Mikey Brown wrote:Please just block me. It will be so much simpler than doing this again. I'm not even trying to be a dick.Banquo wrote:I like that you are maturing.Mikey Brown wrote:Okay. Won’t do it again.


Moderators: Puja, Misc Forum Mod
Mikey Brown wrote:Please just block me. It will be so much simpler than doing this again. I'm not even trying to be a dick.Banquo wrote:I like that you are maturing.Mikey Brown wrote:Okay. Won’t do it again.
There's been so much talk of what the Lions might have been working on without showing, and I don't know how much to believe in that. Are they ready to suddenly play a much more complete game? Or one that will match a fully firing test side, regardless of how attractive it is?Cameo wrote:Any predictions on the series?
I actually wouldn't be surprised with a 3-0 to the Lions. I always think they should do better than they do and probably underestimate the knowledge and cohesion gained from years together rather than a few warm up games but:
- SA have played one game in almost 2 years
- the SA domestic comp was a bit of a shambles
- they were awesome in the World Cup final but it wasn't like they were some kind of super time in the rest of the tournament.
- a couple of key players are out and others have just come out of isolation.
- no altitude
Against that, the lions may be less cohesive than recently. The warmups have felt disrupted and like trials for individual players rather than an opportunity for units to work together. I suspect they will be very happy to get through to 30 mins level or close to it.
I don’t remember anything similar with you before, but it’s only the internet I guess. Moving on.Mikey Brown wrote:Odd? Who cares? I’d just be quite happy to continue posting off-hand opinions on here without having to enter this same routine with you again. Haven’t we done this like a million times? I just thought blocking me would be easier.
Seems like a hell of an extrapolation to draw from one game, especially considering just about all of the England players involved have beaten SA home and away before as well as losing the RWC final, but okay.whatisthejava wrote:Gut feel first 2 tests to SA
Mentally those staffers know they have the English on toast and as soon as Farrell and Daly are on the pitch they can wait for a shit kick and then trust Kolbe to finish it.
I think by the third test we will see a completely different lions starting 15 because when the shit goes down - the English lads will start leaking penalties
And it goes on...whatisthejava wrote:Gut feel first 2 tests to SA
Mentally those staffers know they have the English on toast and as soon as Farrell and Daly are on the pitch they can wait for a shit kick and then trust Kolbe to finish it.
I think by the third test we will see a completely different lions starting 15 because when the shit goes down - the English lads will start leaking penalties
Lol. Subtle.whatisthejava wrote:Gut feel first 2 tests to SA
Mentally those staffers know they have the English on toast and as soon as Farrell and Daly are on the pitch they can wait for a shit kick and then trust Kolbe to finish it.
I think by the third test we will see a completely different lions starting 15 because when the shit goes down - the English lads will start leaking penalties
It’s not the fact that SA beat sent in a RWC. They systematically destroyed that English teams game plan AFTER they almost nilled the AB.Puja wrote: Seems like a hell of an extrapolation to draw from one game, especially considering just about all of the England players involved have beaten SA home and away before as well as losing the RWC final, but okay.
Puja
I really do think you're investing this South African side with mystical power that they don't actually have. Sometimes in rugby, all your plans go to shit, the opposition are up for it, some of your key men have terrible starts and get worse, you don't quite get the touch of luck, and you end up on the wrong end of a dicking when it's a game you should've been competitive in. England had it in 2013 against Wales and it didn't leave the England players scarred and scared of Wales - it left them pissed off and they won the next three encounters (we'll ignore the 4th one!).whatisthejava wrote:It’s not the fact that SA beat sent in a RWC. They systematically destroyed that English teams game plan AFTER they almost nilled the AB.Puja wrote: Seems like a hell of an extrapolation to draw from one game, especially considering just about all of the England players involved have beaten SA home and away before as well as losing the RWC final, but okay.
Puja
Rassie is smarter and knows that if he gets in the English faces then the English boys will revert to the last 12 months and give penalties away.
The entire Garland game plan is based on matching the saffas forward pack and against the A team the lions failed.
I’d quite like the lions to win but i don’t have blind faith
Think I might go back and watch the Murrayfield match and see how many of the Scottish Lions shat the bed v Japan as they did during the RWC, but there’s little to no logic to that train of thought so I won’t......Puja wrote:I really do think you're investing this South African side with mystical power that they don't actually have. Sometimes in rugby, all your plans go to shit, the opposition are up for it, some of your key men have terrible starts and get worse, you don't quite get the touch of luck, and you end up on the wrong end of a dicking when it's a game you should've been competitive in. England had it in 2013 against Wales and it didn't leave the England players scarred and scared of Wales - it left them pissed off and they won the next three encounters (we'll ignore the 4th one!).whatisthejava wrote:It’s not the fact that SA beat sent in a RWC. They systematically destroyed that English teams game plan AFTER they almost nilled the AB.Puja wrote: Seems like a hell of an extrapolation to draw from one game, especially considering just about all of the England players involved have beaten SA home and away before as well as losing the RWC final, but okay.
