v AB'S - Second Test

[morepork]

It is quite amazing how many pundits state Sexytown and Owen Farook as their preferred 10-12 combo. Are they obliged to do so under pain of death or something?

[bitts]

It's the 10-12 axis that will generate the debate. Could it work as a partnership, certainly. I'm far less sure that it will however. someone needs to pass flatter and hit more runners at pace before getting the ball a bit wider and bringing in the back three to the game more. Both players have the skillset to do it but it's asking a lot of the backrow to compete with the ABs at the breakdown and then provide that option. I suspect that what we'll see is much more tactical kicking to the corners and more garrryowens (a mistake).

Nowell to

Hhmmm, if only there had been someone available to Gatland who could do that. Perhaps even someone who had experience of playing with Faz.

Completely unrelated, but who do people feel about Bigger as an attacking fly half?

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Sexton could do that loop around thing and catch the ABs completely off guard.

That's only gonna work if hes looping to the left as the Sunshine Variety Kid struggles off his left hand...

[morepork]

Sexton could do that loop around thing and catch the ABs completely off guard.

That's only gonna work if hes looping to the left as the Sunshine Variety Kid struggles off his left hand...

I see some nasty hospital passes on the horizon.

[kk67]

It is quite amazing how many pundits state Sexytown and Owen Farook as their preferred 10-12 combo. Are they obliged to do so under pain of death or something?

Usually the uk press like the underdog. But the uk rugby correspondents are mostly morons.

[Sandydragon]

It is quite amazing how many pundits state Sexytown and Owen Farook as their preferred 10-12 combo. Are they obliged to do so under pain of death or something?

That combo was being talked up ore tour, so I suppose now it's being used they have to continue their support. The lack of inside centre options was a big part of that.

[Sandydragon]

It's the 10-12 axis that will generate the debate. Could it work as a partnership, certainly. I'm far less sure that it will however. someone needs to pass flatter and hit more runners at pace before getting the ball a bit wider and bringing in the back three to the game more. Both players have the skillset to do it but it's asking a lot of the backrow to compete with the ABs at the breakdown and then provide that option. I suspect that what we'll see is much more tactical kicking to the corners and more garrryowens (a mistake).

Nowell to

Hhmmm, if only there had been someone available to Gatland who could do that. Perhaps even someone who had experience of playing with Faz.

Completely unrelated, but who do people feel about Bigger as an attacking fly half?

I think he has played well. If he can bring that form and approach back to Wales it will be good for us and him. He still isn't the natural attacker of Priestland in form, but he has shown more to his game than just dropping deep and kicking/ defending.

[p/d]

9 carries for 14 metres, 0 defenders beaten, 0 line breaks...

Those are interesting, where are they from?

as interesting as T'eo having made the most clean breaks, defenders beaten and off loads to date on this tour. Plus his subtle block on SBW to give Williams the space for 'that' try don't figure in ESPN stats.

All in all T'eo has done and shown enough to have retained his spot.

[bitts]

It's the 10-12 axis that will generate the debate. Could it work as a partnership, certainly. I'm far less sure that it will however. someone needs to pass flatter and hit more runners at pace before getting the ball a bit wider and bringing in the back three to the game more. Both players have the skillset to do it but it's asking a lot of the backrow to compete with the ABs at the breakdown and then provide that option. I suspect that what we'll see is much more tactical kicking to the corners and more garrryowens (a mistake).

Nowell to

Hhmmm, if only there had been someone available to Gatland who could do that. Perhaps even someone who had experience of playing with Faz.

Completely unrelated, but who do people feel about Bigger as an attacking fly half?

I think he has played well. If he can bring that form and approach back to Wales it will be good for us and him. He still isn't the natural attacker of Priestland in form, but he has shown more to his game than just dropping deep and kicking/ defending.

My, badly made, point was more that if you are ever planning to have Faz at 12 then you should have taken Ford (or possibly Russell) on tour. Both or genunine attacking threats, which Bigger patently isn't, and offer a useful plan B, which Bigger doesn't.

