The Rugby Thread

[Cormack74]

Murray as 9 will improve the kicking element

He couldn't not on today's evidence!

In fact and I don't want to upset Buzzo (and I know this is in hindsight but the thought has just occurred), it's a pity that when Youngs pulled out WG didn't go a bit left field and pick Wigglesworth instead of Laidlaw.

He's probably the best kicking scrum half in the Northern hemisphere (maybe the world) and today showed us how important that sort of precision is going to be.

[Buzzo]

Laidlaw did well in the seven minutes he got on the pitch, noticeably faster with the ball thN on Sat.

The bottom line is that it's the tactics that are going to come up short. Ultimately it's hard to gauge the performance of the backs when the game plan barely involves giving them any decent ball.

[Cormack74]

Good points all and I'm not trying to have a go at Laidlaw.

I think on reflection, I was most disappointed how defensively frail we were, plus we didn't seem to have a plan about how to stifle the Blues off loading game. I can barely recall a smother tackle, of the type pretty much patented by the Irish a few years back.

[Buzzo]

Looking at the right turn arounds in the schedule... it's insane.

Who signed off on basically a game every 4 days until the tests...!???

This tour could go to **** quickly.

[Irishnev]

Good points all and I'm not trying to have a go at Laidlaw.

I think on reflection, I was most disappointed how defensively frail we were, plus we didn't seem to have a plan about how to stifle the Blues off loading game. I can barely recall a smother tackle, of the type pretty much patented by the Irish a few years back.

It can be hard to smother a juggernaut who can offload in half an inch of space

It's still early in the tour so let's judge them on the tests but we tend to forget that the provincial sides in NZ are as good as most test teams. NZ are just absolutely **** hot at rugby and a one in 12 year shot at the Lions makes them raise their game even more!

[Irishnev]

[ame="https://twitter.com/guardian_sport/status/872714526931767296"]https://twitter.com/guardian_sport/status/872714526931767296[/ame]

[Zapater]

I thought Gatland would have been misquoted but I saw the presser and he said that directly. Hilarious. I know that the Blues were highly motivated but they're worse than most of SA's teams and on about par with the Australian ones, to suggest they're at a similar level to the AB's is delusional.

[Buzzo]

Lions team to play the Crusaders.

Team: S Hogg; G North, J Davies; B Te'o, L Williams; O Farrell; C Murray; M Vunipola, J George, T Furlong; AW Jones (capt), G Kruis; P O'Mahony, S O'Brien, T Faletau

Replacements: K Owens, J McGrath, D Cole, M Itoje, CJ Stander, R Webb, J Sexton, A Watson

[Irishnev]

Saw that - pretty strong line up and only a few players shy of what the test side might be

[Cormack74]

I think that's WG's preferred test back line as things stand.

[Irishnev]

Decent first half - observations;

Murray Farrell look good at half back
Good balance in the back row
Strong set piece
Hogg the world's unluckiest player

[Cormack74]

Only caught bits in between one of the kids doing birthday un-wrapping but the defence looked pretty awesome out there.

[Buzzo]

I missed it.

How bad was Hoggs injury?

[Irishnev]

I missed it.

How bad was Hoggs injury?

Not bad - he ran into Murray's arm and knocked himself out with a bad cut for good measure. He looked sharp and then had to go off - no chance to put pressure on LH.

Murray was superb as was the defence. Back row v strong with O'Mahony prominent in line out and in the loose. Both second rows v good and front row scrummed really well.

Farrell did well at 10 but missed one v easy kick and the backs butchered a few moves but that is understandable. Had the feel of a test match and positive performance.

Onwards and upwards

[Cormack74]

I missed it.

How bad was Hoggs injury?

It was a cut as well as concussion so whether or not the cut is bad the fact he failed the HIA means he'll have to be out for the next couple of games (at least).

If you still haven't seen it Buzzo it was weirdly unlucky: As Nev said Murray put his arms up (I'm not interfering with play style) and Hogg ran into one of them.