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LIONS vs Southland Result: 26-16 to the LIONS
Southland played well but couldn't control the Lions backline who were rampant throughout the game. The Lions steadfastly refused to kick possession away and were quick to get the ball out wide, 2 tactics they will want to use against the All Blacks I'm sure. More accuracy is need though...
ALL BLACK side for first test announced:
1) Tony Woodcock 9) Justin Marshall
2) Keven Mealamu 10) Daniel Carter
3) Carl Hayman 11) Sitiveni Sivivatu
4) Chris Jack 12) Aaron Mauger
5) Ali Williams 13) Tana Umaga (c)
6) Jerry Collins 14) Doug Howlett
7) Ritchie McCaw 15) Leon McDonald
8 ) Rodney So'oialo
Reserves: Derren Whitcombe, Greg Sommerville, Jono Gibbes, Sione Lauaki, Byron Kelleher, Mils Muliaina, Rico Gear.
A great side, have no doubt about that. Look out Lions, these forwards savaged the English on thier last tour of NZ, and the backs contain the best of the champion Crusaders and Blues Super 12 backlines. The only way the Lions can win is to TOTALLY deny the AB's any possession at all (ala Australia in the 2003 World Cup Semi-final) and frustate them into mistakes. I can't see it happening though.
ALL BLACKS by 10pts +
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The Official Rugby Topic
http://www.esato.com/board/viewtopic.php?topic=93881[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2005-06-21 14:31 ]
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Posted: 2005-06-21 14:58:48
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The Lions team for the 1st test was announced yesterday but I'm having difficulty finding a list online. I did hear that Johnny Wilkinson will be playing second five-eight (#12) and Gavin Henson was upset at being dropped.
JW at number 12 is a surpise move. The Lions usual tactics are to have the first five eight kick for position, one of JW's strengths. This way Johnny won't see the ball unless the Lions decide to unleash thier not very frightning backline. I wouldn't try to use JW as a battering ram against the likes of Tana Umaga or Aaron Mauger...
If the Lions backline is going to come into play it will only be on the back of chip kicks over the flat defense. Last year Jono Gibbes and Jerry Collins made mincemeat of the English forwards with the All Black backline rampant against a world champion English side (admittedly without an injured Johnny Wilkinson) who were unable to score a try in 2 tests. Scores were 36-3 and 36-12. Expect a good game from Dwayne Peel at halfback (#9).
EDIT: Lions team is as follows...
1) Gethin Jenkins -Wales
2) Shane Byrne - Ireland
3) Julian White -England
4) Paul O'Connell - Ireland
5) Ben Kay -England
6) Richard Hill - England
7) Neil Back - England
8 ) Martin Corry - England
9) Dwayne Peel -Wales
10) Stephen Jones - Wales
11) Gareth Thomas -Wales
12) Jonny Wilkinson - England
13) Brian O'Driscoll (c) - Ireland
14) Josh Lewsy - England
15) Jason Robinson - England
Reserves: Steve Thompson - Eng, Graham Rowntree - Eng, Danny Grewcock - Eng, Ryan Jones - Wales, Matt Dawson - Eng, Will Greenwood - Eng, Shane Horgan - Ire.
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The Official Rugby Topic
http://www.esato.com/board/viewtopic.php?topic=93881
[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2005-06-25 06:06 ]
[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2005-06-25 13:01 ]
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Posted: 2005-06-23 17:17:12
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ALL BLACKS vs LIONS Result: 21-3 to the AB's
Quick, call the Police! Someone has kidnapped the Lions and substituted 22 lack-lustre imposters in thier place...
The All Blacks smashed the Lions, who were found out big-time in all areas of the game. The weather conditions started off ok but gradually
deteriorated with hail arriving in the 60th minute. By that stage though, the AB's had scored two tries (by #5 Ali Williams in the first half and by #14 Sitiveni Sivivatu in the second), 3 penalties and 1 conversion, kicked by Daniel Carter. Jonny Wilkinson was successful with a penalty kick in the 55th minute.
The Lions lost endless lineouts and conceded several turnovers at ruck time all contributing to a 66%/34% possession advantage to the All Blacks in the first 40 minutes. The Backs looked lost and the forwards were under siege especially during lineouts. Dwayne Peel and JW played well but the Lions never looked to be involved in the game, let alone scoring tries. Unfortunately captain Brian O'Driscoll was taken off on a stretcher after only 30 seconds with an injury to his right arm.
Special mention goes to Ali Williams for numerous lineouts wins against the throw, an inspirational game from Tana Umaga and excellent performances from Dan Carter, Byron Kelleher and Keven Mealamu.
Halftime 11-0 to the All Blacks.
LIONS vs Manawatu, June 28th at Palmerston North
LIONS vs ALL BLACKS, July 2nd at Wellington
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The Official Rugby Topic
http://www.esato.com/board/viewtopic.php?topic=93881[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2005-06-25 13:52 ]
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Posted: 2005-06-25 14:41:36
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LIONS run rings around woeful Manawatu: 109-6
Manawatu, a second division side and easily the weakest opposition the Lions will face this tour, were thrashed by 17 tries to none with Welsh winger Shane Williams scoring 5 tries himself. This was the second largest score in the Lions history, 6 pts behind that scored against Western Australia during the last tour.
Manawatu have been described as woeful and lacking in the basics of the game. They are the 16th ranked team in the Air NZ National Provincial Championship, all amatuers and most are probably back at work today, to put things in perspective.
Prediction for 2nd Test:
If the weather is good, All Blacks to score 50 pts against the Lions.
Clive Woodward needs:
1) A game plan
2) Some forwards who know how to do the basics well
3) More Welshmen and Irishmen in the team
4) To teach his backline how to catch and pass under pressure
5) Some GAMEBREAKERS!
6) to put Jonny Wilkinson back at #10 (duh!)
and somewhere else to live if the Lions lose the series 0-3.
I'm sure the newspapers will have the Knives nice and sharp for his return...
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Posted: 2005-06-29 05:51:21
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ALL BLACKS vs LIONS 2ND TEST RESULT: 48-18 to the AB's
All Blacks showed a complete performance tonight as they smashed a Lions team many critic's thought would should have been picked last week. Much more commitment was shown by the Lions players, who were no doubt aware of Prince Williams presence in the Wellington crowd tonight. Despite this the All black backline had plenty of space to work with (never a good thing for the opposition) due to 25 missed tackles from the men in red, who had to deal with an 'on fire' first five eight Daniel Carter with 33pts to his name including 2 tries.
I honestly don't know what Sir Clive can do with this Lions squad to prevent a 0-3 whitewash. Usual All Black wingers Doug Howett and Joe Rokocoko (absent tonight) will probably appear in thier Auckland positions to make life difficult for the Lions midweek team. This will be the toughest NPC team the midweekers will face. I'm picking a narrow win to Auckland.
As for the third test, another 50 point demolition is on the cards...
LIONS vs Auckland Tuesday 7:10pm NZ time.
ALL BLACKS vs LIONS Saturday 9th July 7:10pm NZ time
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Posted: 2005-07-02 13:53:46
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LIONS vs Auckland Result: 17-13 to the Lions
I didn't watch this game but I listened to some of it on the car radio.
Auckland were disappointing. The midweek Lions defense was strong as ever. One try scored by each team. The midweekers have been undefeated on tour against good but understrength and underprepared local teams. The Air NZ NPC had not started before the tourists arrived, so a game against the Lions was the first game of the season for all these teams.
Some changes to the All Blacks forced by injury may make the result closer than the 30 pts of last week, but the AB's should still win comfortably.
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Posted: 2005-07-06 18:20:32
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nice work on this thread carkitter - very neat and informative!
