RugbyRebels

I didn't catch MoM but if i was choosing it would be Toolis by a country mile. He was fantastic today. Easily a 9/10 or higher performance. Shows what a silly boy VC was for ignoring him - I think most of us knew he was a class act and capable of this kind of performance. I can actually see him breaking into the starting XV under toony.

Btw prolific try scorer Ross Ford has scored the same number of tries in 1 game as the Lions have in 3.

Nice one. Cheers lads.

Mixed bag but some positive stuff in there.

Some of the same issues persisting though.

Really not impressed with Pyrgos.

So. Add in Gray, Watson if fit and keep the rest the same?

I'm still irritated we aren't making more of our centre options.

Taylor picks some nice lines from fullback which helped though.

Not the perfect performance but five really good tries in what must have been killing conditions if a very good start. Great to see Toolis have a good time. Reliable in the lineout and showed some dog carrying the ball. All of the back three played well, and Russel showed those little flashes of creativity that the Lions have been in desperate need of.

Considering they haven't played for a few weeks I'd call that a satisfactory start.

Toolis should start next week.

Yeah, think Swindon has deservedly been third choice over the last season but fair to pick Toolis with Gray the next two weeks as he was very good today. Generally happy with the performance. Subs maybe would have been a bit disappointed not to add more but generally happy

game is here:

And Crusaders - Lions game here. Hogg incident at 20.20

Just watched the England game. Good game.

Our 2nd try really was a beauty.

Taylor had to kick as Finn was told to go for a HIA and the sub doesn't count til play is about to restart.

Adder wrote:And Crusaders - Lions game here. Hogg incident at 20.20

Zzzzz.

Have the Lions thought about calling up Ross Ford considering they can't cross the whitewash to save their lives?

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:Have the Lions thought about calling up Ross Ford considering they can't cross the whitewash to save their lives?

They should also think about playing against Italy instead of NZ. Good call.

no sleep wrote:

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:Have the Lions thought about calling up Ross Ford considering they can't cross the whitewash to save their lives?

They should also think about playing against Italy instead of NZ. Good call.

The Lions haven't played NZ yet. They've played two club teams and a semi pro scratch team. So I'd say it's a fair conclusion that they're pretty shite and cannot score tries for love nor money.

Glad to see we are trying to play some positive rugby at least.

Have only just finished watching the match. Overall, we can't complain. Some rustiness/ sloppiness (particularly at the end), but also some good stuff in difficult conditions. It was a positive performance and result, even if it was against a second rate team.

Looking forward to setting my alarm for Saturday now. Bring it on!

I reckon Toolis deserves a start and although they wrere mooting Finn Russel to 15 this morning on the radio i think i would keep Taylor

so if Gregor is reading this is my team

Reid
Brown
WP
Toolis
J Gray
Barclay
Watson
Wilson

Pryce
Russel
Visser
Dunbar
Scott
Hoyland
Taylor

Taylor was to interested in being involved, which was very good but possibly against Australia we will get a bit more exposed, mind u dont realyl want to see Finn moved as he scares defences

I thought Dell made some really good contributions in the loose but can't remember the scrums too well to be honest. Would it make sense to keep the unit together that gave a good platform?

Wilson v Strauss is tight I'd say. Definitely get Watson and Gray in though.

Agree on Taylor/Russell. Not really sure why we'd want to move him there. Now isn't the time to see if Horne has suddenly become a genuine international 10.

Shall I do my bit about the centres again? It's been a few days.

I saw something in an article about moving Russel to 15, can anyone explain the logic in that as it strikes me as pure mental.

AL. wrote:I saw something in an article about moving Russel to 15, can anyone explain the logic in that as it strikes me as pure mental.

Townsend made a comment that he had ran their in training quite a bit in answer to a question about our lack of full backs in the squad. I'don't think it is a big jump from that to playing our best 10 at 15 in the toughest match. Taylor was fine too and will improve.

Having said that, I can see Russel doing a decent job at 15 as he is decent under a high ball and quite good at starting attacks from deep. I don't really get why you would do it though unless you were desperate. More of a substitute option if you want to bring Horne on but keep Russell as another playmaker (or if Taylor gets injured and you don't like the wingers giving full back a go)

Did you lot watch the same game? Russell played 15 a lot that match despite having 10 on his back. Did very well.

And I would imagine to develop options at 15 beyond Hogg but also options at 10 beyond Russell (if he does indeed start at 15).

Makes sense.

Scotland seemed to use a lot of fowards as first receiver against Italy who would then pop pass it to whatever forwrd was beside them. I guess that is to avoid rushing defence but it looked quite easy to read

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hugh_woatmeigh wrote:And I would imagine to develop options at 15 beyond Hogg but also options at 10 beyond Russell (if he does indeed start at 15).

Makes sense.

I kind of got that much myself, I just wondered why after years of not having a ten, we have one that looks like he could be the business and then think about moving him elsewhere.....

I personally though Taylor was ok at 15 but not under a lot of pressure all the time, getting him on the pitch somewhere to me makes sense though as he is clearly level headed, but at the expense of our other centres (Jones in particular) i am not sure, he seems to be a good option to me at FB with some practice, as I say level headed, steady and as backup that would do me.

What is the name of the Weegie fella a bit like Horne who backs up at full back for Hogg at club level? Mind blank....