2nd TEST - AUS vs BRITISH & IRISH LIONS - 29th June - (KO-11:05 GMT)

2nd Test build-up thread
 
Can the Lions finish the job?
Will Aus bounch back (like we know they can)?
Will the Ref know the rules?
 
Aus have called up George Smith, Jesse Mogg and centre Ben Tapuai but still No Cooper?
(talk about shooting yourself in the foot!)
 
15. Halfpenny,
14. Bowe,
13. BOD,
12. Davies,
11.North,
10. Sexton,
9. Youngs;

1. Vunipola
2. Youngs,
3. Jones,
4. AWJ,
5. Parling,
6. Lydiate,
7. Warburton,
8. Heaslip

Replacements:
16 Hibbard, 17 Grant, 18 Cole, 19 Croft, 20 O'Brien, 21 Murray, 22 Farrell, 23 Cuthbert


Australia
15 Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels)
14 Israel Folau (NSW)
13 Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW)
12 Christian Leali'ifano (ACT Brumbies)
11 Joe Tomane (Brumbies)
10 James O'Connor (Melbourne Rebels)
9 Will Genia (Reds)
8 Wycliff Palu (NSW)
7 Michael Hooper (NSW)
6 Ben Mowen (ACT)
5 Kane Douglas (NSW)
4 James Horwill (Reds - Cap)
3 Ben Alexander (ACT)
2 Stephen Moore (ACT)
1 Benn Robinson (NSW)

16 Saia Fainga'a (Reds)
17 James Slipper (Reds)
18 Sekope Kepu (NSW)
19 Rob Simmons (Reds)
20 Liam Gill (Reds)
21 Nick Phipps (Rebels)
22 Rob Horne (NSW)
23 Jesse Mogg (Brumbies)

 
For those wanting to see it again and again and again etc.....http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=GEORGE+NORTHS+LIONS+TRY&view=detail&mid=64E92B2D2B1B4128364264E92B2D2B1B41283642&first=0&FORM=NVPFVR&qpvt=GEORGE+NORTHS+LIONS+TRY

How do I vote for a draw?

Australia would do a bloody good job to win with their injuries so I'm going for a lions win!

Yeah I'm the same, without those injuries I think the Wallabies would have us (and not by a tiny margin either) add in Horwill incident (pending) and the Wallabies are really depleted.

I think if Philips is selected in there at 9 again the Wallabies will have a shot as he blunts our attack so much

Very good analysis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vEDzIdmvLA

Aussies still nearly beat us with all their injuries, they can cover all the backs losses easily, I think they will beat us next match

POC injured

Corbs injured

Court called up

:/

The number of call ups is getting silly, especially at LHP.

I hope you're joking.

who, me or wales606?

I was replying to the last post obviously. Unfortunately I've found out he isn't joking.

if we are missing POC I will be very worried.

If we are missing POC then we have a good replacement in Gray. We might see a few changes for the next test. I'd like to see SOB or Lydiate start, Tipuric to bench.

Corbisiero is a massive loss. He had a superb game. I rate him as one of the best looseheads around, he has only recently recovered from a long layoff and he was struggling with his calfs all game.

Vuni has had a great tour, he can step up. I don't think that the loss of scrummaging power was due to the change of Props so much as change of lock. Vuni gave away a silly penalty at the breakdown that could have cost the game. He won't make that mistake again.

If I was Gatland I would be on the phone to Paul James very quickly this weekend.

maestegmafia wrote:If we are missing POC then we have a good replacement in Gray. We might see a few changes for the next test. I'd like to see SOB or Lydiate start, Tipuric to bench.

Corbisiero is a massive loss. He had a superb game. I rate him as one of the best looseheads around, he has only recently recovered from a long layoff and he was struggling with his calfs all game.

Vuni has had a great tour, he can step up. I don't think that the loss of scrummaging power was due to the change of Props so much as change of lock. Vuni gave away a silly penalty at the breakdown that could have cost the game. He won't make that mistake again.

If I was Gatland I would be on the phone to Paul James very quickly this weekend.

It was the multiple changes. Too many changes to a pack makes it hard for them to click

Horwill has been cleared of stampting.

Just announced on the Twitterversphereblog

IanBru wrote:Horwill has been cleared of stampting.

Just announced on the Twitterversphereblog

That will go down well...

I guess whichever one of Parling and Gray that subs off for Ian Evans will start the second test if POC is out.

ChequeredJersey wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:If we are missing POC then we have a good replacement in Gray. We might see a few changes for the next test. I'd like to see SOB or Lydiate start, Tipuric to bench.

Corbisiero is a massive loss. He had a superb game. I rate him as one of the best looseheads around, he has only recently recovered from a long layoff and he was struggling with his calfs all game.

