**Official** 2005 Lions tour of New Zealand

[Somerset]

All Black team announced, Howlett on bench, MacDonald at flyhalf. Team is named below:
The team for the third test is:
1-Tony Woodcock
2-Keven Mealamu
3-Greg Somerville
4-Chris Jack
5-Ali Williams
6-Jerry Collins
7-Richie McCaw
8-Rodney So'oialo
9-Byron Kelleher
10-Leon MacDonald
11-Sitiveni Sivivatu
12-Tana Umaga
13-Conrad Smith
14-Rico Gear
15-Mils Muliaina

RESERVES:
16-Derren Witcombe
17-Campbell Johnstone
18-James Ryan
19-Sione Lauaki
20-Justin Marshall
21-Luke McAlister
22-Doug Howlett

I would've liked to have seen Marshall start but otherwise that side looks as strong as possible, considering Hayman, Carter and Mauger are out. Nice to see young James Ryan and Luke McAlister on the bench too.

 

[Somerset]

Larkham or Carter?

Better pivot?

Carter is the better kicker, but for all round ability in setting up his outside backs, kowledge of the game, and running game, Larkham is my first choice no. 10.

Anyone else?

Carter has got plenty of rugby left in him, while Larkham is certainly not the force of a few years ago - I'm not saying he's not in contention for the title of the best no. 10 however. Carter's running game, in my opinion, should not be a difference considering his ability to burst through teams - against Fiji, during the second test and the Super 12 he was fantastic with his running game. Knowledge will eventually come with experience too.

 

[Somerset]

Why? Peel was one of the Lions' best on Saturday, along with Easterby.

He was on two losing teams, no matter how well he played though...I'd personally go with Matt Dawson on Saturday, after his impressive performance last night.

 

[Smudge]

He was on two losing teams, no matter how well he played though...I'd personally go with Matt Dawson on Saturday, after his impressive performance last night.

That's no reason to change players. Particularly as half Woodward's problem was that he didn't have a regular test lineup.

Personally, I would replace O'Connell with Shaw, Wilkinson with Hodgson/O'Gara and maybe Horgan for Williams. That would be it. Henson should be given another shot, but his concussion will probably rule him out.

 

[shaka]

This final match is really turning into a boring and useless match, despite the series being already won by the AB's, there are so many injuries to both teams that it seems like both teams are using their "B' side.. The latest is that McCaw is injured, thus along with Carter, MacDonald and Mauger are all going to be watching the game as opposed to playing. The Lions have at least five injuries from the team that played in the 2nd test match.

McAlistair will be 1st five eighth, and Soailo moves to openside flanker, and Sione Lauaki to number 8. Holah gets bench duties for the match.

 

[Blaze]

This final match is really turning into a boring and useless match, despite the series being already won by the AB's, there are so many injuries to both teams that it seems like both teams are using their "B' side.. The latest is that McCaw is injured, thus along with Carter, MacDonald and Mauger are all going to be watching the game as opposed to playing. The Lions have at least five injuries from the team that played in the 2nd test match.

McAlistair will be 1st five eighth, and Soailo moves to openside flanker, and Sione Lauaki to number 8. Holah gets bench duties for the match.

It adds interest for me. I get to see some players play in positions they haven't played at at this level before. Looking forward to it

 

[shaka]

I will still watch it though, dont get me wrong.

 

[James]

I personally can't believe all this talk about Carter, he has one absolutely superb game and people start calling him NZ's best ever first five eight!

Let's see how he goes against Australia and South Africa in the Tri-Nations and reserve judgment until after the 2007 World Cup before calling him the best ever.

Mertans (sp) at his best is/was a better player than Carter, well so far anyway.

 

[marc71178]

The Lions have at least five injuries from the team that played in the 2nd test match.

Not to mention the 5 or so who've already gone home!

 

[KennyD]

I personally can't believe all this talk about Carter, he has one absolutely superb game and people start calling him NZ's best ever first five eight!

Let's see how he goes against Australia and South Africa in the Tri-Nations and reserve judgment until after the 2007 World Cup before calling him the best ever.

Mertans (sp) at his best is/was a better player than Carter, well so far anyway.

Word.

People, they just dont appreciate Larkham, and get caught up with Carter.

 

[shaka]

Not to mention the 5 or so who've already gone home!

Exactly!

 

[shaka]

It is quite often that one can rely on Carter to kick the penalty when it is needed, not to sure how his long range kicking is at the moment, as he has not needed to do so.

 

[JASON]

I think Larkham's a great player and as a Brumbies Fan , I am obviously biased.

But having said that, Larkham is one of those Odd Rugby players, who despite playing this great game, doesn't like being tackled, nor makes too many tackles !!

Which sees him often making passes hastily sometimes and occasionally ending up in fights.

He has also been very injury prone lately !!

 

[KennyD]

I think Larkham's a great player and as a Brumbies Fan , I am obviously biased.

But having said that, Larkham is one of those Odd Rugby players, who despite playing this great game, doesn't like being tackled, nor makes too many tackles !!

Which sees him often making passes hastily sometimes and occasionally ending up in fights.

He has also been very injury prone lately !!

But LArkham knows when to run the ball when he needs to. And the fact that because he runs the ball so rarely, is that when he does, he does something special and is extremely elusive.

As for fights? Does he get in that many? I can only remember one scuffle in the 2003 semi final with Carlos Spencer.

Injury prone, yeah I guess he is, but he does well for his frame and body mass index.

 

[JASON]

I dread for the future of Lions tours if Lions lost the 3rd Test as well.

The interest in Future Lions tours will diminish and, we can say good bye to future Lions tours with the massive followings like the current one and the last one have had.

For this sake at least I will be praying for a Lions win tomorrow night !!

They deserve something to take home, regardless of Sir Clive or Alistair Campbell's stupidity !!

 

[Blaze]

I dread for the future of Lions tours if Lions lost the 3rd Test as well.

The interest in Future Lions tours will diminish and, we can say good bye to future Lions tours with the massive followings like the current one and the last one have had.

For this sake at least I will be praying for a Lions win tomorrow night !!

They deserve something to take home, regardless of Sir Clive or Alistair Campbell's stupidity !!

Tomorows result won't affect future tours.. the Lions have lost 3 nil in the past

 

[shaka]

The hope was that they could at least win one match and be really competitive in the other matches, so far it has not been achieved against the All Blacks.

 

[marc71178]

The interest in Future Lions tours will diminish and, we can say good bye to future Lions tours with the massive followings like the current one and the last one have had.

The nature of the British sports fan is that the following won't diminish!

Just look how many followed the Cricket team in the late 90s and early 00s!

 

[JASON]

The nature of the British sports fan is that the following won't diminish!

Just look how many followed the Cricket team in the late 90s and early 00s!

But the numbers won't be as high as the current 10,000 -20,000 range , when the next Lions Team tours Southern Hemisphere !!

If they expect the result to be a white wash like this they may as well go to Majorca or Algarve than spend a fortune on air travel and other expenses to get drubbed !!

I predict tonights Test to be very close, and with the key injuries to ABs I feel Lions have a very good chance of pulling this one !!

Lions to win by 3-6 points or at least secure a draw !!

 

[Blaze]

But the numbers won't be as high as the current 10,000 -20,000 range , when the next Lions Team tours Southern Hemisphere !!

If they expect the result to be a white wash like this they may as well go to Majorca or Algarve than spend a fortune on air travel and other expenses to get drubbed !!

I predict tonights Test to be very close, and with the key injuries to ABs I feel Lions have a very good chance of pulling this one !!

Lions to win by 3-6 points or at least secure a draw !!

So the All Blacks should win by 30 then?