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BucksWelsh

Listed below are comments made by BucksWelsh between Monday, 22nd June 2009 and Thursday, 16th July 2009.

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Khan fighting a losing battle? 9:41pm on 16 Jul 2009 Never really believed that Khan would make it real good in the professional ranks. Outclassed in the Olympics by the Cuban, Kendolan, I have had no desire to follow his professional career. Sadly it has been all too predictable - some bouts against carefully chosen opponents (anything but World class) to build credibility in the eyes of the media followed by humiliation when he finally met somebody truly World class (Prescott). To add insult to injury, we, the general public, are requested to pay extra in order to watch the bouts of somebody (Khan) who is never going to make it really big. That is the truth! I believe there is not one British boxer at this time that is truly World class - not even Frosch or Haye. Frosch will be found out during the Super 6 competition and Haye will get his block knocked off if he meets any of the Glitchko brothers - perhaps has a slight chance against Vladimir but none at all against Vitali.
Springbok legends? 3:24pm on 06 Jul 2009 They are OK but not great.
There were many occasions when the BOKS defense was exposed as weak, and attacking-wise not so special either. The Lions should have scored at least two more of the chances that were presented to them in the 1st test and if the clock could be wound forward to now then I think they would have done just that. However, I think the BOKS just shaded the 1st test for me due to a very good first hour.
Whereas the BOKS nearly lost the 1st test due to poor (crazy) substitution, the Lions DID lose the 2nd because of poor selection for and substitution off the bench. Apart from the highly unusual circumstance of losing both props (a circumstance that really could not be foreseen), there was totally inadequate cover for the backs. Why wasn't Hook there waiting in the wings as he can cover 10, 12, 13 and 15? And as already mentioned somewhere on these blogs, why was AWJ brought off the bench instead of M. Williams during the time of uncontested scrums? Fair play to the BOKS for coming back at us, but that really shouldn't have happened.
The Lion's management redeemed themselves in the 3rd test though with some good selections and shrewd substitutions - it looked like they had learned the lessons.
The two memorable tries scored by the BOKS came in the 2nd test when their two fastest men found themselves in open space from rehearsed set-piece moves, note from set-piece and not created from open play.
The BOKS can consider themselves lucky that the other tri-nation sides are struggling themselves, which means that they will probably be competitive in the forthcoming tournament. The NZ team of 2005/2006 were far superior to the current set of BOKS and any other side of recent years in all honesty.
Will the Lions roar again in future? 10:00pm on 05 Jul 2009 Without doubt this whole series was great entertainment, and at the end of the day, that's what sport has to be or otherwise people will not bother to watch it on TV let alone travel to other side of the World and pay for all related expenses incurred. So the Lion's tour has definitely passed that test. However, it will only be entertaining if the games played remain competitive, who wants to watch a game that is a foregone conclusion. And it is on this point that I have concerns. After a very long and arduous season the players are meant to come together for a short period and perform well enough to beat a SH team that in normal circumstances has played together for a lot longer than any Lions team. These Lions have played above the expectations of many - just rewind to some of the blog posts here before the test got underway. In my humble opinion, if the whole squad had perhaps just a month longer preparation then they could well have won the series - the 3rd test win may well have been testament to the fact that by this time they had played together long enough to properly gel and play as well as they did. Indeed, I suspect that the management did not know their best team until the conclusion of the 3rd test. I am not saying that the team that played in the 3rd test was the best team that could have played because injuries had already ruled out some players that would have undoubtably featured. I know it is all 'water under the bridge' but that 3rd test left me thinking that the side chosen for the first test might have been quite different with the benefit of hindsight.
In conclusion: wrap the squad up in cotton wool and give them at least another month of preparation, especially in the professional era when the rigours of a hard season takes such a physical toll.
Lions ratings: third Test 6:58pm on 04 Jul 2009 39 Gutoknowsbest

