British and Irish Lions vs Waratahs, Sat 15 June 10:30am; Sky Sports 2

Aidric

Gatland probably won't pick him but I'd start Youngs for the first test.

Quality kick from Farrell

Davei141

Heaslip with a great turnover in the lead up to the try and not one mention of it

Buer

LeeroyJones wrote: »

I have a sneaky feeling Zebo is a try or line-break away from the Test next week

Tuesday will tell us a lot. If he starts, I'd think he's not going to be in line for a start. I think we might see a back three of Hogg, Kearney and Cuthbert with Zebo on the bench.

toomevara

Aidric wrote: »

Gatland probably won't pick him but I'd start Youngs for the first test.

Which Youngs?

Chabals Beard

thomond2006 wrote: »

Zebo had a quiet second half. Also he nearly got a try from Farrell's crosskick so your post is a bit harsh on Farrell!

He is standing far too deep for my liking anyway

LeeroyJones

****.... Roberts reaction is not encouraging

Buer

Chabals Beard wrote: »

Zebo has got nothing with Farrell at 10

He got nothing for 15 minutes of the second half with Sexton at 10 either. Game has changed and he's not roaming the field in the same way. I'm sure it's planned tactics but not helping his case.

Cypher_sounds

The Lions have done well today, strong and pretty cohesive. It's a good sign. Hopefully O'Brien will get a place in the 23 man squad for next weekend.

thomond2006

First lineout lost on own throw on the 75th minute is impressive.

sydthebeat

Buer wrote: »

He got nothing for 20 minutes of the second half with Sexton at 10 either. Game has changed and he's not roaming the field in the same way. I'm sure it's planned tactics but not helping his case.

Depending on north, zebo will get at lest another half I'm the next game.

On todays performance zebos ahead of maitland

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

First lineout lost on own throw on the 75th minute is impressive.

Not if you're Richard Hibbard!

ironingbored

Sky bigging up Farrell.

LeeroyJones

Is Hibbard trying his hardest for Warburton to be dropped!!!

Overthrow in the lineout and he absolutely launched the ball at him there from about 2 yards away!

Risteard

thomond2006 wrote: »

First lineout lost on own throw on the 75th minute is impressive.

Not really when you consider just about every throw went straight to two with no one competing.

19543261

Sexton, please... T_T

Aidric

toomevara wrote: »

Which Youngs?

Sorry. SH.

A2LUE42

ironingbored wrote: »

Sky bigging up Farrell.

and didn't even mention his poor play there

Barnes is such a shameless sycophant at times.

Barnes somehow saying that Farrell did well there?!

sydthebeat

Zebo saves the day, and commentator bigs up awj... Hummmm

copacetic

Jones a certain starter too, great performance and still there at the end to win that ball back after good chase down by Zebo.

Kiwi_knock

It was a good game, some players certainly helped their test chances.

Chabals Beard

Good tackle Zebo

Buer

sydthebeat wrote: »

Depending on north, zebo will get at lest another half I'm the next game.

On todays performance zebos ahead of maitland

Definitely. Maitland has the fact that he has been on tour for some time in his favour though. Zebo has been decent. Very prominent first half without ever really lighting up the game. He had two or three mistakes in defence though that will be examined. I would say the main winner today was Cuthbert, to be honest. No big breaks or tries from the wingers.

It will be interesting to see what they do on Tuesday. I'd say Gatland is praying for George North.

garv123

If Zebo doesn't make the test team at least he has a new career to all back on.

Flange/Flanders

Deleted User wrote: »

Barnes somehow saying that Farrell did well there?!

He mentioned Corbisiero destroying Ross a few years ago, no word about Ross being injured and going off after 20 minutes.

copacetic

sydthebeat wrote: »

Zebo saves the day, and commentator bigs up awj... Hummmm

Was a good call I thought, Zebo did well but he chased down someone who was slow and he had to catch. jones getting back and then winning ball after a full 80 in second row was big style..

leakyboots

Good day at the office for Zebo, did the flash stuff in the first half and nice reminder of his tracking back there at the end. Hope he gets another chance before the first test.

