Wellington 6 Lions 23

well caught the replay at mid-day - couldn't watch it last night coz had Leadership night at church and had to switch back between the highlights on TV3 and State of Origin, which wasn't really a happy encounter for me coz Queensland got given a hiding at their hoodoo ground, losing 32-22.. oh well they'll win in Brisbane, more on that later though..

it was scrappy to be honest.. but the weather was piss poor so the quality of play was likewise.. the Lions will be happy with a win but despite having so much domination their back play really was average compared to what the All Blacks or even what France can do.. they did have a better game than the Maori, albeit only a little bit.. Gareth Thomas was brilliant in his first game and should be in line to retain no. 14 for the tests.. superb try.. looks v strong.. missed a few passes but it was tricky in those conditions..



what abt Jonny? in his first game for the Lions in NZ, i can say he was okay.. not sparkling.. he wouldn't have been pleased with his kicking game, missing 2 penalties and 1 drop goal.. it's clear there is a weakness in his play, that he can't tackle due to his shoulder.. Stephen Jones had to come on at first five with Jonny moved to second to protect him.. not an ideal situation when u have Henson, O'Driscoll and Shanklin waiting in the wings, and the Lions certainly needing their tackling prowess as much as possible against the All Blacks..



the other debutants? Jason Robinson had a quiet game, kinda like Rico Gear had over the weekend.. this time it was down to the weather though.. Neil Back was p good, but really had no competition in the 2nd half when Herring left the field, and Wellington were left with no specialist openside flanker.. Simon Easterby was alright..

but the star of an average game was Gethin Jenkins.. now he could be the big star of the Lions tour, rather than Lewsey.. he should be in the test lineup, but having played all four games so far on tour, he prob will be rested against Otago and Southland.. but really the mileage hasn't done anything to wear him down.. in fact, he has actually gotten better with each game.. his tackling, his scrummaging.. would have been great to have seen him against the scrummaging kings of New Zealand, Otago, if Hayman was playing.. but that chance isn't too far away..

Byrne was solid, kinda like Derren Witcombe.. good lineout throwing and scrummaging.. Dwayne Peel was quite superb as well.. superb breaks from the scrum and stood up well against an equally strong Piri Weepu.. he prob has nailed no. 9 , and Cusiter to be his back-up.. i think Dawson is a hate target for New Zealand so would be under pressure from the All Blacks fans.. he was p average when England toured NZ in 2004, and got replaced by Andy Gomarsall after the thrashing at the Brook..

let's be honest.. the game really failed to open up and apart from Jenkins and Peel, really failed to show what the Lions could do.. i thought Wellington did fight well.. it's only now i've realised how understrength they were without Umaga, Collins, So'oialo, Smith and Andrews.. but Thomas Waldrom was superb at no.8.. elusive and dangerous breaks..Nonu was his usual rumbling best but his handling was okay.. it wasn't that sort of running game, so dint see his strengths.. Weepu was great at no. 9 and can potentially take over no. 9 for the All Blacks when Kelleher and Marshall finish.. Gopperth continues to impress me.. his kicking stood up well against Jonny..



but there was one thing that should be remembered abt Wellington which was forgotten last night and that is they're are as mercurial as Liverpool or Juan Pablo Montoya.. tonight they showed an ugly side to them, not helped by the lack of experience.. their backline play, usually explosive was easily extinguished by the Lions defence and some insipid handling.. the conditions dint help to be fair though..

yet the fact that the Lions couldn't really conjure up anything better will concern Sir Clive who has now pulled the Lions out of further social events.. is 48 just too many? is the squad breaking up? reamins to be seen.. but this was a shadow test XV so the prospects for the All Blacks are p good at this point..

so to State of Origin 2.. yeap that was disappointing.. the fitness of NSW and their depth ultimately led them to victory.. when u have two good five-eighths in Andrew Johns - who would have done well if he had moved to union with NSW two years ago, his kicking could put even Ronan O'Gara to shame - and Braith Anasta, who got the nod over Cronulla's Brett Kimmorley.. and Mark Gasnier and Steve Menzies were great on the wings..

but fair play to the Maroons, they never stopped trying.. they are a young side burgeoning with talent like Bowen and Slater, supported by the experience of Derren Lockyer, etc. they will be keen as to finish it off at home in Brisbane.. i'm off to Sydney after the 1st Lions test and would have loved to have caught it but it's an odd year so the 1st and 3rd games are in Brisbane.. anyway will be cheering for the Maroons amongst the Blues.. even if i get the mickey..

to Otago then, and v unpopular decision as i said earlier to cancel all social activities.. will go Lion hunting in the Octagon and St. Kilda.. should be fun, player or fan..