BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?)
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@MiketheSnow said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
Think Joseph was missing today in case Davies isn't fit.
Is Davies carrying a knock? He and JJ are very different types of 13.
I hadn't heard re Davies but I did hear a rumour that Halfpenny was a bit suss for the first test. To be honest though I think I'd prefer Williams at full back.
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@MiketheSnow said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
Think Joseph was missing today in case Davies isn't fit.
Is Davies carrying a knock? He and JJ are very different types of 13.
@SimonAdd_2 said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
@MiketheSnow said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
Think Joseph was missing today in case Davies isn't fit.
Is Davies carrying a knock? He and JJ are very different types of 13.
He's always carrying knock. Hamstrings like old rubber bands.
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I hadn't heard re Davies but I did hear a rumour that Halfpenny was a bit suss for the first test. To be honest though I think I'd prefer Williams at full back.
@Catogrande said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
I hadn't heard re Davies but I did hear a rumour that Halfpenny was a bit suss for the first test. To be honest though I think I'd prefer Williams at full back.
The way Williams played today, definitely.
The way he played last week, no way Jose.
If Farrell doesn't play, then Halfpenny has to.
But I think Gatland is going to go with who and what he knows.
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@kiwiinmelb said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):
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 themThey certainly do except that it is a high risk gameplan they are following.
Obviously not high risk in the manner that they play but pinning your game on being perfect in defence while accumulating slowly runs a big risk of putting you in a bad position if you get behind on the scoreboard. It works well against second string super rugby sides that can't match the power for 80 but the ABs will absorb and repel then pounce on any sniff of a chance.I'm not saying that it will be easy, I expect a close game but the whole AB game for a few years now has been to marry that same toughness in close and on D with an ability to switch in blink of an eye to the type of attack that the BIL will have trouble with.
@Crucial yeah, if I had to predict how this will go ,
im going to predict how it goes quite often ,
Tight game for most of the game , scores close at half time with perhaps the lions slightly in front ,
Somewhere in the last 20 , we run in a few tries that seals it on the scoreboard , and some will say after the game the scoreboard doesnt reflect how it close it was .
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@Crucial yeah, if I had to predict how this will go ,
im going to predict how it goes quite often ,
Tight game for most of the game , scores close at half time with perhaps the lions slightly in front ,
Somewhere in the last 20 , we run in a few tries that seals it on the scoreboard , and some will say after the game the scoreboard doesnt reflect how it close it was .
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@kiwiinmelb even with our habit of blowing it out just before halftime?
@Bones my gut feeling , this lions team is going to do a reasonable job at frustrating us in this first test , and we work them out more in the second and third .
Hope im wrong
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WHEN IS THE TEAM NAMED!!!
@No-Quarter thnk the team naming Facebook poll expires tomorrow.
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Just on the SBW/Crotty debate. So far on tour what i have seen is the teams that have beaten the Lions have done so through the use of "x-factor" backs breaking them open.
The Lions aren't going to squash our forwards like they did to the Maori, and last night as well. The Blues, while early in the tour, matched them up front (and even shaded them in certain areas) but were able to break the Lions open with skill. That last try to win it was fucking great, but also high risk on a couple of occasions.
I am not overly concerned about the need for a rock solid defensive midfield, as i don't think they are bringing anything any of our midfield options would be able to deal with. However someone who can unlock that rush defense with an in-contact offload would be invaluable. And i don't see the need to wait 60 minutes to do it either. Put them under scoreboard pressure early, and make them play a game they look less comfortable doing.
If we start SBW, the question then becomes, is Crotty the best bench option?
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Yeah, I've changed to SBW starting due to form and fitness. He was running hard and straight against Samoa, if he does that he's going to draw a lot of defense and he has the ability to offload in traffic to free up others.
If we don't have Crotty on the bench then we really need SBW/ALB to play 80 minutes, unless we trust Rieko to cover centre in the event of an injury. I'd prefer Crotty for test one - he's reliable as fuck - and depending how that goes Rieko could come onto the bench for test two.
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Just on the SBW/Crotty debate. So far on tour what i have seen is the teams that have beaten the Lions have done so through the use of "x-factor" backs breaking them open.
The Lions aren't going to squash our forwards like they did to the Maori, and last night as well. The Blues, while early in the tour, matched them up front (and even shaded them in certain areas) but were able to break the Lions open with skill. That last try to win it was fucking great, but also high risk on a couple of occasions.
I am not overly concerned about the need for a rock solid defensive midfield, as i don't think they are bringing anything any of our midfield options would be able to deal with. However someone who can unlock that rush defense with an in-contact offload would be invaluable. And i don't see the need to wait 60 minutes to do it either. Put them under scoreboard pressure early, and make them play a game they look less comfortable doing.
If we start SBW, the question then becomes, is Crotty the best bench option?
Yes. I think he's better than the other options, unless they want to go full beast mode and run out Laumape in the last 20.
