Rugby Union 21/22/23 Discussion | RWC time!

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Thank god for that. Would have been an awful try to concede

Gonna give a shout-out to the ref, too. Every time I see him he has a good game.
 
That strip from Itoje at the end, brilliant. Him, Lawes and AWJ have had huge games.
 
Thought Courtney Lawes was brilliant. Alun wyn jones is an animal. Vunipola great. Biggar's goalkicking (one aside) was superb also. Great result.
 
The classic “game of two halves”. Good win and a few players will come in for the second Test (and possibly improve it).

I like this SA team, physical and can run it, really liked them in the WC and a nightmare when you go behind (so we’ll done the Lions). Only observation is maybe they could be a little more adventurous when leading… seem happy to take pens and manage field position.… fine when comes off, but hard to change gears when the game turns

@SirAnderson ?
 
Thought Courtney Lawes was brilliant. Alun wyn jones is an animal. Vunipola great. Biggar's goalkicking (one aside) was superb also. Great result.
And Itoje.

AWJ is ridiculous. 150 ish caps, 4 Lions tours, plays an amazingly physical position and comes back from a dislocated shoulder in under 3 week.

Guys a freak.

When you look at the players who didn’t start and could come in in the second Test (without losing ability), pretty confident
 
The classic “game of two halves”. Good win and a few players will come in for the second Test (and possibly improve it).

I like this SA team, physical and can run it, really liked them in the WC and a nightmare when you go behind (so we’ll done the Lions). Only observation is maybe they could be a little more adventurous when leading… seem happy to take pens and manage field position.… fine when comes off, but hard to change gears when the game turns

@SirAnderson ?
Yeah a bit disappointed in our game management. Last weeks game we basically held on and just managed to get over the line, today we got punished.
I agree with needing to be more adventurous but I'm inclined to think we prefer grinding out results and hope for moments of magic from players like Cheslin here and there.
 
And Itoje.

AWJ is ridiculous. 150 ish caps, 4 Lions tours, plays an amazingly physical position and comes back from a dislocated shoulder in under 3 week.

Guys a freak.

When you look at the players who didn’t start and could come in in the second Test (without losing ability), pretty confident

It's beyond belief to come back from that injury. Astonishing stuff.
 
And Itoje.

AWJ is ridiculous. 150 ish caps, 4 Lions tours, plays an amazingly physical position and comes back from a dislocated shoulder in under 3 week.

Guys a freak.

When you look at the players who didn’t start and could come in in the second Test (without losing ability), pretty confident

Didn't he also have the second most tackles behind Lawes? When you consider the injury he had, that's pretty mental. The man is an animal
 
And Itoje.

AWJ is ridiculous. 150 ish caps, 4 Lions tours, plays an amazingly physical position and comes back from a dislocated shoulder in under 3 week.

Guys a freak.

When you look at the players who didn’t start and could come in in the second Test (without losing ability), pretty confident
Gem of a player you guys have in him. Love his tenacity.
 
The classic “game of two halves”. Good win and a few players will come in for the second Test (and possibly improve it).

I like this SA team, physical and can run it, really liked them in the WC and a nightmare when you go behind (so we’ll done the Lions). Only observation is maybe they could be a little more adventurous when leading… seem happy to take pens and manage field position.… fine when comes off, but hard to change gears when the game turns

@SirAnderson ?

I feckin hate their brand of rugby and the ultra-pragmatism/conservativism.

They showed at the WC when they wanted to they could play some amazing rugby but they'd just rather grind it out.
 
Lads Itoje is an absolute freak of a man. That was an astonishing performance from him.

Lawes and others were superb in the second half when the Lions got on top up front but that game would've been dead an buried at half time were it not for Itoje. He was a one man show in that first 40.
 
Gem of a player you guys have in him. Love his tenacity.
As a Welshman, when he retires, it’ll be close (ish) to Robson leaving for me.
I feckin hate their brand of rugby and the ultra-pragmatism/conservativism.

They showed at the WC when they wanted to they could play some amazing rugby but they'd just rather grind it out.
Exactly that. They can stick 20~30 points on teams and are great to watch when running/recycling at speed. Some teams CANT score loads, they can.

Second Test could be amazing as they know they have to go for it a bit more
 
Game of two havles if you forgive the cliche. Right team probably won. The Lions did a good job of countering South Africa's strengths. That try just after half time swung the match for the men in red just when they needed the momentum to come their way.

SA got no real dominance from their scrum and maul, were too obessed with kicking and didn't give Cheslin Kolbe anywhere near enough opportunities to weave some magic. What remains to be seen is if they take their crash and bash style to a new level next week or give a pretty decent backline a chance to shine.
 
In other news, John Mitchell has left his role as England's defence coach to take up a role as attack coach at Wasps.
 
Daly out was almost guaranteed, though thought he may have put Farrell in/moved Henshaw... other two changes I'd go with.

Thought Liam Williams would be in, squad at least if not XV. Farrell and Daly are in as can cover multiple positions but so can Williams. Him and Adams slightly unfortunate to miss out due to 6/2 subs and (for some reason), Daly's inclusion.

Lions team to face South Africa: Hogg; A Watson, Harris, Henshaw, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Murray; Vunipola, Cowan-Dickie, Furlong, Itoje, AW Jones, Lawes, Curry, Conan.

Replacements: Owens, Sutherland, Sinckler, Beirne, Faletau, Price, Farrell, Daly.
 
It won't happen but the ballsy change for the Boks would be Faf De Klerk out, Cobus Reinach in. Reinach might just be the player who can ignite a backline that needs to be ignited. Whatever they do, they've got to find a way to bring their back 3 into the game more on attack too. You can't have Mapimpi and Kolbe just chasing Garryowen kicks all game.
 
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It won't happen but the ballsy change for the Boks would be Faf De Klerk out, Cobus Reinach in. Reinach might just be the player who can ignite a backline that needs to be ignited. Whatever they do, they've got to find a way to bring their back 3 into the game more on attack too. You can't have Mapimpi and Kolbe just chasing Garry Owens all game.

Another Welsh draftee by Gatland?

;)
 
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