Puja
Rassie is smarter and knows that if he gets in the English faces then the English boys will revert to the last 12 months and give penalties away.
The entire Garland game plan is based on matching the saffas forward pack and against the A team the lions failed.
I’d quite like the lions to win but i don’t have blind faith
That's not to say South Africa aren't a great side or worthy world champions or that they didn't put England comfortably away. But they're also the same side that lost to New Zealand and could very easily have lost to Wales. They're not supermen - they're just a very good side - and they're suffering from this being their second test in 2 years.
Also, that South Africa A game seems largely irrelevant considering that Lions side shares all of 4 starters with the first test XV.
Puja
Who would you be picking?whatisthejava wrote:It’s not the fact that SA beat sent in a RWC. They systematically destroyed that English teams game plan AFTER they almost nilled the AB.Puja wrote: Seems like a hell of an extrapolation to draw from one game, especially considering just about all of the England players involved have beaten SA home and away before as well as losing the RWC final, but okay.
Puja
Rassie is smarter and knows that if he gets in the English faces then the English boys will revert to the last 12 months and give penalties away.
The entire Garland game plan is based on matching the saffas forward pack and against the A team the lions failed.
I’d quite like the lions to win but i don’t have blind faith
Yes, makes one wonder.Mr Mwenda wrote:And it goes on...whatisthejava wrote:Gut feel first 2 tests to SA
Mentally those staffers know they have the English on toast and as soon as Farrell and Daly are on the pitch they can wait for a shit kick and then trust Kolbe to finish it.
I think by the third test we will see a completely different lions starting 15 because when the shit goes down - the English lads will start leaking penalties
How many of the Lions units have ever played together?Big D wrote:SA are favourites in my book. They may not have played as a squad for a long time, they are a well drilled team with most of the parts there that won them the world cup.
That being said, there is no score line other than something daft allowing for draws that would surprise me over the series.
Well the Scots are noted experts in taking defeats to heart, so perhaps we should respect their wisdom in this regard.Banquo wrote:Yes, makes one wonder.Mr Mwenda wrote:And it goes on...whatisthejava wrote:Gut feel first 2 tests to SA
Mentally those staffers know they have the English on toast and as soon as Farrell and Daly are on the pitch they can wait for a shit kick and then trust Kolbe to finish it.
I think by the third test we will see a completely different lions starting 15 because when the shit goes down - the English lads will start leaking penalties
Practice makes perfectMr Mwenda wrote:Well the Scots are noted experts in taking defeats to heart, so perhaps we should respect their wisdom in this regard.Banquo wrote:Yes, makes one wonder.Mr Mwenda wrote:
And it goes on...
This. The SA team is impressive but they are not unbelievable. As you say, they nearly blew what should have been a comfortable win Inthe semi against Wales and had lost to NZ earlier on.Puja wrote:I really do think you're investing this South African side with mystical power that they don't actually have. Sometimes in rugby, all your plans go to shit, the opposition are up for it, some of your key men have terrible starts and get worse, you don't quite get the touch of luck, and you end up on the wrong end of a dicking when it's a game you should've been competitive in. England had it in 2013 against Wales and it didn't leave the England players scarred and scared of Wales - it left them pissed off and they won the next three encounters (we'll ignore the 4th one!).whatisthejava wrote:It’s not the fact that SA beat sent in a RWC. They systematically destroyed that English teams game plan AFTER they almost nilled the AB.Puja wrote: Seems like a hell of an extrapolation to draw from one game, especially considering just about all of the England players involved have beaten SA home and away before as well as losing the RWC final, but okay.
Puja
Rassie is smarter and knows that if he gets in the English faces then the English boys will revert to the last 12 months and give penalties away.
The entire Garland game plan is based on matching the saffas forward pack and against the A team the lions failed.
I’d quite like the lions to win but i don’t have blind faith
That's not to say South Africa aren't a great side or worthy world champions or that they didn't put England comfortably away. But they're also the same side that lost to New Zealand and could very easily have lost to Wales. They're not supermen - they're just a very good side - and they're suffering from this being their second test in 2 years.
Also, that South Africa A game seems largely irrelevant considering that Lions side shares all of 4 starters with the first test XV.
Puja
Very few. I saw a table of stats on line and these combinations of players have very little game time together in their respective position groups on tour. Obviously some have played together before (the second rows, VdM and Hogg) but the key combos haven't had much time in games together.Banquo wrote:How many of the Lions units have ever played together?Big D wrote:SA are favourites in my book. They may not have played as a squad for a long time, they are a well drilled team with most of the parts there that won them the world cup.
That being said, there is no score line other than something daft allowing for draws that would surprise me over the series.