All i can say is that it is such a shame the way this lions tour turned out. The current All Blacks team is phenominal however i don't believe the lions have once fielded their strongest team. I still think the all blacks would have won the series but the scorelines would have been a lot closer. Sir Clive Woodward has been nothing short of a disgrace in the way he has treated some players. Mertyn Williams for example - was man of the tournament this six nations, played very well in all the midweek games on tour, gets man of the match in the last midweek game and yet still doesn't start?!?! how can you claim to be picking your team on form if plays like this are being left out?! it is disgusting. Cusiter is another fine example, while i dont believe he should be starting there is no doubt that he has outperformed dawson on tour and deserves his place on the bench. Bulloch is another player who has played excellently in the midweek games, was even captain, and yet still isnt given a test place ater both Byrne and Thompson have underperformed in their test games. I feel so sorry for these players who have bust a gut all tour to prove themselves under the impression they could play themselves into contention when infact woodward will only consider the players he has past experience with.
The tour was over after the first game. Fielding a team so largely based on past glory was only ever going to lead to one outcome - a total trouncing. From that point on a very difficult task (beating the all blacks) became almost impossible as you have given the all blacks such a mental boost while damaging spirits in the lions camp. Plus despite the polite and brave faces put on for the media there will have been some very angry players in the lions camp after this team selection.
I could go on and on as Clive Woodward has made so many fundamental c*ck-ups on this tour. But the main point is just that i feel it is such a shame we never got to truely see the BEST of the northern hemisphere Vs the all blacks because it would have been one hell of a game!!!
Tom
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Posted: 2005-07-08 12:27:03
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We here in NZ have been awaiting this tour with baited breath.
If you had asked any die-hard All Black supporter for a first test prediction prior to the tour, you would have seen the anxiety in thier face. No-one thought we would win all 3 games, hell, we thought this series would be a war that we would be fortunate to win.
When I saw the Lions score 3 tries in 12 minutes against Bay of Plenty, I must say I was very worried. But as the tour wore on and the Lions did only enough to win, I became puzzled. Why was Sir Clive not using all his players? What were they holding back?
Laurie Mains, former All Black and former AB coach during the 1995 World Cup, said he reckoned this Lions team would get slaughtered and were not up to the task. All the NZ media rubbished him. No-one believed Sir Clive could get it so wrong; he must have something up his sleeve!
It has been a priviledge to host the team and your fellow Brits during the tour. The sports programs on TV and radio have been full of interviews with rugby legends such as J.P.R. Williams and others who are travelling with the team.
It is an event New Zealanders will never forget.
I think problems on tour are par for the course; Graham Henry had problems on the 2001 Tour of Australia. I hope the Lions can overcome these to provide a competitive team on Saturday. I'm sure the events of the last few days will motivate them...
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The Official Rugby Topic[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2005-08-03 05:18 ]
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Posted: 2005-07-08 13:20:49
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ALL BLACKS vs LIONS RESULT: 38-19 to the All Blacks
Again the All Blacks were unstoppable despite injuries to key players #10 Daniel Carter and #7 Ritchie McCaw. All Blacks scored 14 points with only 14 men, at one stage of the first half, after the sending off of captain Tana Umaga for deliberate illegal play... a harsh call many thought as he had a large Lions Forward on top of him, how was he supposed to roll away? Lions Forward play was much improved with more possession and 3 lineout turnovers going thier way, however the Lions had trouble creating scoring opportunities, unlike the All Blacks.
Five tries were scored by the AB's, One to the Lions.
For the series:AB's 12 tries/107 pts, Lions 3 tries/40pts.
According to Sir Clive Woodward, it didn't matter anyway. The only difference between the teams apparently was the scoreline... The thing that matters is World Cup Results he said.
Hahaha! What a sore loser. No-one over here will miss him when he leaves to coach football (soccer). The facts show he coached the Lions on thier worst performances in NZ. Ever!
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Posted: 2005-07-12 06:15:19
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Hey South African rugby fans, how good is this '05 Springbok team?
2 good wins over the Wallabies this season, yet Eddie Jones reckons the Tri-nations trophy will be heading to the All Blacks this year.
The first AB/Springbok test is only days away, any predictions y'all?
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Posted: 2005-08-03 06:25:50
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