Australia vs British and Irish Lions - 1st Test (Brisbane)

[Pete King]

My ultimate solution comes from outside the squad but with the 23 we have Barnes to the bench for mine. Not a huge fan of his but he is good as a replacement rather than starting. I think he adapts better to the game rather than set the pace. Izzy to 15 for mine. I have no doubt he will handle the pressure though I prefer he be left at the position he has been playing his rugby at as that he where he generated the form that got him selected. Beale for mine comes onto the wing. Has played there before but experience will help him adapt better to being a bit out of position. He has the X factor that Barnes just don't have also. Beale and Izzy could also be very interchangable also.

The irony is that with ball in hand Barnes can actually be quite a potent attacking weapon. A waste if our play revolves around him kicking our ball away, if this is why Robbie selected him he should have gone with Mogg as he kicks for space alot better then BB. Berrick used from the bench in the last 20 at 10 or 12 to find holes would be best usage. With folau at back and us having a go. Only way we will beat blacks

 

[drewprint]

Rather underwhelmed by the Lions 23 for the first test. Starting team is pretty good. But the bench isn't one I'd want to be looking to, to turn the game back in our favour.

Perception is a funny thing, isn't it? I look at your bench and think 'that's where the Lions can really roll us'.

 

[barbarian]

You mean like when myself and a few others suggested Horne for 12?

Fair point. But it still took him a few games to find his feet there for the Tahs.

Maybe I'm searching for a negative, because there aren't too many in that backline!

 

[Scotty]

I see the two main impairments to the wallabies winning as coming from within:

1. Too many less than 100% fit bodies - if we have a couple of injuries we could really be in trouble asking some of these blokes to play 80.

2. Inexperience - the JOC (James O'Connor)/Lilo axis currently as a big question mark on it. I'm guessing that is big reason why Barnes is starting - just in case.

The main threats from the Lions:

1. Halfpenny (duhh)

2. POC in the lineouts

3. The centre pairing if it clicks

The reason the wallabies will win this one:

They will win the battle of the breakdown.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Fair point. But it still took him a few games to find his feet there for the Tahs.

Maybe I'm searching for a negative, because there aren't too many in that backline!

I think this LILO JOC (James O'Connor) combo is pretty damned exciting. Sure there's a risk but its the most positive pick I can remember for a while.


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[The_Brown_Hornet]

I think this LILO JOC (James O'Connor) combo is pretty damned exciting. Sure there's a risk but its the most positive pick I can remember for a while.


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Absolutely. That's a selection based on trying to win the game, rather than trying not to lose (which is how our footy has looked in the last 12+ months). It could all go horribly wrong, given how untested it is, but what they hey -- it's about time we showed some adventure again.

 

[Lee Grant]

The thing that concerns me most about this match is that the Wobs have not had a warm-up game.

I shudder when I think of the opening games of 2011 and 2012 against Samoa and Scotland. Sure we could look at extenuating circumstances in those matches, but we always seem rusty at the start of a campaign.

If I recall correctly we had a challenging game against the Maori twelve years ago to warm up with.

Although it didn't help getting a win in the first Lions' test in 2001, I think it would have been better in 2013 to have some kind of match last week, though I am aware of the negatives and constraints.
.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

The thing that concerns me most about this match is that the Wobs have not had a warm-up game.

I shudder when I think of the opening games of 2011 and 2012 against Samoa and Scotland. Sure we could look at extenuating circumstances in those matches, but we always seem rusty at the start of a campaign.

If I recall correctly we had a challenging game against the Maori twelve years ago to warm up with.

Although it didn't help getting a win in the first Lions' test in 2001, I think it would have been better in 2013 to have some kind of match last week, though I am aware of the negatives and constraints.
.

Agreed but this forecasttakes one issue out the equation:

Saturday
Fine, mostly sunny.Min 11

Max 19

Any kind of rain would have heightened my concerns over these issues.
I'll. probably regret this, but I dont see the class in this BIL team that was present in 2001.
Mind you there's more than in the Scottish team of 2012.
For the first time in a long time I have a good feeling: as the missus says thats the kiss of death for any team.

 

[redstragic]

I have been refraining from talking about the test, I am negative about our chances. 9, 10 and 12 have never laced up a boot together in anger. Opposed training session are their only experience together. The only bigger stage is the World Cup final, i know this has been talked about to death but is the risk worth it? I am not saying these blokes don't deserve their spot in the team but Deans has had 5 years, could he not have tried this earlier?

I am really hoping this is a stroke of genius from Deans that my small brain cannot comprehend, because logically it just does not make sense to me.

 

[fatprop]

I have been refraining from talking about the test, I am negative about our chances. 9, 10 and 12 have never laced up a boot together in anger. Opposed training session are their only experience together. The only bigger stage is the World Cup final, i know this has been talked about to death but is the risk worth it? I am not saying these blokes don't deserve their spot in the team but Deans has had 5 years, could he not have tried this earlier?

I am really hoping this is a stroke of genius from Deans that my small brain cannot comprehend, because logically it just does not make sense to me.

