Lions

[Adder]

Where were you off to? Spill it.

Off to Canada next Saturday.

The fun French side, or the other one?

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[OptimisticJock]

Where were you off to? Spill it.

Off to Canada next Saturday.

The fun French side, or the other one?

Sent from my SM-J500FN using Tapatalk

The proper side.

[General Zod]

Off to Canada next Saturday.

The fun French side, or the other one?

Sent from my SM-J500FN using Tapatalk

The proper side.

I went to Toronto a few weeks back. Great place - steam whistle brewery is nice for a couple of hours.

[OptimisticJock]

The fun French side, or the other one?

Sent from my SM-J500FN using Tapatalk

The proper side.

I went to Toronto a few weeks back. Great place - steam whistle brewery is nice for a couple of hours.

Going to be in Vancouver for most of it.

[Chunks Baws]

Stern Vern on twitter is saying Fraser Brown turned down a Lions call up last week. Doesn't say why.

[whatisthejava]

Stern Vern on twitter is saying Fraser Brown turned down a Lions call up last week. Doesn't say why.

Replied asking if its a wind up, i cant tell, if its true that is damning of Gatland but again he is getting covered by the media not reporting it

But may be half a joke that isnt quite finished.

[whatisthejava]

Stern Vern on twitter is saying Fraser Brown turned down a Lions call up last week. Doesn't say why.

Replied asking if its a wind up, i cant tell, if its true that is damning of Gatland but again he is getting covered by the media not reporting it

But may be half a joke that isnt quite finished.

Least if its true Gatland can have another axe to grind against the SRU, wont give me coaches and wont give me free tackle bags

[whatisthejava]

More on twitter by Stephen Jones so take a large pinch of bitter twisted twat with this but neither launchberry or JG were called up because they are not lineout jumpers

[Chunks Baws]

More on twitter by Stephen Jones so take a large pinch of bitter twisted twat with this but neither launchberry or JG were called up because they are not lineout jumpers

I'm blocked by that bloated old cunt. He's going to rage himself in to an early grave.

[whatisthejava]

More on twitter by Stephen Jones so take a large pinch of bitter twisted twat with this but neither launchberry or JG were called up because they are not lineout jumpers

I'm blocked by that bloated old cunt. He's going to rage himself in to an early grave.

I just ignore the twat, never read anythin that he has written that makes me think he isnt just another old fart that used to play rugby

[Big D]

Stern Vern on twitter is saying Fraser Brown turned down a Lions call up last week. Doesn't say why.

Replied asking if its a wind up, i cant tell, if its true that is damning of Gatland but again he is getting covered by the media not reporting it

But may be half a joke that isnt quite finished.

Shame if true IMO. Brown would have been a call up on merit as a 4th hooker. Ford and Turner could easily handle hooking duties in Fiji.

[Big D]

What a wanker. Unnecessary cheap shot.

[General Zod]

They're looking a bit better now, Marler aside, I suppose.

Still find myself wanting Finlay Christie to do well! Wonder if Dave Rennie will have a wee word with him before he leaves...

[Mikey Brown]

Only just switched on to see Laidlaw put a box kick up with no chase, for a potential gain of 8 metres if we somehow won it back. He is back to playing his very worst stuff on this tour it seems.

[Big D]

Seems daft to have some of those play 80. If Farrell doesn't make Saturday then Biggar is on the bench with 80min on his legs

[Tobylerone]

If the Lions get humped on Saturday, I`m looking forward to seeing the Hara-Kiri performed by Barnes and Co..

[whatisthejava]

If the Lions get humped on Saturday, I`m looking forward to seeing the Hara-Kiri performed by Barnes and Co..

I really cant see how the lions dont get humped, i will admit the super rugby teams have not been as good as we expected but id still expect the All blacks to be a step above anything we have, I think the lions forwards will probably hold their own but the All blacks will score tries and i still dont see enough evidence that the lions have an attack plan that isnt just what Rob Howley learned when skimming Brian Ashtons book

[General Zod]

Why were they going on about this being a difficult tour for Tommy Seymour and saying that he's low on confidence. ok, he chucked a shit pass towards the end, but he backed himself to make a good run to give himself that opportunity.

[Mikey Brown]

I guess as he never seemed to be in real contention for a test spot, even with everyone else looking pretty shit. Not totally sure if that translates to him lacking confidence though. It was a gash pass, but also a try opportunity he made out of nothing. Hard to ignore how crap it was though.

Is that Russell/Dell's involvement likely over?

[Soapy]

Only just switched on to see Laidlaw put a box kick up with no chase, for a potential gain of 8 metres if we somehow won it back. He is back to playing his very worst stuff on this tour it seems.

I thought Laidlaw had a pretty good game today. He was much faster moving the ball from the rucks, got his forwards on the ball and overall his kicking was ok - one charge down and the shorter kick were the only complaints. Certainly his kicking today was better than Webb's so far. It seemed he was focusing on height/"hang time". If Haskell had opened his eyes and even considered trying to offload Laidlaw may also have been under the posts.

The backs were poor until the game broke up but that was due to a lack of any attacking shape through 10, 12 and 13 which was always going to be the case. Henshaw's crab across the pitch and pass to Daly(?) were painful.

I was really disappointed that Seymour mucked up finishing off a great break. The pass and final line were really poor. I do think Seymour is a top class winger (and has been excellent at club and international level for the past 2-3 years) but it appears that the pressure mounts and mounts on the wingers under Gatland's style of play and none of them have found it easy to get going. Under Jones and Townsend the wingers seem to play with a much less inhibited mindset and execute more positively as a consequence - maybe because they aren't expected to play half the game like a forward.

Overall, the Lions were effective today but I still think a comfortable AB win is likely on Sat.

[Mikey Brown]

Yup. It's unbelievable the amount of crap we're seeing from some very talented players in the backs. I don't know what Gatland/Howley do to them (not that that should account for messing up a 2-on-1) but there have been very few moments of real class or composure from any of the wide men.

[whatisthejava]

I think its quite interesting that the early good performers were all welsh, then the guys that were on the last tour and then the rest

I dont think we have had a single lion under Gatland that has performed above average for him, lots of talented players but all seem to find it difficult to adapt to what Gatland wants, That's considering he was there in 2009, 2013 and 2017 altough its only about 9 guys if that.

[QwentyJ]

Well I thought Laidlaw had a good game actually. He's definitely upped the tempo but his attacking intent is becoming quite Peter Stringer like where he is happy to control a game but not want to break it. Pundit Arena giving him a 5/10 like they know what they are talking about!

If only Tommy had hit Henshaw on the switch....we'd have been talking about one of the great Lions tried had it come off.

[Matt Ha]

I'm getting very peed off with pundits referring to the "controversial six" who are there not on merit. Insulting to Russel who has been the best European flyhalf in the Southern hemisphere of late.

[whatisthejava]

i find it pathetic that when a scot makes a mistake on tour its seen as typical of poor skills but when others make mistakes its washed over. North has been by far the worst winger on tour and yet looks set to play a major role in the tests,

The media really do need to remember they should be impartial and not extra cheerleaders