starfish
No dialogue. Just plot.
Him & Finn.
British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa 2021
- Thread starter Elpenor
- Start date
Elpenor
Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata. Shantih Shantih Shantih
Warrenballs last stand, 5pm Saturday, as 4 Welsh players brought back in. Can’t see any lineout being won with Owens on darts. Lowest number of Scottish players starting for a while. Sanjay Williams and Josh Adams in, Aki starts, Price is back. Beard and Simmonds on the bench. Russell too so scapegoat lined up already.
Williams; Adams, Henshaw, Aki, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Price; Jones, Owens, Furlong, Itoje, A Wyn Jones (c), Lawes, Curry, Conan
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Vunipola, Sinckler, Beard, Simmonds, Murray, Russell, Daly
Williams; Adams, Henshaw, Aki, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Price; Jones, Owens, Furlong, Itoje, A Wyn Jones (c), Lawes, Curry, Conan
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Vunipola, Sinckler, Beard, Simmonds, Murray, Russell, Daly
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Owens' inclusion and Van der Mediocre's retention instead of Watson (or LRZ for that matter) the only significant talking points, imo. The former clearly the worst of the three hookers so perhaps included due to national combos wrt lineout jumping (Wyn Jones and AWJ) to give way to Vunipola and LCD. VdM I genuinely don't understand any way you want to skin it but, as you've mentioned before, Warren likes his lumps out wide. Beirne can count himself unlucky but I guess Lawes is there to do exactly his job in the two positions and is considered to have done better over the course of the series.
Interested in Beard's inclusion - he provides a lot of ballast, has good hands and, more importantly, is a maul disruptor par excellence. He has also been quietly decent since he was called up.
Centre and SH remain the major achilles of this side, but at least the 12-13 axis is bedded in and in its respective best position. Also wonder if having no openside cover could come back to bite us on the arse. I'd have Navidi over Simmonds, but there you go.
Elpenor
Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata. Shantih Shantih Shantih
I feel Beirne is a bit hard done by, but maybe a case of Lawes does the unseen graft and Beirne has the flashy highlights and Warren loves a grafter.
Beard deserves his place on the bench, he’s impressed me. It also suggests he may bring off AWJ or possibly shift Itoje to 6 at some point. South Africa are playing a lock at 6 - Faf is out as well, Reinach starts who has gas.
I’m not so sure about Simmonds who I feel is a bit of a flat track bully, albeit one who could conceivably play flanker.
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
I would be amazed if either lock is subbed. They, along with Furlong, have been the standout players in both tests. Itoje will replace Lawes at 6 as you suggest, imo
Smangus
comatose at a desk
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
If he works a bit harder he might match Andy Goode12 games in 12 years, not much to shout about really.
Elpenor
Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata. Shantih Shantih Shantih
I know what you mean, but also, it’s the hope that kills you.
1927
Funnier than he thinks he is.
To be at the top of your game, for 12 years, in a position as demanding as his is phenomenal.12 games in 12 years, not much to shout about really.
Smangus
comatose at a desk
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
You can't really disagree with his achievements or him as a player. He's right up there in the pantheon of the greatest players ever produced in his position in any era. Not the greatest, but up there. He is, without doubt, the best forward Wales has ever produced. Arguably he's in the top three locks Britain and Ireland have ever produced. IMO in the professional era only Johnson could claim to be better, but given his longevity and consistency of performance, and his Lions' pedigree, AWJ could plausibly claim the crown as the greatest. It's all moot and obviously national bias plays a part but he is an absolute phenomenon.I don't disagree
Smangus
comatose at a desk
I have no issue with AWJ, great player and captain and to see his longevity in this pro age is pretty amazing. I doubt many with have careers half that long given the way the game is going. His biggest fault of course is that he's not English
1927
Funnier than he thinks he is.
I know I’ve posted it here before, but the most amazing statistic is that AWJ has played in over 21% of all the games that Wales have ever played in 140 years!I have no issue with AWJ, great player and captain and to see his longevity in this pro age is pretty amazing. I doubt many with have careers half that long given the way the game is going. His biggest fault of course is that he's not English
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Yeah, and a quarter of the 'slams.I know I’ve posted it here before, but the most amazing statistic is that AWJ has played in over 21% of all the games that Wales have ever played in 140 years!
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
I suspect we're in for more thin gruel entertainment-wise this evening.
sleaterkinney
Well-Known Member
Plus 5 every year for Wales…12 games in 12 years, not much to shout about really.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Why aren't you lot going mental? This is incredibly tight and exciting isn't it?
Elpenor
Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata. Shantih Shantih Shantih
My main takeaways
If only Russell had been fit throughout the test matches. This felt like a back line that was firing finally.
Lions left at least 2 tries out on the field.
I wonder how many scrum penalties given away by Mako in crucial moments.
Unusually for test rugby the team ahead at half time lost the game, rare for that to happen 3 times on the spin.
Townsend not convincing as an attack coach, not coach in 2025 please.
Gatland coached teams tend to play in 3 point increments, not 7 points. This isn’t really enough in the modern game. If you aim to score 30 points in each game you will rarely lose. They seek to make every match a tight arm wrestle (an “alpha test” to use the shit catchphrase Sam Warburton was using in the 6 nations). The tactics probably work for a Wales team in the 6 Nations but generally come up short at the higher levels (see his fairly dismal record with Wales v Southern Hemisphere teams), and if there’s one team you can’t out arm wrestle it’s South Africa.
If only Russell had been fit throughout the test matches. This felt like a back line that was firing finally.
Lions left at least 2 tries out on the field.
I wonder how many scrum penalties given away by Mako in crucial moments.
Unusually for test rugby the team ahead at half time lost the game, rare for that to happen 3 times on the spin.
Townsend not convincing as an attack coach, not coach in 2025 please.
Gatland coached teams tend to play in 3 point increments, not 7 points. This isn’t really enough in the modern game. If you aim to score 30 points in each game you will rarely lose. They seek to make every match a tight arm wrestle (an “alpha test” to use the shit catchphrase Sam Warburton was using in the 6 nations). The tactics probably work for a Wales team in the 6 Nations but generally come up short at the higher levels (see his fairly dismal record with Wales v Southern Hemisphere teams), and if there’s one team you can’t out arm wrestle it’s South Africa.
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
How about Curry being responsible for - 7 Lions points, 3 Bokke points and another pen to cap it off. Total liability today, as was Price. Russell excellent.
Elpenor
Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata. Shantih Shantih Shantih
You should know that it’s compulsory to only criticise players from other home nations
Agree he had a poor tour. Captain next time round though?
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Dunno. He certainly didn't cover himself in glory. Itoje probably the next cab off the rank.You should know that it’s compulsory to only criticise players from other home nations
Agree he had a poor tour. Captain next time round though?