Simple really, one of the last times JOC (James O'Connor) was fit he was at 10 for the Wobs and he did well, Deans said that Lilo would have been selected last season, but he was injured. Genia is the 9 when fit.

Happenstance has made the three finally all available at the same time and Deans reckons it is the best option at the moment

I don't see anyone outside the squad that will play better to the game plan Deans wants except for maybe Touma, and he is a future prospect and not ready just yet.

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edit: Genia & JOC (James O'Connor) were 9 & 10 in 2011 vs Wales & vs the Barbarians so they have "laced up a boot together in anger"

 

[Cassius88]

What's the Lions' plan for midfield cover? Their reserve backs are a halfback, a flyhalf and a wing/fullback. If BOD goes down, do they move Davies to 13 and bring Farrell on at 12? I'm sure Gatland knows what he's doing but it seems a little risky to me.

 

[scaraby]

Do we think Maitland's selection over Zebo is to appease Scottish fans?

Why so they can work out who he is???? Hey Richie McCaw sounds Scottish he's nice and fresh too.............

sorry couldnt resist stirring the pot................

Sean Maitland was born in Tokoroa, New Zealand on 14 September 1988. Sean attended Hamilton Boys' High School where he played in the first XV and competed in athletics, recording a personal best of 11.29 and 22.30 seconds for the 100m and 200m respectively, and threw the discus 45.47m. Sean is half Scottish and is of Samoan and Maori descent from his mothers side. Maitland spent 2005 and 2006 in the New Zealand Schools team and was a member of New Zealand U19 World Cup winning side in 2007 and the New Zealand Under 20's side in 2008 winning the IRB Junior World Championship. Sean scored four tries against teams from Argentina, Ireland and Wales. Maitland debuted for Canterbury in 2006, and made his Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders against the ACT Brumbies in 2008 and played in every Crusaders match that year. In 2010, he was selected for the New Zealand Maori

 

[scaraby]

I think this LILO JOC (James O'Connor) combo is pretty damned exciting. Sure there's a risk but its the most positive pick I can remember for a while.


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totally agree for the first time in about 4 years I can't whinge about Robbie's Selection.
We had a go at work with all the sideline experts and the only differnce we had was Izzy at 15 and Badger running at North. The first collision between those two would be heard down the bottom of the Welsh Mines.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

What's the Lions' plan for midfield cover? Their reserve backs are a halfback, a flyhalf and a wing/fullback. If BOD goes down, do they move Davies to 13 and bring Farrell on at 12? I'm sure Gatland knows what he's doing but it seems a little risky to me.

without Umaga and Mealamu O'Driscoll wont be going down injured

 

[KevinO]

What's the Lions' plan for midfield cover? Their reserve backs are a halfback, a flyhalf and a wing/fullback. If BOD goes down, do they move Davies to 13 and bring Farrell on at 12? I'm sure Gatland knows what he's doing but it seems a little risky to me.

Sexton would move to 12 and Farrell would goto 10. Sexton played 12 against the Wallabies at Eden Park when O'Gara came on for Darcy at the World Cup.

Worked that night

 

[Brumby Runner]

You know what; I would trade this Lions series for the Bledisloe any day of the week and twice on Sunday's.


What also worries me is that the Wallabies are stale and are not achieving to their potential and a series win here will just be an excuse to maintain the status quo. I want Wallaby players doing well and especially James Horwill as captain as he is my favorite rugby player. I think we need a catalyst for change though.

A new coach would be the ideal catalyst. And there will be change I reckon.

 

[BDA]

I have been refraining from talking about the test, I am negative about our chances. 9, 10 and 12 have never laced up a boot together in anger. Opposed training session are their only experience together. The only bigger stage is the World Cup final, i know this has been talked about to death but is the risk worth it? I am not saying these blokes don't deserve their spot in the team but Deans has had 5 years, could he not have tried this earlier?

I am really hoping this is a stroke of genius from Deans that my small brain cannot comprehend, because logically it just does not make sense to me.

Redstragic you sound as gloomy as your avatar looks

 

[JSRF10]

Interesting stat which I can across on another forum, since 2011 the Wallabies have played 15 games decided by 7 points or less, they've won 13 of these, drawn one (against BNZ) and lost one (Scotland).

This group of Wallaby players know how to win close games at this level. This mentality and their huge breakdown advantage will see them home in this game

 

[FrankLind]

To his credit, Deans has given it a go picking JOC (James O'Connor) and Lilo.

However, I think it should remembered neither have ever played together, and neither have played a test match of this intensity in their respective positions, ever. To start them in this state in a Lions test is a risk.
Saying that, it doesn't seem there are any better options.

 

[Scotty]

Absolutely. That's a selection based on trying to win the game, rather than trying not to lose (which is how our footy has looked in the last 12+ months). It could all go horribly wrong, given how untested it is, but what they hey -- it's about time we showed some adventure again.

I will not criticise Deans if the Lilo or Folau experiments go wrong. They are attacking and non-conservative selections.

I reserve the right to criticise if JOC (James O'Connor) at 10 doesn't succeed though!