The Lions
 

So, come on then you lot....what did you think?

Suggested topics:

Israel Folau(sp) - not a shit debut?
Officiating at the breakdown....any good?
Lucky win?

Re: The Lions
 

Yes, a lucky win, but overall it was a fairly well-matched game and either side played well enough to win it. It's hard to be objective about the refereeing, but it did seem to me that some decisions were bizarrely one-sided.

Re: The Lions
 

Doesn't a decision, by definition, have to be one side or the other. Otherwise its more of a deliberation.


Pedants revolt!

Re: The Lions
 

We were extremely lucky. Unless we work harder and tackle better, we will lose the next two games. Their scrumhalf (Genya?) was immense. Without a shadow of doubt, the Wallabies didn't deserve to lose. If they had another 5 minutes playing time, the result would have been different.

Re: The Lions
 

Garbage - the Lions dominated for an hour and were completely stiffed by Pollock's reffing, particularly in the 1st half. The calls against O'Driscoll at the breakdown were ludicrous - and led to him backing off from the physical stuff later to avoid giving away penalties.

Where the Lions (or rather, Gatland) got it wrong was bringing on subs to replace outstanding players before the margin was big enough to ensure victory - that could have cost the Lions the game, rather than any perceived Aussie superiority.

True, Genia won the scrum-half battle, but then again he is probably the most complete player in the world, so he should (Phillips by contrast was lacklustre - see his gentle jog back while Genia was sprinting through to set up Folau's first try). And that first try originated from a penalty that shouldn't have been given to Aus anyway.

The Lions will be ready next time. I suspect we saw the best of Aus yesterday, but the Lions have more in the tank than that.

[PS - can someone, preferably the IRB, clarify the forward pass law please? 'It came out of the hands backwards' said the TMO on the referral for Folau's 2nd try.......... what?? It went forward, albeit only slightly. End of. Or am I missing something?]

Re: The Lions
 

I agree - the law must be about the direction the ball travels, not the direction it left the player's hands. Otherwise you could face your own goal posts and through it "backwards" towards the opposing half.

Re: The Lions
 

I don't agree with Deano that we totally dominated for an hour. If they had kicked their goals, the Aussies would have been well in front before the last 20 minutes when they did genuinely dominate. Given the Aussie injuries, the Lions should have wrapped it up before then. Mind you I thought we were unlucky not be awarded that try. Funny that whenever the biased Aussie commentator made a decision (eg. the non-try and forward pass), the referee consulted the TV umpire and invariably came up with the same decision. :thumbdown:

Re: The Lions
 

:amen:

Mike Phillips needs to step up a gear.

Scrummaging for the penalty in the last minute or two (the first of the missed ones, I think) was heart-breaking. The response from the Aussie players for their front row said it all.

In the next test we need POC, BOD, Jones, Croft etc to step up and 'do a Simon Shaw'...show some heart, some guts and pride to be a Lions player.

We also need to ****ing hit Folau and hit him hard, early. Letting him get any form of running speed is going to be damaging.

Negativity aside, what a footballer North looks like he could be. Not sure if commentators discussed it, but he clearly held back five yards from being under that high ball, so that as it was coming down, he was moving forwards. He didn't break stride and took the ball with some momentum. His try gave me goosebumps.

Re: The Lions
 

O'Connell out of the tour............. massive disappointment - the guy is immense. :(

Re: The Lions
 

Slightly off-topic...but England are rugby world champions

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23010922

Re: The Lions
 

Gutted. :thumbdown:

Re: The Lions
 

......... and the ref in that one nearly destroyed them too......... England have been very good at this age group for several years - the senior team that just won 2-0 in Argentina contained a number of the junior squad from 2-3 years ago. :thumbup:

Re: The Lions
 

The kicks are irrelevant - with better reffing, the Aussies would not have been awarded those penalties in the first place.

And further to my previous post: SH reffing is bizarre - and the idiot (Fraser, NZ) who killed our Under-20 boys v South Africa at the Junior World Cup last week almost ruined it for them again in yesterday's final v Wales. Happily, England's kids are made of tough stuff and came back from 15-3 down to score 20 points without reply and take the Cup.........

