Pays de Galles : le pilier Leon Brown poussé à la retraite à 28 ans

Such a long season too for Lions can’t be ignored in re to their performance. Someone like Finn Russell has already played 2.5k minutes, and that data doesn’t include tour games (only tests).

Well summed up Miz. I have been thinking the whole situation of events that lead to this type of sneaky move is the problem, particularly as it relates to the difficulty and effort defenders now go to stop such situations (like say Slippers try), where players go extremely low to drive from meters out (and in most cases plays just trying to dive under). It’s also ugly business seeing attempt after attempt to go in under the tacklers, especially with them not really being able to perform a ‘tackle’ at all. I would simply give the defenders their goal line. All they need is some part of the body on or behind, and this will stop the play (being the fuel to this fire) from being attempted I reckon.

Gotta be more aggressive - we’re the last top side to do so and it’s failing us

We talk a lot about rugby being a professional sport and what that means (club vs country, private equity, ‘rugby ethos’, workloads). Well referees and their decisions should be a piece of that. There is way too much money and consequences on the line for major calls like that to be completely inconsistent game to game. Fans spend money for tickets, sponsors and broadcasters spend a ton to show the games, gamblers spend money on the outcome. It's not right for the referees to ignore the rules because it was “a rugby incident".

The Wallabies also made a lot of mistakes. Rewatching the two tries at the end of the first half, they were just way too passive and allowed the Lions into the 22 far too easily.

Probably worth noting that selecting Gordon at 9 was a good call and being brave enough to toss in a 20yo Jorgo after a long injury lay-off was also a difficult but correct selection.

(speaking of another ref/TMO in another game)

Right wing could be the spot, but it will need committment from NSW, too..

But the Sheehan try is different to my eye. It starts from a tap penalty, he drives forward, the two WB defenders go low for a tackle in the assumption Sheehan will go to ground. He does not, but seeing the hole now left dives through it. In this case surely there is zero danger there.

Both WB heads are well clear below. There would have been far more danger had Sheehan also dropped low, as he had done on one, or was it two occasions in the game.

I just can’t see his movement as a jump. There is virtually no vertical element, it is say only 5% upwards. Surely at 95% horizontal, that won’t be penalised, not even seriously looked at ?

“It is different to the sideline touchdown on the wing”. You are the only person in hundreds of posts I have read who brings that up. I have been thinking of that as well, but not commented till now prompted by you. And you are correct, it is in most cases very different, being a side on tackle, not head on. But still, it is often more a jump than a dive. I would not advocate for penalising…..some wonderful tries scored that way, and the danger element is generally not excessive, at least not for head injuries.

Agree it would’ve made sense to pick overseas players, when required, e.g. at 12. Do you think James O’Connor would’ve gone alright at 10, or was Lynagh the better option? I would’ve played Tupou and hoped that he didn’t get injured :)

It seems the Wallabies have stepped up a notch in this series. I was expecting them to struggle to keep the score down, rather than being in close-ish touch in the first test and could’ve/should’ve/would’ve won the second test. Especially as the Lions have had a long tour to gel combinations, and have a gigantic player base.

Do you think that the Wallabies will continue to improve in the Rugby Championship? Two tests away in South Africa could make them or break them. I guess how the third Lions test goes will be key.