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**Official** 2005 Lions tour of New Zealand
- Thread starter Tim
- Start date
Sir Redman
State Vice-Captain
I wish the tour would hurry up and start. The media have been hyping it endlessly for the last 6 months and I just wish we could have some real news about actual games rather than all the ******** we get - "The Lions arrive in only 2 months and the big question is whether they need their team sock-folder"
I'll watch the games and everything but I've got little interest in the rest of the rubbish which comes with rugby over here.
I'll watch the games and everything but I've got little interest in the rest of the rubbish which comes with rugby over here.
username1234
School Boy/Girl Cricketer
?
I think the lions will struggle to beat auckland,canterbury, wellington they will be lucky to defeat bay of plenty.
username1234
School Boy/Girl Cricketer
ok
Sir Redman
State Vice-Captain
I was pointing out the type of news we get, not the actual time until they arrive. I'm well aware that its not actually 2 months.username1234 said:
BoyBrumby
Englishman
I'm a bit disappointed The Lions won't go against NZ's Super 12 teams, nowadays they're obviously where the strength of NZ's Rugby lies. With the top 120 or so players distributed amongst them they'd all give The Lions a very stiff work out. Unfortunately I can't see the provinces doing that. As I understand it a lot of the provincial players are semi-pro, so I can't see them living with The Lions over 80.
Back in '93 several of the provinces actually beat The Lions, although not The Maoris funnily enough.
As for the tests I'm going 2-1 NZ at this point, but hope to be proved very wrong over the coming weeks. Jonny & big Rich Hill being fit are big bonuses for us & I'm pleased Cueto has been added to the squad, he should never have been omitted in the first place. Leicester's performance against Wasps depressed me no end tho, as they had about 8 Lions in their squad.
Back in '93 several of the provinces actually beat The Lions, although not The Maoris funnily enough.
As for the tests I'm going 2-1 NZ at this point, but hope to be proved very wrong over the coming weeks. Jonny & big Rich Hill being fit are big bonuses for us & I'm pleased Cueto has been added to the squad, he should never have been omitted in the first place. Leicester's performance against Wasps depressed me no end tho, as they had about 8 Lions in their squad.
lord_of_darkness
Cricket Web XI Moderator
Its going to be a good tour.. Lotsa poms are heading into town by the loads.. heading down to the pubs will be fun and pom girls 
Smudge
Hall of Fame Member
Whoever thinks one of the midweek teams is going to knock over the Lions is not far short of insane.
04 Jun Bay of Plenty v Lions, Rotorua - Bay of Plenty will be missing Glen Jackson badly - even with the introduction of Murray Williams at 10. Bear in mind it will be the BOP's first match together after a couple of training sessions each week starting this week probably. Lions by 20-30
08 Jun Taranaki v Lions, New Plymouth - The 'Naki team has always prided itself on a strong foward pack. With players like Gordy Slater still about, there will be some semblance of that, but once again, the lack of a quality 10 (with Brock James not returning) will be a big mark against them. Lions by 20-30 again.
11 Jun NZ Maori v Lions, Hamilton - while I suggested the Maori side could win this, I'm going to stick with the Lions. We rather overestimated the ability of the Maori team in '03 before they went down to England, and, despite Matt Te Pou's overtures, I think the Lions should take this by 10 or so.
15 Jun Wellington v Lions, Wellington - The Wellington Lions may have been a chance if they had their All Blacks, but they're likely to be missing Umaga, Collins, So'olialo, Conrad Smith and maybe even Piri Weepu, which is essentially the heart of that side. Lions by 15-20.
18 Jun Otago v Lions, Dunedin 7:10 pm - my beloved Otago side will be up against it, although not as affected by All Black call-ups. Hayman and Oliver's unavailability will leave a huge hole in our front row, but the rest of the team will be sold, nothing more. Lions (first side after all) by 25-30.
