talkmagic.co.uk

Dont post on any rugby sites.

I seen Gavs interview last night, he seemed absolutley gutted. But as you said, he shouldnt have moaned about it.

Off to check if the team for Saturday has been announced yet.

Cheers
Rob

BBC Sport -

British & Irish Lions: Jason Robinson; Josh Lewsey, Brian O'Driscoll (captain), Jonny Wilkinson, Gareth Thomas; Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel; Gethin Jenkins, Shane Byrne, Julian White, Paul O'Connell, Ben Kay, Richard Hill, Neil Back, Martin Corry (vice-captain).
Replacements: Steve Thompson, Graham Rowntree, Danny Grewcock, Ryan Jones, Matt Dawson, Will Greenwood, Shane Horgan.

JASON ROBINSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wot the blinking heck has he done this year. He's been right off the boil.

Did think Shane Williams might've been on the bench though.

Oh well, roll on Saturday 0945ish and hopefully Sir Clive will be the new messiah...

Rob

Rob,
Rightly or wrongly Clive tends to place high stock in reputation and experience. Robinson can turn a game around + his reputation means that the ABs will have to commit at least 2 tacklers to him when he gets the ball. This is pretty much what happened in the 6 nations, England just didn't have the nous to cash in on it.

Yea that's the thing wit hRobinson, he doesn't seem to make many breaks but that is because he always seems to draw an extra man.

I think Clive's team was OK but even though you Welsh are always whining I have to admit that Shane Williams should have been in the squad and so should Rhys Jones.

I think it is Henson's own fault that he didn't get in the Test squad because he assumed that he was in so he didn't play to his full potential. Now he has been rejected he played to his full. Result: 2 tries.

I would be very happy if Greenwood gets a test

Getting his shirt on the right way is a test for Greenwood

Dont you think though the Sir Clive is basing his selection on past performaces and not this (last) seasons perfomance?

Rob

Congratulations Sir Clive!!!!!!!!!

Its all gone quiet?

Why would that be ????

Well that was a big mess up. One thing I like about you Rdw1971 is that you aren't a whining Welshman. Some Welsh people always complain about how the Lions squad should be a majority of the Welsh.

Ok, Ryan Jones should have been on at first and Henson should have been but some of the Welsh shouldn't have been on. I'm sorry to say this but Stephen Jones wasn't the right player for 10. SCW wanted to play a different type of game to the Welsh. The Welsh wanted to play with their 'flair' but everybody in the team has to play with the same style otherwise the team loses. For example: Stephen Jones' woeful cross-field kick which gave away a try.

Also, Shane Byrne was awful at the line out. Europe hasn't got any solid hookers I'm afraid to say.

Lewsey should have been at full back, Robinson on the wing.

One last moan, I am absolutely appalled by the citing descisions made. Firstly Umaga and Mealamu spear tackle O'Driscoll 40 seconds into the game and dislocate his shoulder. This is bad for several reasons:

+ He is our captain.
+ He is out for the rest of the tour.
+ It was so early in the game.
+ A spear tackle is an illegal tackle because it can break someone's neck.
+ It was off the ball.

Apparently they did it because they didn't O'Driscoll's defiant attitude towards the Haka. They can't possibly have a grudge just because he wasn't scared. Clive showed the tackle to thr RFU but both players got away without punishment.

To add insult to injury, Grewcock was cited and sent home for biting Mealamu.

This really is a joke and a disgrace. Sorry about that moan but I just had to get it off my chest.

People who played well:

Ryan Jones
Neil Back
Dwayne Peel
Paul O'Connell
Jonny Wilkinson
Martin Corry

People who didn't have the chance to shine:

Josh Lewsey
Brian O'Driscoll
Gethin Jenkins
Julian White
Richard Hill
Jason Robinson

People who aren't up to scratch:

Shane Byrne
Stephen Jones
Will Greenwood
Gareth Thomas

I think that's about it. Sorry if I have insulted anyone or made them as angry as I feel.

Now, what does everyone else think?

Yep -theres not a 100% all round hooker in the UK. I dont think either of the Welsh hookers could've played any better, and Shane Byrne had a nightmare.

OK, the weather was sh*t, but it was the same for NZ.

I think we should've gone on that field and put a few hard hits in ourselves, this is where Henson would've been usefull - i.e. too stoopid to feel the pain of a tackle.

Still dont agree that Jason Robinson is on the ball this year, SCW shouldve played him in a few more mid-week games.

Oh well, lets see how depressed we are come lunch time this saturday.

Cheers
Rob

Pretty much agree with Ludders. Really not sure why JW was shoehorned in. OK, he didn't play badly out of position, but Jones' tactical kicking was woeful and his restarts invariably set up the ABs to start running back at us.

Agree wrt line outs. These days if you don't win the majority of your own line out ball you are seriously fecked (cf England's 6N performance).

Disagree about Robinson. He was hardly given any ball in space. Having said that, when he did, he kicked it back to the ABs so maybe Rob has a point

Shocking what happened to BOD, the ABs are far too anally retentive about their precious haka. Remember the whinging when Greening had the gall to stand in the face of the AB haka leader a few years back?

Ye, I remember Greening giving them the eyeball - reckon they should do that on Saturday - show them we not afraid. Lets go out there and kick some kiwi ar*e

Rob

Just seen the team for Saturday.

Humble pie anyone?

Lets hope we put in a better performance this week.

Well done to Shane Williams as well - just cant beleive that he's picked Jason Robinson again.


Cheers
Rob