1ST TEST

[Banquo]

Saving Russell for the next test?

I guess, but they needed more control.

MS off colour brings that?

No. I meant I’d have kept Russell on

[Banquo]

Itoje looks absolutely shot. He’s lost some weight too.

[Banquo]

Piss poor defence there. They’ve totally switched off

[Stom]

This is crap. Just utter crap.

The bench have been appalling. And Keenan falling off that tackle…not good

[Donny osmond]

Has MS come on for Russell?

Yes odd imo

Just protecting players I reckon, plus if it opens up Smith can add something.

Don't think the backs have had a chance to do anything this half. Don't think there's any lack of control from them apart from maybe a couple of average kicks from 9. Australia have been in it because their pack have got into it.

I think youre right, BiL forwards have dropped away severely 2nd half and Oz have come into it. Itoje, Beirne playing their hearts out but looking tired. Porter and Earl have not been good enough.

[Banquo]

All in all a poor second half from us

[Galfon]

Try Mcdermott
19-27, 79 mins.
Oz confidence will be up for rest of series
( FT )

[Cameo]

Second half poor. Never had any decent ball, apart from for the try. Pack dropped off a bit and some of the subs were poor (lineout went to pieces).

But they had it won, and how dangerous they looked in midfield in the first half will mean they are pretty confident going forward.

[Oakboy]

Bit of a yawn, that game!

[Donny osmond]

Well, scraped home against poor opposition. If Oz trun up for the first half next week we could be in trouble. Selection is now interesting, given underperforming test selections, but it was the bench that under performed, the starters had Oz on toast.

[Sandydragon]

First half good, second half not so much.

Aussies look like they started to connect, with some returning players next week could be very different.

[Big D]

The Lions bench were very poor. Kelleher's darts were awful.

[Banquo]

Has MS come on for Russell?

Yes odd imo

Just protecting players I reckon, plus if it opens up Smith can add something.

Don't think the backs have had a chance to do anything this half. Don't think there's any lack of control from them apart from maybe a couple of average kicks from 9. Australia have been in it because their pack have got into it.

Yes, I was thinking needed Russell on to provide leadership frankly. Subbing didn’t work well imo and the likes of Beirne and Itoje were shot

[paddy no 11]

Some serious spoofing about curry in commentary imo, definitely should have had 1 yellow thought he was average best

Doesn't deserve to be there over Morgan

I hope aus play like the last 15 minutes and give a proper test next week

[Stom]

Some serious spoofing about curry in commentary imo, definitely should have had 1 yellow thought he was average best

Doesn't deserve to be there over Morgan

I hope aus play like the last 15 minutes and give a proper test next week

lol. Curry was fantastic first half. Fell off a bit, but he was one of the best players.

Earl was a waste of space, though.

[bruce]

Some serious spoofing about curry in commentary imo, definitely should have had 1 yellow thought he was average best

Doesn't deserve to be there over Morgan

I hope aus play like the last 15 minutes and give a proper test next week

Not sure in the point in playing a 7 who can only give you 50 mins tops, especially if your playing 5:3 bench. If Conan had gotten injured your left with Aki at 7.

[Donny osmond]

One last post from me today: its not only players who get found out in the intensity of a Lions tour. I vividly remember the 01 series, again in Aus, where we won the first test but looked tired doing it, and ended up losing the series. Henry's limitations as a coach were ruthlessly exposed. 4 years later, Woodward coaching credentials were shredded by a Lions tour.

Farrell has questions to answer after that 2nd half and how his 1st choices faded and the subs didn't shine. Not just about selections, but about training regime and man management. Time will tell, obviously, but right now, it's all to play for and Aus/Schmidt will be looking forward to test 2.

[pompey-zebra]

Well, scraped home against poor opposition. If Oz trun up for the first half next week we could be in trouble. Selection is now interesting, given underperforming test selections, but it was the bench that under performed, the starters had Oz on toast.

I'm not convinced the staring xv were that brilliant in the first half either. Aus were awful in the first half, (and yes, some of that might have been due to how the lions played) but the Lions could have put that game beyond doubt by half time. There was a loose 10-15 minutes where the game meandered, which at least they corrected at the start of the second half. At least the aus fighback made it a bit more interesting, I suppose.

