Blues v BI Lions
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There have been some questions during the season asked about Micheal Collins,and may why he always starts at fullback ahead Melani Nanai.
Tonight I thought Micheal Collins was superb at fullback,all the options he took when either choosing to run or kick were spot on,and his high take under pressure leading up to SBWs break for the eventual winning try.
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@Bones said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Tim Parsons for hooker! Scrafton to take Retallick's vacant spot! GCT shits all over Barrett!
Ummm ... i know it's you @Bones but this is kind of indicative of how the tour may pay out. If we're thinking the journeymen are awesome...
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@mariner4life said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Crucial sorry crucial, he was often raking it back with his hands, and one time he did actually pick up the ball, pull it to the back of the ruck, put it down, organised his forwards (while the ref told the blues to stay back) then picked it up and kicked it. I've seen halfbacks get away with a bit, but today was astounding.
Yes I clearly saw this. Seemed odd to me at the time. Almost lucky not to get pinged for a knock on.
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@Steven-Harris said in Blues v BI Lions:
There have been some questions during the season asked about Micheal Collins,and may why he always starts at fullback ahead Nemani Nanai.
Tonight I thought Micheal Collins was superb at fullback,all the options he took when either choosing to run or kick were spot on,and his high take under pressure leading up to SBWs break for the eventual winning try.
It is Melani not Nemani.
Still not seeing these superb things Collins did other than not fucking up. The take of that high ball was the best moment i can remember. That is hardly worth the praise he is getting. -
@Catogrande almost lucky? That should have been the result
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@mariner4life said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Crucial sorry crucial, he was often raking it back with his hands, and one time he did actually pick up the ball, pull it to the back of the ruck, put it down, organised his forwards (while the ref told the blues to stay back) then picked it up and kicked it. I've seen halfbacks get away with a bit, but today was astounding.
Ok. I noticed that other ones more. Guess I'm immune to the way refs allow the halfback to handle the ball.
I agree with you though. If you dig in with your hands it should be made to be played immediately. -
@mariner4life said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Crucial sorry crucial, he was often raking it back with his hands, and one time he did actually pick up the ball, pull it to the back of the ruck, put it down, organised his forwards (while the ref told the blues to stay back) then picked it up and kicked it. I've seen halfbacks get away with a bit, but today was astounding.
There was one particularly bad one in the Lions 22 where SBW I think wanted to come around. That is probably the same one you are referring to.
I have a vague memory of one of the NH 9's doing it a lot in a game recently. Possibly the Wales-AB series last year or at some point on the EOYT or in some NH club rugby. Pretty sure it was the same guy. Just as blatent and just as ignored by the ref that time. -
@booboo said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Bones said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Tim Parsons for hooker! Scrafton to take Retallick's vacant spot! GCT shits all over Barrett!
Ummm ... i know it's you @Bones but this is kind of indicative of how the tour may pay out. If we're thinking the journeymen are awesome...
Not sure what you're saying?
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RugbyRefs have a discussion going on Webbs ruck habits
http://www.rugbyrefs.com/showthread.php?20376-Rhys-Webb-ball-positioning&p=331804#post331804
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@Crucial said in Blues v BI Lions:
From The Independent
"Head coach Warren Gatland must have been wondering how the Lions were trailing at half-time, given his side had dominated possession and had the advantage in both the scrum and the line-out. That was partly due to the Blues taking their chances where the Lions didn’t, and also through the ineptitude of the match officials to spot a knock-on through a review when Sonny Bill Williams scored on the stroke of half-time."
The hand that knocked the ball back was very clearly a Lions one.
"The Lions would hit back though with good old fashioned Northern Hemisphere rugby. After winning back-to-back penalties for ruck infringements by George Moala and Akira Ioane, Rieko’s brother, Itoje was able to claim quick lineout ball to set-up the driving maul that allowed CJ Stander to power his way over for the try"
Even the UK commentators said they got away with that one, detaching and rejoining then a break off with players in front.
I maintain ... a knock on taken in front and a maul sacked/collapsed.. well evens
And that call on the try was right
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@Bones said in Blues v BI Lions:
@booboo said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Bones said in Blues v BI Lions:
@Tim Parsons for hooker! Scrafton to take Retallick's vacant spot! GCT shits all over Barrett!
Ummm ... i know it's you @Bones but this is kind of indicative of how the tour may pay out. If we're thinking the journeymen are awesome...
Not sure what you're saying?
Sorry am piddly.
It appears you're saying the journeymen in NZ rugby are good enough to be ABs. And therefore taking the p out of the Lions.
In doing so I'm suggesting you're suggesting perhaps the Lions may be in for a tough tour.
Yes? No?
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That was a pretty cool night for Blues rugby.
They haven't exactly been known for their culture or a team that plays for each other before Tana arrived but I think the club has come a long way in that regard in the last couple of years.
The haka summed it up. While they have a lot to improve on, The Blues have some spine about them now. They seem to be a proper team that play for each other and the region.
Known as a club that has let talented locals flourish for other teams, excellent to see a lot of local stars performing well for the Blues, including a high profile returnee SBW.
It was a huge occasion with a huge crowd and the Blues responded.
A famous Blues victory - and their havent been too many of them in recent years.
Blues fans can hold their heads high and feel proud of their team. I wonder how many kids will be running around in their back yard pretending to be Rieko in the next few days.
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@MiketheSnow said in Blues v BI Lions:
@SimonAdd_2 said in Blues v BI Lions:
Best you mong...
He has form unfortunately
I said this when they made the astonishing decision not to take Dylan Hartley; you want to select a hooker whose set piece skills are rock solid.
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@KiwiMurph I agree and it is great for them to carry something positive into the offseason.
I've said all along that 5th in the NZ conference does not necessarily make you a poor team.It's a hard road being that team in NZ
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Just watched that last 6-7 minutes again and Lions definitely had their chances to win it. Some schoolboy errors when hot on attack were very costly.
The Lions attack was rubbish for the most part. Midfield a huge problem for this Lions squad. In past tours they've had plenty of talent to choose from.
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The body language from the Lions in the last 20 minutes tells me many of these guys are going to struggle taking everyone's best shot game after game.
Mentally you can only be switched on for so long. Who knows if they will lose the remaining fixtures - but they will certainly be in a dog fight just to get a win every minute of this tour. These guys need to get out to a good start in a couple of these games or they will be mentally fried by the first test, let a lone the third.
Unless Gats is keeping some powder dry similar to Hansen at the last RWC where the game plan was restricted the test series is as good as over. The only question mark for me is who gets released/injured in the lead up to Canes and Chiefs and whether the Maori can gel and have the same motivation if the Lions have already lost a couple on the trot.
