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The Lions squad

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That was much more like it. Some of the defensive play was outstanding. Obviously need to be more clinical when we get to the tests, but there were some great signs that Teo and Watson in particular can cut defences open.
 
Jürgen4PM said:
Much needed win.

The test team is taking shape.

I think we can write Murray in at scrum half now.

Add Falutua at eight as well.
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I'd agree with those, but its still early!

With a few exceptions, most of the pack is good enough to start in the Tests.

I wouldn't have Vunipola anywhere near the team - i didn't see much of his game today but i've never rated his scrummaging.

Sexton was better today, I wonder if todays performance might make Gatland think about Sexton and Farrell at 10 and 12 (i wouldn't do it).

The questions we have at the moment are mainly around the back line combinations - which are largely wide open for people to play themselves into
 
Gatland made AWJ skipper for the final Lions test in Oz last time out and they won. He gives him the armband again today and they beat the best provincial team out there, one which hasn't previously lost at home this season and a better side than Auckland Blues to whom the Lions just lost. I've asked the question before, but did Gatland pick the wrong tour captain?
 
Yes, but i don't think AWJ's captaincy is the reason the game was won today.

The more time this squad spend together the better they'll be, and the squad didn't get to NZ early enough for the first two games IMO.

But today was about good pragmatic rugby - get points on the board, and then keep putting the opponents under pressure to make mistakes. The final piece of the jigsaw in that gameplan is to finish the chances that come our way when they make mistakes and thats all that was missing from what i saw of the game.

Stander dropping a pass, T'eo throwing away a great chance. And then that big loopy pass out to North when 10m out (either Sexton or Farrell took the wrong option).

You get those bits right and it turns into a big win.
 
Lions (v Highlanders):

15. Jared Payne
14. Jack Nowell
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Tommy Seymour
10. Dan Biggar
9. Rhys Webb

1. Joe Marler
2. Rory Best
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Courtney Lawes
5. Iain Henderson
6. James Haskell
7. Sam Warburton (captain)
8. CJ Stander

I've never been a Payne fan, but 15 is his best position. On the other hand this is my ideal centre combo - i'd love to see them go well. The Welsh half back duo should get them running and i think they've a chance to carve out plenty of try scoring chances.

My concern is the back row - i don't think Warburton is a 7. He's not really a 6 either but he's definitely more a 6 than a 7. He's good on the deck and in the tackle but he doesn't cover enough ground for me - and thats a slight problem with Stander too. He takes on so much in terms of carrying that he's often a bit behind or out of the play at times.

Its like we picked a back line for an expansive game and a pack for a tight well managed game full of set pieces.
 
Hogg ruled out of the rest of the tour - no replacements being called up.

15 mins to KO today. I hadn't realise how weakened this Highlanders squad is. We better put points on them
 
Stander butchers a chance ... 4 men outside him.

Thats always the danger on these tours, instead of doing the right thing some players turn a bit selfish in an attempt to make their mark
 
Best off for a blood sub.

Lawes seems to be down after the try as well. Got hurt trying to make a hitn

10-0
 
Joseph with a super break and try... thats why i think he should be our 13 in the tests.
 
The amount of good NZ players is incredible.

22-20 to the Highlanders after a good catch and drive lineout
 
I was wondering, how do we think these provincial sides would compare against the European cup level Northern Hemisphere sides. Would be interesting to see.
 
Its hard to guess - i wouldn't say there is a massive difference in quality in first XV's.

But when it comes to depth they might be miles ahead - this Highlanders team is short 7 All Blacks.
 
Game over. Highlanders by a point.

Why would you call such an intricate set piece when all you needed was a drop goal ?
 
I'm a bit clueless now as to what Gatland is going to do with the Test squad.

So i had a look at what some pundits were predicting / hoping for:

Murray Kinsella’s Lions squad for first Test:

15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Anthony Watson
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Owen Farrell
11. George North
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Alun Wyn Jones (captain)
5. George Kruis
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Taulupe Faletau


Sir Ian McGeechan and Luke Fitzgerald's Lions team to face the All Blacks: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 George North, 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Alun Wyn Jones, 5 George Kruis, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Sean O'Brien, 8 Taulupe Faletau.

Mick Cleary
15. Anthony Watson (England), 14. George North (Wales), 13. Jonathan Davies (Wales), 12. Ben Te’o (England), 11. Liam Williams (Wales), 10. Owen Farrell (England), 9. Conor Murray (Ireland), 1. Mako Vunipola (England), 2. Jamie George (England), 3. Tadgh Furlong (Ireland), 4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 5. George Kruis (England), 6. Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 7. Sam Warburton (Wales), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales).

Austin Healey
15. Mike Brown (England), 14. George North (Wales), 13. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), 12. Ben Te’o (England), 11. Elliot Daly (England), 10. Owen Farrell (England), 9. Conor Murray (Ireland), 1. Mako Vunipola (England), 2. Jamie George (England), 3. Tadgh Furlong (Ireland), 4. George Kruis (England), 5. Maro Itoje (England), 6. Iain Henderson (Ireland), 7. Justin Tipuric (Wales), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales).

Gavin Mairs
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), 14. Anthony Watson (England), 13. Jonathan Davies (Wales), 12. Ben Te’o (England), 11. Liam Williams (Wales), 10. Owen Farrell (England), 9. Conor Murray (Ireland), 1. Mako Vunipola (England), 2. Jamie George (England), 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 5. George Kruis (England), 6. Peter O’Mahony (Ireland), 7. Sam Warburton (Wales), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales).

