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Opinionated Rugby Commentary - by Fans for Fans
Spill what you really think about events in the rugby world.
British and Irish Lions vs Western Force 8 views
04 June 2013 by The Swede Eaters
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Can the understrength Western Force upset the British and Irish Lions? Here are my predictions including starting teams named.
Brian O'Driscoll captains the British and Irish Lions in their first
tour match in Australia. The team named to face the Western Australian
team the Force features eight Irish players in the starting lineup.
This team has an experienced look to it with the likes of Rory Best and
Cian Healy bringing plenty of experience to the table. It will be
interesting to see how the midfield of Manu Tuilagi and Brian O'Driscoll
performs.
The British and Irish Lions thumped the Barbarians side featuring plenty
of international players 59-8 in Hong Kong and should be too strong for
a Western Force team which sits 13th in Super Rugby and features six
players who have played test match rugby.
The Force have come out swinging by claiming they will be physical
against the British and Irish Lions, but I would think they will run out
of passion at some stage. Their squad just doesn't have enough big
names to trouble the British and Irish Lions in my opinion. They have a
foot in each camp by also keeping players fresh to play the Waratahs in
Super Rugby this weekend.
For SuperBru tipsters I would pick the British and Irish Lions to win
this match comfortably. Last week's win over the Barbarians highlighted
the fact that this Lions team is here to play and although combinations
might be a bit untried, the Force will also be struggling without their
best players who have been lost to the Wallabies squad to prepare for
the test matches.
It is a big ask for the Force having to play the British and Irish Lions
which is a team of established international players on a Wednesday
night before playing the Waratahs on the following weekend in a Super
Rugby match. This will test the paper thin depth of the team especially
without their best players who are in the Wallabies camp.
I am picking the British and Irish Lions to win by 28 points.
For those people wanting to play a Lions Tour 2013 Fantasy Rugby style game, go to www.testrugby.com
It is an interesting concept when you have players listed in more than
one team since while it is possible for a player to play against the
British and Irish Lions for both their Super Rugby team and for the
Wallabies, it probably won't happen.
You want to stack your www.testrugby.com
team with British and Irish Lions, with the possible exception of
bargain priced Force players like loose forward Angus Cottrell, lock
Phoenix Battye, Sam Christie and hooker James Hilterbrand, although Cian
Healy usually does alright given he is a prop. Whoever is goalkicking
for the Force could be an option, although the British and Irish Lions
players are probably preferable if you can afford them. The Force
forwards will probably have to make plenty of tackles.
Who are you picking to win between the British and Irish Lions and the Western Force?
British and Irish Lions vs Western Force squads named
Team: 15-Leigh Halfpenny, 14-Tommy Bowe, 13-Brian O'Driscoll (captain),
12-Manu Tuilagi, 11-George North, 10-Jonny Sexton, 9-Conor Murray,
8-Jamie Heaslip; 7-Sean O'Brien, 6-Tom Croft, 5-Ian Evans, 4-Alun
Wyn-Jones, 3-Dan Cole, 2-Rory Best, 1-Cian Healey.
Replacements: 16-Tom Youngs, 17-Mako Vunipola, 18-Matt Stevens, 19-Geoff
Parling, 20-Toby Faletau, 21-Ben Youngs, 22-Owen Farrell, 23-Sean
Maitland.
Western Force: Sam Christie (4 Super Rugby caps); Dane Haylett-Petty (9
SR), Ed Stubbs (6 SR), Chris Tuatara-Morrison (Uncapped), Corey Brown
(Uncapped); Sam Norton-Knight (66 SR, 2 Tests), Brett Sheehan (92 SR, 6
Tests); Richard Brown (88 SR, 23 Tests), Matt Hodgson (captain) (95 SR, 6
Tests), Angus Cottrell (15 SR); Phoenix Battye (11 SR), Toby Lynn (61
SR); Salesi Ma'afu (72 SR, 13 Tests), James Hilterbrand (1 SR), Salesi
Manu (8 SR). Replacements: 16. Hugh Roach (Uncapped), Sione Kolo
(Uncapped), Tim Metcher (Uncapped), Ben Matwijow (Uncapped), Lachlan
McCaffrey (8 SR), Alby Mathewson (97 SR, 4 Tests), Nick Haining
(Uncapped), Junior Rasolea (10 SR).
http://www.superrugbytips.com/2013/06/british-and-irish-lions-vs-western.html
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Tags:
Force, Lions Tour 2013,
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