Rugby Union 2012/13

[taylorsworkrate]

I think if the Lions end up losing this series, then it will have well and truly exposed Gatland as a very poor coach and tactician. I haven't seen anything to change my opinion that this is a mediocre Australian side, yet we have been second best for large parts of the series.

It will take changes to win next week.

My team

15 Halfpenny
14 Bowe
13 Tuilagi
12 Roberts
11 North

10 Sexton
9 B Youngs

8 Faletau
7 Warburton
6 Lydiate
5 Parling
4 Wyn Jones
3 Jones
2 T Youngs
1 Corbisiero

As great a player as O'Driscoll has been, he ain't no more. Tuilagi and Roberts would be an absolute nightmare for the Aussies to have to deal with. Faletau would offer so much more carrying than Heaslip, which in turn would create more opportunities for the centres to get over the gainline.

Vunipola settled down to have a very good game after a couple of poor opening scrums. However, I still believe he is more of an impact player and Corbisiero the better scrummager.

The Lions will never have a better chance to win a test series. New Zealand aren't going to be beaten in 2017.

[paul_e]

I feel quite vindicated in my criticism of Gatland now.  He's a rugby equivalent of mon, has 1 plan which can prove reasonably successful but has no idea how to use better players to make the game more technical and is very unimaginative with changing things if the plan isn't working.

My biggest issue is his over reliance on tactical kicking, the Lions are kicking away far too much ball, particularly in Australia who base their entire game on broken-field running.  If you're going to use the boot heavily in Oz you make sure the ball lands in the crowd.

[john e]

Don't know much about the tactical side of rugby, but loving the Lions tests

That thing that North did when he picked that bloke up and ran with him and used him as a human battering ram, is the best thing I've ever see on a rugby field

[UK Redsox]

Don't know much about the tactical side of rugby, but loving the Lions tests

That thing that North did when he picked that bloke up and ran with him and used him as a human battering ram, is the best thing I've ever see on a rugby field

The Ref could easily have pinged North for that. The way that the laws are these days, I doubt that it was really legal

[paul_e]

Don't know much about the tactical side of rugby, but loving the Lions tests

That thing that North did when he picked that bloke up and ran with him and used him as a human battering ram, is the best thing I've ever see on a rugby field

The Ref could easily have pinged North for that. The way that the laws are these days, I doubt that it was really legal

it's fine so long as he puts him down safely afterwards.

[Jon Crofts]

Well that's either inspired or stupid.

[Ger Regan]

Hugely risky in dropping O'Driscoll completely imo. Yes, he was poor in the last test, but surely a player of his quality is worth a place on the bench?

[PaulWinch again]

Gatland doesn't seem to be thinking very clearly, he brings Faletau straight into the team after not being in the squad at all. Then drops Tom Youngs who has been much better than Hibbard. Drops Ben Youngs from the squad completely along with O'Driscoll? and has Faletau and O'Brien in the same back row? It seems completely cluttered to me.

[UK Redsox]

Hugely risky in dropping O'Driscoll completely imo. Yes, he was poor in the last test, but surely a player of his quality is worth a place on the bench?

He's not versatile enough to be on the bench. Once he was dropped from starting XV, that was him finished.

Gatland took a risk last week by naming Cuthbert as the backs sub but he had to do that because it was Bowe's first game back from injury. Now that Bowe has a game under his belt, the backs sub needs to be able to cover both centre and wing. Manu Tuilagi can do that better than BOD

I'd prefer to see Hogg rather than Farrell on the bench

[PaulWinch again]

Hugely risky in dropping O'Driscoll completely imo. Yes, he was poor in the last test, but surely a player of his quality is worth a place on the bench?

He's not versatile enough to be on the bench. Once he was dropped from starting XV, that was him finished.

Gatland took a risk last week by naming Cuthbert as the backs sub but he had to do that because it was Bowe's first game back from injury. Now that Bowe has a game under his belt, the backs sub needs to be able to cover both centre and wind. Manu Tuilagi can do that better than BOD

I'd prefer to see Hogg rather than Farrell on the bench

Disagree on that a specialist Fly half on the bench is vital, Hogg was not up to it when he played at Fly half.

[PaulWinch again]

My concern would also be that Gatland is very much reverting to his 'Welsh' style and that'd be fine against England, France etc as they've had success. However against Australia that approach has consistently failed.

[paul_e]

I can already see how the game is going to pan out, that team is built entirely around kicking the ball high in the air and trying to get men around the catchers and force territory.  I've said before Gatland is just like mon.  He has his way of playing and sticks to it regardless, with his favourite players always picked and plan b is plan a with a few names changed.  I also think the lions will win and it will come from the English players on the bench making a big impact.

[PaulWinch again]

Can anyone explain to me what Faletau, Phillips and Hibbard have done to justify a place? The back row looks really unbalanced as well.

[Dr Butler]

Can anyone explain to me what Faletau, Phillips and Hibbard have done to justify a place? The back row looks really unbalanced as well.

play for Wales ?

[PaulWinch again]

That genuinely appears to be the only reason, I really don't like or rate Gatland.