One for the Egg Chasers - 2013 British and Irish Lions Chat

[monkey_roo]

Game 3
Much stronger opposition today but Lions by 8-10 as the Lions are a little weaker that they could be.
Big loss with Healy and Jenkins out now .
Lets see what we learn in the next 80 mins.

 

[itfciain]

It is no surprise that we are losing players - it happens on every tour. I remember when we all lumped on Brian O'Driscoll to be named as captain for the tour a few years ago as we'd had some inside knowledge that he was to be named. What we didn't realise what that the bet was to run out in the first test as captain - we had to sit nervously through his last club games and then all of the warm up ones before the bet finally came in (from memory he lasted about 30 seconds before being speared into the ground) - between us we'd had the best part of £4500 on it so it was nervous times

Reckon they'll do well today - quite a few Lions with points to prove - Warburton especially

 

[itfciain]

What a try that would have been

 

[monkey_roo]

The Bowe injury might be one to worry about but that was a decent run out. Queensland threw the kitchen sick at the Lions and it made for a cracking game, both teams looking to run. just the sort of game the tour needed, minus the injury count but that's part and parcel like you say, plenty of quality player they can call on to fill the gaps.

Oh, and surly Iain and I can't be the only rugby fans on here?

 

[Richard_H]

Enjoyed the game but France v NZ was on another level. I am rarely that enthralled watching Rugby. France may not be everyone's cup of team but they do seem to know how to play against NZ.

 

[monkey_roo]

Missed most of the NZ - France game so can't really comment but it was a day for watching rugby (unless you are Scottish... Samo )
England had a good run out in Argentina tonight as well.

So who's in the running to replace Tommy Bowe in Austrialia, Depite the loss I would like to see Tim Visser join the squad, big fan of Dave Strettle as well but that might be a real long shot.

 

[monkey_roo]

Simon Zebo... Didn't see that one. Good luck to him, will bring some fancy footwork to the squad but an outside shot for a test place at best.

With Kearney still on the walking wounded list more changes could be coming. Good news that Tuilagi is fine though.

 

[monkey_roo]

Nothing learnt today 64 - 0 was a thumping and to be fair it should have been 100 - 0 or more but i guess the Lions had the game won by half time and lost their shape a bit there after. No injuries etc. which was nice.

More interesting in Robbie Deans insistance to leave Quade Cooper out of the Australia squad. Granted Cooper is a handful to manage (If you beleive the press) and doesn't help himself with comments like 'Toxic Squad' but he is such a talent and a real threat as we saw on Saturday, he could hurt the Lions. Of course if Austrialia win the serise then Deans in a hero, if they lose (Which i think they will) he looses his job and Cooper is reinstated almost imediately

 

[monkey_roo]

Good win today.
A good run out as well, competitive for the most part and good to see the Lions pushing a more physical game. Love Crofts try.
Worry about Roberts, if only as Tuilagi is still a doubt but let's see how things look on Thursday, I think that is when the test team will be known.
One more warm up on Tuesday and then the countdown begins...

 

[monkey_roo]

Time for me to keep this one man thread going....
The countdown is done, 1st Test tomorrow morning so does anyone want to take a punt at calling the result.

I am going for the Lions by 5. I think it will be a brutal front five battle and the game will hinge on the back row securing ball and giving the back line that extra second or two to do something.

Overall both teams look strong and I am pretty excited, watched the 87 highlights last night and got quite excited... Bring it on

 

[aussiejames]

We'll score 2 tries to one but loose by 6. Retire 2 Lions & win the remaining 2.
GO THE WALLABIES


EDIT: FFS I've seen schoolgirls with better kicking games :roll:

 

[monkey_roo]

Holly fried shrimp on the BBQ... What a game.
First off what an advert for the game of rugby, two fully committed sides going at each other trying to play good positive rugby.

That was a great game to watch but as a Lions fan it was too close for comfort, when the final whistle went I could even cheer I just sank back into my sofa in relief. I almost feel sorry for Beale, too lose your footing like that on such a big stage is going to hurt a lot more than any injury the Aussies picked up during the match. But to be fair if O'Conner had slotted his goals earlier then it wouldn't have mattered.

As for the tries, all of them were crackers, North and Folau were immense for the Lions and Australia respectively

Edge of your seat stuff and I hope we get more of the same next Saturday (with the same result...)

 

[mumbo]

Had to listen to it on the radio and sounded like a cracking game, have since seen the try's and they were all high quality, some great individual skill and power. Yes we were somewhat lucky in the end given the kicks Australia missed but if you don't bang em over you don't score the points and at the end of the day pressure is all part of the game and o'conner in particular fluffed his lines

Great start but a long way to go still, come on the Lions

 

[aussiejames]

 

[monkey_roo]

^ harsh but fair

Tonight's game was a bit odd, 35-0 to the Lions reads well but it should have been more. The team just seemed to be trying just that bit too hard with the final pass, not a bad thing but played out as solid, always in control but lacking that last 5% to be perfect.

I think a few lads played their way into the 22 but I doubt the starting 15 will change on Saturday.

Great defence though, big hearts shown to keep the Rebels out.

Roll on Saturday.

 

[monkey_roo]

80 minutes away from history.... Hairs standing on end, goose bumps all over, heart pumping...... BRING IT ON.....

 

[itfciain]

Should be a good game this - reckon Lions will have it - shame O'Connell is out but think we will be strong enough

 

[monkey_roo]

More blood and guts, not a classily skilful game but both teams played for all they had. Good win for the Aussies and now it moves to Sidney for the decider, this is turning into a cracking serise... Need to go and calm down now

 

[itfciain]

Fair play to the Aussies - they deserved one win out of the two games - thought BOD was fantastic today and good to see Bowe back

 

[Dark Sith Lord]

WTF is Warren doing! Not only dropping O`Driscoll from the team but from from the whole squad!! :shock: