BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?)
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I do hope that when Gats has his referees chat about the dastardly blocking tactics he promises his defensive line will stay onside.
When you consider the effect on the game of D lines that get even 6 inches head start you wonder why refs teams don't take a different approach. All they have to do is tell teams they have to be clearly and obviously onside to avoid the whistle rather than clearly and obviously offside to get one. Make things difficult for the AR and you get a warning to keep well onside or penalties will be blown.
@Crucial said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
I do hope that when Gats has his referees chat about the dastardly blocking tactics he promises his defensive line will stay onside.
When you consider the effect on the game of D lines that get even 6 inches head start you wonder why refs teams don't take a different approach. All they have to do is tell teams they have to be clearly and obviously onside to avoid the whistle rather than clearly and obviously offside to get one. Make things difficult for the AR and you get a warning to keep well onside or penalties will be blown.
But, but, that would take some common sense.
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Haha, long range forecasts are the biggest waste of time when it comes to Auckland. The weather changes every 15 minutes.
I don't think the ABs will be worrying about conditions.
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wow, current odds at TAB:
ABs $1.16
Lions $4.75I'd move ABs out to about $1.45 and bring Lions down to about $2.00.
@taniwharugby said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
wow, current odds at TAB:
ABs $1.16
Lions $4.75I'd move ABs out to about $1.45 and bring Lions down to about $2.00.
So the Lions have a 50% probability of winning and the ABs about 75%?
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@taniwharugby said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
wow, current odds at TAB:
ABs $1.16
Lions $4.75I'd move ABs out to about $1.45 and bring Lions down to about $2.00.
So the Lions have a 50% probability of winning and the ABs about 75%?
@rotated said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
@taniwharugby said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
wow, current odds at TAB:
ABs $1.16
Lions $4.75I'd move ABs out to about $1.45 and bring Lions down to about $2.00.
So the Lions have a 50% probability of winning and the ABs about 75%?
$2 is less than 50% because there is obviously the agencies slice to consider, but yeah if the Lions are paying $2 than the ABs would be paying $1.75 (at the NZ tab).
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Oh FFS, quit the worrying about the weather. If the ABs can't beat these guys in all conditions then that's how it goes.
IMO if it pisses down they should watch the 96 Athletic Park game and see how to do it.@Crucial Not worried about the weather you bell end. Can I not ask a simple question about ground conditions in Auckland. Bloodly swamp rats.
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Graham Henry's Lion's line-up:
Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Owen Farrell (Ben Te'o), Anthony Watson, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Taulupe Faletau, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony, Alun Wyn Jones (c), George Kruis, Tadhg Furlong, Jamie George, Mako Vunipola.
Reserves: Rory Best, Jack McGrath, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Sam Warburton; Rhys Webb, Jonathan Joseph, George North/Te'o.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11879381
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Graham Henry's Lion's line-up:
Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Owen Farrell (Ben Te'o), Anthony Watson, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Taulupe Faletau, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony, Alun Wyn Jones (c), George Kruis, Tadhg Furlong, Jamie George, Mako Vunipola.
Reserves: Rory Best, Jack McGrath, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Sam Warburton; Rhys Webb, Jonathan Joseph, George North/Te'o.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11879381
@Tim said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
Graham Henry's Lion's line-up:
Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Owen Farrell (Ben Te'o), Anthony Watson, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Taulupe Faletau, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony, Alun Wyn Jones (c), George Kruis, Tadhg Furlong, Jamie George, Mako Vunipola.
Reserves: Rory Best, Jack McGrath, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Sam Warburton; Rhys Webb, Jonathan Joseph, George North/Te'o.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11879381
Would be VERY surprised if Gatland went down that route for the 1st Trst
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Second-five Williams is a virtual certainty to start at No12 ...I don't even think that's true. He had a very mixed game against Samoa. His defence is a problem. He can be good at offloading on attack, but that counts for nothing if he can't make his tackles. It will all depend on how things go during training, their game plan and how fit Crotty is, who hasn't been out for that long at all. I'd say all 12-13 combinations are still open.
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Second-five Williams is a virtual certainty to start at No12 ...I don't even think that's true. He had a very mixed game against Samoa. His defence is a problem. He can be good at offloading on attack, but that counts for nothing if he can't make his tackles. It will all depend on how things go during training, their game plan and how fit Crotty is, who hasn't been out for that long at all. I'd say all 12-13 combinations are still open.
