The 2013 British and Irish Lions team are ready to set foot on Australian soil for the first time since 2001, but first they take on the Barbarians in Hong Kong. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 9.30pm AEST.
The first game of the tour should be a cracker, with both squads only having been training together for a few weeks, we should get a real taste of what the Lions will bring to Australian shores.
On Thursday the Lions selected their lineup for the Barbarians fixture, with 17 players making their Lions debut.
Coach Warren Gatland has given Owen Farrell first look at flyhalf in front of Ireland’s Jonny Sexton, while former Crusaders winger Sean Maitland will also start, less than a year after finishing up with the Super Rugby franchise.
Gatland is expected to make full use of his bench tonight, with a forecast of 29-degrees and 90 percent humidity predicted in Hong Kong.
The Barbarians were led by Mike Tindall at Twickenham last weekend, where they were roundly hammered 40-12 by an England side devoid of a host of players already on Lions duty.
They were heavily criticised by former Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward, who questioned the quality of the Barbarians side.
He labelled tonight’s fixture a “sidestep” and suggested that it would do “absolutely nothing” to help the Lions in their preparations for the three-Test series against the Wallabies.
Tonight the likes of Schalk Brits, Dean Mumm, Joe Rokocoko and Dmitri Yachvili will all come into the starting XV, who will be led by Italian number eight Sergio Parisse.
Though they have still not had long together, expect more assured, running rugby as the experienced members of the Barbarians step up tonight for the Barbarians.
I’m backing the Lions to get the tour underway with a solid win over the Babas in what promises to be a fantastic showcase of rugby. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 9.30pm AEST.
sircoolalot
Guest
Surely this should put an end to the idea of having a Super rugby team in Hong Kong. It would probably be dangerous playing week in week out there in that kind of heat.
Colin N
Guest
I think the whole of that back-row were carrying injuries into those June Tests weren't they? I know Warburton in particular was struggling but Lydiate had an injury as well didn't he? But if it makes KPM feel better...............
expathack
Guest
Cheers for that. Good to see they've been able to put together the kind of quality we all know they've got. Happens all too rarely. Really looking forward to seeing how they go.
Turnover according to Wiki he hasn't been capped.
Turnover
Roar Guru
Thanks for posting BB. Has Jack Lam been capped before? He played Aussie Schoolboys with a mate who swears that he has the goods to become a really good player if he can stay injury free.
Random Singer
Guest
And to prove it, my comment is also awaiting moderation
Bakkies
Guest
The Welsh players haven't been playing club Finals that's why it was a majority Wales selection. O'Brien, Cole, Croft, Bowe, Best, Kearney, Parling, Youngs, O'Driscoll, Tuilagi are yet to lace on their boots for the Lions and they aren't Welsh. Stop reading KPM's comments and focus on the actual Rugby that is being played now.
Bakkies
Guest
Missed conversions kept the scoreline down. It was efficient enough to be close to a 60 point stuffing.
Bakkies
Guest
''Talk of being monstered by Paul is utter and typical dross. Rugby isn’t boxing: it’s a team game. These mythical match-ups between players rarely happen.'' Exactly it's KPM and Faletau didn't play in all of the tests.
Bakkies
Guest
Another Wales comment it's becoming yawnful.
Bakkies
Guest
In the 2nd test the Lions carved up the Boks they only ran out of steam due to the sheer physicality of the match and players were dropping like flies.
Wixsy
Guest
Tosh? Pip pip and what what roarer
Roarer
Guest
Well I found the British commentators refreshing from the one eyed tosh over here.
ScotandProud
Guest
Ye-ah I see your point and you might be right, Still.. its not so much backline systems as speed of reaction and speed of thought and being able to move the ball left right, keep it tight, just taking the opportunities that arise in a b#alls to the wall test match and ... Same Scotland game you could see greg laidlaw getting into the pace the ABs played at. he started reacting quicker, disrupting their attack, seeing where there was space.. (bit too much of a steep learning curve overall but..) Phillips - he makes life so hard for his 10s and everyone outside them, so if the Lions lose it'll be 'oh so close!' and the Lions came to do what they were always going to do but in the end they came up short against a heroic Aussie defence etc. etc. He limits the team he plays for = re-watch the 2009 2nd test - he played well, had a good game but in the first 30 the Lions trundled, trundled.. the rest of the game they were struglling to match the Boks for speed and dynamism - the Boks outscored us by 3 tries to 1 in the end. This pre-ordained trundle trundle stuff will be meat and drink to the Wallabies including players I actually think are very limited ie: Ashley Cooper and Mc Cabe. I agree with the Notty one below.
Squad list awaiting moderation
Samoan squad to tour South Africa Hookers: Tii Paulo – ASM Clermont France Wayne Ole Avei – Bordeaux Beagles Manu Leiataua – North Harbor NZ Props : Cencus Johnston – Tolouse France Logovii Mulipola – Leicester Tigers UK Sakaria Taulafo – London Wasp UK James Johnston – Harlequins UK Locks: Kane Thompson – Canon Eagles, Japan Iosefa Tekori – Casters Olympic, France Daniel Leo – Perpignan, France Teofilo Paulo – Cardiff Blues, Wales Loose Forwards : Taiasina Tuifua – Newcastle Falcons UK Alafoti Faosiliva – Bristol Rugby Club Ofisa Treviranus – London Irish, UK Jack Lam – Hurricanes, NZ Maurie Faasavalu – Harlequins UK Faalemiga Selesele – Moata’a, Samoa ** (one to be added) ** Halfback: Kahn Fotualii – Ospreys Wales Jeremy Sua – Canterbury Crusaders UK Auvasa Falealii – Thas Newcastle Australia First Fives: Tusiata Pisi – Wellington Hurricanes Ki Anufe – Marist Auckland Midfields: George Pisi – Northampton Saints UK Johnny Leota – Sale Sharks UK Isaia Tuifua – Vigo Rugby Club, Spain Brandon Vaaulu – Tokyo Gas, Japan Wings: Alesana Tuilagi – NTT Shining Arcs Japan Alapati Leiua – Hurricanes NZ Robert Lilomaiava – Vaiala Rugby Club Samoa **(one more to be added)** Fullbacks. Paul Williams – Stade Francais, France James Sooialo – Wellington Norths, NZ
Ben.S
Roar Guru
He was solid. He's a very good player: excellent work rate and generally always mistake free. He's a good support runner, always gets over the gainline and is a good link between the backs and forwards. Talk of being monstered by Paul is utter and typical dross. Rugby isn't boxing: it's a team game. These mythical match-ups between players rarely happen.
Max Kenney-Herbert
Roar Guru
Still 18 carries pretty solid...
bennalong
Guest
That match was a training run and barely entertaining. Steve Walsh reffe'd it supposedly as a test match, which means he ignored the spirit of the BaaBaas and pinged them relentlessly. It appeared to be a fix by design. No doubt this was a promo match to sell the Lions, but to who? The tickets are all sold. I was reminded however, of the fantastic 2001 Lions fans who so completely out barracked our polite bunch of ra ra supporters! Unfortunately I was also reminded of arrogant Englishmen by the commentators who seemed to be offering us a paid advertisement. It can only get better from here
Louis
Guest
faletau did not play in Melbourne or Sydney champ.