Vuni has had a great tour, he can step up. I don't think that the loss of scrummaging power was due to the change of Props so much as change of lock. Vuni gave away a silly penalty at the breakdown that could have cost the game. He won't make that mistake again.

If I was Gatland I would be on the phone to Paul James very quickly this weekend.

It was the multiple changes. Too many changes to a pack makes it hard for them to click

Parling seems a good line out guy but not the powerful scrummager that POC or AWJ are.

Tigers tend to do OK in the scrum! Though i am more and more believing that it's mostly down to Ayerza...

ChequeredJersey wrote:Tigers tend to do OK in the scrum! Though i am more and more believing that it's mostly down to Ayerza...

He and Castro are world class.

Has much as  i want the B&I Lions to win, i do think that the Aussies will strike back and make it a winner take all 3rd test.

majesticimperialman wrote:Has much as  i want the B&I Lions to win, i do think that the Aussies will strike back and make it a winner take all 3rd test.

What makes you think that? They have to deal with some nasty injuries.

maestegmafia wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:Has much as  i want the B&I Lions to win, i do think that the Aussies will strike back and make it a winner take all 3rd test.

What makes you think that? They have to deal with some nasty injuries.

As they did during the match and their injuries are in positions where they could still call up, on top of those still in the squad or already called up, Toomua, Cooper, Giteau, Foley, Mitchell, etc. It's a lot easier to deal with injuries between matches than during and indeed at the the very start of a match, and they still did it and they will be hurting so much from throwing that game away.

If Australia were to play this back line:

9) Genia
10) Cooper
11) Ioane
12) JOC
13) AAC
14) Folau
15) Beale

I don't think there would be a more dangerous team in world rugby.

ChequeredJersey wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:Has much as  i want the B&I Lions to win, i do think that the Aussies will strike back and make it a winner take all 3rd test.

What makes you think that? They have to deal with some nasty injuries.

As they did during the match and their injuries are in positions where they could still call up, on top of those still in the squad or already called up, Toomua, Cooper, Giteau, Foley, Mitchell, etc. It's a lot easier to deal with injuries between matches than during and indeed at the the very start of a match, and they still did it and they will be hurting so much from throwing that game away.

Some of the players that will come in should strengthen the Wallabies. Beale is far more dangerous than Barnes or O'Conner, should Deans decide to play him at 10 or 15.

I can't see Giteau or Cooper being brought in to be honest. Probably unlikely Toulon would release Giteau to be honest.

Giteau is in Australia, isn't he? His Twitter said he was in Sydney with his kid last week

https://twitter.com/giteau_rugby/status/347234920231481344/photo/1

ChequeredJersey wrote:Giteau is in Australia, isn't he? His Twitter said he was in Sydney with his kid last week

https://twitter.com/giteau_rugby/status/347234920231481344/photo/1

Not sure Deans wants him or Cooper involved.

He definitely in Australia. Not that he'd be called up anyway

Deans is a fool

Calling Giteau back in is ludicrous. However, the time for Cooper's return, is now. I'm guessing Deans does not want to coach the Wallabies any more.

Giteau has been Toulon's backline this season!

But yeah, if Aus lose on Saturday, Deans may as well pack his bags. Probably have to pack his bags anyway.

ChequeredJersey wrote:But yeah, if Aus lose on Saturday, Deans may as well pack his bags. Probably have to pack his bags anyway.

Do you think his position is really that tenuous...?

I guess he'll be out after the RC, I'd be surprised if it's before that. Giteau has been in the international wilderness for some time. He wouldn't be able to oust any one of the backs who have been playing Super 15. He might be off the pace that the Wallaby backline plays at as well. Though he should have still went to the RWC in 2011 IMO.

maestegmafia wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:But yeah, if Aus lose on Saturday, Deans may as well pack his bags. Probably have to pack his bags anyway.

Do you think his position is really that tenuous...?

He's been scrutinised and under pressure for a long time. I think he's a brilliant coach but he is a bit lucky to still have his job. His days are numbered, too bad for him!

ChequeredJersey wrote:Giteau has been Toulon's backline this season!

We were told Johnny Wilkinson has been Toulon's backline...

The Saint wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:Giteau has been Toulon's backline this season!

We were told Johnny Wilkinson has been Toulon's backline...

I agree with both comments, it was Giteau if JW ever passed the ball.

Spoiler:

I feel harsh posting this...

CJ,

Not harsh at all. A mixture of nerves causing an iffy run up where his stationary foot landed on the outside of the boot, slippy pitch and wearing moulded studs caused that. Two of those things were Beale's control.