@Stargazer said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
Second-five Williams is a virtual certainty to start at No12 ...I don't even think that's true. He had a very mixed game against Samoa. His defence is a problem. He can be good at offloading on attack, but that counts for nothing if he can't make his tackles. It will all depend on how things go during training, their game plan and how fit Crotty is, who hasn't been out for that long at all. I'd say all 12-13 combinations are still open.
I don't see SBW at 13. In terms of a first exposure to the Lions rush there is a case for Crotty at 12 to be BB's extra pair of eyes, a combo which works well. What is lost is the crash ball, hence the joy at Laumape. Could be compensated for by Bus standing in a type of dual 12 position and running a hard line. If Crotty on bench and ABs get ten or more up I expect him to see game time late in second half.
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@Bones said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
I really don't see any evidence of Williams being better at "crash" ball than Crotty. Myth.
He's SBW. He's the greatest sportsman to play any kind of sports. Get with the picture bro.
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@Bones yeah was interesting the article infers SBW is the lock for 12, and Crotty/ALB at 13, whereas IMO, 12/13 pick themselves if one is over his rib injury...Crotty/ALB
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@Bones said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
I really don't see any evidence of Williams being better at "crash" ball than Crotty. Myth.
He's SBW. He's the greatest sportsman to play any kind of sports. Get with the picture bro.
@MN5 said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
@Bones said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
I really don't see any evidence of Williams being better at "crash" ball than Crotty. Myth.
He's SBW. He's the greatest sportsman to play any kind of sports. Get with the picture bro.
Cheers bro. No cricket/movie/music threads?
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@MN5 said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
@Bones said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
I really don't see any evidence of Williams being better at "crash" ball than Crotty. Myth.
He's SBW. He's the greatest sportsman to play any kind of sports. Get with the picture bro.
Cheers bro. No cricket/movie/music threads?
@Bones said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
@MN5 said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
@Bones said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
I really don't see any evidence of Williams being better at "crash" ball than Crotty. Myth.
He's SBW. He's the greatest sportsman to play any kind of sports. Get with the picture bro.
Cheers bro. No cricket/movie/music threads?
Or Craft beer threads. Fuck the fern sux
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I disagree with just about everything in that article. I think 12 is a contest between Crotty and SBW, with ALB a lock. And I'd be very surprised if they took the unproven Naholo over Dagg for the first test, given Dagg's superior positional play, work under the high ball and kicking game.
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I disagree with just about everything in that article. I think 12 is a contest between Crotty and SBW, with ALB a lock. And I'd be very surprised if they took the unproven Naholo over Dagg for the first test, given Dagg's superior positional play, work under the high ball and kicking game.
@No-Quarter said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
I disagree with just about everything in that article. I think 12 is a contest between Crotty and SBW, with ALB a lock. And I'd be very surprised if they took the unproven Naholo over Dagg for the first test, given Dagg's superior positional play, work under the high ball and kicking game.
Didn't even read it, but I agree with you
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in my opinion crotty has the best defence of the 3, and makes the least errors, so he is in. SBW easily the most errors, so he's out: ALB's offloading game is as good, and he fucks up less.
the best rugby SBW ever played was at the chiefs where he was just running hard and straight and focusing on retaining possession - if offloads came they came. right now he's playing more like he was at the crusaders, looking to do too much every time and coughing the ball up too often. should be an easy fix, but i'd like to see it happen before picking him. -
in my opinion crotty has the best defence of the 3, and makes the least errors, so he is in. SBW easily the most errors, so he's out: ALB's offloading game is as good, and he fucks up less.
the best rugby SBW ever played was at the chiefs where he was just running hard and straight and focusing on retaining possession - if offloads came they came. right now he's playing more like he was at the crusaders, looking to do too much every time and coughing the ball up too often. should be an easy fix, but i'd like to see it happen before picking him.The best SBW played was when he was running off Cruden's shoulder. That's one reason to put him on the bench.
Right now, I'd probably start him though. It's risky, but I think he played great for the Blues. Bring that for the ABs and we're in good shape.
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This test is shaping as a classic ,
I think it's fair to say now we have a genuine challenge on our hands , the lions have a bit of grit about them
