The Rugby Thread

[dtaai-maai]

60 minutes... try. Ridiculous decision!

[dtaai-maai]

Oh dear oh dear oh dear... 6 minutes to go. A top up is needed.

[dtaai-maai]

A disappointing 2nd half, bit of a mirror image of the 1st game. Some crucial close decisions went the wrong way, but... <gritted teeth> credit to the Springboks.

Unfortunately the momentum has moved in the wrong direction. Next game - SIMMONS to start... pleeeease!! I might even go with Farrell and Price as the half backs, and anybody but Hogg at 15.

[pharvey]

A disappointing 2nd half, bit of a mirror image of the 1st game. Some crucial close decisions went the wrong way, but... <gritted teeth> credit to the Springboks.

Unfortunately the momentum has moved in the wrong direction. Next game - SIMMONS to start... pleeeease!! I might even go with Farrell and Price as the half backs, and anybody but Hogg at 15.

Firstly - congrats to the Springboks, thoroughly deserved victory!! Here's to the decider......

Simmons would have been creamed unfortunately, not the game for him, Faletau will always fare better - need to look more at the Front Row. I'm hoping Wyn Jones will be there for the Third Test... Still think it was wrong to have Vunipola starting (far better off the bench).

SA with better tactics and better play off the Bench - the 3 Second Rows stuffed our Linout and nullified Ken's throw-in . He should still start before Cowan-Dickie for the Third Test however - superb in the loose!

Drop Hogg? Well, he was the only one of the Back Three that managed under the "High Ball" - where I'd questioned him! Liam Williams and Adams have to be brought in - VDM was shite in defence and was never used in attack.... so why is he there? Williams and Adams far better defensively and neither to bad in attack IF THEY ARE USED!!! TACTICS PLEASE!!

Farrell at 10...... ? DM, have you been on the "Thinner" again - come on, I know you've got some decent stuff in the cupboard!

Biggar did zip wrong - whilst I thought the ref did well, I'd love to see offside lines shown on the TV......

I'm sure I'll bitch and moan for a little while more before making more comments here, but my dog is crossing his legs and holding in before I take him for his walk.......

[PeteC]

"With the first Bledisloe Cup game of 2021 coming up at Eden Park on Saturday August 7, we take you back to the last clash between the side's at the famous ground in 2020."

This video was just released so if nothing going on, have a look. If I recall when I saw it live on Rugby Pass it's a good match.

[pharvey]

So, the decider coming up - a raft of changes in the British & Irish Lions... Faf missing from the Boks through injury... The Boks, unsurprisingly favorites - what's going to happen come Saturday??!!

Teams for the 3rd Test: -
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teams-3rd.png (48.96 KiB) Viewed 314 times

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Very happy with changes to the Back Three - though no idea why VDM is still there - wrong winger replaced IMO. No Faletau is the wrong decision, but Simmonds coming on in the 2nd could be good (will be a different game with that Front Row and supposed game plan). Would liked to have seen *** on the bench. Surprised Farrell is not on the bench as cover... Navidi? Where is he??!!

Oh well....

[pharvey]

Oh come on DM - you know you want to have a pop!!

[pharvey]

"With the first Bledisloe Cup game of 2021 coming up at Eden Park on Saturday August 7, we take you back to the last clash between the side's at the famous ground in 2020."

This video was just released so if nothing going on, have a look. If I recall when I saw it live on Rugby Pass it's a good match.

Looking forward to things Pete, but TBH this Saturday is the only one that matters at the mo!!

[dtaai-maai]

Oh come on DM - you know you want to have a pop!!

At you, Pietro? As if!

No, apart from your habitual obsession wit the Welsh players in the squad , I'm inclined to agree. I was really disappointed with the approach to the 2nd test, which reflected my original concern that we would play to counter the perceived South African strengths rather than in favour of our own, and I hope to see the Lions really go for it.

Major surprise to me is not to see Farrell on the bench.

[pharvey]

Oh come on DM - you know you want to have a pop!!

At you, Pietro? As if!

No, apart from your habitual obsession wit the Welsh players in the squad , I'm inclined to agree. I was really disappointed with the approach to the 2nd test, which reflected my original concern that we would play to counter the perceived South African strengths rather than in favour of our own, and I hope to see the Lions really go for it.

Major surprise to me is not to see Farrell on the bench.

I have a huge bias to the Welsh players - then again... In all seriousness, how could Williams or Adams have been left out previously?

Don't like the guy, but Farrell should be on the bench as cover (if not as Inside Center in the XV) - strange decision (not so much Gatland's IMO)..

Personally, I'd have JPR, Gerald Davis & JJ Williams as the Back-3, Phil (not you) at 10 and Gareth at 9 ..... Then again, Rwy'n Gymraeg!!

[dtaai-maai]

Personally, I'd have JPR, Gerald Davis & JJ Williams as the Back-3...

Did I mention I once played against Gerald Davies...?

Sky Sports keeps telling me the Lions are about to roar. God, I hope so!

[pharvey]

Did I mention I once played against Gerald Davies...?

Not that Tiddlywinks ploy again.... I'm seriously intrigued DM - tell us more!

Sky Sports keeps telling me the Lions are about to roar. God, I hope so!

Wyn Jones will make a big difference to the Frontrow and "The Sheriff" will be all the better for him being there... Aki in the Center with Williams and Adams in the back three will also make a huge difference.

Improvement in the Frontrow/pack stability will also give Simmonds more of a platform to come on in the 2nd half...... Still a tad miffed with regards to Faletau/Navidi not being there - Simmonds covers No 8 only...... That said, looking forward to seeing him on the pitch!!

Not seeing Murray starting is also a plus quite frankly.....

Close game - Lions by 3 or 5 ...... I'll change my mind several times in the next 20 odd hours!!

[dtaai-maai]

Did I mention I once played against Gerald Davies...?

Not that Tiddlywinks ploy again.... I'm seriously intrigued DM - tell us more!

Well, since you insist...

He taught English at my school for a few years while he was playing for London Welsh (I think), not to mention Wales, the Barbarians and the Lions.

We had an annual Masters vs the Colts game, so I'd have been 15-16. It was usually a good game, as most of the teachers, some of whom had played at a high level, were in their 40s. He played open side wing forward opposite me, and whenever they went behind they gave him the ball. No competiton! I tried to tackle him a couple of times, when he let me get close enough, and just bounced off. Thighs like tree trunks...

Great bloke, incidentally, very popular with boys and staff, very modest, always willing to talk and help.

[PeteC]

All Blacks vs Australia today on TRUE channel 669 (Rugby pass) at 1330 hours.

This is the first game of three in the Bledisloe Cup series. Game #2 in NZ on August 14, and game #3 in Perth on August 28.

2021 Fortinet Rugby Championship

The entire thing to be played in NZ due to Covid restrictions: Argentina - September 11 & 18. South Africa - September 25 and October 2.

[pharvey]

GAME ON!!....