Farrell out, Warburton benched for Lions

Hi Moaman. No I don't think it is. For two reasons. The 'injuries' to some players and enforced rotation between midweek and weekend matches means selection will be wider for next weekend.

Wonder how the Sleeper is sleeping after that AB performance? Like a baby??

Not quite. Gatland said it was normal for tours to experience a high number of injuries. He didn't say that his squad was selected to withstand that number. It's impossible to do that. Even Woodward's squad ran out of players, and that one was supposed to be bloated.

Well obviously not in the end, Samoa wilted quickly after an initial good amount of work. I'm not in the Murrays the best 9 in the business school and think both our 9's are better all round. Good hit out for the ABs and two earlier doubtful...Kaino and especially Smith were immense. Read looks to be back next week so it's really just Coles and Crotty we're missing. Retallicks still a beast of a workhorse. SBW was terrible on defence but very strong on attack. I don't think his defence will be too much of an issue versus the Lions as they're not exactly bursting with speedy steppers in the Nanai Williams mould.

TM Lot of interest for me tonight on how the scrum handles the Ref. Should be facinating.

Rick. I think you make an excellent point regarding how the entire squad was viewed prior to the tour and how a perceived gap in class has magically appeared now it is under way. The usually pretty canny NZ TAB has the Lions favourites to win all of the matches between now and the 1st Test. I can't disagree with that and am surprised at how sanguine many Lions fans are at the prospect of some of these tour games being dropped.

Hi Poth. I'd like to ask you whether or not you think tomorrow's lineup is pretty much exactly the team that will run out at Eden Park next Saturday? ( Give or take Farrell of course).

Not only the opponents, the elements also. Big chance for rugby in the wet and cold. Of course, they will always look for space, and attack when possible, but I think at the bone a more conservative gameplan will be beneficial. Playing adventures in the wet against that Lions pack and kicking ability is high risk. Aaron Smith is indeed the golden ticket. He is obviously the Lions biggest target. But the AB's are in rude health here. If the Lions wins the pack war, they still have the toughest and smartest scrumhalf in the world in the sheds. The difference with England 2014, they did not have back rowers with this quality, And the Lions are in rude health in the back row department. And bang on! The biggest challenge for the Lions is to handle these 5-10 minutes blocks when the AB's turn it on. No matter how hard the Lions push them, these purple patches are to be expected. Reckon Samoa will ambush the AB's? ;) Gonna head to the pub and watch now.

Perhaps that's why they have SBW in there. I'm not convinced either yet but he did go well for the Blues against them.

That's one way of thinking but the ABs don't tend to let the opposition dictate how they play. They don't lead this game by looking over their shoulder at who's behind them. They look at what the opportunities are ahead of them. With Chicago they had to in Dublin to put out the fire of the Irish, but the AB strength last few years is to ALWAYS find space and time and put players through it. They'll be sure all 23 players are heavily involved in the game. Obviously they'll have to front physically but make no mistake about them not trying to score tries by using the width of the park, and particularly Aaron Smiths pass, the real golden ticket for this side. They know piling on points is the best way to subdue a side. Combine that with the kick and chase abilities of Smith, Dagg, Savea etc and they'll look to restart play downfield, apply pressure behind the packs. So yes it will be physical but I think like England in 14 the ABs will have these little purple patches where they click for ten to twenty minutes and put the game out of reach. That might come from the starting side but more likely from the bench when bodies are tiring.

It's hard to have the same game plan as in the RWC final, because they no longer have Nonu to pass to - passing the ball to Nonu was a big part of that game plan.

Watching Tonga-Wales also. Tonga is in it. Very impressive first half by the Islanders. Hoping for an upset. Have to ask you T-man, what are your thoughts about the AB's potential game plan against the Lions. I have a hunch they are preparing to fight fire with fire, Put huge emphasis on being compact on defence, kick even more than the Lions will, and not chase the adventurous turnovers. Take on the Lions on their own game and just sit back and wait for mistakes (like they did in Dublin last year), and cash in on superior backline skills and execution. The more I think about I doubt the AB's will go all out attack - like they did against the Wallabies in the WC final - because that could play right into the hands of the Lions.

Yes and assuming it's a grade 1 quad he should be ok within a week or two, any worse and he's out. Lions backs are falling down a bit and Cuthbert just went down heavily on the shoulder against Tonga in the AB curtain raiser but has just scored a brilliant try with a nice run from Anscombe and chip through by Cuthbert for himself. Better than anything the Lions have put on so far. Being Tonga understandable. I think ABs would prefer Te'o as his NZ style is familiar. Sexton and Farrell have potential to be a problem. Swings and roundabouts on that one. Tonga match is fun and starting to warm up. 8-3 to Wales after 25 mins. Eden park looks good, weather calm.

This game is like a tryout for Te'o and Sexton. Whoever is best, plays the first Test, and Farrell takes the other jersey. All this talk about they have not trained with a Sexton/Farrell combo makes me think that is exactly what they have done since day one. It is the big joker card the Lions have in their troops. Farrell's injury smells like a smoke screen me think. Gats just want Shag to keep guessing. I expect more needle and smoke screens from both coaches.

Ben Te'o is probably playing his way to a test start against the ABs. I predicted him to be at least on the bench but based on his first two run outs, hes already got one hand on that 12 jersey. A complete performance against the Maori side would probably almost guarantee him that bench spot. I will not surprised if they pick him to start.

Gatland isn't putting together his best side..He is a SLEEPER !! You watch, he`ll stack his BIL`S with Welsh ..

They're not irrelevant in terms of Gats putting together his best side. In fact theyre critical in that respect. Without them the Lions wouldn't have had a chance on the 24th.

If Owen Farrell is out, then the Lions may as well catch the boat back to sunny UK. J.Sexton (or even D.Biggar) and Farrell at 5/8 and IC is the way to go and let J.Davies and B.Teo fight for the outside centre spot. For my 2 cents worth, the Lions have it in rucks and lineouts, but are behind in scrums and pack speed. Lets just say forwards about equal. The 5/8 and centres nullify each other. but where the Lions will lose the game is the speed of the ball from A.Smith to the high class wingers and fullback. Mind you I wouldn't want to be a midfielder tackling either of the Lions centres or Big George North. All three of them are like run-away trucks. I hope the Maori have some good tacklers. :)

Well, that's complete nonsense.

Yes Poth, and what are the chances Reads little 'wince' when Barnes shook the hand with the thumb wasn't 'staged' knowing Barnes would blab it to the media??