None are as bad as this one by Christophe Dominici! I remember watching the game and Brian Moore saying 'In this part of the world, we call someone doing that an egit!'
I am really intrigued as to how Gatland will approach this tour. I have a feeling a lot of his selections will be based on how he wants to play the game.
If he wants brute force to smash the aussies, I would imagine his XV would be:
Front Row: Healy, Hibbard, Jones
Lock: O'Connell, Evans
Loose Forwards: O'Brien Warburton Faletau
Halfback: Phillips, Farrell
Centre: Roberts, Tuilagi
Back 3: North, Cuthbert, Halfpenny
Ball carriers galore (Healy, Hibbard, O'Brien, Falatau, Roberts & Tuilagi) and lots of power and bulk
But then if he wants to play a bit of rugby:
Front Row: Jenkins, Youngs, Cole
Lock: Parling, Wyn-Jones
Loose Forwards: Croft, Tipuric, Heaslip
Halfback: Youngs, Sexton
Centre: Davies, BOD
Back 3: Halfpenny, Kearney, Bowe
A lot more pace in the pack, plus more creativity in the backs.
Personally however Gatland picks, I would love to see Tipuric and Croft on the field together, probably the two fastest back rowers in the home nations.
In an ideal world an even number of English, Irish, Scottish & Welsh players would tour, and we would see this reflected in the starting XV. Unfortunately this cannot realistically happen. Partly due to the varying success and quality of the players. Also in part due to the logjam and dearth of options at certain positions. At the end of the day are the players good enough?
Don't get me wrong, I would love to see Youngs passing out to Sexton to unleash the firepower of Tuilagi, Visser & North outside! But I cannot see Gatland picking inferior players due to politics.
I agree. I do genuinely feel it is a shame that England may not provide that many wingers. Realistically Cuthbert, North, Visser, Zebo & Bowe are the likely candidates. Varndell, Wade, Monye, Sharples & Strettle are all players who need a look in the national set up (hopefully during the Argentina tour).
The fact that they weren't trialling the TMO due to it not being a live stream is a bit of gobshite really! They obviously had professional cameramen there from ITV for the entire game. Why not hook a feed up to an independent TMO.
This was the aviva premiership, not national league 3!
Pretty much spot on, however I would imagine that if 5 props go, Gatland will choose a player who can cover both sides. For this reason I would see Gethin Jenkins going over one of the Tight Heads (probably Cole as Murray is available for all games).
Hines might sneak in, but I see it more likely Jim Hamilton will go. He was outstanding all tournament. I do not see both English locks going as I see O'Connell or Ian Evans (who has had two successive impressive 6 nations) going.
Back row looks good. I would hope Gatland does bring the three 6.5's (6's who play 7's) in Robshaw, O'Brien and Brown as they are good players. Warburton, Tipuric & Armitage are the best 3 out and out 7's in Lions contention.
I wouldn't take Wilkinson, Sexton & Owen Farrell together. In my mind it is Sexton + Wikinson or Farrell. Might see Laidlaw go as the 3rd option as he can cover 9 & 10 whilst providing a kicking option.
I do see a creative centre such as JD2, Twelvetrees or Marshall going as Roberts & Tuilagi are busters not passers.
Judging by current form I think Bowe will sneak into the Lions squad over Maitland. I cannot see Ash the Splash going as he is too temperamental.
Finally looking at fullback, I feel they may have to bring Kearney to bring the total to 4. Purely as Hogg, Halfpenny & Brown can play on the wing.
If Falatau was distinctly average, the other 8's were below average. He does the hard work and the basics very well. He doesn't bowl over players like some 8's, but he reliably crosses the gain line and his defensive work is outstanding (made 75 tackles during the tournament)
Sam Warburton & Justin Tipuric will go as the Lions will want to carry specialist 7's in the squad. Robshaw & Brown are really 6.5's than out and out 7's, and O'Brien is a 6.
Back row is arguably the deepest area for Lions selection. It contains all 4 international captains (Heaslip, Robshaw, Warburton & Brown), previous Lions (Jones & Croft), last years player of the six nations (Lydiate) before we even talk about Morgan, Beattie, Armitage, Falatau, Tipuric.
That being said, there is another assistant referee. I find it very unlikely that all three could miss a high tackle in open play!
Also I was under the impression that the Aviva Premiership were trialling the use of the TMO in situations such as this ("If foul play is referred, the TMO is to make recommendations as to the appropriate sanctions, as an assistant referee can currently do.").
I was more interested listening to the referee. He says "It doesn't matter I haven't seen that. I had a player in the way and I didn't see it I'm sorry. I heard it but I didn't see it"
I understand that if the referee does not see foul play he cannot act on it, however in this case surely it is the duty of the touch judge (who is also a professional referee) to bring foul play to the attention of the referee.
In this case I am surprised the referee did not defer to a touch judge during the stoppage to consult as he obviously suspected that foul play may have happened ('I heard it but didn't see it').
Midweek Madness - The Top 5 Bombed Tries of All Time
None are as bad as this one by Christophe Dominici! I remember watching the game and Brian Moore saying 'In this part of the world, we call someone doing that an egit!'
http://www.t3licensing.com/video/clip/1B28410_0036.do
1 Day, 8 Hours ago
Tom Croft's brilliant try and try-saving tackle against Harlequins
I am really intrigued as to how Gatland will approach this tour. I have a feeling a lot of his selections will be based on how he wants to play the game.