[Digby]

I suspect that what we'll see is much more tactical kicking to the corners and more garrryowens (a mistake).

Garryowens aren't a mistake if the other side drops the ball, as England have found at in Cardiff and Dublin, but to keep doing it is a lot of work for the chasers and people filling in where the chasers were. More kicking to the corner isn't really an option unless you can bring up the coverage, which will be tricky if the defence is happy to slide off Farrell, actually given the 10 and 12 if they want to kick for the corners one might find it easier to pick Webb over Murray to at least give the inside defence some pause for thought before focusing on JD

[Banquo]

I suspect that what we'll see is much more tactical kicking to the corners and more garrryowens (a mistake).

Garryowens aren't a mistake if the other side drops the ball, as England have found at in Cardiff and Dublin, but to keep doing it is a lot of work for the chasers and people filling in where the chasers were. More kicking to the corner isn't really an option unless you can bring up the coverage, which will be tricky if the defence is happy to slide off Farrell, actually given the 10 and 12 if they want to kick for the corners one might find it easier to pick Webb over Murray to at least give the inside defence some pause for thought before focusing on JD

the scene is set for Owen 'Flashing Blade' Farrell to scythe through the kiwis...

[skidger]

I suspect that what we'll see is much more tactical kicking to the corners and more garrryowens (a mistake).

Garryowens aren't a mistake if the other side drops the ball, as England have found at in Cardiff and Dublin, but to keep doing it is a lot of work for the chasers and people filling in where the chasers were. More kicking to the corner isn't really an option unless you can bring up the coverage, which will be tricky if the defence is happy to slide off Farrell, actually given the 10 and 12 if they want to kick for the corners one might find it easier to pick Webb over Murray to at least give the inside defence some pause for thought before focusing on JD

the scene is set for Owen 'Flashing Blade' Farrell to scythe through the kiwis...

How many do we all think the Lions will win by? 21-35 points?

[Banquo]

Garryowens aren't a mistake if the other side drops the ball, as England have found at in Cardiff and Dublin, but to keep doing it is a lot of work for the chasers and people filling in where the chasers were. More kicking to the corner isn't really an option unless you can bring up the coverage, which will be tricky if the defence is happy to slide off Farrell, actually given the 10 and 12 if they want to kick for the corners one might find it easier to pick Webb over Murray to at least give the inside defence some pause for thought before focusing on JD

the scene is set for Owen 'Flashing Blade' Farrell to scythe through the kiwis...

How many do we all think the Lions will win by? 21-35 points?

Paddyglendower has them at +33

[Digby]

I suspect that what we'll see is much more tactical kicking to the corners and more garrryowens (a mistake).

Garryowens aren't a mistake if the other side drops the ball, as England have found at in Cardiff and Dublin, but to keep doing it is a lot of work for the chasers and people filling in where the chasers were. More kicking to the corner isn't really an option unless you can bring up the coverage, which will be tricky if the defence is happy to slide off Farrell, actually given the 10 and 12 if they want to kick for the corners one might find it easier to pick Webb over Murray to at least give the inside defence some pause for thought before focusing on JD

the scene is set for Owen 'Flashing Blade' Farrell to scythe through the kiwis...

If he ever grew his hair a little people watching him play would confuse him with David Duckham

[Sandydragon]

9 carries for 14 metres, 0 defenders beaten, 0 line breaks...

Those are interesting, where are they from?

as interesting as T'eo having made the most clean breaks, defenders beaten and off loads to date on this tour. Plus his subtle block on SBW to give Williams the space for 'that' try don't figure in ESPN stats.

All in all T'eo has done and shown enough to have retained his spot.

No arguments there.

[Sandydragon]

Hhmmm, if only there had been someone available to Gatland who could do that. Perhaps even someone who had experience of playing with Faz.

Completely unrelated, but who do people feel about Bigger as an attacking fly half?

I think he has played well. If he can bring that form and approach back to Wales it will be good for us and him. He still isn't the natural attacker of Priestland in form, but he has shown more to his game than just dropping deep and kicking/ defending.

