General Chat

I am so sorry Robert. As a Scot it must be very upsetting and infuriating.

The Scotland Team have been doing ever so well over the last few years, even to the point of beating the Australian Wallabies last week. A huge achievement!
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jun/17/wallabies-fall-to-defeat-as-spirited-scotland-gain-degree-of-revenge

I am surprised that there is not even one Scot in the team this time.
Having said that, I do not believe in numbers filling, but the best person for the job.



I started the rugby threads (actually it was for the last Lions Tour) for a bit of fun, to cheer the boys on. I have learned quite a lot while doing so, BUT I AM BY NO MEANS AN EXPERT!

From what I am trying to work out, there would be at least 3 potential players for each KEY POSITION in the squad - I would think this would include the THREE FRONT ROWERS - the two Props and the Hooker (1,3 & 2 positions). There must be trained and experienced men in the front row for safety reasons.

Then in each squad there would be THREE FLY-HALFS(10) and THREE SCRUM-HALFS (9)
The rest of the Squad would be made up of Wingers, Full Backs, Centres, Eightmen, Flankers with many of them able to take on a variety of positions.


When the Coaching Staff have chosen their squad, they must then pick the best players (or sometimes combinations of players) for the match day.....
For the game, the team would have two players for each of the key positions explained above - one to start and one as a reserve on the bench.
The rest of the reserves would be players from the other categories.

SO FOR EXAMPLE: THE SCRUM-HALFS - Choice of Conor Murray, Rhys Webb and Greig Laidlaw (Ireland, Wales and Scotland respectively)

At the moment, Ireland's CONOR MURRAY is hailed as the best Scrum Half out of the British and Irish Teams certainly, if not the Northern Hemisphere. RHYS WEBB is usually rated as next in skills to him.
SO IT WORKS LIKE A KIND OF "SKILLS PECKING ORDER"
The players would have had ample opportunity in training and on the field to prove otherwise.





Personally, I am gutted that my Little LEIGH HALFPENNY is on the bench and probably won't get a game on Saturday, even though he has 100% kicking success so far on this tour.

WHY? ....
Well, because although he's a phenomenal kicker and a great Full Back, he's probably NOT THE BEST Full Back.

Many think that LIAM WILLIAMS is a far more exciting, game changing player, and although he is usually put on the WING in the WALES Team, he plays FULL BACK for his CLUB (Scarlets until recently, in the Autumn he will play for the Saracens).
That being said, Liam can be a bit of a loose cannon, whereas Leigh is a steadying force.

If Scotland's STUART HOGG had not been injured out of the Tour, I am pretty sure he would have taken the number 15 shirt! What a fantastic Full Back he is.

When you have the likes of OWEN FARRELL and JOHNNY SEXTON in the squad, who are also fantastic kickers, not to mention DAN BIGGAR and GREIG LAIDLAW, the Lions' "Powers That Be" may have decided to risk not having The Halfpenny Boot in favour of more potential Try Scorers.


My OH is Northern Irish, and like many Northern Irish, he just loves to slate the English .... EVEN THOUGH HE SUPPORTS MAN U AND ENGLAND IN THE FOOTY! :-S (I tell him he's a big hypocrite!):-D
But like I told him, I don't believe in numbers filling......... If 15 England players were the proven best men for the job, then so be it!;-)


But it's always lovely to have a mix of nationalities playing together and it's up to each and every one to up their game. Scotland are definitely on the UP and I would really like to see the endearing FINN RUSSELL get a game! :-) and Greig too! :-)

12 HOURS TO GO TO THE FIRST TEST GAME!


Tomorrow- Saturday June 24

Live from Eden Park, Auckland .....
NEW ZEALAND ALL BLACKS v BRITISH & IRISH LIONS


UK & Ireland ...... Kick Off 8.35 AM
New Zealand ..... Kick Off 7.35 PM



LIVE TV ~ SKY SPORTS 1
Live Radio: TalkSPORT (Live Online Radio)
http://talksport.com/radioplayer/live/


................AND RADIO JEM ;-) :-D :-D :-D



We've had most of the "Friendlies" .............
............... NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE SERIOUS STUFF! ;-)


So...
WHETHER YOU ARE GOING TO DO THE HAKA ...........
................. or WHETHER YOU ARE GOING TO BE A ROARING LION........

Join Jem and The Gang to cheer on the team of your choice .... but please leave your handbags in the lockers provided! ;-) :-D :-D :-D :-D

THIS IS THE 1 HOUR WARNING EVERYONE! :-D

ALL BLACKS v LIONS Kicks Off at 8.35 AM (UK)
Details last post :-)

Good Morning / Evening to All Rugby Fans tuning in to Radio Jem Today ;-) :-D :-D

Not long to go ...... and RADIO JEM IS NOW LIVE!


HERE's RADIO JEM's LIONS TOUR THEME SONG
with alternative words :-D

To the tune of Katy Perry's Roar!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CevxZvSJLk8

THE LIONS’ ROAR!

