Chiefs v British & Irish Lions, 20 June

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Chiefs v British & Irish Lions
20 June 2017
KO: 19:35 NZST (8.35am BST)
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Live on Sky Sports, Sky Sports HD and SkyGo

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Touch judges: [tbc]
TMO: [tbc]

A. FORM:

1993-06-29 
Waikato 38 - 10 British and Irish Lions

1983-07-12
Waikato 13 - 40 British and Irish Lions

1977-07-16
Waikato 13 - 18 British and Irish Lions

B. TEAMS:

Chiefs
1. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi (24)
2. Liam Polwart (2)
3. Nepo Laulala (11)
4. Dominic Bird (25)
5. Michael Allardice (20)
6. Mitchell Brown (14)
7. Lachlan Boshier (15)
8. Tom Sanders (19)

9. Finlay Christie (6)
10. Stephen Donald (c) (100)
11. Solomon Alaimalo (6)
12. Johnny Faauli (5)
13. Tim Nanai-Williams (82)
14. Toni Pulu (21)
15. Shaun Stevenson (21)

16. Hika Elliot (116)
17. Aidan Ross (2)
18. Atu Moli (24)
19. Liam Messam (159)
20. Mitchell Karpik (5)
21. Jonathan Taumateine (6)
22. Luteru Laulala (0)
23. Chase Tiatia (0)

British & Irish Lions
15. Liam Williams
14. Jack Nowell
13. Jared Payne
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Elliot Daly
10. Dan Biggar
9. Greig Laidlaw

8. CJ Stander
7. Justin Tipuric
6. James Haskell
5. Courtney Lawes
4. Iain Henderson
3. Dan Cole
2. Rory Best (captain)
1. Joe Marler

16. Kristian Dacey
17. Allan Dell
18. Tomas Francis
19. Cory Hill
20. Alun Wyn Jones
21. Gareth Davies
22. Finn Russell
23. Tommy Seymour

C. PREVIEW

Lions squad playing like guys who are angry (angry to be consigned to the dustbin I guess). While at times this is creating poor decision making (Marler) it is also making them determined.

Yeah Nowell has been busy and looking for work

Marler wasn't that bad, yellow at most . Over reaction from some of you by the looks of it.

TightHEAD wrote:Marler wasn't that bad, yellow at most . Over reaction from some of you by the looks of it.

Did you have a good angle in the stands though?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Sounds like a decent enough first half from the Lions - could do with getting a bigger lead to avoid the inevitable last 15 capitulation!

And also because our bench is awful.

Done Biggar has put a shift in for the 1st half. If he is third choice then the others must be bloody awesome.

I'm surprised you say that Tighthead as that was worse than the accidental hit by Cane on the Irish guy in Dublin. Go figure.

"Save for the odd bit of ill-discipline, the Lions have played well and are good value for their half-time lead.

And players like Liam Williams, Jack Nowell and James Haskell - all quiet on tour so far - are looking more comfortable in the Lions jersey.

Dan Biggar and Courtney Lawes have both been excellent as well."

Now watching but I just read this.

Interestingly Biggar is having to try to shine with what looks like prop passing from Laidlaw, who has to be as far from a test spots anyone out there!

Henshaw is having a decent game, I think he enjoys Biggars line speed, but Payne and Nowell are so weak defencively, they are allover the shop. Luckily Nowell is showing good work rate in attack.

One name noone is mentioning, is Tipuric, he is involved in every cover tackle, every Chiefs breakdown, and is covering every blade of grass!

ebop wrote:Yeah Nowell has been busy and looking for work

Well he needs a job for the weekend

Lawes is going well too, he needs to work harder in defence, but as good as a lock performance we've seen on tour imo

ebop wrote:It's just funny, big forwards screaming like girls. We're not used it down in NZ. It's just a weak thing to do.

Unless you slap your thighs and stick your tongue out first right?

If you were wondering how they get used to the lineout calls, McGrath confirms it's on a forwards whatsapp group.

Lawes is having a good game, he just looks like a penalty waiting to happen though. If he can control his emotions, and keep his discipline he could be a fine addition to the test side.

