Jonathan's Roar Profile

Not enjoying the scrum penalties not going your way?

Crusaders vs British and Irish Lions highlights: International Rugby live scores, blog

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2017

You may be interested to know that in the laws the ball only has to be in the centre of the channel when it crosses the 5m line, not when it reaches the player. Might help you reassess your statement.

Crusaders vs British and Irish Lions highlights: International Rugby live scores, blog

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Rugby

2017

Not really…

Crusaders vs British and Irish Lions highlights: International Rugby live scores, blog

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Rugby

2017

Te’o would be an exciting player at 12. Sure he’s a big lad but he can offload well (unlike most others) and if you watched the ba ba’s game he was one of the few BIL players that was exciting to watch. Don’t know why you’re so down on him.

Warren Gatland is ruining the Lions series

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Rugby

2017

Maybe in 2013 but not now. He needs a time machine.

Highlights: Blues better British and Irish Lions 22-16

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Rugby

2017

True true. They all have experience from the last Lions tour as well. Te’o looked exciting in the last game – he’s one of few lads that knows how to offload, funny that him being from NZ… haha.

If Liam Williams can replicate his form from the Welsh tour last year he could be a serious threat but on today’s form he’s nowhere close. I thought a yellow card was a tad harsh (by the letter of the law it was but let the boys play!) but he brought it on himself not getting into a proper position to challenge the kick. Should have let them catch it and nail them in the tackle.

Highlights: Blues better British and Irish Lions 22-16

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Rugby

2017

Also I totally agree about touring rugby. I think it’s important to remember that this is a tour and not a 3 match series. Teams don’t really do long tours like they used to because of quick air travel but it’s a very different style of game. Building teams, warm up matches, trying out combinations. We all need to be careful not to judge too quickly what is a touring side, not an established and tried out team.

Highlights: Blues better British and Irish Lions 22-16

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Rugby

2017

It was an awesome try. Slick offloading and pure speed! SBW could have got himself into the matchday 23 with that one offload. He creates holes where there shouldn’t be any!

Highlights: Blues better British and Irish Lions 22-16

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Rugby

2017

Lots of leaders, they just haven’t stepped up yet: Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton, Rory Best, Greg Laidlaw, Jonathan Sexton. All world class players who have led their teams (or previous Lions teams) to great victories.

Remember as well that Gatland has said his starting team will be determined by form so Warburton won’t automatically get his spot. At his best he will but lots of competition for back row spots.

Highlights: Blues better British and Irish Lions 22-16

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Rugby

2017

Can’t agree Waxhead. You can’t say they’ve selected their best teams so far. Players that haven’t started a test yet include: Owen Farrell, Jamie George, George North, George Kruis, Conor Murray, Sean O’Brien, Jonathan Davies, Peter O’Mahony, Mako Vunipola, Tadgh Furlong. Not all their best players but some stand outs you think would start the first test. Don’t write the Lions off yet, particularly with a 40 man squad and so many options and variabilities. What the Lions look like in 2 weeks is what is really interesting.

Highlights: Blues better British and Irish Lions 22-16

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Rugby

2017

Such a good point. One of the biggest factors in a successful rugby team is cohesion and stability. Look at teams in Super Rugby or English Premiership or even national sides, the best teams are most often the ones that spend lots of time together, have good team dynamics, know how each other play and can implicitly trust each other.

It’s why NZ is such a good side, their whole rugby system is incredibly well set up which results in 5 good super rugby team all with a few ABs and not many leaving for Europe. Contrast that with Aus or SA losing so many players because it’s more exciting and pays more to be in France or England.

This is the greatest challenge for the Lions, the lack of time preparing as a team. If they had 6 months to prepare together and play loads of warm up games they would be so competitive with any team in the world.
A strong England team would probably do better on this NZ tour than the Lions as they’re currently going.

That said, Lions series are still really exciting and because of the sheer talent they are often competitive and always more so as each series develops. A Lions team by the last game won’t look at all like their first game. Just hoping they can be competitive enough to make the AB games interesting.

Highlights: Blues better British and Irish Lions 22-16

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Rugby

2017

It’s gonna be a long tour…