They’re gonna put us to the test
We’ve really got to play our best
Not gonna play quietly,
Not gonna play “politely”
We really haven’t got much choice
Must push ourselves to breaking point
We’ll stand for nothing
We’ll try out everything

They hold us down, but we get up (hey!)
Already brushing off the dust
They hear our voice, they hear that sound
Like Thunder, gonna shake their ground
They hold us down, but we'll get up
Get ready cos we’ve had enough
We see it all, we see it now .....

We’ve got the might of a lion, a fighter,
Dancing through the fire
CAUSE WE ARE THE LIONS .....
.....AND YOU’RE GONNA HEAR US ROAR
Louder, Louder than 1 lion
CAUSE WE ARE THE LIONS....
.....AND YOU’RE GONNA HEAR US ROAR !

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh


RRRROOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRR ;-):-D :-D :-D :-D

A BIG DAY for Rugby Fans today!

The BRITISH & IRISH LIONS will be taking on the MIGHTY ALL BLACKS at EDEN PARK Auckland, New Zealand shortly!

WILL THE LIONS BREAK THE ALL BLACKS 23 YEAR UNBEATEN RUN AT EDEN PARK?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-4627130/All-Blacks-incredible-winning-record-Eden-Park.html

Do you know ...... I JUST HAVE THIS FEELING!!!! :-0 :-0

I seldom go into any big game like this thinking we will win ..... especially a game involving New Zealand ....... but this year? Just Maybe!!! ;-) ;-) :-D :-D :-D


Tune into Radio Jem's Lions Channel to share in this HUGE GAME
Kick Off O 8.35 AM in the UK & Ireland
and 7.35PM in New Zealand

TODAY'S TEAMS

THE HOSTS

THE ALL BLACKS!

CAPTAIN: KIERAN READ

Backs:
15. Ben Smith
14. Israel Dagg
13. Ryan Crotty
12. Sonny Bill Williams
11. Rieko Ioane
10. Beauden Barrett
9. Aaron Smith

Forwards:
1. Joe Moody
2. Codie Taylor
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Samuel Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Sam Cane
8. Keiran Read (Captain)

Replacements:
16. Nathan Harris, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Charlie Faumuina, 19. Scott Barrett, 20. Ardie Savea, 21. TJ Perenara, 22. Aaron Cruden, 23. Anton Lienert-Brown


THE "TOURISTS" :-D

THE LIONS

CAPTAIN: PETER O'MAHONY (Ireland)

Backs:
15. Liam Williams
14. Anthony Watson
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Ben Te'o
11. Elliot Daly
10. Owen Farrell
9. Conor Murray

Forwards:
1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Alun-Wyn Jones
5. George Kruis
6. Peter O'Mahony (Captain)
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Taulupe Faletau

Replacements:
16. Ken Owens, 17. Jack McGrath, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Maro Itoje, 20. Sam Warburton, 21. Rhys Webb, 22. Johnny Sexton, 23. Leigh Halfpenny

HERE THEY COME

PETER O'MAHONY IS LEADING THE LIONS OUT

ALONG WITH THE LIONS LION MASCOT :-D <3

AND HERE ARE THE NEW ZEALAND ALL BLACKS

CAPTAIN: KIERAN READ LEADS OUT HIS MIGHTY MEN <3

And it's BEAUDEN BARRETT in the 10 FLY HALF JERSEY

I will miss DAN CARTER who retired last year <3

THE NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL ANTHEM

GOD DEFEND NEW ZEALAND
The anthem has English and Maori lyrics, with slightly different meanings. When performed in public, the usual practice is to sing the first verse in both Maori and English.
Maori Verse:
Maori verse: "Aotearoa"
E Ihowa Atua,
O nga iwi matou ra
Ata whakarangona;
Me aroha noa
Kia hua ko te pai;
Kia tau to atawhai;
Manaakitia mai
Aotearoa

English translation (Karetu)

Lord, God over yonder,
Of all our nations
Listen to us gently,
With the infinite love
May the goodness bear fruit;
May your kindness come;
Please give protection to
Aotearoa



God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.

I love this anthem and am singing along ..... even in the Maori language

I have every respect for this great team <3

NOW THE HIGHLIGHT ...... THE HAKA :-D :-D :-D :-D <3

ooooooooo HIDE! :-D :-D :-D

BE UNAFRAID LIONS


RRRROOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRR :-D :-D :-D :-D <3

:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D LOVE IT!

COME OUT FROM BEHIND YOUR HANDS NOW EVERYONE

from behind your sofas .... or from wherever you hid

COWARDS ;-) :-D :-D :-D :-D

HERE WE GO

Beauden Barrett kicks off for New Zealand

Lions have the ball kicked high and chased by Watson

PEN LIONS :-D AARON SMITH .... IN AT THE SIDE

Farrell kicks for lineout ...... GREAT POSITION

They are away

Good morning Radio Jem and all rugby fans.

ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

COME ON LIONS RRRROOOOOOAAAAARRRRRR

Farrell .... Murray .... Farrellll

Jonathan Davies Breaks for the Lions ......


Scrum Half Conor Murray gets the offload

ELLIOT DALY!

WAS THAT A TRY?

IT'S GOING TO THE TMO

GOOD MORNING LOVELY KANDJ :-D :-D <3

IT'S SOO EXCITING!

NO TRY HOWEVER

ISRAEL DAGG TOOK DALY OUT