Sounds like Lawes is having another great game. He must be a starting lock in the Tests now?

Had Nowell improved or was the try a gimme?

That's why Rory Best won't be playing in the tests. Happens to often

yappysnap wrote:Sounds like Lawes is having another great game. He must be a starting lock in the Tests now?

Missing the game but following on BBC website, Moyne saying Lawes is great but others saying Henderson is at his best ripping the ball in the tackle, is a monster at the ruck and running the lineout well

marty2086 wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Sounds like Lawes is having another great game. He must be a starting lock in the Tests now?

Missing the game but following on BBC website, Moyne saying Lawes is great but others saying Henderson is at his best ripping the ball in the tackle, is a monster at the ruck and running the lineout well

So I guess it's between those two and Kruis so far?

Gatland's sooka bubba act during the week is paying dividends now with a blocking call made. Rory Best with two crooked line out throws in a row and gets pinged for the second. Good work ref

BigGee wrote:That's why Rory Best won't be playing in the tests. Happens to often

This.

It's a shame because the rest of his game is quite decent.

yappysnap wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Sounds like Lawes is having another great game. He must be a starting lock in the Tests now?

Missing the game but following on BBC website, Moyne saying Lawes is great but others saying Henderson is at his best ripping the ball in the tackle, is a monster at the ruck and running the lineout well

So I guess it's between those two and Kruis so far?

Kruis and Itoje based on Saturday for me, Henderson and Lawes playing for a bench spot. In terms of impact I think Henderson offers more

marty2086 wrote:

yappysnap wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Sounds like Lawes is having another great game. He must be a starting lock in the Tests now?

Missing the game but following on BBC website, Moyne saying Lawes is great but others saying Henderson is at his best ripping the ball in the tackle, is a monster at the ruck and running the lineout well

So I guess it's between those two and Kruis so far?

Kruis and Itoje based on Saturday for me, Henderson and Lawes playing for a bench spot. In terms of impact I think Henderson offers more

Yet there's a fair chance AWJ will either be starting or on the bench.

ebop wrote:Gatland's sooka bubba act during the week is paying dividends now with a blocking call made. Rory Best with two crooked line out throws in a row and gets pinged for the second. Good work ref

Well perhaps they should stop doing it. What is the difference between that and this shouting at the line out you have focused on ?

And there's confusion as to why Ireland's attack is so blunt. Henshaw is just not good at 12. I can't believe he has genuinely been converted to play there. Every time there has been an attacking opportunity he has butchered it.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

yappysnap wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Sounds like Lawes is having another great game. He must be a starting lock in the Tests now?

Missing the game but following on BBC website, Moyne saying Lawes is great but others saying Henderson is at his best ripping the ball in the tackle, is a monster at the ruck and running the lineout well

So I guess it's between those two and Kruis so far?

Kruis and Itoje based on Saturday for me, Henderson and Lawes playing for a bench spot. In terms of impact I think Henderson offers more

Yet there's a fair chance AWJ will either be starting or on the bench.

LordDowlais wrote:

ebop wrote:Gatland's sooka bubba act during the week is paying dividends now with a blocking call made. Rory Best with two crooked line out throws in a row and gets pinged for the second. Good work ref

Well perhaps they should stop doing it. What is the difference between that and this shouting at the line out you have focused on ?

I figure a gentlemen's agreement is in order. The AB's should agree to only block offside players. Granted it won't reduce it a huge amount ...

Gooseberry wrote:

ebop wrote:It's just funny, big forwards screaming like girls. We're not used it down in NZ. It's just a weak thing to do.

Unless you slap your thighs and stick your tongue out first right?

Lawes with another head clash

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Gooseberry wrote:

ebop wrote:It's just funny, big forwards screaming like girls. We're not used it down in NZ. It's just a weak thing to do.

Unless you slap your thighs and stick your tongue out first right?

Good on yas

RDW_Scotland wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

yappysnap wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Sounds like Lawes is having another great game. He must be a starting lock in the Tests now?

Missing the game but following on BBC website, Moyne saying Lawes is great but others saying Henderson is at his best ripping the ball in the tackle, is a monster at the ruck and running the lineout well

So I guess it's between those two and Kruis so far?

