Roar Guru
Joined March 2015
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Sport tragic. Rugby nut from India. Trust me, there aren't many of my kind. Currently based in the USA. Favourite teams - Manchester United, Sydney Roosters, Pittsburgh Penguins, Springboks, All Blacks, Pittsburgh Steelers, NSW Origin, Proteas, Black Caps.
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The British and Irish Lions got their tour of New Zealand back on track with an intense 12-3 victory over the Crusaders, arguably the…
As another year draws to a close, with the flow of the sands of time as unremitting as ever, it's time to introspect, before…
As another year draws to a close, with the flow of the sands of time as unremitting as ever, it's time to introspect. We…
As another year draws to a close, with the flow of the sands of time as unremitting as ever, it's time to introspect. Soon,…
As another year draws to a close, with the flow of the sands of time as unremitting as ever, it's time to introspect. Soon,…
As the All Blacks began their end of year tour having conquered everything thrown at them this year. At the same time we also…
It's that time of the year again. Halloween. Time to get decked out in fancy dress, watch horror films and hand out candy to…
I recall back in 2011, during my last year of school, when my teenage self - only recently exposed to rugby - was gleefully…
And then there were two. After nearly six months of exhilarating (and sometimes tepid) rugby, it has finally boiled down to possibly the two…
When you think of the German national football team - Die Nationalmannschaft - words like unflappable, tenacious and formidable come to mind. You can…
Here is part two of the series assessing the weekend's international rugby Tests. Click here for part one. South Africa versus Ireland After the…
It seems like just yesterday that we were waiting for the June Tests to begin, and now they're almost over. Indeed, at the end…
Going into this match, there was a sense of optimism in the air as far as the Springboks were concerned. The Heyneke Meyer era…
As Eddie Jones and his mob made their way Down Under, the Australians had a right to be bullish based on the last fixture…
The June Internationals are finally here, and after a more protracted buildup than normal, they’ve delivered on the hype and promise. And how. Three…
It's that time of the year again, the June tours. After taking a break last year due to the small matter of something called…
The last time a game of rugby was played at an Olympic Games, chances are that your parents (or grandparents) were not even born.…
This weekend, the Six Nations kicks off a new four-year cycle of international rugby. There is a palpable excitement in the air as the…
Jonah Lomu had passed away. In light of the Sam Burgess saga, I'd been trying to write an article about rugby's cross code specialists.…
The World Cup semi-finals roll out this weekend, and France will not be a part of them. This has only happened once before, in…
Actually he has a really good pass too. Watch the Chicago match, and you can see what I’m talking about. I guess today with his pack going backwards it was always going to be tough for him, but he was a bit off colour.
All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions highlights: International rugby scores, blog
It’s a bit of a conundrum really. With Sexton and Farrell acting as the two playmakers you could probably get more ball out wide where we saw there was space. But without Ben Te’o at 12 how do you contain the threat of Sonny Bill getting the ABs over the gain line from first phase? SBW’s performance is going somewhat under the radar. Almost played like a rugby league backrower today, made the gain-line almost every time he touched the ball, which was mostly at full steam as first receiver. That said, Te’o tried manfully to stop him as much as he could, and was quite astute in defence overall. Tough choice for me.
Highlights: Lions tamed! All Blacks take first blood in Test series
He also has an Australian connection. His first coach was an Aussie. Sadly he passed away in an accident when Federer was 12 or something. Since then Federer’s still been in touch with that guy’s family, gives them tickets to watch him play at every Grand Slam and takes care of their hotels and all. Great stuff.
Highlights: Lions tamed! All Blacks take first blood in Test series
He wouldn’t have needed pace, he would have bumped him off. 😛
Highlights: Lions tamed! All Blacks take first blood in Test series
His service was surprisingly slow from the base of the ruck today. Kicking was fine.
All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions highlights: International rugby scores, blog
Yeah the Lions pack was resoundingly beaten. And Farrell and Murray just couldn’t do much with a poor platform.
Highlights: Lions tamed! All Blacks take first blood in Test series
Savea was pretty good against Samoa though. I guess he would have finished off both those chances Rieko did today. Was a case of being in the right place at the right time.
Highlights: Lions tamed! All Blacks take first blood in Test series
Lions weren’t embarrassed though, and credit to them for that.
All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions highlights: International rugby scores, blog
That was as impressive a performance from the All Blacks as any. They brought their A-game tonight.
Really the Lions only challenged for around 20 minutes in the whole test – first and last 5 minutes of each half.
Sam Cane or Kieran Read – have your pick for man of the match.
All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions highlights: International rugby scores, blog
Second try. I think he scored against Italy last year. Proud moment nonetheless.
All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions highlights: International rugby scores, blog
Wow that was a great rugby try. Forwards and backs both performing their duties. Amazing.
All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions highlights: International rugby scores, blog
Some armchair observations :
Had Conor Murray kicked through in the first minute, Daly probably could have scored in the corner. As it stands, that missed chance looks like being a crucial moment.
The offside penalty after that just may have subconsciously made the Lions slow down their rush defence a little bit.
All Black speed of ruck ball has been quite phenomenal.
Until the last 5 minutes, each All Black had outplayed his opponent. Especially in the forwards.
