Brumbies 14, Lions 12, Jake White, take a bow. Toomua & Kuridrani, young Faainga, played like champions. Great team effort from the Brumbies. My tip for Saturday, Wallabies by 5, Bob
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Brumbies 14, Lions 12, Jake White, take a bow. Toomua & Kuridrani, young Faainga, played like champions. Great team effort from the Brumbies. My tip for Saturday, Wallabies by 5, Bob
I said it would be close!
The Lions played poorly, with one or two exceptions, Foletau at 8 was one. The Waratahs deserved that one, a much better team performance.
Wallabies for the first test:
15. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)
14. Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)
12. Christian Leali'ifano (Brumbies)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. James O'Connor (Melbourne Rebels)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
7. Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs)
6. Ben Mowen (Brumbies)
5. James Horwill (Queensland Reds, captain)
4. Kane Douglas (NSW Waratahs)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
Run on Reserves:
16. Saia Fainga'a (Queensland Reds)
17. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
18. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)
19. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
20. Liam Gill (Queensland Reds)
21. Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels)
22. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
23. Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels)
Not a bad side, probably the best Deans has managed to come up with for a quite a while. Should give the Lions a run for their money.
Certainly a team with some attacking potential. Still worried they won't be able to match the Lions though. Hope I'm wrong.
A good side on paper. Barnes at fullback? He has a good kicking game, his defence can be suss. And he is not experienced in that position. O'Connor, good fullback for the Rebels, great in open play, but lacks vision at No. 10. Sometimes does not see his outside backs when they are in the correct attacking channel. Ashley Cooper, good tough defender, can make a break, needed to defend against the big outside backs. Lealiifano a good distributer, can put AA cooper away, can defend, good choice. Folau, will not let the side down. Our forwards must set the platform for the wallabies to win.
We have to hope the lead up games have bashed & bruised the Lions , to the extent it nullifies the lack of match play the Wallabies have had. Our forwards must at the least, gain parity against the Lions , to let our backs attack. The performance of both sides back row is crucial to which team wins. I'm excited, this should be a great game. And Genia is the key for Australia. Just my opinion, Bob
Lions team announced:
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
14. Alex Cuthbert (Wales)
13. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
12. Jonathan Davies (Wales)
11. George North (Wales)
10. Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)
9. Mike Phillips (Wales)
1. Alex Corbisiero (England)
2. Tom Youngs (England)
3. Adam Jones (Wales)
4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
5. Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
6. Tom Croft (England)
7. Sam Warburton (Wales, capt)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Ireland).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Wales), Mako Vunipola (England), Dan Cole (England), Geoff Parling (England), Dan Lydiate (Wales), Ben Youngs (England), Owen Farrell (England), Sean Maitland (Scotland).
For me, the pack is a going to be where it is won or lost. The two Wallaby flankers are inexperienced, one a debutant, the other has 13 caps compared to the Lions pair with 73 caps between them. I'm sure The breakdown will be a key area. However, the two guys I really like in there are Horwill and Palau.
Will Genia will be excellent as ever, but I fear the centre backs may be outclassed by O'Driscoll and Davies. The battle of the wings will be an interesting one too, with George North fit to play and Folau getting a debut. O'Connor at 10 I'm not so sure on, I feel he may be a bit fragile.
I reckon it will be the Lions by 5, but either way I think it will be a cracker to watch. Roll on Saturday evening!
[QUOTE=sheerluck;1934153]Lions team announced:
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
14. Alex Cuthbert (Wales)
13. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
12. Jonathan Davies (Wales)
11. George North (Wales)
10. Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)
9. Mike Phillips (Wales)
1. Alex Corbisiero (England)
2. Tom Youngs (England)
3. Adam Jones (Wales)
4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
5. Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
6. Tom Croft (England)
7. Sam Warburton (Wales, capt)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Ireland).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Wales), Mako Vunipola (England), Dan Cole (England), Geoff Parling (England), Dan Lydiate (Wales), Ben Youngs (England), Owen Farrell (England), Sean Maitland (Scotland).
For me, the pack is a going to be where it is won or lost. The two Wallaby flankers are inexperienced, one a debutant, the other has 13 caps compared to the Lions pair with 73 caps between them. I'm sure The breakdown will be a key area./
The forwards always determine the outcome. No dominance, no back line . Don't worry about our flankers, they have earned their spurs against McGraw & Co. The key thing about the breakdown will be how the referees interpret that area. What worries me is the ARU folded on the selection of refs for this series, & allowed the Lions to have their choice. Last year the Wallabies defeated Wales 3-0. Enough said about the flankers. Bob
And less than half of the Wallabies in this team played in that series, and only 5 of the Welsh contingent. Plus they aren't playing Wales. So not totally relevant Bob.Quote:
Originally Posted by bob10
It's all in the mind mate, like Brumbies 14, Lions 12, and that is where these games are won. And less than half of the Wallabies playing in that series? Don't mean a thing, It's already been proved in the minds of the Wallabies, after the reds & Waratahs games, and more so after the Brumbies, don't panic, they don't like the cold steel up 'em ;) BobQuote:
Originally Posted by sheerluck
My desire Bob, is for a good competitive game, without the needle tactics of the Brumbies game, just get on and play the team in front of you, to the best of your ability. History means nothing, just the 80 minutes whistle to whistle.
However, I wonder if 12 of this Wallaby squad have worked off the demons of being beaten at home by Scotland this time last year, when they had their first choice flankers? :angel: