly; D Biggar, R Webb; J McGrath, K Owens (capt), D Cole, C Lawes, M Itoje, J Haskell, J Tipuric, C J Stander.
Replacements: R Best, J Marler, K Sinckler, Henderson, O’Mahony, Laidlaw, J Sexton, L Williams.
Nowell and Daly
Henshaw and Payne
Webb and Biggar
Lawes and ItojeMurray, North, Davies and O'Brien to get their jerseys against Crusaders.
@Pot-Hale said in Blues v BI Lions:
Lions team to play Blues has already been posted, but here it is again
L Halfpenny; J Nowell, J Payne, R Henshaw, E Daly; D Biggar, R Webb; J McGrath, K Owens (capt), D Cole, C Lawes, M Itoje, J Haskell, J Tipuric, C J Stander.
Replacements: R Best, J Marler, K Sinckler, Henderson, O’Mahony, Laidlaw, J Sexton, L Williams.
Nowell and Daly
Henshaw and Payne
Webb and Biggar
Lawes and ItojeMurray, North, Davies and O'Brien to get their jerseys against Crusaders.
Not a bad side, but it certainly feels a bit 'mid-week'. Not many likely Test combinations in there. Blues in with a real shot of the upset.
It also means that the following players won't have had a start, and are likely to line up against the Crusaders on Saturday:
- Vunipola
- George
- Furlong
- Kruis
- O'Mahoney
- O'Brien
- Murray
- Farrell
- Williams
- Davies
- North
Looks a bit more like a shadow Test side.
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@Pot-Hale said in Blues v BI Lions:
Lions team to play Blues has already been posted, but here it is again
L Halfpenny; J Nowell, J Payne, R Henshaw, E Daly; D Biggar, R Webb; J McGrath, K Owens (capt), D Cole, C Lawes, M Itoje, J Haskell, J Tipuric, C J Stander.
Replacements: R Best, J Marler, K Sinckler, Henderson, O’Mahony, Laidlaw, J Sexton, L Williams.
Nowell and Daly
Henshaw and Payne
Webb and Biggar
Lawes and ItojeMurray, North, Davies and O'Brien to get their jerseys against Crusaders.
Not a bad side, but it certainly feels a bit 'mid-week'. Not many likely Test combinations in there. Blues in with a real shot of the upset.
It also means that the following players won't have had a start, and are likely to line up against the Crusaders on Saturday:
- Vunipola
- George
- Furlong
- Kruis
- O'Mahoney
- O'Brien
- Murray
- Farrell
- Williams
- Davies
- North
Looks a bit more like a shadow Test side.
Yep, I think we can all see some of Gatland's thinking already. Murray at 9, Vunipola and Furlong 1 & 3, Davies at OC and North on one wing. To be honest I don't have much to argue with in those selections, the only concern being that if Davies is at 13, who will be 12? We've seen that a bish-bosh 12 and then Davies at 13 is unlikely to worry NZ too much.