It seems as if Read has been playing every week. No rustiness whatsoever. Standout player along with Cane and Retallick.
Daly, despite being a left winger, cannot offload with his left hand. There was a cross field kick that could have become something more had he managed to offload to Davies.
Has the backline shuffle affected the All Blacks? Two key players out. Of course, the replacements are quite handy themselves. Maybe Barrett playing at fullback could hurt the Lions even more.
The missed conversion from Farrell was huge. 13-10 gives much more confidence than 13-8. Still, all to play for. Lions need to try and keep possession better than they did in the first half.
All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions highlights: International rugby scores, blog
What a match we’ve had so far! Really classy from the All Blacks, especially between the 10th and 30th minutes. I thought they would have run away with it, the way they were playing. Rush defence has been negated quite well due to punch-through plays around the ruck. To be honest before that O’Brien try, the Lions were being monstered. But what a life-saver that try was.
All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions highlights: International rugby scores, blog
Could have been 21-20. Wallabies not off the hook by any means. Still been a rather ordinary performance.
Wallabies vs Italy highlights: International rugby live scores, blog
Campagnaro’s a great talent.
Wallabies vs Italy highlights: International rugby live scores, blog
Poor from the Italian 12 there. Just backed off Hunt, made it too easy to give the cut-out ball.
Wallabies vs Italy highlights: International rugby live scores, blog
Good try. But jeez, they were let off earlier weren’t they.
Wallabies vs Italy highlights: International rugby live scores, blog
That was a great article, mate. Echoes my observations from the Samoa test. The handling abilities of Cane, Retallick, Scott Barrett and even the front rowers is such a luxury to have.
Pressure on No. 10: Why Beauden Barrett’s performance may decide the Lions series
Great analysis as always, I’ve noticed that the All Blacks actually keep Barrett as an out the backdoor option for most attacks, except for the set piece. Generally they’ve got either Retallick or Cane playing as an auxiliary first receiver with another forward forming a pod, gives them more options. I think the Lions centres will have to be very mindful of this, will be really interesting to see the battle between the two teams’ 10-12-13.
Also, the Lions adapted very well to the little chip kicks tried by the Maori and Chiefs. The Kiwi sides have been trying to unlock that rush defence with that tactic all tour, I think the Lions will be well prepared for that. But still, you can’t prepare yourself for the bounce of the ball. 😉
Pressure on No. 10: Why Beauden Barrett’s performance may decide the Lions series
Lions with some interesting selections.
Liam Williams, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Davies, Ben Te’o, Elliot Daly, Conor Murray, Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Tadhg Furlong, Alun Wyn Jones, George Kruis, Peter O’Mahony (captain), Sean O’Brien, Taulupe Faletau
Bench : Ken Owens, Jack McGrath, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Sam Warburton, Rhys Webb, Jonny Sexton, Leigh Halfpenny
Good to see Sam Warburton didn’t have a place reserved for him in the starting lineup. Looks like those 3 tries they scored in the second half in Hamilton were enough for Liam Williams and Elliot Daly to get into the side. Itoje on the bench in place of Alun Wyn Jones though, a proper shocker. Farrell starts over Sexton, which is again perhaps the correct choice, but I guess time will tell. Looks like a good squad but compared to the All Blacks it seems like they’ll fall by the wayside in the last quarter. The impact subs just aren’t there.
The Big Questions: Two very different June Test experiences
A+ effort, as always. And you didn’t even mention the refs, so all the more praiseworthy.
That toddler-Great Dane metaphor was amazing.
The Liebke Ratings: State of Origin 2
Talk about a bottle job.
State of Origin highlights: NSW vs QLD - Game 2 scores, blog, result
Hayne trying too hard to be Superman. Cost us the match.
State of Origin highlights: NSW vs QLD - Game 2 scores, blog, result
Amazing stuff from Dugan playing as an auxiliary fullback.
State of Origin highlights: NSW vs QLD - Game 2 scores, blog, result
The backrow is a very interesting quandary here. It’s clear they need more impetus from their forwards and need to stamp their authority on the breakdown, but who drops out? O’Mahony, the captain? Faletau, their best forward on tour, and tackle-machine? O’Brien, the Tullow Tank, and turnover king? Really each one of them had a sub-par game, and I am scratching my head over what will be the correct selection. In terms of the options they have, Warburton didn’t impress in the time he got, Stander will be playing mid-week, and probably isn’t as good as Faletau, while Tipuric is just too small in my view, although he does have x-factor which may be useful.
If I had a gun pointing to my head, I’d probably go with Stander at 6, O’Brien and Faletau. With Tipuric the bench forward. But I would not be confident at all. I don’t think O’Mahony will be dropped by Gatland though, at least not out of the 23.
I’d also like to see Biggar get into the 23 somehow, he’s performed well on tour. Halfpenny at 15 with Williams at 11, and Nowell the reserve outside back could be another interesting combination. I was not too impressed with Daly, despite his role in the great try.
Itoje, Lawes and Henderson should be the locks involved. I don’t think the front rows will change. And despite the halves being outplayed, I reckon they should be pick and stick. If anyone should go, it should probably be Jonny Sexton.
After the All Blacks' win, where to now for the Lions?