British Loins Tour to Australia 2013 - Official Thread

Hogg knocks on in a key area. Under pressure now.

Crucial tackle from Jonathan Sexton and turnover ball sees the Loins weather the storm for now.

Paul O’Connell stole that ball at the breakdown. Bringing all his vast experience into play.

Sidney

You can be funny a good bit of the time did, but fucking hell I wish someone would hit ya a box in the mouth sometimes. It must be a pain in the hole even for yourself to come up with this much guff.

Worrying words from Will Greenwood with the news that Tommy Bowe’s hand is heavily strapped. That’s an area of real concern for Gatty I would imagine given how well he played in his 44 minutes today.

[quote=“caoimhaoin, post: 783169, member: 273”]Sidney

You can be funny a good bit of the time did, but fucking hell I wish someone would hit ya a box in the mouth sometimes. It must be a pain in the hole even for yourself to come up with this much guff.[/quote]

What guff. I’m unapologetically passionate about Loins rugby and I hope that passion is coming across to you, the reader.

That should be the clincher. Farrell won’t miss.

And he doesn’t. 12-22. Clenched fist salute from Richard Hibbard. Job done.

Bad missed tackle from Farrell to allow Jonno Owen through.

Workmanlike performance from the boys. Unspectacular but a valuable test, although several of today’s line-up may well be looking over their shoulders.

The Fox commentator just wished Quade Cooper “Good luck next week” to a puzzled look from Cooper.

The Reds don’t have a game until mid July and Cooper isn’t in the Australia squad.

All I can say is I hope Sammy does the decent thing after that performance.

My revised Test team (and substitutes) as of 8/6/13:

  1. Halfpenny
  2. Bowe
  3. O’Driscoll
  4. Roberts
  5. North
  6. Sexton
  7. Phillips
  8. Faletau
  9. Tipuric
  10. O’Brien
  11. O’Connell
  12. Parling
  13. Jones
  14. Hibbard
  15. Vunipola

Substitutes:
Cuthbert, Tuilagi, Farrell, Youngs, Heaslip, Wyn-Jones, Cole, Youngs

Very close calls in the following positions:
12: Tuilagi v Roberts - Roberts’ experience and his proven ability to partner O’Driscoll shade it for now. Injury concerns over Manu.
9: Ben Youngs’ performance today cements his superiority over Conor Murray and he’s now pushing Mike Phillips hard.
8: Jamie Heaslip is back in top form, Faletau was alright but not brilliant today. Another good performance from the Kildare man could push him into the starting team.
6 and 7 - O’Brien could play in either position but Tipuric has been in top form all season. They are the two form players here although it wuld be a huge call to not select the captain. Tom Croft can also consider himself grossly unlucky if he misses out on the 23 but the Loins have incredible strength in depth here.
5. Geoff Parling’s solid form means he edges out Alun Wyn-Jones for me. Richie Gray prominent today but gave away a couple of penalties.
2. Tom Youngs and Richard Hibbard in a real battle here and form over he coming games will decide. A 50-50 call.

Re today’s game:
Winners:
Bowe, North, Parling. Ben Youngs, Tom Youngs, Vunipola.

Losers:
Cuthbert, Warburton, Lydiate, Stevens, Hogg, Davies.

Neither winners nor losers:
Farrell, Faletau, Gray.

This is as bad as Totti talking away to himself on the Roma thread.

Great insight from the Geech, Wally and Ieuan here.

:clap:

[SIZE=14px][FONT=Arial]Awful news.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=14px][FONT=Arial][SIZE=14px][B][U]Michael Corcoran[/U][/B] ‏[SIZE=12px]@MichaelC_RTE[/SIZE][/URL][RIGHT][SIZE=12px][URL=‘https://twitter.com/MichaelC_RTE/status/343339181491236864’][SIZE=12px]5m[/SIZE][/SIZE][/RIGHT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=14px]Breaking: looks like Tommy Bowes tour is over, Warren Gatland has confirmed he believes Bowe has a broken bone and needs operation #rterugby[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE]
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Oh no Tommmmmmmmmmmmy Bowwwwwwwwwwwwe!!! Gutting news for the British Loin.

Ah lovely, another cunt down :clap:

Given Tommy’s Gaelic hurling credentials, I hope and expect to see many tweets of condolence from various all-county players today. cementing once again the bond between the two sports.