The rugby

[Pross]

Hoping Steve Tandy will be a good appointment for Wales. I thought he'd be a good choice when Gatland went the first time.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Hoping Steve Tandy will be a good appointment for Wales. I thought he'd be a good choice when Gatland went the first time.

I'm afraid that it will take a lot more than a good manager to turn Wales' results around significantly.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Teams are up:
Australia: Wright, Jorgensen, Suaalii, Ikitau, Potter, Lynagh, Gordon; Slipper, Porecki, Alaalatoa, Frost, Skelton, Valetini, McReight, Wilson.

Replacements: Pollard, Bell, Robertson, Williams, Gleeson, Tizzano, McDermott, Donaldson.

British & Irish Lions: Keenan, Freeman, Jones, Aki, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje, Chessum, Beirne, Curry, Conan.

Replacements: Kelleher, Genge, Stuart, Ryan, Morgan, Mitchell, Farrell, Kinghorn.

Daddy's boy on the bench to cover 10 & 12 - no form, no fitness, hasn't kicked all season, can't tackle properly, shouldn't be in the squad

 

[Pblakeney]

Daddy's boy doesn't understand why he is getting "poison" on the socials.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Farrell’s selection is not finding favour with armchair pundits. A lot of criticism on HYS on the BBC webpage.
Much the same as when Gatland was in charge and Wales were top of the Northern hemisphere tree.

 

[laurentian]

I don't watch much club Rugby so I can't say that I'm particularly well positioned to say who could fill the fly half/centre replacement spot on the bench but I do think that Owen Farrell is an exceptional player and Marcus Smith being injured has forced A Farrell's hand somewhat. I honestly think he's as good as Wilkinson ever was and has a fantastic abrasive edge to his playing. Apart from a world cup, in which he was captain in a final and architect of the greatest England performance I have ever seen beating NZ in the semi final, he has won pretty much everything there is to win - he is hugely respected in the game.

I suspect the disdain for his selection is coming mainly from the fans of the other home nations who were on the wrong end of that abrasiveness.

The Lions coach favouring players they trust to carry out their gameplan (in this case many Irish players), is understandable and not without precedent - Gatland and Woodward are recent examples of this. I am however, surprised at the re-selection of Keenan and, in particular, James Lowe. Great as he is, Lowe did not have a good game in the first test. Again, Marcus Smith's injury has probably forced Farrell's hand in this case.

I suspect Genge's demotion to the bench is a tactical (i.e. smash up the scrums) than one based on performance on tour as Genge has been the stand out prop in my opinion.

I believe Australia will start the game with much more confidence, speed and panache than they did the first test and Lions will need to be right in the case.

 

[Dorset Boy]

@laurentian Owen Farrell spent much of last season either injured or banned, and when 'fit' he wasn't selected at 10 - Dan Lancaster took that shirt from him. And Fazlet wasn't even place kicking.
Fazlet isn't in the top 8 12s in the British & Irish Isles, hasn't played international rugby in 18 months, and his selection to replace a back 3 player is massive nepotism. He should not be in the squad as he hasn't earnt that spot, daddy has given it to him.
Sadly, Fin Smith's kicking has fallen apart, having been an 85-90% kicker pre-tour to about 60% on tour, and I suspect that has counted against him taking the bench spot, with the blind hope that Fazlet can remember how to place kick.

I get the Porter / Genge swap, hoping for better bench impact.
Lowe or DvdM - Lowe offers more and should keep his place.
Kinghorn threw 2 intercepts on Tuesday, which I think has worked in Keenan's favour.
Ryan over Cummins is Irish favouritism.

 

[laurentian]

@laurentian Owen Farrell spent much of last season either injured or banned, and when 'fit' he wasn't selected at 10 - Dan Lancaster took that shirt from him. And Fazlet wasn't even place kicking.
Fazlet isn't in the top 8 12s in the British & Irish Isles, hasn't played international rugby in 18 months, and his selection to replace a back 3 player is massive nepotism. He should not be in the squad as he hasn't earnt that spot, daddy has given it to him.
Sadly, Fin Smith's kicking has fallen apart, having been an 85-90% kicker pre-tour to about 60% on tour, and I suspect that has counted against him taking the bench spot, with the blind hope that Fazlet can remember how to place kick.

I get the Porter / Genge swap, hoping for better bench impact.
Lowe or DvdM - Lowe offers more and should keep his place.
Kinghorn threw 2 intercepts on Tuesday, which I think has worked in Keenan's favour.
Ryan over Cummins is Irish favouritism.

Cheers

As I said, I don't really watch too much top flight rugby apart from internationals but thanks for filling in the blanks. I agree on the Genge thing. I do think Lowe is a great player but had a shocker last Saturday. I think that M Smith could well have taken Keenan's place (or at least be the bench cover at 10/15) if he wasn't injured

 

[Blazing Saddles]

@laurentian Owen Farrell spent much of last season either injured or banned, and when 'fit' he wasn't selected at 10 - Dan Lancaster took that shirt from him. And Fazlet wasn't even place kicking.
Fazlet isn't in the top 8 12s in the British & Irish Isles, hasn't played international rugby in 18 months, and his selection to replace a back 3 player is massive nepotism. He should not be in the squad as he hasn't earnt that spot, daddy has given it to him.
Sadly, Fin Smith's kicking has fallen apart, having been an 85-90% kicker pre-tour to about 60% on tour, and I suspect that has counted against him taking the bench spot, with the blind hope that Fazlet can remember how to place kick.

I get the Porter / Genge swap, hoping for better bench impact.
Lowe or DvdM - Lowe offers more and should keep his place.
Kinghorn threw 2 intercepts on Tuesday, which I think has worked in Keenan's favour.
Ryan over Cummins is Irish favouritism.

I pretty much agree with all of that.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

What a difference a week makes.
The Lions are getting absolutely schooled.
Already it’s an ugly looking scoreboard.

 

[Chromatic]

We did well to go in at halftime only 6 points behind.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Of course it all comes down to the TMO.
It’s getting a bit ridiculous

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Try stands!

 

[Chromatic]

No place for play-acting like that in the game.

 

[newts]

The lions fans should have been singing Diving Matilda after Morgan's clear out & the aus player rolled around like he'd been shot.