Kruis and Itoje based on Saturday for me, Henderson and Lawes playing for a bench spot. In terms of impact I think Henderson offers more

Yet there's a fair chance AWJ will either be starting or on the bench.

Yet Im not sure why, not sure what he offers that others don't bring to the table

Right time to turn the screw now

Lawes looks groggy. Should he have come back on?

Nice try

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:Lawes looks groggy. Should he have come back on?

He's had 2 big head knocks now - I'd be amazed if he was completely fine after both.

Chiefs setpiece has been shockingly poor. Good try though.

J Nowell & P Try the leading try scorers for Lions?

Ben Kay - 'Lions try of the series so far' to be fair there's not much competition for that accolade!

Four players who have seriously staked at least a claim for the bench spot so far today:-

Dan Biggar
Liam Williams
Courtney Lawes
Jack Nowell

These guys will at least have given the coaches something to think about.

LordDowlais wrote:Four players who have seriously staked at least a claim for the bench spot so far today:-

Dan Biggar
Liam Williams
Courtney Lawes
Jack Nowell

These guys will at least have given the coaches something to think about.

Interestingly there's a comment on BBC sport feed asking why Williams is being considered for the tests as he's not had a good tour!

Well Williams has been absolutely useless this tour but sounds good here!

LondonTiger wrote:Chiefs setpiece has been shockingly poor. Good try though.

Missing a lot of players to be fair

marty2086 wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

yappysnap wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Sounds like Lawes is having another great game. He must be a starting lock in the Tests now?

Missing the game but following on BBC website, Moyne saying Lawes is great but others saying Henderson is at his best ripping the ball in the tackle, is a monster at the ruck and running the lineout well

So I guess it's between those two and Kruis so far?

Kruis and Itoje based on Saturday for me, Henderson and Lawes playing for a bench spot. In terms of impact I think Henderson offers more

Yet there's a fair chance AWJ will either be starting or on the bench.

Yet Im not sure why, not sure what he offers that others don't bring to the table

Pashun and Ekshperiensh

RDW_Scotland wrote:Interestingly there's a comment on BBC sport feed asking why Williams is being considered for the tests as he's not had a good tour!

Well I am watching the game, Liam has not taken a step backwards, he is playing a blinder. It's probably just some one eyed fan on the get involved option saying things like that.

LordDowlais wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Interestingly there's a comment on BBC sport feed asking why Williams is being considered for the tests as he's not had a good tour!

Well I am watching the game, Liam has not taken a step backwards, he is playing a blinder. It's probably just some one eyed fan on the get involved option saying things like that.

Or that from his first 4 high balls he gave away 2 pens and a yellow, fell over once and backed out of the other.

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:Lawes looks groggy. Should he have come back on?

That's his usual look in fairness, always looks on the verge of sleep.

Scottrf wrote:Or that from his first 4 high balls he gave away 2 pens and a yellow, fell over once and backed out of the other.

I cannot remember that happening in this game.

But I did just see him totally cut the Chiefs defence to pieces and give Payne a stroll over try.

Gatland just re-iterating to the called up players that they are second class players by not giving any of them a chance off the bench. What you would have imagined I guess.

BigGee wrote:Gatland just re-iterating to the called up players that they are second class players by not giving any of them a chance off the bench. What you would have imagined I guess.

A shame given how big a lead we now have - even giving Funn Russell 20 minutes would have been a benefit.

LordDowlais wrote:

Scottrf wrote:Or that from his first 4 high balls he gave away 2 pens and a yellow, fell over once and backed out of the other.

I cannot remember that happening in this game.

But I did just see him totally cut the Chiefs defence to pieces and give Payne a stroll over try.

Nobody said this game. They said tour.

LordDowlais wrote:

Scottrf wrote:Or that from his first 4 high balls he gave away 2 pens and a yellow, fell over once and backed out of the other.

I cannot remember that happening in this game.

But I did just see him totally cut the Chiefs defence to pieces and give Payne a stroll over try.

Pretty much all he's done