Julian Bennetts
15. Anthony Watson (England), 14. George North (Wales), 13. Ben Te’o (England), 12. Owen Farrell (England), 11. Liam Williams (Wales), 10. Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), 9. Conor Murray (Ireland), 1. Mako Vunipola (England), 2. Jamie George (England), 3. Tadgh Furlong (Ireland), 4. George Kruis (England), 5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 6. Peter O’Mahony (Ireland), 7. Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales).

Charlie Morgan
15. Anthony Watson (England), 14. George North (Wales), 13. Jonathan Davies (Wales), 12. Owen Farrell (England), 11. Liam Williams (Wales), 10. Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), 9. Conor Murray (Ireland), 1. Mako Vunipola (England), 2. Jamie George (England), 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 4. Maro Itoje (England), 5. George Kruis (England), 6. Peter O’Mahony (Ireland), 7. Sam Warburton (Wales), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales).

Kate Rowan
15. Anthony Watson (England), 14. George North (Wales), 13. Jonathan Davies (Wales), 12. Owen Farrell (England), 11. Liam Williams (Wales), 10. Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), 9. Conor Murray (Ireland), 1. Mako Vunipola (England), 2. Jamie George (England), 3. Tadgh Furlong (Ireland), 4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 5. George Kruis (England), 6. Peter O’Mahony (Ireland), 7. Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales).
 
Rosco said:
I'm a bit clueless now as to what Gatland is going to do with the Test squad.

So i had a look at what some pundits were predicting / hoping for:

Murray Kinsella’s Lions squad for first Test:

15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Anthony Watson
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Owen Farrell
11. George North
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Alun Wyn Jones (captain)
5. George Kruis
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Taulupe Faletau


Sir Ian McGeechan and Luke Fitzgerald's Lions team to face the All Blacks: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 George North, 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Alun Wyn Jones, 5 George Kruis, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Sean O'Brien, 8 Taulupe Faletau.

Mick Cleary
15. Anthony Watson (England), 14. George North (Wales), 13. Jonathan Davies (Wales), 12. Ben Te’o (England), 11. Liam Williams (Wales), 10. Owen Farrell (England), 9. Conor Murray (Ireland), 1. Mako Vunipola (England), 2. Jamie George (England), 3. Tadgh Furlong (Ireland), 4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 5. George Kruis (England), 6. Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 7. Sam Warburton (Wales), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales).

Austin Healey
15. Mike Brown (England), 14. George North (Wales), 13. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), 12. Ben Te’o (England), 11. Elliot Daly (England), 10. Owen Farrell (England), 9. Conor Murray (Ireland), 1. Mako Vunipola (England), 2. Jamie George (England), 3. Tadgh Furlong (Ireland), 4. George Kruis (England), 5. Maro Itoje (England), 6. Iain Henderson (Ireland), 7. Justin Tipuric (Wales), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales).

Gavin Mairs
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), 14. Anthony Watson (England), 13. Jonathan Davies (Wales), 12. Ben Te’o (England), 11. Liam Williams (Wales), 10. Owen Farrell (England), 9. Conor Murray (Ireland), 1. Mako Vunipola (England), 2. Jamie George (England), 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 5. George Kruis (England), 6. Peter O’Mahony (Ireland), 7. Sam Warburton (Wales), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales).

Julian Bennetts
15. Anthony Watson (England), 14. George North (Wales), 13. Ben Te’o (England), 12. Owen Farrell (England), 11. Liam Williams (Wales), 10. Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), 9. Conor Murray (Ireland), 1. Mako Vunipola (England), 2. Jamie George (England), 3. Tadgh Furlong (Ireland), 4. George Kruis (England), 5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 6. Peter O’Mahony (Ireland), 7. Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales).

Charlie Morgan
15. Anthony Watson (England), 14. George North (Wales), 13. Jonathan Davies (Wales), 12. Owen Farrell (England), 11. Liam Williams (Wales), 10. Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), 9. Conor Murray (Ireland), 1. Mako Vunipola (England), 2. Jamie George (England), 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 4. Maro Itoje (England), 5. George Kruis (England), 6. Peter O’Mahony (Ireland), 7. Sam Warburton (Wales), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales).

Kate Rowan
15. Anthony Watson (England), 14. George North (Wales), 13. Jonathan Davies (Wales), 12. Owen Farrell (England), 11. Liam Williams (Wales), 10. Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), 9. Conor Murray (Ireland), 1. Mako Vunipola (England), 2. Jamie George (England), 3. Tadgh Furlong (Ireland), 4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 5. George Kruis (England), 6. Peter O’Mahony (Ireland), 7. Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales).
Click to expand...

I think anything suggested by Austin Healey should be ignored. Just because he's Austin Healey.
 
Well he did manage to pick someone thats not in the squad, so i wasn't taking him seriously.
 
British & Irish Lions: L Halfpenny; A Watson, J Davies, B Te’o, G North; J Sexton, C Murray; M Vunipola, J George, T Furlong, G Kruis, M Itoje, P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, T Faletau. Replacements: K Owens, J McGrath, K Sinckler, I Henderson, S Warburton, G Laidlaw, O Farrell, E Daly.
 
Yeah i think so - he's always been a strong leader and seems well liked by everyone.

On the last tour 20 of the 23 that appeared in the squad for the game equivalent to this one appeared in the first test squad.

I'm expecting AWJ to start in the test, dropping Itoje to the bench and Henderson losing out. Webb is a cert to be on the bench ahead of Laidlaw as well. You can make a case for Best coming onto the bench for Owens but there isn't much in it.

He has to start Warburton too in the Test so he'll get plenty of minutes in this next game.

I'm not surprised that Sexton is in - Farrell letting that Highlanders game slip away has probably worried Gatland.
Even though Halfpenny isn't what he was a few years ago (Quarterpenny?) again i'm not surprised he's in. He gives Gatland some comfort.
 
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