Is this a good time to talk about the Lions' tour?
 

What was looking until the last 20 mins of the second test like a series that was going to peter out with another whitewash by the All Blacks was suddenly transformed into an epic battle which will have its climax next week in Auckland where NZ hasn't lost for so long I've forgotten when it was.

Anyone else looking forward to next Saturdays' match?

Anyone surprised by the fact that the Lions scored 2 tries against the All Blacks' none?

Anyone want to argue against the All Black's coming roaring back with a series-clinching win?

Not my sport annhig . Did make big news in Oz the All blacks being beaten though.

Your contribution is welcome nonetheless, northie.

strange that no-one has taken any interest though. I'd have thought that a couple of kiwis might have wanted to tell me what they are going to do to the Lions on Saturday!

The shock of being beaten has gotten to the supporters !!!!!

"Anyone want to argue against the All Black's coming roaring back with a series-clinching win?"

I would love to ,but that would be a triumph of hope over experience. I think and hope it will be close.

Gatling's decision to field an unchanged side is inspired. I hope it works!

Gatling's decision to field an unchanged side is inspired. I hope it works!>>

oh, me too, crellston.

Mostly people round here are excited by the fact that Jack Nowell is on the bench again - he played a season or two for our club and is a Cornish lad from Newlyn so so far as we are concerned he's a local as it gets. [also our club coach Pale Nonu is brother to M'aa Nonu - not many people know that!]

Parochial - of course not!

Seriously, there has been no mid-week match so unless there were injuries from training, there is no reason to change a winning team.

And who would have thought that it would be the Lions who scored all the tries?

Nothing wrong in parochial - I was born in Cornwall!

Growing up and playing most of my rugby in Northampton ( many years ago) disappointed not to see any Saints players in the starting line up.

Absolutely no need to to change a winning side, the momentum gained must be worth a few points. Sadly, I think I will miss the match as we are re in Borneo (en route to New Zealand - yay!!)

I thought that Hartley was hard done by not to be picked for the Lions, but he led a fantastic England team to victory over Argentina, which featured another ex-Reduth player, Jack Maunder, who like Nowell went from playing for the Reds to play for Exeter and England.

Shame you'll miss the match - are they not keen on rugby in Borneo?

The All Blacks only had 14 players for most of the match!!!! The Lions deserved to win though. Tonight's match will be fantastic. GO THE ALL BLACKS!!!!!

Guardian newspaper talking of how Lions are appalled at NZ newspapers treatment of Gatland .

Yes = there's been discussion in Australian papers about the NZ press treatment of visitors. The clown theme was used for Michael Cheika also.

Go Lions. Wouldn't we absolutely love to see the All Blacks defeated at Eden Park.

Just reading about the so called criticism of Gatland in the NZ Press. I think you will find that it is the UK Press who have been pillaging Gatland right up until the Lions won the second test, and now he is flavour of the month.

The NZ Herald thing was appalling, not sure why they even did this. It is not representative of how New Zealander's feel. It is all media hype!!!

A fair result!

Good to set the record straight Nelsonian - I don't really know much about rugby - just happened to see the Guardian report .

I doubt the Kiwis saw it as a fair result!

But - well done Lions!

It was a good game, both teams made lots of mistakes. If we could actually keep 15 men on the field for a whole game it could make a difference.

Yes = there's been discussion in Australian papers about the NZ press treatment of visitors. The clown theme was used for Michael Cheika also.>>

because of course the Aussies are so kind to visiting teams!

In the end I think that the result slightly flattered the Lions who had far less possession and territory than the All Blacks but still managed to keep up with them, but we're not arguing. It was great to see them laughing and joking together afterwards, which probably wouldn't have happened had one or other side actually won.

Nelsonian - I was surprised at how many mistakes NZ made when really they didn't need to with all that possession which we kept giving you. I can't tell you how many times we were screaming at the TV "don't kick, don't kick" but what did they do? Really they just had to hang onto the bl..dy ball!

Best moment - Ed Daley's penalty from beyond half-way.

shame there can't be a decider.

With Australian rugby (as distinct from Rugby League) at a low ebb and our national team liable to be flogged by any half decent outfit, my impartial assessment fwiw is that the ABs and their supporters are being far too diplomatic, not only about the result of the final Test, but the series.

It was a good tour, I was meant to join friends on that trip but couldn't make it.
In fact they are on the plane home now as I write for their 35 hr journey from Fiji to London .
Not sure I'd cope with that !!

Mucky

It was a good tour, I was meant to join friends on that trip but couldn't make it.
In fact they are on the plane home now as I write for their 35 hr journey from Fiji to London .
Not sure I'd cope with that !!>>

mucky, we considered it too, but were put off by the thought of going all that way for guaranteed bad weather! We were also put off by the flights - on our one and only trip back from Oz, the 9 hour leg from Sydney to HK was fine [we got an upgrade into Premium Economy] but the 12 hour leg from HK to LHR was really vile. 35 hours is beyond my ability to contemplate.