Lions

[Numbers]

nah, no dangerous, lands on upper body and watson does not drop him, grounds him safely. Just a pen

As soon as the legs go over the horizontal it's a yellow, it goes to a red if the player lands on their head or neck area, hence why Nigel Owens was slightly perplexed by the penalty only.

That isn't what is says in the laws of the game to be fair.

No, it's the current ref guidelines from the IRB.

[no sleep]

Those guidelines apply when there's an infringement.

[Numbers]

Those guidelines apply when there's an infringement.

Which bit of a penalty would not be an infringement? I don't think anyone denies an infringement.

[Big D]

As soon as the legs go over the horizontal it's a yellow, it goes to a red if the player lands on their head or neck area, hence why Nigel Owens was slightly perplexed by the penalty only.

That isn't what is says in the laws of the game to be fair.

No, it's the current ref guidelines from the IRB.

Can you send a link please? I genuinely looked on world rugby website and could see no guidelines on tip tackles.

[no sleep]

Well that was disappointing. I thought we were about right in the first half when SA had to chase the series, but there was a point in the second half when we had to bring Plan B out of the hat... and it looked like we'd forgotten to bring the hat.

Fair play to the boks: they made it really hard to do more than hang in there, but it does look like we lack a bit of a rugby brain.

[no sleep]

So is Gatland going to release the Finn for the series decider?

[switchskier]

So is Gatland going to release the Finn for the series decider?

I've said from the start that Finn will get 10-15 minutes test game time, at the end of the third test. In it, he will either win or lose the series. I'm feeling increasingly confident

[Cameo]

So is Gatland going to release the Finn for the series decider?

I've said from the start that Finn will get 10-15 minutes test game time, at the end of the third test. In it, he will either win or lose the series. I'm feeling increasingly confident

Haha, I really hope so. When the Lions realised they couldn't beat SA at their own game again, they just tried again and again.

I enjoyed Biggar and Farrell's chips on advantage. It was like Finn had started teaching them but only given them the very basics.

[Puja]

So is Gatland going to release the Finn for the series decider?

Nope. Plan B is like Plan A, only harder and more intense and probably with more Farrell.

Puja

[whatisthejava]

So is Gatland going to release the Finn for the series decider?

Nope. Plan B is like Plan A, only harder and more intense and probably with more Farrell.

Puja

It feels very much like

The beatings will stop when the morale improves

Rassie v Gatland are the most professional coaches. Entertainment, excitement, skills , enjoyment are sacrificed in the persuit of winning.

It is very dull.

[whatisthejava]

The good thing is in 4 years, Gatland won’t be there and we may actually get a lions team that want to play rugby.

[Which Tyler]

Nope. Plan B is like Plan A, only harder and more intense and probably with more Farrell.

A Plan B that absolutely nobody could have predicted the moment Gatland was named coach

[whatisthejava]

Nope. Plan B is like Plan A, only harder and more intense and probably with more Farrell.

A Plan B that absolutely nobody could have predicted the moment Gatland was named coach

Lions committee wanted to give him the chance to go unbeaten against all 3. Problem is nobody questioned him or his approach after the RWC or 6N result.

[Donny osmond]

Nope. Plan B is like Plan A, only harder and more intense and probably with more Farrell.

A Plan B that absolutely nobody could have predicted the moment Gatland was named coach

The bigger part of why I've been completely 'meh' about the Lions this year, along with the covid related reasons, but it was never going to be a tour that you would watch for the rugby.



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[Puja]

Nope. Plan B is like Plan A, only harder and more intense and probably with more Farrell.

A Plan B that absolutely nobody could have predicted the moment Gatland was named coach

Lions committee wanted to give him the chance to go unbeaten against all 3. Problem is nobody questioned him or his approach after the RWC or 6N result.

Or his wonderful winless streak for the Chiefs.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Nope. Plan B is like Plan A, only harder and more intense and probably with more Farrell.

A Plan B that absolutely nobody could have predicted the moment Gatland was named coach

The bigger part of why I've been completely 'meh' about the Lions this year, along with the covid related reasons, but it was never going to be a tour that you would watch for the rugby.

Exactly.
Covid meant I was struggling enough to get into any rugby at all this season, Gatland's appointment did nothing to get me engaged - They were already in South Africa before I discovered who's in the squad; Missed the first 20 minutes of the first test, and... I'll probably catch the 2nd at some point if it appears on Youtube, but was having a lovely kip yesterday.

[Big D]

The good thing is in 4 years, Gatland won’t be there and we may actually get a lions team that want to play rugby.

The other coaches aren't blameless either.

[septic 9]

The good thing is in 4 years, Gatland won’t be there and we may actually get a lions team that want to play rugby.

The other coaches aren't blameless either.

the major blame other coaches have to take responsibility for is accepting a role under Cockerill, sorry Gatland. I get confused between dinosaur coaches who are set in their ways. But at least the Edinburgh assistants had to earn a living, none of Gatlands assistants did. In both cases assistants are relevant only in trying to help implement Plan A, and failing that, Plan A

[switchskier]

The chat is starting about replacing Hogg with Williams. Hogg didn't have a great game yesterday but it's a game plan that offers him very little. Regardless, there may be some homer glasses here, but I just don't see Williams in the same class. He's slower, has poorer hands and not much of an outside break. He is good under the high ball, but I agree with java that there was so much SA pressure yesterday that anyone would have struggled and it's the only area he's better than Hogg in. I just don't see it.

[septic 9]

The chat is starting about replacing Hogg with Williams. Hogg didn't have a great game yesterday but it's a game plan that offers him very little. Regardless, there may be some homer glasses here, but I just don't see Williams in the same class. He's slower, has poorer hands and not much of an outside break. He is good under the high ball, but I agree with java that there was so much SA pressure yesterday that anyone would have struggled and it's the only area he's better than Hogg in. I just don't see it.

first test, Lions kicked a lot and altho they did not win back many balls they put huge pressure on the Boks, Le Roux in particular spilled loads. Boks also kicked a lot, a few heart in mouth moments from Hogg, VDM and Watson, and Bigger and Williams when he came on dropped a couple, but Lions got away with it. Second test, Lions kicked maybe even more (I'll come back to that) but not as well. Murray kicks were poor, Bigger's bar his first poor and he cannot execute the chip over grubber through that well; meanwhile the Boks kicked better and put huge pressure on Lions catcher, quite often like Munster do - just charge and raise an arm so it looks like a real challenge, doesn't matter if you get the ball as long as you disrupt the defender. And they won a few as well. Then becomes a mental thing for both attacker and defender, former relishing the chase, the latter ever more tentative.
If Lions are going to play that strategy, pick players to match it. Do not pick a team for one style and play a different style. If the ball is going to be kicked away, pick the best defenders not the best attackers.

Back to Lions kicking. Lions won numerous pens second half of first test when they went for repeated pick and drives, tired and stressed the Bok ruck defence. And kicked the pens. Yesterday, just kept kicking the ball back to them. Which they used to better effect

[stevedog1980]

Anyone able to offer some sliver of hope that we have a chance???

[no sleep]

It's still 0-0.

[no sleep]

We might still have Price on the field when Russell comes on.

[no sleep]

Jones will improve the scrum; Adams will be hungry; Cowan-Dickie, Beard and Simmons will bring energy off the bench.

[Big D]

So the tour is over.

Glad Finn got a chance and played well.

I don't think Edinburgh or Glasgow will be too badly impacted by rest periods as Edinburgh have back row cover and Glasgow have Berghan now.