You can bet Beale and O'Connor will be looking to make amends next week, they must feel pretty awful

ChequeredJersey wrote:You can bet Beale and O'Connor will be looking to make amends next week, they must feel pretty awful

Yeah, but where will they be playing and who will take the goal kicks. Would Beale for instance have the mental strength to take a crucial 45m attempt, having messed up two chances to win the match?

LondonTiger wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:You can bet Beale and O'Connor will be looking to make amends next week, they must feel pretty awful

Yeah, but where will they be playing and who will take the goal kicks. Would Beale for instance have the mental strength to take a crucial 45m attempt, having messed up two chances to win the match?

LLF will take the kicks if he is fit, if not I can't imagine O'Connor kicking that poorly again

Surely we cannot expect to see JOC at 10 again though? Where will he play?

As someone who was always more optimistic for the second test than the first - I still believe that Lions will improve by more than the Australians.

LondonTiger wrote:Surely we cannot expect to see JOC at 10 again though? Where will he play?

As someone who was always more optimistic for the second test than the first - I still believe that Lions will improve by more than the Australians.

12 or wing, I'd expect

I commend your faith. I am fully expecting it to go to Test 3

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Yeah I'm the same, without those injuries I think the Wallabies would have us (and not by a tiny margin either) add in Horwill incident (pending) and the Wallabies are really depleted.

I think if Philips is selected in there at 9 again the Wallabies will have a shot as he blunts our attack so much

Pete, regarding your comment about injuries:  I agree with you.  But, to be even handed, the Lions have already lost a number of players to injury as well.  Only a few have been sent home, but there are quite a few still in Aus who are hurt.  I think the Lions-Wallabies tests we all wanted to see were full strength teams going at it.  Not the injury hit teams we have now.  Shame.

p.s. agree 100% about Philips.

The referee did everything he could to give Australia points in the first test.  I'm going for a Lions win.

The Ref was a joke, but then again we knew he would be.

Shifty wrote:The referee did everything he could to give Australia points in the first test.  I'm going for a Lions win.

Seriously? That's rubbish fella. Your blaming the ref for the very average performance of the Lions? Despite the 4 injuries to the Wallabies which saw the game plan out the window in the 1st minute, their 1st choice kicker gone and a 7 and 9 playing in the centres it was the referees fault that the Lions didn't run away with it? Don't delude yourself. Any decent side would have been out of sight on the scoreboard by half time or soon after, "bias" referee or not. The fact that the Wallabies could have and should have won that match with so much disruption to the team and team tactics during the game indicates the Lions aren't as good as everyone keeps telling me. If the Wallaby opposition last Saturday was the AB's or Springboks we wouldn't have even come close to a win.

Australia could, and in the end should have won.

However at critical times, they lacked the composure and mental fortitude needed. After a couple of decades of mentally strong Aussie sportsmen, we are starting to see a real crack appear in many different sports. Heck should they lose the 2nd test perhaps we could see Robbie Deans joining Mickey Arthur on the unemployment line.

In many ways the Lions underperformed on Saturday and have a bigger scope for improvement.

I see that Christian Leiliifano has been cleared to play in the second test.

Whoever takes the 12 shirt for the Lions is going to have to be on top of his considerable bag of tricks.

For all the negatives about the Lions performance it is easy to forget that the Aussies did not exactly play that well either. Even taking into account their horrendous injury toll parts of the team did not work. JOC at 10 was not good and they did struggle at the breakdown. It will take a huge effort for them to turn it around, but of course I don't doubt that they can do it. But this is still a wonderful opportunity for the Lions to take the series 2-0.

The Lions need to ensure that our forward platform is strong and the issues from the 1st test rectified. Vunipola struggled against Wales and in the 1st test. He has shone on this tour in the loose as that is his strength and has not been tested scrummaging wise due to poor opposition. We cannot afford to play him again. Corbs must play as long as poss with Grant as the back up. If Corbs is unfit then Grant to start and Vuni will have to be on the bench, but hopefully our starting loosehead can play nearer 70 minutes than last week. I really do think we missed a trick in not having Sheridan out there.

We also need some continuity in the backs and therefore I think we should keep them as is. Some changes to the bench depending on how some players perform tomorrow. I would even keep Phillips as starting, but would not be afraid to bring Youngs on at half time if he is not performing. We need to win the gain line battle and for that we need some physicality and now that POC is out I am worried that Parling is too weak in this area, even if he is very good in the lineout and with his alround work rate. Lydiate or SOB must replace Croft.

A huge game from Adam Jones is required and with only 2 tackles in the last one he needs to contribute in the loose more than last weekend. But I do think we can deliver and win the series, but the forwards must really step up and lay the platform.