**Official** 2005 Lions tour of New Zealand

[Smudge]

Before the Maori game. I thought the ABs will whitewash 3-0 and Lions would win the Maori game. But since the Maoris beat the Lions, I predict Lions to win one of the 3 tests.ABs to win 2-1 .

Lot depends on the referees and how the rules are going to interpreted as well - Northern Hemisphere rules or Super 12 refs . Lions bringing along an Irish ex Ref as adviser is to put pressure on Refs as well !!

BTW Alistair Campbell ,Ex- Tony Blair crony - coming as spin doctor for Lions is to put the spin for the English Media, when they lose rather than NZ media IMO.

How does that work?

 

[Smudge]

I've just put $20 on at the TAB for the Lions to the win the series, would return $75.

I'm confident.

"Thank you very much for your kind donation, thank you very much, thank you very very very much"

 

[Craig]

In fact, I think this is pretty close to the test team, and he's giving them a hit-out a good ten days before the first test, meaning they have plenty of time to recover...














.... before the bashing they take at the hands of the ABs...

And give the dirt trackers a game against Otago?

 

[Craig]

How does that work?

I think he means that he has since changed his opinion and now believes the Lions will win at least one Test?

 

[Smudge]

And give the dirt trackers a game against Otago?

Possibly - although I would like to see a few quality players running around for the Lions, as I watch from the Rose Stand at Carisbrook...

Otago's got the best record of any NZ provincial team against the Lions with four wins, but I really don't see them adding to it this time around. A genuine lack of class in the outside backs, and the tight five is sorely missing Hayman, Oliver and Ryan.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I've changed my opinion. I'm going 4-0 ABs now!

 

[_Ed_]

Lions 23
Wellington 6

Solid win for the Lions, dominated the first half in possession and territory.

 

[Sir Redman]

Well that was a pretty uninspiring game. Both teams lacked imagination on attack, though the Lions always looked more likely to score. They should really have racked up at least another 10 points or so with the territory and possession they had, but poor execution cost them. In never ceases to amaze me how many times rugby players drop the ball.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Haven't seen the game yet as I'm stuck at work, but in the first half radio commentary they said that Wilko missed a simple pen & a kickable drop-goal. As he's gonna be our main (only?!?) source of points come the tests that's worrying.

 

[JASON]

Am I right in thinking that the Team that played today will pretty much play the first Lions Test in 10-11 days time , with Sir Clive resting them from hereon, apart from may be 1 or 2 changes ?

 

[Tim]

That was the worst match so far & not good for Lions supporters considering that was supposed to be one of their strongest line-ups.

The Lions were already taking drop-kicks at goal after just 30 seconds!. Im not convinced that Wilkinson will be the answer, he looked aimless at times with ball in hand.

Jenkins was superb though, I think he'll be a starter for the AB's. Dwayne Peel has impressed me & I think Gavin Henson could be useful.
Funny that they're all Welsh players too....

 

[BoyBrumby]

I've now seen the game & actually thought we played a little better than the scoreline suggests. Our backs' handling was fairly ordinary (to say the least!), but it did look like it was lashing down.

Our front 5 played the best they have all tour, I think the test front 3 will be as today (especially with Sheridan apparently struggling with an ankle injury) & O'Connell will come in for Kay. Grewcock can be a liability, but has better hands than Kay (who jibbed another try, conjuring up memories of the '03 WC final) and will stand up & be counted. The other option is, I suppose, to play Michael Owen there & interchange him with Corry (who must be nailed on @ 8 now) as & when play dictates.

Back had a good first tour game, we won more breakdowns than in any other game thus far & that can't be coincidental. I worry about him v McCaw, but he'll have D1ck Hill to help him out. McCaw has struggled against Waugh & Smith when Oz play them tog (WC semi springs to mind) & Hill started out as a specialist open-side. I'm not saying that's what I think will happen, but that will be the hope.

Wilko struggled, no two ways about it. Even his kicking wasn't flawless. I can't see SCW not starting with him in the team, but he will need to start against Otago and/or Southland to up his match fitness.

Peel looks a cert @ 9, with Daws & Cusiter to sort out who's gonna be on the bench.

Henson & BOD are warm favourites for the centres, but I reckon we could yet see SCW trying Wilko @ 12 outside (probably) Jones or (the brave call) Charlie H who has been our form 5/8th. That would be harsh on Mr Church, but he’s yet to make a totally conclusive case for his inclusion.

Jase Robinson looks a shadow of the player he was & Gareth Thomas (who I do not rate at all) looked solid, apart from being skinned in about 1/8th of an inch by Nonu. Lewsey will be test full-back, so time to wrap him in some cotton wool for the next 10 days. Murphy will be one wing & the other is anyone’s guess. A good performance from Shane Williams in one of the next two games could see him get the nod.

