Rugby Union 2012/13

[UK Redsox]

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

I thought that Hogg looked OK in the games I saw

[PaulWinch again]

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

I thought that Hogg looked OK in the games I saw

I thought it was notable how much the Lions improved in the midweek game they lost once Farrell came on, the game management was much better. I just don't think you can have a player who is not a specialist fly half and hasn't played at international level being our back up fly half.

[PaulWinch again]

I think the decision not to have O'Driscoll in the squad is a shocker, because he was better than Davies last week and the knock on effect from losing his experience from the team will not help.

[paul_e]

Phillips is the one i find strangest, he effectively gives you a 4 man back row, which has a value at times, but you can't build a team around him (which you have to do) and expect to succeed at the highest level.  He's a big part of why wales do well in years where the 6N is weak but they fall away when the other sides find some form.

Hibbard getting the starting spot is a joke, both him and Best have been appalling all tour, Hartley should have walked into the team with Youngs on the bench.

I don't mind Faletau getting a start, I don't think there's much between him and heaslip.  I do think Morgan would've been there if he hadn't got injured in the 6N though.

[tomd2103]

Phillips is the one i find strangest, he effectively gives you a 4 man back row, which has a value at times, but you can't build a team around him (which you have to do) and expect to succeed at the highest level.  He's a big part of why wales do well in years where the 6N is weak but they fall away when the other sides find some form.

Hibbard getting the starting spot is a joke, both him and Best have been appalling all tour, Hartley should have walked into the team with Youngs on the bench.

I don't mind Faletau getting a start, I don't think there's much between him and heaslip.  I do think Morgan would've been there if he hadn't got injured in the 6N though.

I thought B Youngs' lack of physicality was as problem last week and am not surprised that Phillips has been brought back in.  There are rumours doing the rounds that he was dropped for disciplinary reasons last week, but I'm not sure how accurate those are.  Phillips has got to improve massively from his performance in the first test though.

Hibbard is in for his scrummaging I would have thought.  The presence of Corbisiero and Hibbard gives the Lions a much stronger scrum and I think it is an area that they will target on Saturday.  He needs to get his lineout throwing right though, as I expect the Lions to catch and drive a lot at the weekend.   

Faletau will give that extra presence and work rate in the tight and I agree with you that Morgan should have been selected if fit.  If I'm honest, I'm surprised that Parling has remained in the team, as he has been a little lightweight so far.

As for BOD being dropped, Clive Woodward called for it in his Daily Mail column:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2352060/Lions-2013-SIR-CLIVE-WOODWARD--Beach-break-big-mistake.html   

[PaulWinch again]

I think Youngs has been good in the scrum and Hibbard has been awful all round and shouldn't be playing. Phillips is useless and Australia have his number completely.

I hope we win, but I think we'll struggle.

[paul_e]

On the backup fly half, I agree you need a specialist.  I actually suspect the bench will increase again soon at the top level.  Having to pick 3 front row, 1 scrum half and 1 fly half really limits the options.  Most teams will want a specialist 2nd row and back row which leaves you needing a back can cover wing, centre and full back, which is very limiting.  You normally see a fairly bullish centre in internationals as no one wants to lose a starting centre and end up leaving gaps.  It makes giving wingers a bit of time quite tough.  England have the advantage of Launchbury and Lawes being capable of playing back row so we could possibly split the bench into 4 and 4 but it's still risky.

[taylorsworkrate]

Staggering, absolutely staggering.

Just how pathetically does Phillips have to play to be overlooked? Genia tore him to pieces in the first test, absolutely humiliated him. Ok he got the better of Youngs also, but it was nowhere near as comprehensive.

Davies is an odd selection. He looks incredibly average to me. He offers next to nothing in attack and his passing is poor. Tuilagi and Roberts would have been a much better pairing.

Hibbard doesn't deserve his place either. His slightly better scrummaging does not account for Youngs better throwing, carrying, passing and tackling.

Its a very negative selection overall, based purely on power. If we score a try i'll be surprised.

[paul_e]

Staggering, absolutely staggering.

Just how pathetically does Phillips have to play to be overlooked? Genia tore him to pieces in the first test, absolutely humiliated him. Ok he got the better of Youngs also, but it was nowhere near as comprehensive.

Davies is an odd selection. He looks incredibly average to me. He offers next to nothing in attack and his passing is poor. Tuilagi and Roberts would have been a much better pairing.

Hibbard doesn't deserve his place either. His slightly better scrummaging does not account for Youngs better throwing, carrying, passing and tackling.

Its a very negative selection overall, based purely on power. If we score a try i'll be surprised.

The try threat is a hanging kick out to the wing for North or Bowe to use their  power to barge into the corner.

[villan1975]

Fingers crossed for the Aussie's tomorrow against the Welsh lions.

[PaulWinch again]

Come on Lions, in spite of the selection you need to win.

[PaulWinch again]

Corbs over!!

[PaulWinch again]

That was more than Phllips did in the first test.

[PaulWinch again]

Scrum is crushing the Aussies.

[PaulWinch again]

I like this ref a lot more.