International Rugby

[PaulWinch again]

Earle looked very raw, but had a lot of potential.

[paul_e]

Earle looked very raw, but had a lot of potential.

Big, quick, strong and technically sound, give him a couple of years and he'll be a top winger I reckon.

[nigel]

Earle looked very raw, but had a lot of potential.

Big, quick, strong and technically sound, give him a couple of years and he'll be a top winger I reckon.

Is that the lad of whom Eddie Jones said, when asked about his inexperience, 'He's big and he's fast, let's see'

[Grande Pablo]

Lots of "virgins" at the match yesterday down to the cheap tickets, which is good.  Some were so immersed in what they thought was rugby drinking culture they never saw a minute of so the match.  I've never had to move & let someone out of our row to let someone out at any event as I did yesterday.  Took the gloss of the day.

[PaulWinch again]

Pretty poor and sluggish start for the Lions, they'll need to improve a lot.

[UK Redsox]

Pretty poor and sluggish start for the Lions, they'll need to improve a lot.

Gatland Junior looked a decent outside-half.

For the Lions, Sinckler and Faletau did OK

[Jon Crofts]

Pretty ordinary really, still, it's all about getting together and gelling as a team so onwards and upwards (still think we'll lose 0-3)

[JD]

After watching The Canterbury Crusaders play yesterday and then The Lions last night, if they play like that again next weekend Canterbury will unfortunately murder The Lions.
Let's just hope that was jetlag etc which caused The Lions to be so poor. 

[peter w]

What's the general view over there JD? Any mention of Billy V being out being crucial?

[JD]

What's the general view over there JD? Any mention of Billy V being out being crucial?

There has been talk of The Lions not being as strong due to Billy V pulling out and most people over here think The Lions will get a hiding from the AB's. The press over here crucified them after last nights performance, especially if you compare the game to the Crusaders v Highlanders game which was played yesterday.

[peter w]

I think we've taken the wrong approach by having an emphasis on big baulky players all over rather than the most skillfuk players. Does Gatland (Snr) come for any flak because of his Welsh centric selections? Or are they that disinterested and think the All- Blacks would beat whichever team we sent out?

[JD]

I think the press were surprised that there were so many Welsh players and not more Scottish, but given Gatland is coach it was kind of expected. Whatever players he picked the AB's are confident of turning them over. I don't think The Lions could take the AB's on in a faster game, so maybe Gatland thinks The Lions can out muscle the AB's. I doubt that will happen though.   
Good news for The Lions though, Ryan Crotty injured his ribs on Saturday playing for the Crusaders and is doubtful for the tests. He has been outstanding this year.   

[paul_e]

What a shit hour of rugby from the Lions.  Gatland needs to think about something other than the set piece because we're predictable as fuck in open play, pass it to static runners for 4-5 phases and then boot it to the moon and try to get runners underneath.

[cdbearsfan]

I see the Anglo-Welsh and Irish Lions lost.

[JD]

The Lions were useless. Can't even beat the worst Super Rugby Team in New Zealand. It was horrible to watch.