Gold Medal!

How fantastic are the womens 7's to watch? Such class and sportspersonship. They set the standard for how sports people should behave. I am so pleased for them.

Blyde and Broughten were standout players, but they were all fantastic. 

One wonders how many of this team have played for the last time in the Black Jersey.

many have waited 5 years. actually they lost because they didn't challenge the game changing try by Australia (it was lost forwards).

What a mess the second Lions test was. I am honestly surprised more players weren't cited. Kneeling on necks, biting, it's just gross nonsense. I don't think it was great to watch. Not one bit of imaginative or inventive play in the backs for the Lions, just up and under kicks which were largely competed well by the Boks. Gatland does nothing for me as a coach. He may well have saved Wales, and I think he is probably a decent forwards coach, but I am super glad he isn't in charge of the AB's (and am wondering how the Chiefs will go next year). The right team won, but that isn't saying much.  I seriously hope both teams take a good hard look at themselves, along with the coaches and management and remember what the Lions tour is supposed to be. The worst one I can recall in my lifetime.

I read that the Lions made just 1.24m per carry against the Boks last weekend. That is some defensive stat.

Why was the second Bledisloe test moved from Wellington?

networkn:

 

Why was the second Bledisloe test moved from Wellington?

 

According to the article I saw NZRU insisted it had to be on Sat 14th Aug. Previously it had been proposed to be slipped to 15th to deconflict with Beervana on the 14th.

But I guess TV rights or some such thing overroad Wellington having a Test this year (with the loss of the Argentina game too)

1. George Bower (3)

2. Codie Taylor (58)

3. Nepo Laulala (31)

4. Brodie Retallick (83)

5. Samuel Whitelock (125) - captain

6. Akira Ioane (4)

7. Dalton Papalii (5)

8. Ardie Savea (50)

9. Aaron Smith (99)

10. Richie Mo’unga (24)

11. Rieko Ioane (37)

12. David Havili (5)

13. Anton Lienert-Brown (50)

14. Sevu Reece (10)

15. Damian McKenzie (30)

Reserves:

16. Dane Coles (76)

17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (18)

18. Angus Ta’avao (16)

19. Scott Barrett (42)

20. Luke Jacobson (5)

21. Brad Weber (9)

22. Beauden Barrett (91)

23. Jordie Barrett (25)

Interesting that Retallick is starting, he did look much better than the first test in the second, but I still felt he was some way off the other locks. Finally, they have moved Reiko out of the centers, helleluijah! Agree with most other choices except DM at fullback, I'd have started Jordie and had DM off the bench. I think Akira at 6 is probably a good thing, not the least of reasons, to give Akira some confidence that he can keep the jersey if he can put together consecutive test matches. I wonder if Frizzel was available, if he would have got it though?

cshwone:

 

networkn:

 

Why was the second Bledisloe test moved from Wellington?

 

 

According to the article I saw NZRU insisted it had to be on Sat 14th Aug. Previously it had been proposed to be slipped to 15th to deconflict with Beervana on the 14th.

 

But I guess TV rights or some such thing overroad Wellington having a Test this year (with the loss of the Argentina game too)

 

Ah right, I figured it was a scheduling conflict, I could not recall the event.

networkn:

 

cshwone:

 

According to the article I saw NZRU insisted it had to be on Sat 14th Aug. Previously it had been proposed to be slipped to 15th to deconflict with Beervana on the 14th.

 

But I guess TV rights or some such thing overroad Wellington having a Test this year (with the loss of the Argentina game too)

 

 

Ah right, I figured it was a scheduling conflict, I could not recall the event.

 

No, Beervana was the main reason why it didn't go ahead in Wellington and not TV rights. NZR was happy with the Sunday game, ARU a big no (due to their own scheduling for return home) but the main kicker was Beervana.

For internationals the host team usually starts the Stadium pre-work two days out, so for Auckland the NZR staff are at Eden Park today, organizing whatever they need to but also arranging things like each teams 'Team Run' which is held the day before a test. Then there is all the security checks, blah blah.

So, Beervana knocked all of that on the head.

Grunta47:

 

No, Beervana was the main reason why it didn't go ahead in Wellington and not TV rights. NZR was happy with the Sunday game, ARU a big no (due to their own scheduling for return home) but the main kicker was Beervana.

 

For internationals the host team usually starts the Stadium pre-work two days out, so for Auckland the NZR staff are at Eden Park today, organizing whatever they need to but also arranging things like each teams 'Team Run' which is held the day before a test. Then there is all the security checks, blah blah.

 

So, Beervana knocked all of that on the head.

 

Beervana booked the stadium nearly 6 months ago in a weekend that didn't clash with any All Blacks schedules.

NZR & Covid/Bubble rules took the test match away from Wellington. Changing the date 2 weeks out from the event was never going to work.

JPNZ:

 

Beervana booked the stadium nearly 6 months ago in a weekend that didn't clash with any All Blacks schedules.

 

NZR & Covid/Bubble rules took the test match away from Wellington. Changing the date 2 weeks out from the event was never going to work.

 

Perhaps my wording was wrong, but yes that is what I was meaning. Beervana was never going to move/delay/change and so the chance of playing on the Sunday wasn't really an option due to the reasons mentioned.

Even playing on the 21st in Wellington was not an option, as it put at risk the AB's-AUS game in Perth on the 28th if the COVID restrictions got extended.

NZR's only option was Auckland.

Australia's ability to come back from a big deficit has become quite a thing now. First against the French and then against us. It goes to show you can't really defend a lead in Rugby these days.  There is something seriously missing in the AB's right now, they don't seem to be able to put together 80 minutes the way they once could, I am not sure where that stems from. 

Havilli looks settled in the 12 Jersey, and Mo'unga seems to be gelling better with the rest of the team test by test.

I really hope next week is a much much much better performance, I felt pretty disappointed by the game overall.

The third Lions test was interesting. We saw more attacking play and the ball moving between Lions players, they almost looked like they did against the provincial sides in the lead up to the 3 tests. Finn Russell was very good.

It wasn't a great series, not what I think anyone imagined on so many levels, though someone pointed out, there has been serious controversy in quite a few prior tours too.

Morne Steyne on the field at 37 was brilliant.

The result could have gone either way easily.

I'm glad it's over.

networkn:

Australia's ability to come back from a big deficit has become quite a thing now. First against the French and then against us. It goes to show you can't really defend a lead in Rugby these days.  There is something seriously missing in the AB's right now, they don't seem to be able to put together 80 minutes the way they once could, I am not sure where that stems from. 

Havilli looks settled in the 12 Jersey, and Mo'unga seems to be gelling better with the rest of the team test by test.

I really hope next week is a much much much better performance, I felt pretty disappointed by the game overall.