Re: The Lions
 

They put the football youths to shame.

Re: The Lions
 

Everyone uses the 'lucky' tag...why were we lucky? Australia threw away points with shit kicking. The Lions scored more points than them, hence they won.

If there was another five minutes played the Lions may have scored again.

It was a fantastic game, worthy of a Lions test - can you not just enjoy the result?

Re: The Lions
 

Lions trivia:

Today's 10 (Owen Farrell) first broke into Saracens XV in 2010/11, taking over from the previous incumbent...........

.............. today's ref (Glen Jackson)............... :huh:

Re: The Lions
 

I cannot see Aus having a lot to shout about over the next few weeks - the Lions should take out T2 and T3 and then of course we have the Aus cricket team....what a shambles

Re: The Lions
 

I'd love to share your confidence but I genuinely rate Australia higher than every pundit, fan and friend it seems...

Re: The Lions
 

Exciting game, riddled with mistakes from both sides and arbitrary scrum decisions though. Personally I'm not too unhappy the Aussies won - sets up an exciting finale next week.

And what about North's response to being tackled by that big Aussie wing? Pick him up and chuck him on the ground!

Re: The Lions
 

It was a fantastic game....sets it up nicely for the big decider next week. For some reason I feel quietly confident the lions will win it.

North is incredible...shame England will have to face him next 6 nations.

Re: The Lions
 

Definitely missed O'Connell and the Au forwards played at a another level of intensity. Should be an amazing event in Sydney.

Re: The Lions
 

We'll lose in Sydney by 5/6 points.

Absolute roller coaster of a game yesterday. Gutted.

Re: The Lions
 

I hope you're wrong Scamp, I think it could go either way.

Re: The Lions
 

I'd love to be wrong mate.

I think we need Croft back in, I think there are benefits to starting Tuilagi or having him as a super sub, I think we keep Sexton at 10 and BOD alongside him, I think we have to look a little bit at Bowe, offered very little...but I'm well aware that we only got the ball wide with any sort of attacking structure about twice.

I must say though, I was very happy to see that O'Connor is getting found out.

Re: The Lions
 

Get in you Wallabies!

Re: The Lions
 

Hearty congratulations. Like I said after the first test, you were unlucky to be one down. The impetus is definitely with the Wallabies now, so the Lions will need to restring their bow once more. However, don't count your chickens. If Genia picks up a knock or if the Lions eventually find a scrum half able to match him, you never know what might happen.

Re: The Lions
 

Big statement from Clive Woodward - that Warburton's performance (before he went off injured) was the finest he has ever seen by a Lion.......... :ohmy:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rug...g-mistake.html

Re: The Lions
 

WARBURTON OUT OF 3RD TEST.

Re: The Lions
 

:(

Re: The Lions
 

You've just ruined my day.

Re: The Lions
 

On the positive side............... the ref for the 3rd Test is Romain Poite who allows teams with front row (and/or scrummage in general) superiority to exercise it, and refs the fringes and breakdowns properly.......... if the Lions pick some big units, they may still come out on top.

Re: The Lions
 

So where has everyone watched the first 2 tests?

I watched the first at home :( but went to the Byblos for the 2nd.

Re: The Lions
 

Both in Nezzas so far.

Fully of Aussie ***** though.

Re: The Lions
 

Live stream over t'internet.

Re: The Lions
 

Just wondering where to watch the final test.

The Byblos was mainly full of Brits though.

Re: The Lions
 

Nezzas is a Southern hemisphere rugby bar...it's got a great atmosphere but you are definitely surrounded by shackle-draggers.

Still, I've watched both tests in there so far and it's got an amazing buzz. Be prepared for some stick when we lose though.

Re: The Lions
 

Unfortunately I would be surprised if we win!

Might watch the match in there though. Be a good change!

Re: The Lions
 

If you want a seat then get there when it opens at 12:00.

I'll be stood outside at 12:00 on the dot looking shit nervous.

Re: The Lions
 

May see you there!

Is it the one in Downtown?

Re: The Lions
 

Yup, Al Manzil Hotel.