After last week, I'm not quite as convinced about Rieko nailing his winger duties enough to go to the bench - and cover midfield as well - especially when we have Barrett who can go back to 15 and B smith to the wing. So, midfield cover is crucial.
For me, Crotty covers SBW playing badly, injury at 12/13, and can come on for whoever is buggered or needs to be pulled.
Laumape is risky, but could be awesome in the last 20. Laumape and ALB could be unbelievable - want to see that at some stage.
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Yeah, I've changed to SBW starting due to form and fitness. He was running hard and straight against Samoa, if he does that he's going to draw a lot of defense and he has the ability to offload in traffic to free up others.
If we don't have Crotty on the bench then we really need SBW/ALB to play 80 minutes, unless we trust Rieko to cover centre in the event of an injury. I'd prefer Crotty for test one - he's reliable as fuck - and depending how that goes Rieko could come onto the bench for test two.
Ha ha. Snap.
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While we rate crotty highly in nz ,
I reckon the lions might be doing high fives to see him named ahead of sbw. ,
Not rocket science but End of the day I think our forwards hold the key anyway , if the Lions fail to get dominance up front , I think we are in the box seat , if they do , its going to be difficult to win on scraps .
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I'd go with Crotty on the bench. It's going to be wet and hugely intense and I think Crotty's accuracy and skillset needs to be in the 23.
Especially when the other options are a couple of 20 year old outside backs who still have some rough edges (Jordie defence, Rieko high ball take). There's plenty of other x factor players already on the bench (Charlie, Ardie, Perenara). Don't overthink it - pick all 3 of SBW, ALB and Crotty in the 23.
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I think it's going to be like the second Ireland test of 2016. Massive intensity, possible yellows for NZ, and the ABs still squeaking out a win, and deal well with the stifling rush defence.
Match report because allblacks.com thinks we're more interested in fluffy pregame articles than a match report. Bah humbug.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11751541That's the good scenario for the Lions. The other one is that we start to find some rhythm, passes stick and the Lions have to start chasing the game. If that happens, things could get ugly out there.
All in all, it's going to be a titanic tussle up front. Can't wait (and want to get 1-0 up before the French Refs blow something bizarre from somewhere. You know it's going to happen)
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certainly an intriguing match coming up.
Lions have taken their time getting into their work but showing some good signs in the last week.
ABs always a bit rusty this time of year, but I expect the hit-out v Samoa will have done the world of good for plenty of the team, so as others have mentioned, all signs point to this being a classic encounter.
Hope the weather plays ball and we see a good game of footy, not ruined by the officials or any controversial call.
Moody, Taylor, Franks, BBBBR, Whitelock, Kaino, Cane, Read, Smith, BB, Savea, Crotty, ALB, Dagg, Smith
Is who I would pick, but as per the earlier article, ABs may be looking at SBW, not least Crotty is coming off an injury lay up.
The oft off-side rush defence vs the ABs creative blocking.
Bring it on.
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I tend to agree with that article that SBW is a lock to start - particularly with Crotty not having played for a while. I reckon they'll go SBW-ALB. Heard Hansen saying at the start of the week that they're keen to have a 1,2,3 midfield punch, which points to Crotty on the bench.
But, I suggested at the weekend that Jordie might make it instead and it still won't surprise me. Reason being that we know that Murray's bombs are going to be a key part of the attack - so assuming a back three of Savea, Dagg, Ben- we've got that hopefully well covered with two fullbacks and a power winger. But, if one of those guys is injured or exposed - then what?
Let's say Ben Smith gets injured early. Dagg to fullback - but, who joins the bomb squad? Crotty? Ioane? Beauden?
Well, Beauden is most qualified, but do you really want to be shifting him early? I don't.
Assuming he's fit and it sounds like he is - I guess it probably will be Crotty - but, I reckon there's a good case for Jordie!
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I tend to agree with that article that SBW is a lock to start - particularly with Crotty not having played for a while. I reckon they'll go SBW-ALB. Heard Hansen saying at the start of the week that they're keen to have a 1,2,3 midfield punch, which points to Crotty on the bench.
But, I suggested at the weekend that Jordie might make it instead and it still won't surprise me. Reason being that we know that Murray's bombs are going to be a key part of the attack - so assuming a back three of Savea, Dagg, Ben- we've got that hopefully well covered with two fullbacks and a power winger. But, if one of those guys is injured or exposed - then what?
Let's say Ben Smith gets injured early. Dagg to fullback - but, who joins the bomb squad? Crotty? Ioane? Beauden?
Well, Beauden is most qualified, but do you really want to be shifting him early? I don't.
Assuming he's fit and it sounds like he is - I guess it probably will be Crotty - but, I reckon there's a good case for Jordie!
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@KiwiMurph That's what I would do, as well - but, it's quite a major shift and something I think the Lions would be pretty happy about.
