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I hate to give him credit but they will need Quade - even if he is on the bench (in fact he might be devastating off the bench against a tired oposition) - I predict the Lions to take the series 2 to 1. Despite this I also predict Deans to continue to be Wallabies coach until 2015.
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| # ? May 21, 2013 06:40 |
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| # ? May 22, 2013 11:33 |
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My backs would be: 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Ioane 12. Barnes 13. AAC 14. Folau/O'Connor 15. O'Connor/Folau
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| # ? May 21, 2013 07:11 |
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I have to disagree with your prediction. As aggressively as Ewen McKenzie is lobbying for the job (this whole QC spat is basically him putting forward his credentials), and the level of hatred amongst the less intelligent towards "Dingo" Deans, I don't see him surviving until the WC unless the Wallabies not only beat the Lions, but also regain the Bledisloe Cup.
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| # ? May 21, 2013 07:12 |
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Plucky Brit posted:I sincerely hope the Welsh players perform well, but saying you're learning lessons after losing repeatedly smacks of desperation. I don't have a problem with a Welsh captain, but I do have a problem with a captain that has never beaten a tri-nations side. Yes, the majority of the side should be made up with players who have a proven track record of beating SH sides, just like it was on the 2005 lions tour, we all recall what a great success that was.
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| # ? May 21, 2013 10:43 |
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hitchensgoespop posted:Yes, the majority of the side should be made up with players who have a proven track record of beating SH sides, just like it was on the 2005 lions tour, we all recall what a great success that was. It wasn't that bad. I mean, they only met the greatest first five in the history of the game during the best form of his career. (And BOD nearly dying in the first test didn't help them either tbh) Edit: The Wallabies scrum has muscled up significantly since the days when milky loving porridges like Al Baxter were there, but beating them up front will be the only chance the Lions have. They don't need to look much further than Ireland's win over the Aussies at the world cup for inspiration. Whether they can sustain that for more than a test remains to be seen. But that lot lost to loving Scotland and Samoa first up in 2012 and 2011 respectively, so have at it. emjayo fucked around with this message at May 21, 2013 around 12:10 |
| # ? May 21, 2013 12:05 |
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emjayo posted:It wasn't that bad. I mean, they only met the greatest first five in the history of the game during the best form of his career. Yeah it was that bad, they were pretty convincingly stuffed in all three tests. And i get your point, i was being intentionally facetious, but the whole thing about Wales being chokers against SH sides, whilst largely true has become a huge echo chamber and is obscuring any potentially interesting debate about the tour. Ive never known a run up to a lions tour that has seen such discontent amongst the home nations fans about the selection especially as the majority of the gripes has largely boiled down to "wales cant win in Australia" which is hugely short sighted.
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| # ? May 21, 2013 12:39 |
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hitchensgoespop posted:Yeah it was that bad, they were pretty convincingly stuffed in all three tests. My gripe is with Warburton as captain, as I just don't think he's that good at it. Wales last won a game where he was captain over a year ago, which is coupled with the news that he turned down the captaincy against England. To me that does not seem like the actions of somebody who should captain the Lions. I have no real gripe with the Welsh numbers, they all get in there on merit (as much as I hate Mike Phillips) with the possible exception of Lydiate. I'm more annoyed that some English players are in (Hartley, Stevens, Croft) while others aren't (Morgan, Robshaw, Wood especially). The fact that Tom loving Croft has got on the plane but the three best English loose forwards haven't is really annoying. But let's be honest, the 2005 Lions team would've been stuffed no matter who they brought. That NZ team was ridiculously good.
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| # ? May 21, 2013 13:50 |
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Plucky Brit posted:My gripe is with Warburton as captain, as I just don't think he's that good at it. Wales last won a game where he was captain over a year ago, which is coupled with the news that he turned down the captaincy against England. To me that does not seem like the actions of somebody who should captain the Lions. I have no real gripe with the Welsh numbers, they all get in there on merit (as much as I hate Mike Phillips) with the possible exception of Lydiate. I'm more annoyed that some English players are in (Hartley, Stevens, Croft) while others aren't (Morgan, Robshaw, Wood especially). The fact that Tom loving Croft has got on the plane but the three best English loose forwards haven't is really annoying. The point about warburton is a fair one, for me he always plays better when hes not captain but Gatland must have some insight as to why hes picked him. Croft could be there for his speed possibly? Morgan is a gifted player but tends to trundle a bit at times.
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| # ? May 21, 2013 14:07 |
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The Welsh team for the Japan tour later this summer has just been announced: Props Ryan Bevington (Ospreys) Rhys Gill (Saracens) Scott Andrews (Blues) Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs) Rhodri Jones (Scarlets) Hooker Scott Baldwin (Ospreys) Emyr Phillips (Scarlets) Locks Bradley Davies (Blues) (Captain) Lou Reed (Blues) Andrew Coombs (Dragons) James King (Ospreys) Flankers Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) Dan Baker (Ospreys) Rob McCusker (Scarlets) Number 8 Andries Pretorius (Blues) Scrum Halfs Lloyd Williams (Blues) Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets) Fly Halfs Dan Biggar (Ospreys) Rhys Patchell (Blues) Centres Ashley Beck (Ospreys) Owen Williams (Blues) Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys) Wings Dafydd Howells (Ospreys) Harry Robinson (Blues) Full Backs Tom Prydie (Dragons) Liam Williams (Scarlets) Steven Shingler (London Irish) Nothing too surprising, although it'll be interesting to see if Davies finishes the tour without getting lashed up and doing something hilarious.
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| # ? May 21, 2013 14:08 |
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Skillness622 posted:The Welsh team for the Japan tour later this summer has just been announced: It's actually just two test matches on June 8th and June 15th (hence the tiny squad). Note that Dan Baker has never actually played for The Ospreys : He's a member of one of the smaller "feeder" clubs, that provides them with developmental talent. It's possible that his first ever professional appearance will be for Wales. Plucky Brit posted:Warburton as captain Let's just put into perspective the pros and cons of Sam Warburton as Squad Captain : Pros Has extensive media training, and reliably gives media-pleasing interviews Has a clear and neutral accent, which is easy for foreigners to understand Never argues with officials and has a reputation as a very clean player Doen't drink / smoke / swear / act like a rugby player Looks a lot like Doctor Who and smiles a lot for photographs Cons Isn't good enough to play rugby at an international level
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| # ? May 22, 2013 06:54 |
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Well, when you put it that way, it's hard to argue with the decision.
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| # ? May 22, 2013 10:41 |
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Unimpressed posted:I have to disagree with your prediction. As aggressively as Ewen McKenzie is lobbying for the job (this whole QC spat is basically him putting forward his credentials), and the level of hatred amongst the less intelligent towards "Dingo" Deans, I don't see him surviving until the WC unless the Wallabies not only beat the Lions, but also regain the Bledisloe Cup. What you say makes sense if one was to look at the situation rationally. But it seems he has the backing of the ARU leadership no matter what happens. Maybe this year will be the year they come to their senses... unless the Wallabies do become an all-conquering team.
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| # ? May 22, 2013 10:45 |
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Warburton is the Welsh Todd Blackadder, essentially.
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| # ? May 22, 2013 11:13 |
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| # ? May 22, 2013 11:33 |
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Unimpressed posted:I have to disagree with your prediction. As aggressively as Ewen McKenzie is lobbying for the job (this whole QC spat is basically him putting forward his credentials), and the level of hatred amongst the less intelligent towards "Dingo" Deans, I don't see him surviving until the WC unless the Wallabies not only beat the Lions, but also regain the Bledisloe Cup.
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| # ? May 22, 2013 11:18 |
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