The Rugby Thread

[Red_Polo]

He's been very good for us so that's great news. Got to cut out the pens in this next game, 25 pens in two matches is way too many.

Fancy Mako will be benched this next test

Yep, will surely go with McGrath instead.

Any other changes you reckon? Possibly Lawes in for an out of form AWJ?

[RichC]

Yeah, AWJ has to be under pressure he's not played anywhere near his levels he does bring an awful lot of experience though.

I don't think he'll change too much more maybe Watson dropping out

[Red_Polo]

Yeah, AWJ has to be under pressure he's not played anywhere near his levels he does bring an awful lot of experience though.

I don't think he'll change too much more maybe Watson dropping out

Seymour deserves a shot with his form.

[RichC]

Seymour has played well in the midweek games but part of me has found the fume and outrage from the Scottish about not having a player in the starting XV of the test sides quite funny

[Buzzo]

we've actually not even had anyone in the 23 let alone starting XV.

I actually think Hogg would have started had he stayed fit.

Laidlaw isn't as good as Webb or Murray. Seymour hasn't done anything wrong, and given Barrett's bizarre love of the cross field kick I'd have loved to see him get a game. Seymour is awesome under the high ball and scores a few interception try's.

It won't happen though.

The guys that deserved a chance in the squad based on what I've seen are either of the Grays ahead of AWJ, and Hamish Watson has been in great form, better than, let's say Sam Warburton.

Think the tour came a year too early for us. Plus Gatlands a dick.

[Irishnev]

Same team again

[ame="https://twitter.com/lionsofficial/status/882675447892295680"]https://twitter.com/lionsofficial/status/882675447892295680[/ame]

[Cormack74]

Would have swapped Mako to the bench.

[Cormack74]

All 3 Barrett brothers in the AB squad. That's some rugby family.

[Irishnev]

So Buzzo, Rich, Cormac, Red Reet & co - call it....

I'm going for a resounding AB win with Savea getting 2 tries. Oh and they will be as cynical and underhand as ****.

[RichC]

Yeah, I'm expecting a full on bounce back from the ABs this weekend and some top level Richey McCaw "dark arts" going on. .

[Buzzo]

I'll be surprised if the ABs don't win at a canter.

The noises from the Lions make it sound as though they absolutely battered a full strength team last week as opposed to only just squeaking past 14 men.

There was some good play albeit in the last quarter against a tiring team, but had Barrett kicked a couple of easy goals embarrassment was on the cards.

I'll be intrigued to see if Barrett goes for as many cross field kicks tomorrow.

First Lions tour in over 100 years where no Scot so much as makes the bench so Gatland can go **** himself.

Bring on the Welsh in Feb

[Cormack74]

The positives are that we won the last game (v 14 or not), that SBW is ruled out and that we have another northern hemisphere ref' albeit one that can be a bit left field at times.

Don't forget we were trailing 18-9 and pulled it round with 2 tries which will have given the team enormous confidence.

We'll give ourselves a chance if we cut the penalty count and if that happens then maybe we won't be trailing by too many when we reach the last quarter. Although the AB's are clearly favourites if the points gap isn't too severe who knows what might happen with 20 minutes left in the series.

That's what I'm hoping for!

[RichC]

Need a massive start to this test, can't let the ABs get on the front foot early on

[Buzzo]

Lions clinging on at 12-6.

If the ABs had kicked pens/cons and not knocked on in scoring positions this would be all over.

[Buzzo]

12-9 ABs down to 14.

Going to be close. Not so much AB dominance this half.