The Rugby Thread

[Irishnev]

Are you surprised - The Kiwis will do this non stop right up to and during the tests to increase the pressure on the Lions. The build up games will be brutally tough also. I have great time for New Zealanders but they an arrogant bunch when it comes to rugby.

[Buzzo]

I'm still too pissed off about the squad selection to be objective.

[Irishnev]

I'm still too pissed off about the squad selection to be objective.

At least you have a close to a guaranteed starter as anyone........Oh **** Halfpenny is Welsh

[Buzzo]

At least you have a close to a guaranteed starter as anyone........Oh **** Halfpenny is Welsh

I'd almost guarantee that Hogg won't start the first game.

[Irishnev]

I'd almost guarantee that Hogg won't start the first game.

I agree - Warren will go safe and play LH at full back for the tests

[Cormack74]

Well I've reflected on the Lions squad for the best part of a week and listened to and read what the pundits have had to say.

Bar Jim Telfer, every ex Scottish player or coach seems to have taken it on the chin but I think the point made about the fact there was no Scot involved in the selection process almost certainly cost a few players a call up.

And even leaving aside tight calls there are one or two such as Johnny Gray who ought to have been in full stop. Ian Henderson whom I presume he was up against for the last second row spot is a decent player no doubt, but from memory I don't think he started a single 6N game. There seem to be a few suggestions that the Eng / Scot game lost a few their places on the plane but not many players in the squad were immune from having a bad game at some stage. Jonathan Davis for example who played a massive part in gifting England the game in the last minute in Cardiff yet I have no doubt that as one of WG's favourites he'll be starting the test matches.

Apart from the Scottish thing Mike Brown losing out to Leigh Ha'penny and Jarryd Payne is pretty rough luck. The Lions aren't short of kickers and LH is a shadow of the player he was a couple of years ago. I think LH would have gone anyway but Brown didn't help himself by having an absolute shocker for Harlequins v Exeter on the last w/e before the squad announcement. That's not to say we need more English in the party, just that there is too much reliance on players WG knows IMO. I'm not sure Payne even played until the last game of the 6N and from what I can recall he did nothing of note other than drop a couple of high ones. I can't help thinking he's going because he's a New Zealander even though I'm not sure that counts for very much; they'll all find their feet within a few days of arriving without being ex-pats.

Anyhow what's done is done and if the injury count is up to it's usual level, then Hartley, Brown, Gray et al will all get a look in anyway before the tour is over.

[Cormack74]

Oh and on the Heineken cup or whatever it's called now I caught up with Munster and Sarries on tape last night.

Nev, I'm sorry mate but I was pretty disappointed by your boys. Saracens are an incredibly tight team but your lot bossed the entire first half without ever really looking like scoring. When you've got the likes of Zebo in the backs surely you work some moves but it was just kick kick kick. Basically kicking for the sake of kicking even from good attacking positions. Presumably it was a tactic they'd worked on but for the life of me I couldn't understand why there wasn't a plan B.

And whilst Sarries were hardly there for the taking (they never are) I don't think I've seen them botch 3 tries all season let alone in a single game but Munster didn't seem to want to grab the opportunity. Maybe as Erasmus said post match they don't quite have the experience as a group but it's not like the club haven't been on the big stage before.

At the end of the day I'm English so pleased to see an English team in the final but aside from that I'm not a Saracens fan as such and a Munster final would have been a nice tribute to Axel.

[Irishnev]

Oh and on the Heineken cup or whatever it's called now I caught up with Munster and Sarries on tape last night.

Nev, I'm sorry mate but I was pretty disappointed by your boys. Saracens are an incredibly tight team but your lot bossed the entire first half without ever really looking like scoring. When you've got the likes of Zebo in the backs surely you work some moves but it was just kick kick kick. Basically kicking for the sake of kicking even from good attacking positions. Presumably it was a tactic they'd worked on but for the life of me I couldn't understand why there wasn't a plan B.

And whilst Sarries were hardly there for the taking (they never are) I don't think I've seen them botch 3 tries all season let alone in a single game but Munster didn't seem to want to grab the opportunity. Maybe as Erasmus said post match they don't quite have the experience as a group but it's not like the club haven't been on the big stage before.