If he wants brute force to smash the aussies, I would imagine his XV would be:
Front Row: Healy, Hibbard, Jones
Lock: O'Connell, Evans
Loose Forwards: O'Brien Warburton Faletau
Halfback: Phillips, Farrell
Centre: Roberts, Tuilagi
Back 3: North, Cuthbert, Halfpenny
Ball carriers galore (Healy, Hibbard, O'Brien, Falatau, Roberts & Tuilagi) and lots of power and bulk
But then if he wants to play a bit of rugby:
Front Row: Jenkins, Youngs, Cole
Lock: Parling, Wyn-Jones
Loose Forwards: Croft, Tipuric, Heaslip
Halfback: Youngs, Sexton
Centre: Davies, BOD
Back 3: Halfpenny, Kearney, Bowe
A lot more pace in the pack, plus more creativity in the backs.
Personally however Gatland picks, I would love to see Tipuric and Croft on the field together, probably the two fastest back rowers in the home nations.
1 Week, 20 Hours ago
Elliot Daly clearance kick lands straight in the bin
the bin is safer under the high ball than Chris Ashton
4 Weeks, 1 Day ago
Jason Robinson picks BOD as captain in starting British & Irish Lions XV
In an ideal world an even number of English, Irish, Scottish & Welsh players would tour, and we would see this reflected in the starting XV. Unfortunately this cannot realistically happen. Partly due to the varying success and quality of the players. Also in part due to the logjam and dearth of options at certain positions. At the end of the day are the players good enough?
Don't get me wrong, I would love to see Youngs passing out to Sexton to unleash the firepower of Tuilagi, Visser & North outside! But I cannot see Gatland picking inferior players due to politics.
1 Month, 2 Days ago
Jason Robinson picks BOD as captain in starting British & Irish Lions XV
I agree. I do genuinely feel it is a shame that England may not provide that many wingers. Realistically Cuthbert, North, Visser, Zebo & Bowe are the likely candidates. Varndell, Wade, Monye, Sharples & Strettle are all players who need a look in the national set up (hopefully during the Argentina tour).
1 Month, 2 Days ago
Josh Matavesi banned for brutal high tackle on Neil De Kock
Fair enough!
The fact that they weren't trialling the TMO due to it not being a live stream is a bit of gobshite really! They obviously had professional cameramen there from ITV for the entire game. Why not hook a feed up to an independent TMO.
This was the aviva premiership, not national league 3!
1 Month, 2 Days ago
Jason Robinson picks BOD as captain in starting British & Irish Lions XV
Pretty much spot on, however I would imagine that if 5 props go, Gatland will choose a player who can cover both sides. For this reason I would see Gethin Jenkins going over one of the Tight Heads (probably Cole as Murray is available for all games).
Hines might sneak in, but I see it more likely Jim Hamilton will go. He was outstanding all tournament. I do not see both English locks going as I see O'Connell or Ian Evans (who has had two successive impressive 6 nations) going.
Back row looks good. I would hope Gatland does bring the three 6.5's (6's who play 7's) in Robshaw, O'Brien and Brown as they are good players. Warburton, Tipuric & Armitage are the best 3 out and out 7's in Lions contention.
I wouldn't take Wilkinson, Sexton & Owen Farrell together. In my mind it is Sexton + Wikinson or Farrell. Might see Laidlaw go as the 3rd option as he can cover 9 & 10 whilst providing a kicking option.
I do see a creative centre such as JD2, Twelvetrees or Marshall going as Roberts & Tuilagi are busters not passers.
Judging by current form I think Bowe will sneak into the Lions squad over Maitland. I cannot see Ash the Splash going as he is too temperamental.
Finally looking at fullback, I feel they may have to bring Kearney to bring the total to 4. Purely as Hogg, Halfpenny & Brown can play on the wing.
1 Month, 2 Days ago
Jason Robinson picks BOD as captain in starting British & Irish Lions XV
If Falatau was distinctly average, the other 8's were below average. He does the hard work and the basics very well. He doesn't bowl over players like some 8's, but he reliably crosses the gain line and his defensive work is outstanding (made 75 tackles during the tournament)
Sam Warburton & Justin Tipuric will go as the Lions will want to carry specialist 7's in the squad. Robshaw & Brown are really 6.5's than out and out 7's, and O'Brien is a 6.
Back row is arguably the deepest area for Lions selection. It contains all 4 international captains (Heaslip, Robshaw, Warburton & Brown), previous Lions (Jones & Croft), last years player of the six nations (Lydiate) before we even talk about Morgan, Beattie, Armitage, Falatau, Tipuric.
1 Month, 2 Days ago
Josh Matavesi banned for brutal high tackle on Neil De Kock
That being said, there is another assistant referee. I find it very unlikely that all three could miss a high tackle in open play!
Also I was under the impression that the Aviva Premiership were trialling the use of the TMO in situations such as this ("If foul play is referred, the TMO is to make recommendations as to the appropriate sanctions, as an assistant referee can currently do.").
1 Month, 2 Days ago
Josh Matavesi banned for brutal high tackle on Neil De Kock
I was more interested listening to the referee. He says "It doesn't matter I haven't seen that. I had a player in the way and I didn't see it I'm sorry. I heard it but I didn't see it"
I understand that if the referee does not see foul play he cannot act on it, however in this case surely it is the duty of the touch judge (who is also a professional referee) to bring foul play to the attention of the referee.
In this case I am surprised the referee did not defer to a touch judge during the stoppage to consult as he obviously suspected that foul play may have happened ('I heard it but didn't see it').
1 Month, 2 Days ago