Lions! Lions! Lions!

kick off at 12.30pm, less then 10hours. not feeling much excitement very about them taking on the baabaa's.




Stuart Hogg...... 15.... Jared Payne
Alex Cuthbert.... 14.... Joe Rokocoko
Jonathan Davies.... 13.... Elliot Daly
Jamie Roberts.... 12.... Casey Laulala
Sean Maitland.... 11.... Takudzwa Ngwenya
Owen Farrell.... 10.... Nick Evans
Mike Phillips... 9..... Dimitri Yachvili
Mako Vunipola.... 1..... Paul James
Richard Hibbard.... 2..... Schalk Brits
Adam Jones.... 3..... Martin Castrogiovanni
Richie Gray.... 4.... Marco Wentzel
Paul O'Connell.... 5.... Dean Mumm
Dan Lydiate.... 6.... Samu Manoa
Justin Tipuric.... 7.... Sam Jones
Toby Faletau.... 8.... Sergio Parisse

Replacements
Tom Youngs.... 16.... Leonardo Ghiraldini
Cian Healy.... 17.... Duncan Jones
Matt Stevens.... 18.... Andrea Lo Cicero
Alun Wyn Jones.... 19.... James Hamilton
James Heaslip.... 20.... Imanol Harinordoquy
Conor Murray.... 21.... Kahn Fotuali'I
Jonathan Sexton.... 22.... James Hook
George North.... 23.... Mike Tindall

Didn't think Farrell had a good game. I know conditions weren't great but his passing was dire also he shouldn't have clapped as Brits got carded but wouldn't be to hard on him as it was a total cheap shot from Brits. As for Philips he should get reamed out of it for pointing and then sticking his tongue out at Rokokoko as he went over. We pillared Armitage for it in the H Cup Final and for Philips to do something similar is asinine. Was impressed with the Lions continuity though and think Gatland has them running smoothly.

Farrell has been poor for a while. He seems to have lost his head, and I sure that clout get got from Brits did not help.

I don't like to see that crap from players like Armitage, Ashton and Philips. I am sure lots of guys are itching to nail them after shit like that. But there is no doubting Philips as a player, he is fantastic

The BaBas could not handle the physical side of The Lions, the ozzies will provide s bigger challenge.

Overall I am very happy. The Lions are way ahead of where I thought they would be. Some great performances, and some bad ones!

Magpie wrote:
I don't like to see that crap from players like Armitage, Ashton and Philips. I am sure lots of guys are itching to nail them after shit like that. But there is no doubting Philips as a player, he is fantastic

to be fair, Phillips in his post match, man of the match interview, HE BROUGHT IT UP HIMSELF, and that he didnt mean bad to joe, said that it was banter between the two as they both play for the same club, bayonne. id believe him, dont think it was anything bad.

11am tomorrow 5/6/12

British and Irish Lions:
15 Leigh Halfpenny,
14 Tommy Bowe,
13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain),
12 Manu Tuilagi,
11 George North,
10 Jonathan Sexton,
9 Conor Murray,
8 Jamie Heaslip,
7 Sean O'Brien,
6 Tom Croft,
5 Ian Evans,
4 Alun Wyn Jones,
3 Dan Cole,
2 Rory Best,
1 Cian Healy.

Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Toby Faletau, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Sean Maitland.


Western Force:
15 Sam Christie,
14 Dane Haylett-Petty,
13 Ed Stubbs,
12 Chris Tuatara-Morrison,
11 Corey Brown,
10 Sam Norton-Knight,
9 Brett Sheehan,
8 Richard Brown,
7 Matt Hodgson (captain),
6 Angus Cottrell,
5 Phoenix Battye,
4 Toby Lynn,
3 Salesi Ma'afu,
2 James Hilterbrand,
1 Salesi Manu.

Replacements:
16 Hugh Roach, 17 Sione Kolo, 18 Tim Metcher, 19 Ben Matwijow, 20 Lachlan McCaffrey, 21 Alby Mathewson, 22 Nick Haining, 23 Junior Rasolea.

Good game and was happy for Best and his throwing I think only one went awry. Hope it's not to bad for Healy but Vunipolo when he came on was fantastic. Think all the Lions had a good game with maybe Ian Evans under-performing that said he could have done a lot of unseen work but Parling was a lot more noticeable around the pitch when he came on. Think the Lions will be happy but not getting ahead of themselves.

P.S. Mad props to Leigh Halfpenny for 11 kicks in a row!

connachtexile wrote: P.S. Mad props to Leigh Halfpenny for 11 kicks in a row!

Big time! And many of them from the touchlines. I'm sure Sexton would prefer to be taking the kicks, but I wonder would it help his general play if that task was handed to Halfpenny for the test matches too (assuming they both start).

Calling him gatlands pet is ott. Imo he wud be starting fb and kicker no matter who picked the team such is his form esp wit wilko not there. It wud be hard to keep him out of a world xv fb jersey no to mind lions. I agree jonnie must be pissed though.

RonanL wrote:

connachtexile wrote: P.S. Mad props to Leigh Halfpenny for 11 kicks in a row!

Big time! And many of them from the touchlines. I'm sure Sexton would prefer to be taking the kicks, but I wonder would it help his general play if that task was handed to Halfpenny for the test matches too (assuming they both start).

Remember kicking is only one part (big part, I agree) of a No 10 job. IMO JS is a better playmaker and without the kicking duties he can focus on that part of the game.

Do not think the Aussie's will be too happy to have two world class kickers (and players 10 & 15) on the pitch at same time.

I'm sure Sexton is mature enough to take it on the chin and you really can't argue with Halfpenny's stats or form. Thought it was a shame that Farrell didn't let Hogg take a kick against the BaaBaa's when he asked for one but I understand someone like Farrel who wasn't having the best game wanting to show what he could do.

P.S. Western Force have made two allegations against the Lions team. Healy for biting and Murray for Stamping. Citing commission tomorrow. Healy looks to be in the clear (according to Gatland) but no news on Murray.

Halfpenny is nailed on 15 and kicker for me. Always was. You're kind of disproving your on point there sea_point with those stats IMO

For me if you are going to select Halfpenny than he must be taking the kicks. Otherwise he's far from the clear choice over Hogg and a case could even then be made for Kearney.

Cian Healy was cleared of biting but is ruled out by injury. Ryan Grant comes in!