Very slow start in their first game, 24 minutes gone and lots of mistakes. 7-3 down.
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Very slow start in their first game, 24 minutes gone and lots of mistakes. 7-3 down.
53 mins gone and at last we take the lead with a try and conversion. 13-7
Very poor today, albeit with mitigating circumstances of only arriving 3 days ago (poor decision by the organisers?), first time on a pitch competitively together, and playing a group for most of whom this will be their biggest ever game with nothing to lose (they were also new to each other).
Also felt the ref was a bit off, usually like Angus Gardner but felt he was a bit inconsistent today.
a win is a win, but there's a few players probably already pushed themselves further from a test jersey.
I think "disjointed" is the best you could say about that performance, that and the fact we won. 1st game on a Lions tour is often hard going but even allowing for that we were very poor.
Not a great start, but the NZP Babas had a game plan and executed it well. The Blues should be a much easier prospect on Wednesday.
It's all about money, of course.
Lions tours are much shorter than they used to be. The clubs don't want their precious assets away for too long, which is understandable.
Time was when the players took 6 weeks to get there by ship. [emoji13]
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We were poor today, but credit to the Barbarians - I thought they had a lot of pace, and some good handling - they were just outmuscled a little in the end and perhaps tired into the second half. Their multiple stops on the line before half-time was impressive, and I bet they'll be rueing their missed try opportunity mid-way through the first half!
Gatland's son had a cracking game for them - his kicking was spot on, putting the ball into all sorts of good positions. Was disappointed with Stuart Hogg today - a lot of handling errors. Even taking jetlag into account, that's fundamentals!
Hopefully a more cohesive performance on Wednesday morning!
Lions very poor today look like very little creativity in terms of scoring tries. Somebody like Russell should have gone in terms of breaking the lines very one dimensional.
Can't see anything other than a Crusaders win on Saturday.
3-0 series win for ABs unfortunately. Poor selection of squad from Gatland and poor team selections will cost him in the tests. He picks players he knows and for him bigger seems to be better, that doesn't work against New Zealand.
We've looked marginally better today, but still no penetration to actually get the ball over the line - it's like watching the Scotland teams of old so far this morning - all penalties.
It's better than it was on Wednesday, but I agree, the All Blacks will likely sweep us!
Done pretty good today against a very good Crusaders team however the All Blacks are going to be a different kettle of fish.
Nasty looking Injury for Hogg, hopefully nothing serious
Hogg not available for next game due to injury today
Very disciplined performance from the Lions, taking into account unplanned tactical changes like Hogg's withdrawal.
The Crusaders are probably the strongest opposition outside the Tests so it was important to win. It was a tactical win though, based on grinding out the penalties. I suspect that's Gatland's strategy for the Tests. The risk is that the ABs don't give away much and will capitalise on any opportunity on the loose. Saying that, we have the likes of North and a few others who can make and take chances at the drop of a hat.
Really looking forward to the First Test and hoping for no injuries against the Maoris
Good start from the lions today, 3-0 up after 4 minutes of pressure from the kick off.
FFS defending like schoolkids there, 7-6 down now.
Easy win in the end. NZ media finally thinking they might actually have a decent challenge next week...
Russell & Dell called up to the squad
Dominant performance last night.
Momentum building nicely into Saturday.
Plenty form options in the pack. Backs less so & lot will depend on Farells injury. Suspect he plays Farell & Sexton. North struggling for form but sure Garland will select him.