British and Irish Lions vs Melbourne Rebels, 25th June 2013, Sky Sports 10.40am

JRant

.ak wrote: »

It sounds like SOB won the lineout stats for the game anyway?

Along with 10 tackles, a couple of turnovers and some great link up play.

Does Brad Barritt play rugby?

wonderfullife

Pudsy33 wrote: »

If sob goes off, good.
If lydiate, bad.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

YESSSSS SOB OFFF

GET HIM OFF!

tbm wrote: »

SOB off!

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Seanie off, he's in!

.ak wrote: »

SOB off... Fingers crossed.

peteeeed wrote: »

sob coming off, bench saturday?

Weetabix wrote: »

From BBC text commentry:

"Sean O'Brien, the man of the match, must have exploded into the Lions squad for the second Test. He has just scored a great try from a line-out, crashing over. The Lions will win this comfortably and this will be a good boost for Saturday."

Whilst i would love this to be the case, it's worth pointing out SOB went off in the exact same minute last week. Dan Lydiate only played a handful of minutes yet he got the bench spot.

I hold out very little hope for SOB to be included in the 23.

Also worth reading these quotes from SOB yesterday:

"But O’Brien echoed Lydiate’s view that there is everything to play for against the Rebels.

“That’s what the coaches are telling us so we have to trust them,” he said.

“We can only look after ourselves. We have another match and there’s no point going out and thinking we haven’t a chance.

“You just have to do the best you can every time you get that Lions jersey.”


I've taken that quote verbatim from a tv interview aired on Sky Sports News (and it's also written in various papers). Point for me was the tone of his voice as he was saying it. Almost like he didn't believe his own words.

Nermal

Aus commentators suggest Tuilagi is 'hard as a cat's head'?

.ak

Hahaha, the RTE commentary is gas. 'Bit of a hugging match in the middle of the field..'

Buer

Tox56 wrote: »

And SOB has taken 3 lineouts off the top absolutely identical to that. He is very useful at the front because he's 6'6 and can get up in the air like a shot, but Heaslip and SOB are perfectly capable of doing what Croft just did

I know but I don't think calling someone an ignoramus on the basis of one comment which does have foundation is really valid.

Leslie91

Was Barritt in Oz on his hols too?, he is pure hopeless. A disgrace to the jersey.

stackerman

Deleted User wrote: »

Does Brad Barritt play rugby?

:pac::pac::pac:

.ak

Buer wrote: »

Ha, that may be a decent example of Irish bias in operation then because Ian Evans has been absolutely outstanding in the line out. He has won 6 on his own throw and stolen 3!

I'm listening to RTE radio, so that's my defence! I can't see. Taking their word for it. :P

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

Decent outing

Buer

.ak wrote: »

They got almost zero off the top ball in the test tho. So he could become useless really.

I'd have to watch it again but I think there must have been 4 or 5 straight off the top.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

Manu T going out of his way to look everyone he shakes hands with in the eye. Seems to be really maturing on and off the field

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

Does Brad Barritt play rugby?

Thought he was really good tonight. Showed exactly why he's been called up.

irishbucsfan

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

He's playing because he's captain. If there was any reward for form Lydiate would be doing that job at six and SOB would be at 7

Maybe if the coaches wanted to play completely differently

FrannoFan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Thought he was really good tonight. Showed exactly why he's been called up.

His passing is woeful for a centre

bilston

I was surprised Farrell was replaced after 50 minutes. I just didn't see the point in that. He was playing well. I'm less worried about the Lions now if Sexton did do himself a mischief. Farrell is someone who has improved steadily as the tour has progressed.

As for the back row you could easily pick BOTH Lydiate and O'Brien and arguably strengthen the back row for Saturday.

Buer

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Thought he was really good tonight. Showed exactly why he's been called up.

Thought he was really good in the first half but faded and didn't do much in the second half. Carried well and even passed decently in the first half as well as the par for the course defensive performance.

.ak

Buer wrote: »

I'd have to watch it again but I think there must have been 4 or 5 straight off the top.

The only I can remember is the one that resulted in their centre going off in the first few minutes. Most of the line outs struggled to get clean ball down to the scrumie, and most of it ended up in a maul. Could be wrong tho, but that's my recollection.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

Buer wrote: »

I'd have to watch it again but I think there must have been 4 or 5 straight off the top.

There were two, and neither were taken by Croft. Bizarrely a maul was formed with the first one to the tail

I just can't understand the logic of starting Croft for his lineout play then throwing everything to the front

Kiwi_knock

Good performance, some players have ended their tour well.

Buer

bilston wrote: »

I was surprised Farrell was replaced after 50 minutes. I just didn't see the point in that. He was playing well. I'm less worried about the Lions now if Sexton did do himself a mischief. Farrell is someone who has improved steadily as the tour has progressed.

