Lions squad named

[Banquo]

Okay. Won’t do it again.

I like that you are maturing.

Please just block me. It will be so much simpler than doing this again. I'm not even trying to be a dick.

oh dear. You just got called on an odd statement.

[Mikey Brown]

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.

[Mikey Brown]

Some of the stuff with Jon Clarke on the Rugby Pod about the Lions S&C is pretty interesting, but you'll have to be able to stomach Andy Goode trying to be funny. Unsurprisingly mentions Tom Curry being a complete nutcase in terms of what he expects to get from himself.

[Cameo]

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.

[Mikey Brown]

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.

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?

SA are definitely beatable but I was surprised at how together they were in the 'A' fixture.

[Big D]

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.

[Banquo]

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.

I don’t remember anything similar with you before, but it’s only the internet I guess. Moving on.

[whatisthejava]

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

[Puja]

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

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

[p/d]

I’m still chuckling at how far off Dawson was with his predicted 23

[Mr Mwenda]

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...

[Mikey Brown]

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]

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

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.

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

[Puja]

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

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.

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

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!).

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

[Spiffy]

General opinion seems to be that the Lions could likely lose the first test through being monstered up front.
I take a different point of view, that a loss could have more to do with shortcomings behind the scrum.
The Lions pack and forwards benchers are quite a tough looking lot who will not be easily cowed. I am sceptical of the out-and-out power of a Bok back row containing both the over rated Kolisi and Smith (who is a great flanker but a very small 8.) Of Course Pieter Steff DT is a bit special but not a one man band.
I expect the Lions to gain at least parity in the pack but I think the S.A.backs have the overall balance/edge.
We will see.

[Mr Mwenda]

If the Lions selected only players that never lost to South Africa, how many of the squad would be eligible to play? Smith, LRZ and DvDM?

[Mellsblue]

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

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.

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

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!).

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

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......

[Banquo]

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

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.

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

Who would you be picking?

[Banquo]

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...

Yes, makes one wonder.

[Banquo]

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.

How many of the Lions units have ever played together?

[Mr Mwenda]

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...

Yes, makes one wonder.

Well the Scots are noted experts in taking defeats to heart, so perhaps we should respect their wisdom in this regard.

[Mellsblue]

And it goes on...

Yes, makes one wonder.

Well the Scots are noted experts in taking defeats to heart, so perhaps we should respect their wisdom in this regard.

Practice makes perfect

[Son of Mathonwy]

The UK stands at the brink of breakup. Will the Lions prove to be a cohesive influence, or the final straw?

Trying to be positive, at least Farrell isn't starting.

[Cameo]

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

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.

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

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!).

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

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.

They'll be ferocious early on but I don't think theyl be as good as the NZ team last time out (though equally the Lions won't have the luck they had then either).

[Big D]

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.

How many of the Lions units have ever played together?

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.