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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 - Week One 6 views
10 June 2013 by The Swede Eaters
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The British and Irish Lions have made a successful start to their campaign with three wins. Should they play Super Rugby franchises or go back to playing club or provincial teams? Should Quade Cooper be in the Wallabies?
The British and Irish Lions are unbeaten so far, gaining three wins from
three games with plenty of people being critical of the quality of
opposition for the British and Irish Lions and the continued exclusion
of Quade Cooper from the Wallabies squad.
The British and Irish Lions not only gave the Barbarians which featured
plenty of former international rugby stars a flogging in Hong Kong on
their way to Australia, but also gave an understrength Western Force
team a hiding. The Super Rugby scheduling has plenty to answer for with
the Western Force not only being forced to play without their Wallabies
who were in training, but also without some rested players who were
being saved for a Super Rugby match against the Waratahs four days
later.
While it would be great to return to the days when provincial sides like
Otago defeated the British and Irish Lions in 1993, it seems that the
days when a non professional side should play the British and Irish
Lions could be numbered. Back in the good old days there were less
games in general so the best players wanted to play at every opportunity
and you had several All Blacks playing for their provincial team. You
even had All Blacks playing in the second division in the amateur days!
These days the ITM Cup in New Zealand has gone back to a
semi-professional feeder competition for Super Rugby and although it
would be the highlight for many players to tackle the British and Irish
Lions, it isn't doing anyone any favours if the game is too lopsided.
Remember when Manawatu conceded a ton against the 2005 British and Irish
Lions who lost three tests to the All Blacks and once to the New
Zealand Maori?
Some of the Australian teams have hardly any depth and it showed as you
had club players trying to beat fully fledged international stars when
the Western Force lost to the British and Irish Lions. The Queensland
Reds put up a better fight and included a great try by winger Luke
Morahan. The British and Irish Lions still won 22-12.
The Queensland Reds showed the ways the Wallabies will probably play by attempting to play the game at fast pace.
Queensland Reds winger Luke Morahan scored a great try against the British and Irish Lions.
I can't wait for the test matches between the British and Irish Lions
and the Wallabies. There have been some injuries to potential test
players like Cian Healy, Tommy Bowe and Gethin Jenkins, but the British
and Irish Lions have plenty of depth to be able to fill the void.
George North has impressed me for the British and Irish Lions. It is
exciting seeing some of the younger British and Irish Lions players in
great form. Who needs Jonny Wilkinson when you have Owen Farrell? It
is funny seeing Samoans playing for the British and Irish Lions or
seeing Sean Maitland who was in the second tier of players in New
Zealand, playing for the Lions. I wonder if Stephen Jones is eating
humble pie?
Watching the Queensland Reds play the British and Irish Lions left me
wondering who I am going to be cheering for when the British and Irish
Lions play the Wallabies? As a New Zealander, it is great to see
Australia get beaten, while it is difficult to know if this is
preferable to seeing a Northern Hemisphere team gain a series win away
from home! It will be great when the test matches finally start so that
the mud slinging can take place on the field rather than off it! It
seems typical given the mass media attention the British and Irish Lions
have.
There was something satisfying at seeing both Beau Robinson and Quade
Cooper floundering at times against the British and Irish Lions. They
are two players who most New Zealanders love to hate.
What do you think of the British and Irish Lions 2013 tour so far? Should the Lions play club or provincial teams or only Super Rugby franchises? Should Quade Cooper be back in the Wallabies?
http://www.superrugbytips.com/2013/06/british-and-irish-lions-australia-2013.html
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British and Irish Lions
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