My, badly made, point was more that if you are ever planning to have Faz at 12 then you should have taken Ford (or possibly Russell) on tour. Both or genunine attacking threats, which Bigger patently isn't, and offer a useful plan B, which Bigger doesn't.

Fair enough. I get your point, although I think Biggar was only ever intended to be a dirt tracker, barring an injury. Im not entirely sure that Gatland ever wanted to play Faz and Sexton together - this feels more like a hit and hope selection than a genuine strategy.

[Banquo]

I think he has played well. If he can bring that form and approach back to Wales it will be good for us and him. He still isn't the natural attacker of Priestland in form, but he has shown more to his game than just dropping deep and kicking/ defending.

My, badly made, point was more that if you are ever planning to have Faz at 12 then you should have taken Ford (or possibly Russell) on tour. Both or genunine attacking threats, which Bigger patently isn't, and offer a useful plan B, which Bigger doesn't.

Fair enough. I get your point, although I think Biggar was only ever intended to be a dirt tracker, barring an injury. Im not entirely sure that Gatland ever wanted to play Faz and Sexton together - this feels more like a hit and hope selection than a genuine strategy.

I must be one of the few (sais) who see beyond his diving and moaning and actually rate Biggar as a player, very good skill set. Bet he could play flat pretty well if allowed to.

[Mikey Brown]

I mean he was very good for quite a patch a couple of seasons back (I think) but he seems like one who's fallback state, when it's not really clicking, is to sit back or just hoist up & unders. Maybe he's just been following Gatland's orders too long.

[Banquo]

I mean he was very good for quite a patch a couple of seasons back (I think) but he seems like one who's fallback state, when it's not really clicking, is to sit back or just hoist up & unders. Maybe he's just been following Gatland's orders too long.

been good this tour, I've thought.

[Sandydragon]

I mean he was very good for quite a patch a couple of seasons back (I think) but he seems like one who's fallback state, when it's not really clicking, is to sit back or just hoist up & unders. Maybe he's just been following Gatland's orders too long.

been good this tour, I've thought.

I think he has had a very good tour. Despite being written off as the 3rd fly half, he has played well and I'm not convinced that there is a huge difference in standard between him and the 2 test fly halves.

[Mikey Brown]

It's certainly been a lot closer than you'd have thought given Owen "the best player in Europe" Farrell is there. There are very few players on tour who've looked near to their best. Faletau in particular has been absolutely monstrous since his return from injury. What are they doing to these guys in training?

[Banquo]

It's certainly been a lot closer than you'd have thought given Owen "the best player in Europe" Farrell is there. There are very few players on tour who've looked near to their best. Faletau in particular has been absolutely monstrous since his return from injury. What are they doing to these guys in training?

Part must be because they are both unfamiliar with each other and that they are actually playing good teams who challenge in a different way to what they are used to. And they were shagged out before they got there. Etc...

[Numbers]

My, badly made, point was more that if you are ever planning to have Faz at 12 then you should have taken Ford (or possibly Russell) on tour. Both or genunine attacking threats, which Bigger patently isn't, and offer a useful plan B, which Bigger doesn't.

Fair enough. I get your point, although I think Biggar was only ever intended to be a dirt tracker, barring an injury. Im not entirely sure that Gatland ever wanted to play Faz and Sexton together - this feels more like a hit and hope selection than a genuine strategy.

I must be one of the few (sais) who see beyond his diving and moaning and actually rate Biggar as a player, very good skill set. Bet he could play flat pretty well if allowed to.

Not many people in Wales rate his attacking prowess.

Russell should have been selected for this tour.

[jngf]

Losing Moriarty as a genuine carrying 6 has been a big blow for the Lions , I would have thought SOB was the next best candidate to carry out this role at 6 and use Tips at 7 to play the extra threequarter linkman role? Also how come George North hasn't edged it past either Watson or Daly?

[Digby]

I think Moriarty was a bigger loss for his dominant tackles simply looking at the 1st test than for his carrying. And George North has been ruled out of the tour with injury, and as a consequence has fallen a long way behind Watson and Daly rather than looking to edge past them