British & Irish Lions 1st Test

[Real ale 2]

Belvedere & Caldervale Sportsclub ( behind the Oaks Hotel ) will be open from 8am this Saturday for the 1st Test v the All Blacks ko 8-35am .Full bar facilities available all welcome.

[BleedingClaret]

Belvedere & Caldervale Sportsclub ( behind the Oaks Hotel ) will be open from 8am this Saturday for the 1st Test v the All Blacks ko 8-35am .Full bar facilities available all welcome.

Thanks mate I was wondering where to catch it

[Real ale 2]

No worries Bleeding Claret

[The Enclosure]

Free Oddies pies Real Ale ?

[willsclarets]

Looking forward to it. You've got to have the all blacks as hot favourites, but if the rain pours, our box kicks are great, set piece perfect and we engage them in a forwards battle...you never know. There's enough talent in the lions squad to make it interesting.
I just hope he doesn't play sexton and Farrell together, and picks o brien at 7 instead of Warburton.

[hampsteadclaret]

This is the Lions starting side, and the bench....It is a very strong bunch of players, but does that make a team..?

British & Irish Lions (v New Zealand, 1st Test, Saturday, June 24, 7.35pm NZST, 8.35am BST)

15. Liam Williams – Scarlets, Wales, #833
14. Anthony Watson – Bath Rugby, England, #816
13. Jonathan Davies – Scarlets, Wales, #778
12. Ben Te’o – Worcester Warriors, England, #815
11. Elliot Daly – Wasps, England, #822
10. Owen Farrell – Saracens, England, #780
9. Conor Murray – Munster, Ireland, #790
1. Mako Vunipola – Saracens, England, #787
2. Jamie George – Saracens, England, #819
3. Tadhg Furlong – Leinster, Ireland, #818
4. Alun Wyn Jones – Ospreys, Wales, #761
5. George Kruis – Saracens, England, #817
6. Peter O’Mahony (capt) – Munster, Ireland, #832
7. Sean O’Brien – Leinster, Ireland, #796
8. Taulupe Faletau – Bath Rugby, Wales, #779

Replacements
16. Ken Owens – Scarlets, Wales, #829
17. Jack McGrath – Leinster, Ireland, #827
18. Kyle Sinckler – Harlequins, England, #814
19. Maro Itoje – Saracens, England, #825
20. Sam Warburton – Cardiff Blues, Wales, #800
21. Rhys Webb – Ospreys, Wales, #820
22. Johnny Sexton – Leinster, Ireland, #791
23. Leigh Halfpenny – Toulon, Wales, #775

*There are a lot of contrasting views online about this line-up though most recognise that this lot should give the All Blacks a decent match..

People still in the dark about lock Joe Launchbury not being on the plane.

Why is [Super] Maro Itoje not starting?

Alun Wyn Jones...favouritism by Gatland?

Leigh Halfpenny...the best kicker in world rugby? - not starting?

George North...Jonathan Joseph..? - you can't pick them all can you.

I hope the game justifies the hype...Go Lions..

[bedfords]

Struggle to see how Launchbury, Brown and Hartley haven't been selected.

[aggi]

I can see why Jones has been selected over Itoje. It's a relatively young and inexperienced front 5, Jones has more caps than the other 4 put together. You need an old head in there to keep things calm, particularly if we're struggling early on in the game

[Real ale 2]

Enclosure no free Oddies pies but I'm sure the Big man may be about so a word in his ear and you never know!

Spot on Willsclaret got your wish feel sorry for Tipuric would have preferred him on the bench to Warburton.
Disagree Bedfords second row has been one of the strenths of the tour to date :Brown was never going can't kick and can only play one position ..Hartley not even the best hooker in England and his discipline issues would bring more off the field stuff with an unforgiving Kiwi press

Agree Aggi ..Itoje can cover back row as well and as the game breaks up later his mobility will be a big plus ..really can't wait hope it lives up to the hype as Hampstead Claret says

[The Enclosure]

Is Dan Biggar injured.Thought he played well in the games I watched..I think there are some surprising selections/ omissions in that team in my opinion.

[Real ale 2]

He did ok not being on the winning side v the Highlanders may have been a factor ..the great thing about the Lions is the unpredictability not many would have bet on Gatland leaving out Halfpenny and North ..the one thing about him is he will make a big call if needed

[Caballo]

Agree re Halfpenny can't really make a case for North though, he's been very average so far.

[Real ale 2]

Caballo just pleasantly surprised Gatland didn't pick North , as you say done nothing special

[HatfieldClaret]

Not been too impressed with the selections.

Horrible feeling about tomorrow.

[Real ale 2]

You maybe right Hatfield but a rainy night in Auckland and who knows

[MrTopTier]

New Zealand not been beaten at Eden Park in 37 test matches. Stretching back 23 years.
As for a rainy night in Auckland, New Zealand is one of the wettest places on the planet.
New Zealand to win by 10 points.

[Real ale 2]

Fantastic run but no one unbeatable (gulp) New Zealand can be wet but get much more sunshine ..the rain should help the Lions game plan but the ABs are not World Champions for nothing ..should be a cracker whatever happens

[MrTopTier]

I like your optimism Real Ale.

[Real ale 2]

I'd just have a lie in Top tier if I thought it was a forgone conclusion a depleted Wales won in Samoa today 19-17 ..Samoa lost 78-0 in Auckland last week to the ABs hope springs eternal

[timshorts]

Is Dan Biggar injured.Thought he played well in the games I watched..I think there are some surprising selections/ omissions in that team in my opinion.

I dont tthink he's 100%
that said, it's not fair to judge him on the two losses that he's played in. He came off both times with the lions ahead. One through injury.

[hampsteadclaret]

It's gonna be tough but..

'COME ON the LIONS'...

[JohnMac]

Is it me or does the Haka just get better and better?

I wonder if they have a secret ' X-Factor Haka' to select the best one

[HatfieldClaret]

Was the Haka in slow motion....

What a try, one to be shown over and over again for years to come...

Come on !!!!

[Goalposts]

they have a new haka for every test series

[Goddy]

No spoiler from me other than to say what a fantastic game of rugby this is!

[HatfieldClaret]

[aggi]

Ouch. If we'd put away some of those attacks, particularly just after half time, we may have had a chance. 15 points is a fair gap though.

[karatekid]

The all blacks look very physically strong. No barrel chested lads in their line up. Their fitness levels are a big factor in why they are so good.

[HatfieldClaret]

quick and decisive decision making was a clear factor.