At the end of the day I'm English so pleased to see an English team in the final but aside from that I'm not a Saracens fan as such and a Munster final would have been a nice tribute to Axel.

I was there - it was men against boys. You can't under estimate the loss of Murray who for me it the best 9 in the world and integral to how Munster play. Added to that TB had a shocker at 10. We had no guile and couldn't score early in when camped on their line.

Murray's tactical kicking is a big part of their game and they still tried the same tactic but poorly executed. In fairness to Zebo he caught a few crackers from the air.

On fairness given that Munster are reliant on local players getting to the semis was a massive achievement so proud of that. Saracens are very experienced and managed the game well even though they butchered some easy scores - they'll be hard to beat in the final now.

[Cormack74]

I was there - it was men against boys. You can't under estimate the loss of Murray who for me it the best 9 in the world and integral to how Munster play. Added to that TB had a shocker at 10. We had no guile and couldn't score early in when camped on their line.

Murray's tactical kicking is a big part of their game and they still tried the same tactic but poorly executed. In fairness to Zebo he caught a few crackers from the air.

On fairness given that Munster are reliant on local players getting to the semis was a massive achievement so proud of that. Saracens are very experienced and managed the game well even though they butchered some easy scores - they'll be hard to beat in the final now.

Yup Zebo looked great fielding the ball, reminded everyone of what the Lions will be missing. It's a shame he didn't get more opportunities to run because he's looked threatening whenever I've seen him ball in hand.

Saracens are a strong team no doubt but they'll need to fix their attacking play from the w/e. And with Clermont never having won the thing I have a sneaking feeling it might just be their turn at Murrayfield.

[Irishnev]

Yup Zebo looked great fielding the ball, reminded everyone of what the Lions will be missing. It's a shame he didn't get more opportunities to run because he's looked threatening whenever I've seen him ball in hand.

Saracens are a strong team no doubt but they'll need to fix their attacking play from the w/e. And with Clermont never having won the thing I have a sneaking feeling it might just be their turn at Murrayfield.

I think Saracens will batter them - 15+ point win

[Cormack74]

Man for man I think Clermont are stronger but clearly Sarries aren't an easy team to score a lot of points against. They'll have to be a lot better than last week though.

[Buzzo]

Tough draws for Scotland, Ireland and England in the next RWC.

Ireland, Scotland and Japan.

England, Franca and Argentina.

Wales, the Aussies and Georgia.

New Zealand, SA, Italy.

[Irishnev]

Tough draws for Scotland, Ireland and Italy in the next RWC.

Ireland, Scotland and Japan.

England, Franca and Argentina.

Wales, the Aussies and Georgia.

New Zealand, SA, Italy.

No offence Buzzo but that is the best draw we could have hoped for - Scotland are the weakest in the second seeds and Japan (although hosts) are better than the Argies or possibly Italy.

From Scotland's perspective it is a great draw as Ireland are the weakest top seeds so they'll be happy also.

[Buzzo]

No offence Buzzo but that is the best draw we could have hoped for - Scotland are the weakest in the second seeds and Japan (although hosts) are better than the Argies or possibly Italy.

From Scotland's perspective it is a great draw as Ireland are the weakest top seeds so they'll be happy also.

Japan will be no push overs at home, we toured there last summer and though we beat them twice apparently the conditions were draining (humid).

I wanted the Aussies (we re due them one) and then Italy. I reckon we are way better than Wales, but take your point, plus it is 2 years away

I meant tough draw for England in my original post - Englands group is a *******. They'll need to be on their game, as well as the French and the Pumas I think they will also have the USA and one of Fiji, Samoa or Tonga.

[Irishnev]

Japan will be no push overs at home, we toured there last summer and though we beat them twice apparently the conditions were draining (humid).

I wanted the Aussies (we re due them one) and then Italy. I reckon we are way better than Wales, but take your point, plus it is 2 years away

I meant tough draw for England in my original post - Englands group is a *******. They'll need to be on their game, as well as the French and the Pumas I think they will also have the USA and one of Fiji, Samoa or Tonga.

We'll get one of Figi, Samoa or Tonga also - the third place so most likely Tonga.