Well the first half was fun, good on the Force for giving it a bit of a crack, but they were never going to have enough quality to stay with the Lions. Lions will be pretty happy with that hit out I think, perfect start to the tour for them (ignoring the Argentina match).
I love that there is rugby every Wednesday and Saturday for the foreseeable future. Hope some of the other Aus sides can give them more of a run for their money.
Oh and Pollock was a joy to watch, amazing talent, the biggest thing that stood out to me was his decision making. Top notch for a 20 year old! He has a huge future in the game.
The Force thrashed. They looked okay in the first half, but the Lions had too much quality and too many options and made it count.
More than decent win for them.
@No-Quarter said in Force v British Lions:
Oh and Pollock was a joy to watch, amazing talent, the biggest thing that stood out to me was his decision making. Top notch for a 20 year old! He has a huge future in the game.
If he stays fit and healthy, he'll be one of the games biggest stars for the next 15 years or so. Huge talent.
McCarthy, Pollock, Williams and Sheehan were the pick of the Lions. Russell, Daly and Lowe went okay too.
Whilst not traditional, I do like the names of the players on the back of the jerseys. Will definitely help for the Aussie (and non 6Ns) viewing public.
And the soccer fans.
@antipodean said in Force v British Lions:
I didn’t watch as am o/s.
But I see the Force had more possession and territory, had more carries, had to make less tackles and also missed less tackles, conceded less penalties, but got whacked by 47 points.
Yikes
@Canes4life said in Force v British Lions:
@antipodean said in Force v British Lions:
It was one good play against the Force. Let's keep grounded with the praise.
Was about to say this, he has talent but let’s see what he’s got when he comes up against tougher opposition.
We’ll have to wait until next season’s 6N then, because even if he starts all three tests and scores 6 tries in each test all we’ll hear is how shit Australia are
@Darren said in Force v British Lions:
So just watched the highlights above, how good is that No 8..... damm.
Yeah. Did some good stuff.
May become problematic.
Have decided not to like him.
Russell pulled the strings beautifully in this match. Definite front runner for the 10 jersey in the tests.
By geez I enjoyed that game. Lions look a not bad team don't they, and certainly more effective playing that style with Russell at 10 than Finn Smith.. Force weren't bad, just got worn out by a fairly relentless Lions team. Very good, got up this morning and watched the 2nd half of Maori's game (got a bit late for me last night so went to bed at oranges), and then watched this one. Loved it, hell and next week we get Maori's./Scotland, followed by French test, Lions and Wallabies/Fiji on Sunday. I am set! Well of course club rugby first on Saturday!
@Darren said in Force v British Lions:
So just watched the highlights above, how good is that No 8..... damm.
To those of you who have just discovered Henry Pollock, he's even better as a 7 by the way.
I recorded this game to watch this morning. The Lions were obviously too good in the end, and the Force's lack of depth and quality on the bench was evident. But, Schmidt should be encouraged that the Force continually found holes in the midfield in the 1st half even if they weren't good enough to take those chances.
@voodoo said in Force v British Lions:
@antipodean said in Force v British Lions:
I didn’t watch as am o/s.
But I see the Force had more possession and territory, had more carries, had to make less tackles and also missed less tackles, conceded less penalties, but got whacked by 47 points.
Yikes
Clearest example for me of the disparity between the class of the two teams. One took nearly every opportunity on offer and the other couldn't.
Roll on the test series.
Should be a better watch than whatever France is sending this way.
Perspective...
A team that finished 9th in a provincial competition, lacking their best players, lost to a team full of international level players by 40 ish points.
I reckon that's pretty much par on both sides, if not slightly under par for the "club" team.
@Canes4life said in Force v British Lions:
@antipodean said in Force v British Lions:
It was one good play against the Force. Let's keep grounded with the praise.
Was about to say this, he has talent but let’s see what he’s got when he comes up against tougher opposition.
Was at a rugby dinner last night and they had a Q&A session with Martin Johnson, Ben Kaye and Geordan Murphy. Murphy was basically slagging off most of the English Lions but in particular Pollock, Kaye was frothing over Pollock and Jonno was typically forthright. “Yeah, Pollock shows promise but scoring two tries agains a shit Wales team doesn’t make you a world beater “. 
@Darren said in Force v British Lions:
So just watched the highlights above, how good is that No 8..... damm.
Might not be a good sign for Hoskins if England is his plan
@Duluth said in Force v British Lions:
Forward pass not called
I've only watched the highlights. But even in that package - I reckon 3 or 4 forward passes by Lions not called.
Not one of O’Keefe’s better games. Forward passes missed, refereeing of the breakdown was slanted towards the tackled side. I can’t recall one successful jackal or jackal penalty.
Warburton on comms had an interesting point in that if that is going to be the BO’K standard will it effect selection in the back row?
@Catogrande said in Force v British Lions:
Not one of O’Keefe’s better games. Forward passes missed, refereeing of the breakdown was slanted towards the tackled side. I can’t recall one successful jackal or jackal penalty.
Warburton on comms had an interesting point in that if that is going to be the BO’K standard will it effect selection in the back row?
welcome to ben othief
@kiwiinmelb Pollock will be a 7 for England.
@sparky said in Force v British Lions:
@kiwiinmelb Pollock will be a 7 for England.
Fair enough, Makes sense , I don’t know much about him , the commentary mentioned him as an 8 which was all I went off
@Catogrande said in Force v British Lions:
Not one of O’Keefe’s better games. Forward passes missed, refereeing of the breakdown was slanted towards the tackled side. I can’t recall one successful jackal or jackal penalty.
Leaning over players on the ground and not supporting your own bodyweight should not be rewarded. Beirne was pretty cynical at times and could have been penalised more.
I thought O'Keeffe was pretty good. If that's the style the tour will be played, bring it on! Let it flow, good competition on the ground but leeway given to the attacking team.
@barbarian he was too lenient on the Lions who should have been yellowed early for cynical play. They don't need help to beat the Force.
@Bovidae said in Force v British Lions:
@Catogrande said in Force v British Lions:
Not one of O’Keefe’s better games. Forward passes missed, refereeing of the breakdown was slanted towards the tackled side. I can’t recall one successful jackal or jackal penalty.
Leaning over players on the ground and not supporting your own bodyweight should not be rewarded. Beirne was pretty cynical at times and could have been penalised more.
Yeah, you’re right on both counts. I should maybe have been a bit more specific. “I can’t recall one jackal penalty that was awarded to the jackal” was what I was getting at.
@Bovidae said in Force v British Lions:
@Catogrande said in Force v British Lions:
Not one of O’Keefe’s better games. Forward passes missed, refereeing of the breakdown was slanted towards the tackled side. I can’t recall one successful jackal or jackal penalty.
Leaning over players on the ground and not supporting your own bodyweight should not be rewarded.
Pocockwomble made a career out of it.
@barbarian said in Force v British Lions:
I thought O'Keeffe was pretty good. If that's the style the tour will be played, bring it on! Let it flow, good competition on the ground but leeway given to the attacking team.
All for fewer whistles esp at breakdown. But can’t see why we should give one side an extra advantage in any contest?
Team in possession already has an advantage - they decide where/on what terms breakdowns are going to happen. If they can’t use that advantage to get support to tackled player & to create, use & exploit space buggered if I can see why we should give them licence to cheat a bit to keep the ball.
Fewer more fiercely contested rucks not more bullshit ones produces better quality rugby.
