DasNutNock wrote:30-15 extremely flattering. Shame this crop of players isn't up against the saffers, would be a lot more competitive.
I don't think it is flattering at all. We chucked away 2 golden try opportunities, which most teams in world rugby wouldn't have even created. They scored 3 out of 3 chances.
When you play the ABs, you know they are going to dominate for vast swathes of the game and you cannot switch off for a second. We switched off briefly twice and conceded 2 tries. other than that, we are about 10 percent away from where we need to be.
Itoje has to start, maybe Best too, as we have to deal with the breakdown better. Lawes on the bench.
And this Lions team would take any other team bar the ABs to the cleaners. The Saffers are rebuilding and not all that, the Aussies were beaten by the Sweaties and shipped 27 points at home to Italy.
France are a walking disaster.
The Argies have just suffered a home series defeat by England B....
Toulouse_Iron wrote:
I don't think it is flattering at all. We chucked away 2 golden try opportunities, which most teams in world rugby wouldn't have even created. They scored 3 out of 3 chances.
When you play the ABs, you know they are going to dominate for vast swathes of the game and you cannot switch off for a second. We switched off briefly twice and conceded 2 tries. other than that, we are about 10 percent away from where we need to be.
Itoje has to start, maybe Best too, as we have to deal with the breakdown better. Lawes on the bench.
2nd test is doable....
Completely agree...ABs did what ABs do: the basics better than any other team in the world; offload in contact unbelievably well...but they were definitely there for the taking. We 'just' need to be more clinical and be more precise next time out. We left 2 tries out there that ABs would have gobbled up. On paper I thought our bench looked stronger than theirs but we lost all cohesion once we started making changes....that definitely needs to improve for next week
TBF Smith was world class and ran the show for them....and Read is awesome. I love BV but Read is untouchable at 8 in world rugby
Didn't expect anything but an AB win, but some wonderful signs of encouragement - the first Lions try, Williams, Davies and Daly were fantastic; the first 10 mins of the second half with some wonderfully entertaining play by the backs, again orchestrated by Williams and at times some of the grunt work done by the forwards. Itoje has played his way into the starting XV and impressed by Williams, Davies, Daly, Watson, Farrell, the Irish flankers and George
However, as a part-time side, I don't think they have the familiarity or the time to develop enough to beat the ABs and as another poster said, would be a lot more close against the Saffers and would walk all over the Wallabies.
Disappointing second half. Agreed that the ABs were there for the taking but errors cost us in the rain - errors that the ABs simply didn't make. They took every chance and kicked every penalty.
Some of their movement and offloading was sensational.
Some good signs from the Lions though, considering we're a part time side. Agreed that this Lions team would probably beat any other team in world rugby right now.
The game was a decent watch but we really threw that away.
As good as Henderson was overall tonight, that error (his yellow) really highlights the difference between us and the All Blacks. He may have just thrown away his starting spot for the next test.
Lawes looks nailed on to start after being taken off earlyish.
As an aside, Hurricanes' backs are incredible though.
DasNutNock wrote:Lawes/Itoje for Kruis/AWJ and maybe Nowell for Watson would be a good idea, and certainly seems like Gatland's considering it.
Think Itoje will replace AWJ and Lawes will get on the bench....Gatland apparently really likes Nowell so he could get in, but Watson had a decent game on Saturday so would be harsh
But IMO unless we collectively move brains and speed of thought up a notch or two, it will be deckchairs and Titanic
Just read side for 2nd Test. Don't have a problem with Sexton/Farrell although Teo is unlucky.....but what's the obsession with AWJ? Admittedly Kruis didn't have is best game but I thought AWJ was anonymous ! Bit of a head scratcher for sure....
Sexton did nothing when he came on last saturday - although I'm not convinced Farrell did a great deal either. Teo nullified one of the great centres in world rugby in SBW, and must be fuming.
AWJ shouldn't even be on the tour, and Launchbury or Lawes should be starting. Gatland is clearly being influenced by the WRU.
It must really grate with Gatland that England have 4 of the 6 best 2nd rows in the world (feel sorry for Launchberry), there is now way he would have taken all 4 so he stuck Jones in. Henderson & Kruis on the bench with Itoje & Lawes starting - well it should be.
It's a huge gamble to pick AWJ. The only way that backline works is if we get ball....then I think picking Sexton and Farrell is ok as they are good enough to control the pace of the game (slow it down!!)
2nd row is where they blew us away in terms of physicality and retention....and I'm just not convinced AWJ still has it.
If the pack goes like last week then it's going to get messy!