21 Jun Southland v Lions, Invercargill - I'll be at this game (as well as the Otago match), but I'm not expecting much from the Stags. They're really only on the itinerary so Tourism New Zealand gets a few of the fans heading up through Queenstown. Lions by as much as 50.
25 Jun All Blacks v Lions, Christchurch 7:10 pm - ABs to win this by 10. Why? Because I said so.
28 Jun Manawatu v Lions, Palmerston North - this'll be a romp of mammoth proportions. A mid-table second division side taking on some of the better players of four countries. If the dew stays away, I predict we could see the Lions post 80.
02 Jul All Blacks v Lions, Wellington - because the world loves a cliffhanger/deciding match, the All Blacks will lose this. Our record at the Caketin (Westpac Stadium) isn't flash either. Lions by 5.
05 Jul Auckland v Lions, Auckland 7:10 pm - once again, unavailability will remove the competitiveness out of this match as I believe most matches from the Wellington match onwards will see the ABs in camp. Lions by 15-20.
09 Jul All Blacks v Lions, Auckland - ABs to unleash in the third test, and take it out by about 25.
04 Jun Bay of Plenty v Lions, Rotorua - Bay of Plenty will be missing Glen Jackson badly - even with the introduction of Murray Williams at 10. Bear in mind it will be the BOP's first match together after a couple of training sessions each week starting this week probably. Lions by 20-30
08 Jun Taranaki v Lions, New Plymouth - The 'Naki team has always prided itself on a strong foward pack. With players like Gordy Slater still about, there will be some semblance of that, but once again, the lack of a quality 10 (with Brock James not returning) will be a big mark against them. Lions by 20-30 again.
11 Jun NZ Maori v Lions, Hamilton - while I suggested the Maori side could win this, I'm going to stick with the Lions. We rather overestimated the ability of the Maori team in '03 before they went down to England, and, despite Matt Te Pou's overtures, I think the Lions should take this by 10 or so.
15 Jun Wellington v Lions, Wellington - The Wellington Lions may have been a chance if they had their All Blacks, but they're likely to be missing Umaga, Collins, So'olialo, Conrad Smith and maybe even Piri Weepu, which is essentially the heart of that side. Lions by 15-20.
18 Jun Otago v Lions, Dunedin 7:10 pm - my beloved Otago side will be up against it, although not as affected by All Black call-ups. Hayman and Oliver's unavailability will leave a huge hole in our front row, but the rest of the team will be sold, nothing more. Lions (first side after all) by 25-30.
21 Jun Southland v Lions, Invercargill - I'll be at this game (as well as the Otago match), but I'm not expecting much from the Stags. They're really only on the itinerary so Tourism New Zealand gets a few of the fans heading up through Queenstown. Lions by as much as 50.
25 Jun All Blacks v Lions, Christchurch 7:10 pm - ABs to win this by 10. Why? Because I said so.
28 Jun Manawatu v Lions, Palmerston North - this'll be a romp of mammoth proportions. A mid-table second division side taking on some of the better players of four countries. If the dew stays away, I predict we could see the Lions post 80.
02 Jul All Blacks v Lions, Wellington - because the world loves a cliffhanger/deciding match, the All Blacks will lose this. Our record at the Caketin (Westpac Stadium) isn't flash either. Lions by 5.
05 Jul Auckland v Lions, Auckland 7:10 pm - once again, unavailability will remove the competitiveness out of this match as I believe most matches from the Wellington match onwards will see the ABs in camp. Lions by 15-20.
09 Jul All Blacks v Lions, Auckland - ABs to unleash in the third test, and take it out by about 25.
Blaze
Banned
Voltman.. I can see your point but it all really depends on who gets selected for the All Blacks. I think that Otago, Wellington the Maoris and Auckland are all chances.
My tip would be that Auckland will knock the Lions over because of their depth.. even though they will probably play ****e in the NPC
My tip would be that Auckland will knock the Lions over because of their depth.. even though they will probably play ****e in the NPC
lord_of_darkness
Cricket Web XI Moderator
^ damn it.. the auckland side wont be as strong to match up with the lions then!