QuoteI suppose if something happens to Vickery then the Lions are in real trouble in the scrum. Plus Hayes is an unbelieveable clearer of rucks.
Very strange. I think there is only 1 dirt tracker game left...Originally Posted by centre mid
At this stage any pro rugby player on holidays there could get called up...
I suppose if something happens to Vickery then the Lions are in real trouble in the scrum. Plus Hayes is an unbelieveable clearer of rucks.
Given the way they are dropping like flies out there he had to be brought. O'Connell will be glad to see him out there...
My prediction for tomorrow, south africa by 11... I hope im wrong!!
If the lions can get quick ball they have a chance. The back rows have a big job tomorrow but I think they'll miss Ferris at 6. Croft needs a big game. Hopefully O'Connell offloads and doesn't try to do it all himself. Let the ball carriers get over the gain line Captain! He'll have enough on his plate making sure Matfield is kept quiet.
Slow ball + Phillip's likes to take his time anyway and it could be a long afternoon.
It's going to be ferocious. The Boks are fresh but will be they be rusty? Do the Lions have enough attacking options if they are chasing the game?
I think there will be less than 7 points in it and hope the Irish lads continue their good form this season.
Pity they couldn't steal it in the end, it would have been fantastic. Ultimately they had too much ground to make up. Jones' misses proved to be costly as did the missed try chances, but the south africans wouldn't have made so many substitutions if they weren't so far ahead. O'driscoll and roberts were fantastic in the centre but too many players weren't up to it - vickery, O'connell, wyn-jones, mears etc etc. Kearney did well when he came on as did Rees (expect for the stupid punch) and martyn williams, all should start the next day. I'd have O'callaghan ahead of wyn jones aswell. The set-plays just weren't good enough, although the scrum was more solid after the substitutions. The South Africans were there for the taking, but they will be improved the next day. I reckon they will win all 3 games. The ref was poor and what the hell was the deal with the TMO?! You think for such a big game they could choose a TMO that could actually communicate with the ref
Scrum was terrible.........mainly due to Vickery's inabilty at scrumagging, he was crap and was easily the worst player on the pitch.
Toss up between Mears and Rees.
Wyn-Jones was terrible and should be replaced by O'Callaghan next week.
O'Connell is lost without Hayes lifting and considering Vickery is playing so bad I wouldn''t be surprised to see Hayes in next week if he gets through 60 mins during the week.
Wallace will be replaced by Williams.
Stephen Jones was ineffective and now O'Gara should come in.
Ugo "Butterfingers" Monye should be replaced by Fitzgerald or even Kearney if Byrne is fit.
Kearney will come in at full-back if Byrne is injured.
LESS OF THE BULL NOW!
Monye didn't drop the ball, it was just great defending.
He should have grounded the first and the second one was a disgrace for a winger. The ball was in the wrong hand for a start and in any case you need to hold onto it.
Not good enough.
Second chance he wasted wasn't great defending. The guy got there but just flapped an arm at him and the ball popped out. Shocking from a professional winger
As bad as the Lions were in set pieces (and they were awfuul), they still should've won that game. Jones had another poor game at 10 too
54,321 sold - wws will never die - ***
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Jones was too flat and O'Gara has to start next week.
I imagine the papers will be raving about how well Phillip's played in the second half but he's too slow for me. He kept going down the blindside when there was no room. I know they don't have anybody else but 9 and 10 were a major let down.
BOD and Roberts were excellent. Kearney was very solid when he came on. O'Callaghan added a bit of grunt when sprung from the bench and the less said about Monye the better. Bowe would have finished those chances if on the other wing.
Hayes is not the answer in the scrum. Apart from not having the technique, he is too tall and Tendai Mtawarira would destroy him. When Adam Jones, a short 'squatty' type prop came on, The Beast was not as effective and eventually went off. Jones will start next week.
I think Simon Shaw will partner O'Connell next week. The Lions need to be more physical up front than they were today
The biggest loss to the Lions has been Flannery. Both hookers are very ordinary.
Last edited by Superhoops; 20/06/2009 at 11:23 PM.
Honest! I am not a secret Tim nor a closet Sham - I really am a Seagull.
Agree with all of that.
Watching Hayes against the Beast would be painful. It's not like Vickery has a reputation as a bad scrummager.
I would expect Martyn Williams to come in. Croft and Wally are too similar and unfortunately Croft got two tries and offers a lineout option so he'll probably continue.
I would expect Hook to get a run out on Tues (they absolutely fudged the concussion assessment and he trained on Thurs) and I could see him coming into the Test side if he plays well. Jones main weakness on Sat wasn't his ballplay, it was his goal and positional kicking.
If the intent is to run around the Boks I could see Shane Williams coming in. You're taking a gamble that Habana will see as little ball as he did yesterday.
Monye has to go due to poor finishing & kicking. Her never once truelly chased his garryowens.
Next week will be harder game as I feel the Lions had their chance at a rusty SA which they won't get again.
it should be interestin to see how the churchill cup final goes tonight would be great to see the ireland "a" team win then have the players and should be a good match
And Miles To Go Before We Sleep
AW Jones will be replaced. Hines or Shaw should add some beef to the pack.
Vickery and Monye are also likely to be replaced.
I'm still not sold on Croft at 6 despite his two tries yesterday. I think you need a bit of bite for a blindside flanker, especially against the boks and it's such a shame that Quinlan/Ferris are not available. Worsley/M Williams to slot in? Brave move but it's something I hope they consider.
Heaslip had a very quiet game but hopefully he'll be given another shot next week.
Phillip's will keep his spot because the Lions don't have anything else. I wanted Peel to be brought along......
Jones/O'Gara/Hook? I'd go O'Gara but I wouldn't be surprised to see Hook brought in.
I'd line up with the following:
Jenkins
Rees
Jones
Hines
POC
Worsley/M Williams
Wallace
Heaslip
Phillip's
O'Gara
Fitzgerald/S Williams
Roberts
BOD
Bowe
Kearney
Ireland A 49 England Saxons 22.
Super performance. Beat England up with the forwards & ran rings around them with the backs.
Spot on, this was always going to be a massve problem area against the best lineout in world rugby.
I think we'll have an all-welsh front row & controversially I could see POC being dropped, I thought he went missing and wasn't helping his or the teams cause with backchatting to the referee.
Yes, saw the game yesterday evening. Great performance with the game played at pace and great rucking by the Irish forwards. The English, the firm favourites, looked pedestrian by comparison. The future of Irish rugby looks good.
Re the Lions, they lost every throw to the back. Why did O'Connell continue with such calls when he won any thrown to him. The scrum was fine when Vickery was replaced. They lost the game in the first half on the set pieces. If they sort that out they have a chance. Also if (usual word in sport) Jones had converted his penos, they would have won!
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Team for tomorrow. Hmmm. Interesting.
Backs: K Earls (Munster and Ireland); S Williams (Ospreys/Wales), R Flutey (Wasps/England), G D'Arcy (Leinster/Ireland), L Fitzgerald (Leinster/ Ireland); R O'Gara (Munster/Ireland, capt), H Ellis (Leicester/England)
Forwards: T Payne (Wasps/England), R Ford (Edinburgh/Scotland), J Hayes (Munster/Ireland), D O'Callaghan (Munster/ Ireland), N Hines (Perpignan/Scotland), J Worsley (Wasps/England), M Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), A Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales).
Replacements: L Mears (Bath/England), P Vickery (Wasps/England), S Shaw (Wasps/England), D Wallace (Munster/Ireland), M Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland), J Hook (Ospreys/Wales), U Monye (Harlequins/England).
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