Scrappy second half with all the subs

toomevara

Aidric wrote: »

Sorry. SH.

Yeah, i'd go with that. I know Philips brings presence and physicality, but he seems a little off the pace to my eye at the minute..got caught a fair few times today...

A2LUE42

Kearney is a starter midweek after this I think, and will be left on for the full 80.

accidentprone1

Missed the first half. How did Zebo get on then?

Webbs

sydthebeat wrote: »

Zebo saves the day, and commentator bigs up awj... Hummmm

For a second row to do what AWJ did in the 80th minute in a game well won shows amazing drive and desire and he now has to be a starter for first test. Really good covering tackle from Zebo admittedly who did way better than Maitland who was the poorest of the Lions today

ongarite

Awaiting news on Roberts but it doesn't look good from first impressions.

toomevara

Nice run out..now for India v pakistan..its a hard knock life...

edit..bollix, rain stopped play...

sydthebeat

copacetic wrote: »

Was a good call I thought, Zebo did well but he chased down someone who was slow and he had to catch. jones getting back and then winning ball after a full 80 in second row was big style..

Agreed, but zebo want even mentioned.

I'm not one for conspiracys, but some commentating was questionable in it's bias. The warburton expose at half time was embarrasing. Ground hog? More like a meerkat....

trouttrout

My ratings

15 Halfpenny 8/10
14 Maitland 5/10
13 Davies 8/10
12 Roberts 5/10
11 Zebo 8/10
10 Sexton 8/10
9 Phillips 6/10
8 Heaslip 7/10
7 Warburton 6/10
6 Croft 8/10
5 POC 8.5/10
4 AWJ 8.5/10
3 Jones 6/10
2 Youngs 7/10
1 Vunipola 8/10

Quint2010

Team for 1st test:

1/2 penny
Cuthbert
BOD
Davies
North
Sexton
Philips
Corbisiero
Hibbard
Jones
AW Jones
POC
Croft
Warburton
Felatau

leakyboots

Sky just said 'well I think that settles his role in the team, he is ready to lead the Lions next week"

trouttrout

The commentary on this tour is infuriating. Farrell was shocking when he came on, 3 or 4 woeful kicks and offered no breaking threat yet you had Barnes blowing smoke up his hole at every opportunity

LeeroyJones

Gatland singles out AWJ straight-away.
There's as close to confirmation to him starting as we'll get

leakyboots

trouttrout wrote: »

My ratings

15 Halfpenny 8/10
14 Maitland 5/10
13 Davies 8/10
12 Roberts 5/10
11 Zebo 8/10
10 Sexton 8/10
9 Phillips 6/10
8 Heaslip 7/10
7 Warburton 6/10
6 Croft 8/10
5 POC 8.5/10
4 AWJ 8.5/10
3 Jones 6/10
2 Youngs 7/10
1 Vunipola 8/10

Spot on for me.

Gatty bigging on AW Jones, Davies, Vunipola, 1/2, "great start for Simon Zebo too"

LeeroyJones

Roberts has a torn hammy according to Gatland - yet to be confirmed admittedly

SlickRic

good luck picking a back row Gatland.

SOB, Tipuric, Heaslip and Croft. none of them deserve to be benched.

AWJ also showed his hand. him or Parling to partner POC with AWJ just ahead at the moment.

Davies also so unlucky to probably only have a bench place if Roberts and BOD are both fit.

Tom Youngs should also be nailed on now.

Phillips was also very subdued, but there's no way he's not starting.

Buer

Gatland name checks Zebo as an afterthought, he's in contention!

Roberts looks to have torn a hammer. 36 for the test!

trouttrout

Warbuton still showed nothing to suggest he's playing better than SOB/Tipuric

Real shame that he's nailed on, same with Phillips

Chabals Beard

Zebo to bench! Maitland will be kicking himself

trouttrout

If North is injured Zebo starts in my book. Tour has really passed Maitland by

Chabals Beard

What is the fascination with Philips??? He is painfully slow

Grandpa Hassan

SOB and Murray have seen their chances recede significantly today without being involved. I can't imagine how frustrating that must be