British and Irish Lions Tour 2013

[Walter Cronc]

Not gona fall out with ya my friend but if you remember correctly Davies was shocking against us this year in Cardiff. He threw 2 passes into touch if I remember correctly. As for his try in the Aviva the year before, it was a case of George North bulldozing Fergus Mc Fadden and the Irish backline, with a sublime offload to Davies to run in un-opposed.

And O'Driscoll threw a shocking pass last Saturday - it happens. From the wider Irish reaction, you'd have thought it was the BOD of old which, much as we love to kid ourselves, he's not. I still think he should have been kept in for his defense and leadership (I think he was the real leader even when Warburton was fit - he had just as many conversations with the ref) but at the end of the day, Gatland's job is to win a series. If this team does it, he's done his job.

Granted that pass was poor (maybe the 1st/2nd of his career??) but Murray Kinsellas video clearly points out a lack of forward thinking by Davies, not only offensively but defensively.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VttNqKXu84o

In saying that the reaction has been OTT!!

[bcarrier]

This tour hasnt grabbed me because Ireland do well against Australia anyway.

Sat 9th Nov 02   14:30   Ireland   18 - 9   Australia   Lansdowne Road   
Sat 7th Jun 03           17:00   Australia   45 - 16   Ireland   Subiaco Oval   
Sat 1st Nov 03           20:35   RWC-PA   Australia   17 - 16   Ireland   Telstra Dome   
Sat 19th Nov 05   14:30    Ireland   14 - 30   Australia   Lansdowne Road   
Sat 24th Jun 06   18:00    Australia   37 - 15   Ireland   Subiaco Oval
Sun 19th Nov 06   16:00    Ireland   21 - 6   Australia   Lansdowne Road   
Sat 14th Jun 08   20:05   Australia   18 - 12   Ireland   Telstra Dome   
Sun 15th Nov 09   15:00   Ireland   20 - 20   Australia   Croke Park   
Sat 26th Jun 10   20:00   Australia   22 - 15   Ireland   Suncorp Stadium
Sat 17th Sep 11   20:30   RWC-PC   Australia   6 - 15   Ireland   Eden Park

[Hound]

The really tight calls were:

Hooker - Youngs (England) v Hibbard (Wales)
Decision Wales

Openside - O'Brien (Ireland) v Tipuric (Wales)
Decision Ireland

No. 8 - Healsip (Ireland) v Fetanau (Wales)
Decision Wales

Scrum half - Phillips (Wales) v Murray (Ireland) v Youngs (England)
Decision - Wales

Centres - Roberts & Davies (Wales) v BOD (Ireland) v Tuilagi (England)
Decision Wales & Wales

England faired worse than we did tbh.

If both Roberts and Tuilagi breakdown during the match, Gatland will be absolutely vilified in the English media. The Irish are understandably upset but the huge reaction in the English media has a different agenda. They can use BOD as a stick to beat Gatland, who they dislike for not picking more English players, without fear of being accused of bias.

If Healy and O'Connell had been fit, there'd be no English players starting!

Hibbard's been terrible all tour, Phillips and Davies have looked good against the rubbish warm-up teams but have been poor in the Tests they've played (perhaps Phillips had an injury excuse), but all three are very lucky to be starting tomorrow.

[gallsman]

Hibbard's been terrible all tour, Phillips and Davies have looked good against the rubbish warm-up teams but have been poor in the Tests they've played (perhaps Phillips had an injury excuse), but all three are very lucky to be starting tomorrow.

My problem with that is that if you're fit enough to start, there should be no excuses. If you're not fit enough to play to a certain standard, you shouldn't play.

[screenexile]

Not gona fall out with ya my friend but if you remember correctly Davies was shocking against us this year in Cardiff. He threw 2 passes into touch if I remember correctly. As for his try in the Aviva the year before, it was a case of George North bulldozing Fergus Mc Fadden and the Irish backline, with a sublime offload to Davies to run in un-opposed.

And O'Driscoll threw a shocking pass last Saturday - it happens. From the wider Irish reaction, you'd have thought it was the BOD of old which, much as we love to kid ourselves, he's not. I still think he should have been kept in for his defense and leadership (I think he was the real leader even when Warburton was fit - he had just as many conversations with the ref) but at the end of the day, Gatland's job is to win a series. If this team does it, he's done his job.

As has been quoted his pass wasn't a bad one but more so Davies (who isn't a natural 12 in fairness) took the wrong line. if he had gone straightened instead of faded there was a line break on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VttNqKXu84o

This piece shows a few deficiencies in Davies' game last weekend that would probably not have occurred had there been a natural 12 playing with BOD last week.

[muppet]

Not gona fall out with ya my friend but if you remember correctly Davies was shocking against us this year in Cardiff. He threw 2 passes into touch if I remember correctly. As for his try in the Aviva the year before, it was a case of George North bulldozing Fergus Mc Fadden and the Irish backline, with a sublime offload to Davies to run in un-opposed.

And O'Driscoll threw a shocking pass last Saturday - it happens. From the wider Irish reaction, you'd have thought it was the BOD of old which, much as we love to kid ourselves, he's not. I still think he should have been kept in for his defense and leadership (I think he was the real leader even when Warburton was fit - he had just as many conversations with the ref) but at the end of the day, Gatland's job is to win a series. If this team does it, he's done his job.

As has been quoted his pass wasn't a bad one but more so Davies (who isn't a natural 12 in fairness) took the wrong line. if he had gone straightened instead of faded there was a line break on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VttNqKXu84o

This piece shows a few deficiencies in Davies' game last weekend that would probably not have occurred had there been a natural 12 playing with BOD last week.

In all of those pieces of action, O'Driscoll is inside Davies who is in the natural 13 position.

[camanchero]

Maybe I imagined it, but I thought odriscoll played in last weeks loss!
He did well to get on the squad let alone start given his age, average 6n and that he is physically way small for modern day intl rugby.

I think the men most snubbed here are heaslip and croft.

[Syferus]

Maybe I imagined it, but I thought odriscoll played in last weeks loss!
He did well to get on the squad let alone start given his age, average 6n and that he is physically way small for intl rugby.

I think the men most snubbed here are heaslip and croft.

LOL.

Gatland doesn't understand back-play at all - it's one note bang bang bang stuff with little craft or defensive intelligence - and someone in the Indo pointed out today Gatland's biggest mistake was not  getting Schmidt to be the Lions' backs' coach. I'd agree.

[camanchero]

Forgot alex cuthbert - also very unlucky, though I'd always have room for bowe in a side whether at centre or wing

[Walter Cronc]

Camanchero/LB knows as much about rugby as he does Derry football.

[bennydorano]

Career defining call by (& for) Gatland, he'll never live it down if the Lions are beaten. 'mon the Taffs.

[muppet]

Forgot alex cuthbert - also very unlucky, though I'd always have room for bowe in a side whether at centre or wing

Dear God.

Watch Cuthbert and Davies closely.

People would pay lots of money to get the spectator's view they got here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5umGrR1jQnw

[Aaron Boone]

Heathrow arrivals will be a sorry place at 6am Tuesday.

Dublin arrivals midday Tuesday will be value to hear the real views post-Gatland.

[Syferus]

Heathrow arrivals will be a sorry place at 6am Tuesday.

Dublin arrivals midday Tuesday will be value to hear the real views post-Gatland.

I doubt BOD is going to start a flame war either way. It'll probably a few years yet before we hear the full story behind this one.

[All of a Sludden]

The lions lead 10-3 after 9 minutes.