 

[steds]

Jase Robinson looks a shadow of the player he was

That's what union does to you

 

[Jamee999]

He moves so fast, I'm surprised anyone can see his shadow TBH.

 

[steds]

He moves so fast, I'm surprised anyone can see his shadow TBH.

You should have seen the days when Anthony Sullivan used to catch him for fun

 

[Smudge]

I've now seen the game & actually thought we played a little better than the scoreline suggests. Our backs' handling was fairly ordinary (to say the least!), but it did look like it was lashing down.

Our front 5 played the best they have all tour, I think the test front 3 will be as today (especially with Sheridan apparently struggling with an ankle injury) & O'Connell will come in for Kay. Grewcock can be a liability, but has better hands than Kay (who jibbed another try, conjuring up memories of the '03 WC final) and will stand up & be counted. The other option is, I suppose, to play Michael Owen there & interchange him with Corry (who must be nailed on @ 8 now) as & when play dictates.

Back had a good first tour game, we won more breakdowns than in any other game thus far & that can't be coincidental. I worry about him v McCaw, but he'll have D1ck Hill to help him out. McCaw has struggled against Waugh & Smith when Oz play them tog (WC semi springs to mind) & Hill started out as a specialist open-side. I'm not saying that's what I think will happen, but that will be the hope.

Wilko struggled, no two ways about it. Even his kicking wasn't flawless. I can't see SCW not starting with him in the team, but he will need to start against Otago and/or Southland to up his match fitness.

Peel looks a cert @ 9, with Daws & Cusiter to sort out who's gonna be on the bench.

Henson & BOD are warm favourites for the centres, but I reckon we could yet see SCW trying Wilko @ 12 outside (probably) Jones or (the brave call) Charlie H who has been our form 5/8th. That would be harsh on Mr Church, but he’s yet to make a totally conclusive case for his inclusion.

Jase Robinson looks a shadow of the player he was & Gareth Thomas (who I do not rate at all) looked solid, apart from being skinned in about 1/8th of an inch by Nonu. Lewsey will be test full-back, so time to wrap him in some cotton wool for the next 10 days. Murphy will be one wing & the other is anyone’s guess. A good performance from Shane Williams in one of the next two games could see him get the nod.

It's more who the Lions backrow was up against. In the first half, Wellington (thanks mainly to Ben Herring) finished up the half leading the "first two players to the breakdown" stat. Bearing in mind Ormsby was playing his usual game of looking for niggle rather than playing an actual blindside's role, and Waldrom isn't usually the best at getting to breakdowns, I think that's still a pretty embarrassing stat. In the second half, Herring was off, and the Lions didn't have to deal with a specialist openside.

So, breakdown-wise, I don't think they improved too much. But, if Clive wants to pick Back on that performance, I'm sure Richie McGod will be licking his lips.

 

[Blaze]

It's more who the Lions backrow was up against. In the first half, Wellington (thanks mainly to Ben Herring) finished up the half leading the "first two players to the breakdown" stat. Bearing in mind Ormsby was playing his usual game of looking for niggle rather than playing an actual blindside's role, and Waldrom isn't usually the best at getting to breakdowns, I think that's still a pretty embarrassing stat. In the second half, Herring was off, and the Lions didn't have to deal with a specialist openside.

So, breakdown-wise, I don't think they improved too much. But, if Clive wants to pick Back on that performance, I'm sure Richie McGod will be licking his lips.

Exactly. Bear in mind that Wellington had seven players out according to Grant Nisbett. I guess he was referring to Umaga, Smith, Collins, So'oialo, Hosea Gear, Tialata and Ross Kennedy all of whom would have made Wellington's starting line up and made a huge difference so it was a very weak Wellington side especially after Herring went off at half time and left us without a specialist openside.

If the All Blacks played 12 of their starting side against that Wellington outfit I would say they would have beaten them by atleast 40 points.

If thats the best the Lions can do (which I know is not true) then they won't come close to the All Blacks in any of the tests.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking Back up, far from it. It's just that based on tour form so far he's has crept ahead of Martyn Williams who's been frankly shocking.

The other shout is to go Hill 7 & Easterby 6. Easterby was solid today, but no more.

 

[superkingdave]

the panel on the highlights seeemed to think Easterby 6 and Back 7.

 

[Tim]

Richie McCaw has never ever played a poor game for either the AB's or Canterbury. He rarely misses a tackle & you can be sure that he'll turn the ball over at least 2 or 3 times in a match.

Australia has not nullified him, that's for sure.