Lions Team for Maori's Match

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:06:18:10:00:24 by Stephen Bath.

Difficult balancing act for Gatland now between giving the test team a run before the first test and over playing some players who've had to come off the bench early, e.g Jones today, Sexton against Crusaders and have their minute count up high.

His other problem is if he's considering a Sexton and Farrell starting partnership, then surely there'll be no cover for 10 in the midweek team, similar for 8 if Stander is considered at 6.

Looking at Simon's suggested team, minutes so far on tour are (taken from Russ Petty's twitter @rpetty80):

15 Halfpenny - 80
14 North - 80
13 Davies - 28
12 Te'o - 160
11 Watson - 141

10 Farrell - 124
9 Murray - 80

1 Mako - 91
2 George - 95
3 Furlong - 95
4 Kruis - 91
5 AWJ (c) - 214
6 O'Mahony - 107
7 O'Brien - 55
8 Faletau - 160

Bench
Owens - 119
McGrath - 98
Cole - 101
Itoje - 99
Warburton - 134
Webb - 144
Sexton - 146
Williams - 103 /Joseph -160

I think Itoje might start this one, maybe ahead of AWJ, but then it could revert back for the test. Moriarty has only played 80 mins and Tipuric 106 so could see either of those on the bench.

Cole's chances rather damaged by today I fear.


PG

Well it certainly won't have helped him, though I thought the Aussie ref got it completely wrong. There's no doubt Cole's selling point over Sinckler is being stronger in the scrum so yeah today has hurt him.

Can see a change to McGrath, George, Sinckler as test bench with Mako, Owens, Furlong as starters maybe.

I agree on the first penalty -completely wrong. Not sure about the subsequent penalties though.

As for start front row - I think tigersimon has it right.

PG

The crucial penalty they scored the winning points from was the oddest one for me, I'm not sure how a tighthead can defend against a loosehead allowed to bore in at a right angle.

Actual squad

15. Leigh Halfpenny – Toulon, Wales, #775
14. Anthony Watson – Bath Rugby, England, #816
13. Jonathan Davies – Scarlets, Wales, #778
12. Ben Te’o – Worcester Warriors, England, #815
11. George North – Northampton Saints, Wales, #792
10. Johnny Sexton – Leinster, Ireland, #791
9. Conor Murray – Munster, Ireland, #790

1. Mako Vunipola – Saracens, England, #787
2. Jamie George – Saracens, England, #818
3. Tadhg Furlong – Leinster, Ireland, #817
4. Maro Itoje – Saracens, England, #825
5. George Kruis – Saracens, England, #819
6. Peter O’Mahony (capt) – Munster, Ireland, #833
7. Sean O’Brien – Leinster, Ireland, #796
8. Taulupe Faletau – Bath Rugby, Wales, #779

Replacements
16. Ken Owens – Scarlets, Wales, #829
17. Jack McGrath – Leinster, Ireland, #827
18. Kyle Sinckler – Harlequins, England, #814
19. Iain Henderson – Ulster, Ireland, #808
20. Sam Warburton – Cardiff Blues, Wales, #800
21. Greig Laidlaw – Gloucester Rugby, Scotland, #810
22. Owen Farrell – Saracens, England, #780
23. Elliot Daly – Wasps, England, #822

I thought Farrell had a thigh strain and was unavailable for this weekend

Yes, Farrell has a quad strain and has been replaced on the bench by Biggar.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:06:15:15:18:56 by KevinR.

Thanks

No bad thing, he would have been targeted.