Think you've answered your own query there, bilston. He was taken off in case Sexton hurts himself.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Maybe if the coaches wanted to play completely differently

How? what would a backrow of Lydiate/Heaslip/SOB not be able to bring as opposed to Croft/Heaslip/Warburton

bilston

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

There were two, and neither were taken by Croft. Bizarrely a maul was formed with the first one to the tail

I just can't understand the logic of starting Croft for his lineout play then throwing everything to the front

Well SOB proved tonight that he is more than useful at the tail of the lineout anyway.

Teferi

Feel bad that the Rebels didn't at least get a consolation try. It was a brave effort from them and I liked how they kept going for the tryline instead of taking the easy points.

Pudsy33

Haha Seanie apologising for language

Chabals Beard

Haha good man SOB

ThisRegard

LOL, an apology for SOBs language by Greenwood.

Spudmonkey

Mind your language Sean! :pac:

duckysauce

Melbourne Rebels

sky won't interview SOB again players PISSED off. Greenwood sorru about the language there :pac:

OldRio

Language young man. Tut Tut:)

Kiwi_knock

Disgraceful by SOB, that is why he should not be in the test 23.

Teferi

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Disgraceful by SOB, that is why he should not be in the test 23.

He's a showpony anyway.

Lyaiera

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Disgraceful by SOB, that is why he should not be in the test 23.

If everyone was wearing their headphones no one would have heard it. It's our own fault.

ThisRegard

Wurzel Gummage being interviewed now.

19543261

Lol what did SOB say?

Buer

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

How? what would a backrow of Lydiate/Heaslip/SOB not be able to bring as opposed to Croft/Heaslip/Warburton

In fairness, Lydaite, Croft and SOB all bring entirely different strengths to the table.

Specifically to Lydiate, he defends around the fringes much better than the others and is a machine when the opposition are in possession. With Genia running the show, it's a serious option.

irishbucsfan

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

How? what would a backrow of Lydiate/Heaslip/SOB not be able to bring as opposed to Croft/Heaslip/Warburton

Well you could play the same way, but they wouldnt be as good at it. You're missing the support play of Warburton and Lydiate is not as good at it so Heaslip gets sucked in to do that more. And Heaslip is already doing lots of that. So the quality of ball suffers. And the number of phases we can go through shortens. And that is the opposite of what Gatland wants.

I'm sure if Kidney was picking the team he'd have O'Brien/Tipuric/Heaslip

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

Buer wrote: »

In fairness, Lydaite, Croft and SOB all bring entirely different strengths to the table.

Specifically to Lydiate, he defends around the fringes much better than the others and is a machine when the opposition are in possession. With Genia running the show, it's a serious option.

I know but my argument is that there's just as much of a balance in Lydiate/Heaslip/SOB as Croft/Heaslip/Warburton

duckysauce

Melbourne Rebels

19543261 wrote: »

Lol what did SOB say?

that sky's coverage is a load of s hite

irishbucsfan

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

I know but my argument is that there's just as much of a balance in Lydiate/Heaslip/SOB as Croft/Heaslip/Warburton

In defense, there is

Swiwi.

PR gave MOTM to Faletau. Have not watched game, is this fair?

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Thought he was really good tonight. Showed exactly why he's been called up.

this again.

"To Fill a gap" is why he was called up!

geekington

Who got MOM?

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Well you could play the same way, but they wouldnt be as good at it. You're missing the support play of Warburton and Lydiate is not as good at it so Heaslip gets sucked in to do that more. And Heaslip is already doing lots of that. So the quality of ball suffers. And the number of phases we can go through shortens. And that is the opposite of what Gatland wants.

I'm sure if Kidney was picking the team he'd have O'Brien/Tipuric/Heaslip

I don't think there was anything wrong with the quality of ball on offer tonight with Lydiate and O'Brien on the field. Even with the ultimate ruck Inspector Richie Gray running around and I don't recall Toby F having to do that much in the way of support play either

I think you've been totally overstating the importance of Warburton's support play these last few weeks. I think it's something Lydiate does just as well at 6 and that Warburton doesn't offer enough outside of his support play and tackling

wonderfullife

Paul Wallace pretty to the point:

"SOB best backrow on tour and forced his way into the side"

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

this again.

"To Fill a gap" is why he was called up!

Showed exactly why he was called up rather than other players available

stackerman

wonderfullife wrote: »

Paul Wallace pretty to the point:

"SOB best backrow on tour and forced his way into the side"

But he also said Grey was outstanding :eek:

Tox56

Le vieux renard wrote: »

PR gave MOTM to Faletau. Have not watched game, is this fair?

Man of the first half, yes. Was quiet in the second half but I wouldn't have said there was an oustanding performer, could have given it to any of Farrell, SOB, Faletau, Lydiate

Le vieux renard

Le vieux renard wrote: »

PR gave MOTM to Faletau. Have not watched game, is this fair?

very good first half, not as prominent in the second but did work hard.

Solid 7 or 8 / 10 performance for me. Probably the best player that played 80 anyway.

Buer

Le vieux renard wrote: »

PR gave MOTM to Faletau. Have not watched game, is this fair?

Not completely wrong. At half time, he'd be a strong contender. Full time, not so strong but the other contenders (SOB, Farrell, Lydiate) had left the field. Ian Evans or Faletau for me.