[Buggaluggs]

Slightly dull game. Lions should clearly have won by more, but Aus always seem to punch above their weight.

Curry was good, but his ferocity always has him close to a yellow card. The sottish mid field was good, and the back three stuttered but are still probably the best 3 we have out there.

Not sure about Marcus on the bench. Talented player, for sure, and can cover 10 & 15. But when a game needs to be killed off and the win secured, you want someone like Dan Biggar for the last 15 mins, not a "hold-my-beer-and-watch-this" type player.

Pack was solid in general, and the scrum penalties were more to do with ref-wang than any deficiency. Discipline, for sure, needs to be improved. Had the ref followed through with his yellow threat, that could have been a closer game.

Key moment was Curry beating Jorgensen over the top of the lineout. Lions try vs great Aus attacking opportunity.

Aus should be stronger next week, so should be a better game.

[paddy no 11]

Some serious spoofing about curry in commentary imo, definitely should have had 1 yellow thought he was average best

Doesn't deserve to be there over Morgan

I hope aus play like the last 15 minutes and give a proper test next week

lol. Curry was fantastic first half. Fell off a bit, but he was one of the best players.

Earl was a waste of space, though.

Looks a liability to me, fitness, discipline

[Sandydragon]

Some serious spoofing about curry in commentary imo, definitely should have had 1 yellow thought he was average best

Doesn't deserve to be there over Morgan

I hope aus play like the last 15 minutes and give a proper test next week

Not sure in the point in playing a 7 who can only give you 50 mins tops, especially if your playing 5:3 bench. If Conan had gotten injured your left with Aki at 7.

Morgan will go the full 80. Curry seems like he’s good for a half, but verges so close to the penalty line so often it only takes a bit of fatigue for him to get it wrong.

He played his best game of the tour today, but some of the commentary has been very over the top.

[switchskier]

So good first half where the game was effectively put to bed but should have been more emphatic. Ropey second. Front five good, back row showed up but walked a tightrope all match. Halfbacks and centres looked dangerous. Back three didn't and a bit of a liability, especially kicking.

Think Australia need some credit for the second half performance though. They upped the intensity and started to play Joe Schmidt ball, controlling possession and forcing the lions to stay (relatively) disciplined. They're short a big aggressive carrier and a player with that moment of inspiration but, for the first time in a long time, you can see the plan and direction that they're headed.

[switchskier]

Oh, and despite not being a great watch at times it was still miles better than the turgid rubbish of the last two tours.

[Galfon]

Oz won the 2nd half 14 - 10, two tries to one.
If the game was 5-10 minutes longer it would have been close. Agree the Sco. midfield looked dangerous and cohesive, but neither wing received a decent pass in an attacking phase, iirc.
Scrum dominance surprisingly absent, but b/row abrasive and effective.
If Faz wanted to put a marker down I thought he would keep the best 15 on to demoralise Oz, not give them useful game-time with
ball in hand.
Thought Lynagh stuck at a lost cause well.
At least it keeps the series alive, in a way.

[Stom]

Positives were...

Sheehan, who was excellent, the backrow first half, the Scottish three in midfield.

OKs were Genge, who was shafted by his best friend Beno at times, Furlong, Itoje, McCarthy, Conan second half, JGP, Freeman, Chessum, Mitchell, Smith, Ali, Stuart.

Poor were Keenan, the flanks second half, Porter, Kelleher, Earl.

If Kinghorn is fit, he surely has to come in to the XV. I'd also think about swapping around the backrow a bit, though not averse to the same again. I would personally give serious thought to dropping Lowe...but Farrell hasn't picked any decent wings. And the bench needs to change. I'm not a Schoeman fan, but I thought Porter was very poor. George would be straight into that 16 shirt for me, as I feel he's the closest we have to Sheehan in ability. I'd probably pick Morgan on the bench if he's not starting. If he starts...pick Pollock. And I'd love to see someone else in the 23 shirt...but that's a tough one as there's again no-one who can cover across.

We showed the same problems NH teams have against our SH counterparts in the second half: an inability to get the ball and keep hold of it. We need to solve for that, as Aus won't be as bad as they were first half again.