You, I and I suppose 1000's of others thought Ellis on for Phillips to move to centre was crazy at the time, but I now think it was a stroke of genius. Phillips was well into the game and is v. good defensively - more so than Hook - and it was these qualities that were most important at that stage rather than the creative flair of Hook. Great call in my opinion, and I am a big Hook fan! Hook's time will come for sure.
Lions ratings: third Test 5:12pm on 04 Jul 2009 Superb effort by all the team. Couldn't really say there were any real stand-out players as they were ALL GREAT. Fantastic commitment from all of the 15 that started and also from all those that came off the bench. Was a little surprised by the substitution of Flutey with Phillips, but obviously the management thought that Phillips's aggression (defensive qualities)were required in the mid-field rather than the more passive and creative skills of Hook at that crucial time - and without doubt they got it right.
Just loved the result because the Lions certainly didn't deserve to go home 3-0 losers.
Can new-look Lions square the series? 1:43pm on 26 Jun 2009 The BOKS will be puffing and panting for the latter part of the match. As long as the Lions can be in touch around the 60 minute mark then I cannot see anything but a Lion's win from that situation.
Can new-look Lions square the series? 1:40pm on 26 Jun 2009 Agree with virtually all of this selection as can see a lot of logic in it. The all Welsh front row know each other very well and add a lot more bulk to the problem area. Shaw has been a legend in his long career and really should have featured a lot more than he has for England. I'm glad that he has finally got a well-deserved start in a Lion's test. As already mentioned, Shaw is surely there to blunt the BOKS attack for the earlier part of the match and then time to bring on AWJ to run them around. Wallace starts ahead of Williams for the same reason as Shaw's inclusion - Williams later for his link play. Heaslip froze a bit last week but I think he will be more relaxed this week because he will know what is expected of him, and besides with Wallace and Williams next to him he will not be lacking any good sound advice.
Fitz deserves his chance just as Moyne got his.
The bench appears to be a little light on forward power and would have expected to see Powell instead of one of backs on there (although I'm scratching my head as to who and yet still have all positions covered). Pity we can't have 8 subs.
Test clues emerge in Cape Town monsoon 11:11pm on 24 Jun 2009 Feel very sorry that ROG is not going to feature in the 2nd. test. He is a shrewd tactical player who often makes the right decisions at the right time. However since Jones didn't feature last night can there be any doubt that he is to start? So who would you have on the bench to cover 10? It has to be HOOK because he can cover 10, 12, 13 and 15 and offers something different to either Jones or ROG.
Agree with many comments that Moyne has probably blown it. Kearney to start at 15 (if Byne not OK) or on the bench otherwise (to cover 11 and 15). As for the much discussed 11 spot: I would not be at all surprised if Shane Williams starts there. OK I know it is not the ideal option considering what has happened so far on tour, but just got a sneaky feeling that they will go for experience over the unknown for this one-off encounter.
We saw neither POC or AWJ last night, so they probably feature in the 22. Hines has been banned and so that only leaves DOC and Shaw to consider. Of the two DOC is the safer option as he and POC play together all the time. Martyn Williams will bench at best and Wallace will start - although Williams will be coming on at some stage. Now for the 8 position: What a dilemna here! Heaslip to start of course, but I think Powell will be on the bench.

Team for me:

Byne or Kearney (if Byrne injured)
Bowe
BOD
Roberts
S. Williams
Jones
Phillips
Heaslip
Wallace
Croft
POC
AWJ
A. Jones
Rees
Jenkins

Subs:
M. Williams
Powell
DOC
Kearney/Earls (if Kearney starting at full back)
Vickery
Hook
Mears

V. tough on Shaw and ROG but rules are rules!
Last chance looms for wannabe Test Lions 07:43am on 23 Jun 2009 BlufferDC:

I believe your right that Jones hasn't made himself 'untouchable'. However it seems that more concentration has been set on getting the forward problems sorted, as it was in that area that the test was really lost. I know Jones missed a couple of penalties (very close they were though) but it wasn't that that lost us the game - the penalties conceded from the set piece was the reason.
It appears that they are going for more grunt (an absolute must) and that generally they are happy with composition of the backline. Reasonable in my opinion considering the backs gave the BOKS much trouble, and on another day it might well have been six/seven tries scored instead of 3 - although much credit due to the BOKS defense for keeping the try count down.
ROG may well miss out - although he doesn't deserve it - to HOOK for a bench spot, as HOOK covers more positions and is the superior place kicker to either JONES or ROG. I would not be surprised to see either S. Williams or Fitz make a bench place. Martyn Williams will start but probably won't play all the game so he can be preserved for Saturday, Powell likewise (to either start or bench on Saturday). It is power and grunt that is the name of the game as they got the tactics wrong for the 1st test.
Lions ratings 11:11am on 22 Jun 2009 Got a gut feeling that we are about to be given a shock when the 2nd. test selection comes along. If Hines, Shaw and Powell do well on Tuesday, wouldn't be at all surprised if all of them start or bench. That could mean dropping POC and starting with a combination of two from either Shaw, Hines and AWJ, with one on the bench. Hook (if OK) might well start too as he is an attacking option that could make an already v. good backline even more effective. Very sad to see the demise of Vickery, he always gives his best but unfortunately not good enough at this stage of his career, so doubt if he will feature in the tests again.
Would expect - well it is a MUST really - the pack to be beefed up and look something like:
Jenkins, Rees, A. Jones, Shaw/Hines or Shaw/AWJ or AWJ/Hines, Williams/Wallace, Powell, Croft.
The backline:
Phillips, Hook, Roberts, BOD (CAPT.), Bowe (still the best wing in my mind), Moyne (but Fitz if he plays well Tuesday), Kearney.

Note Kearney at full back - he looked as solid as a rock on Saturday. Byrne seems to have a long-standing foot problem and might not be 100% but would have only made the bench in my team even if he was 100%.
Either Wallace or Williams on the bench to start. Heaslip on the bench because I thought he was a little bit over-awed by the occasion on Sat. and Powell will bring some much needed power to proceedings.

It's do or die now, and I'm sure the selection will reflect that. They will have to beef up the pack. I don't think the lineout should be such an important consideration because no matter who we put in we will not be able to win that particular battle. But by competing in other areas the superior fitness/conditioning of the Lions will pay dividends earlier in the 2nd. test and thus enable them to go on and win.

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