Lions tour of New Zealand 2017

[Jarquis]

Didn't see nearly as much of this game as I did last week's but I think on the whole both teams were a level below - or two in the case of the ABs, in no small part due to being a man down for the lion share.

Definte red IMO. The arguments have already been covered but regardless of the fact whether AW was on the way down and was already tackled, you can't go in the way SBW did and make contact witht he head in any circumstances under the current laws and expect to get away with it.

 

[Zinzan]

Level may have been slightly down, but given the conditions, it was still a cracking game for me, & one for the purists.

I'd picked the Lions to get up by 3 truth be told, and not just saying so after the event. Just felt with the series on the line, the wet conditions being a leveller, NZ having one to two too many injuries in crucial positions (full-back and hooker primarily), that the Lions were in with a royal chance.

Makes next week a stunning prospect now.

Happy for the Lions fans here in NZ in particular, they've been magnificent tourists.

I've never liked seeing the AB's lose, even in a dead rubber, but if there was ever a time frustration was coupled with some genuine joy for the opposition, it was last night.

Rock on next Saturday at Eden Park!

 

[Zinzan]

On the SBW send-off, you probably can't argue with the decision too much in the end, & the only defense I can come up with for SBW at a stretch is that he didn't wrap his arms around because he would have hit his fellow defender. But that is probably stretching it slightly.

Overall it's a great lesson for him that if he wants to risk that sort of play in a crucial game, he risks such an outcome.

 

[Athlai]

It's a shame Barrett is such an average goal kicker. He's fricken brilliant everywhere else. The chargedown recovery was amazing.

 

[Flem274*]

First ever All Black to be sent off in a home test, so the Beeb reports, anyway.

You're right though, I think most NZders have been admirably even handed in their assessment of it. It was a bad one, ref made the right call, credit to the Lions.

Hard nation to dislike.

dunno what you've been reading. facebook has exploded in crying about the ref, lead by the veitch on sport crowd.

 

[Zinzan]

dunno what you've been reading. facebook has exploded in crying about the ref, lead by the veitch on sport crowd.

Really? That's disappointing (yet not surprising) to hear. Brainless play by SBW, a reflex from the days league allowed the no-armed shoulder-charge no doubt.

As I said above, there's a smidgen of an argument to say he didn't wrap his arms around as that would have meant tackling his fellow defender, but only a smidgen. Either way it was probably fair enough & he would have been lucky had it only been a yellow.

Not complaints or sour grapes at all from this poster. Credit to the Lions.

 

[Smudge]

dunno what you've been reading. facebook has exploded in crying about the ref, lead by the veitch on sport crowd.

I blocked the Veitchy On Sport page ages ago. I'd suggest every other right-minded person to do the same. Not only because of the quality of people his page attracts, but for his abhorrent victim complex any time his horrendous crime is brought up.

As for the SBW red, no qualms here. And let's be honest - SBW has history for ''neglecting'' to use the arms. 2011 RWC semi-final for starters.

Lions played the more enterprising game - yes, the one-man advantage certainly helped but they made all the play in the second 40.

 

[BoyBrumby]

dunno what you've been reading. facebook has exploded in crying about the ref, lead by the veitch on sport crowd.

Dickheads gonna dickhead I suppose.

I was reading the Planet Rugby forum in the immediate aftermath, not a medium short of trenchant opinions, and most Kiwi posters seemed to be largely accepting of the call.

I see SoB has been cited for striking Noholo. If it's for the incident I'm thinking of I think the Lions will be looking for a new open side for the third test as he did look to have a little dig with his forearm.

 

[Howe_zat]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RUEu6vdtCXDfllRtuVRu536dMd9zyhRTkstFCovNER0/edit?usp=sharing

Two horse race in the sweep. Marcuss looking good but might have no players in the third test, while Brumby is still in it thanks to Faletau and Daly.

 

[Howe_zat]

Lions unchanged for the first time since 1993.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'd have started with McGrath ahead of Mako and any lock other than Wyn Jones (Lawes to start with Henderson on the bench as preference), but I can understand the thinking.

Just hope yer Loins can keep a lid on the penalties. Could (& arguably should) have cost them the second test.

 

[_Ed_]

Looks like being a wet and windy night down there on Saturday.

 

[Mike5181]

I've actually got tickets to the game, so there's a silver lining to last week's loss at least. Gutted Ben Smith isn't playing, though.

 

[Zinzan]

The prospect of a dry track at Eden park, i'd feel relatively confident NZ would win by 10 points. The prospect of conditions even worse than Wellington however, forecasted to be raining cats & dogs over the wkd, I give the Lions a royal chance.

 

[_Ed_]

The forecast has improved a little, now saying showers becoming more frequent. Fingers crossed.

 

[Howe_zat]

The prospect of a dry track at Eden park, i'd feel relatively confident NZ would win by 10 points. The prospect of conditions even worse than Wellington however, forecasted to be raining cats & dogs over the wkd, I give the Lions a royal chance.

Really not that straightforward. NZ outmuscled the Lions in the first test and have done the majority of gut running and playing off the 9 in this series.

 

[fredfertang]

Bloody hell he missed it - maybe it is the Lions day

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Bloody hell he missed it - maybe it is the Lions day

Bit pathetic missing them at this level. Then they blow a great chance too.

 

[social]

Amazing from both teams

 

[StephenZA]

Those skills.... ridiculous.