Blues v BI Lions
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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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@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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@Pot-Hale Try to keep up old chap.
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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.
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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.
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@Catogrande said in Blues v BI Lions:
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.
Yep. I'd add that Kruis-AWJ looks like Gatland's preference at lock at this stage.
There are likely to be a couple of changes (Warburton will obviously come in for one of the Irish flankers) and I'm just hoping Davies is one of them.
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@SimonAdd_2 said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Catogrande said in Blues v BI Lions:
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.
Yep. I'd add that Kruis-AWJ looks like Gatland's preference at lock at this stage.
There are likely to be a couple of changes (Warburton will obviously come in for one of the Irish flankers) and I'm just hoping Davies is one of them.
I'd hope not. AWJ has not looked anywhere near his peak, but it wouldn't altogether surprise me.
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@Catogrande Yeah, I would have had Launchbury in the squad ahead of him and I thought he was one of the worst performers against the Baabaas.
Gatland loves him though, he played 80 minutes on Saturday and has been left out of the squad v the Blues, so you have to assume he's in the driving seat. Another performance like the last one though, and even Warren may have to re-assess.
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@SimonAdd_2 I'd have had Launchbury in the squad ahead of Lawes, Kruis and Henderson too!
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@Catogrande said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Crucial No doubting that mate. I just don't think he is anywhere near the player he was and that this may be a tour too far for him.
Yeah agreed. I guess it's too early to write him off because the other candidates need to step up first, but at this stage Kruis + Itoje look like the obvious pairing.
The players really need to start grabbing test jersies though. Faletau is the sole Lion with his name inked in so far.
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@Frye said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Catogrande said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Crucial No doubting that mate. I just don't think he is anywhere near the player he was and that this may be a tour too far for him.
Yeah agreed. I guess it's too early to write him off because the other candidates need to step up first, but at this stage Kruis + Itoje look like the obvious pairing.
The players really need to start grabbing test jersies though. Faletau is the sole Lion with his name inked in so far.
I think Owen Farrell is utterly nailed on. He has been in fantastic form lately, while Biggar and Sexton have fairly spluttered. I'd say the same for Liam Williams, and Jonathan Davies finished the season with a bang for Scarlets. Kruis has been playing very well, and made a difference off the bench too.
