Its Leave you Idiot...sound like a damn fool when you say it like that!

He did look class for his second try, very weak defending though, they didn't even touch him. There were a lot of doubters in Australia when he joined the Warratahs but he was always going to be class.

Lions should have won by plenty, they totally outplayed Australia in most parts of the game but once again we get a referee with his own interpretations of the laws of the game rather than one who should just referee them as they are written. Brian O'Driscoll won the ball cleanly at two rucks and two penalties go to Australia - no wonder he was furious. The final kick by Beal was extremely ironic. Lions scrum smashes Australians backwards and then they slip on the (truly awful ) pitch and Australia get the penalty despite Dan Cole protesting that his feet went on the ground (slipping over on the pitch is not a penalty). Up steps Beal and promptly falls on his in exactly the spot Dan Cole was pointing at. Justice was done.

"It's"

North might actually look like he could make a good SL winger

Unless it's its leave

Sounds like you see a fair bit more RU than me DHM, but my take on it was that the Ref made the game more of a free flowing contest with his early blow ups, which led to me actually enjoying a game of RU for once! I can understand though what you are trying to say regards interpretations,which seem to differ between the two hemespheres.

I don't think L'Oreal got our reference.

TBF though, the whole world can't be awesome

Spot on DHM it was the same for England v Argentina during their 2 test matches also how many times did he fail to penalise the Aussies for killing the ball , not reeasing the ball quick enough or going over the ruck at the breakdown????
Back OT Folau had a good game as did North imo both looked good and took their scores well and its certainly a match up to look forward to over the next 2 tests.
I've always liked O'Driscoll but i think the Roberts/Davies partnership is better in the centres and would have exploited the Aussie more there had they played together.
1-0 to the Lions a massive game next week and Bowe has recovered from injury but i'd stick with Cuthbert and North for now and put him on the bench.

The ref was terrible and should not have the right to decide we cannot contest for possession at the breakdown. He penalised BOD for legally contesting the ball when he should have penalised them for not releasing the ball. Too many of his other decisions were wrong too which could well have given them a win.

Having said that the Lions were not at their best with Phillips having a stinker and IMO we changed the front row far too early. We will need to improve the lineout for next week too. Bowe looks set to return and I'm not convinced Warburton is our best 7 as he doesn't look fully match fit yet.. We should also cut down on box kicking away possession.

I watch a lot and I coach. I'd agree about wanting a free flowing game, but you are allowed to compete for the ball at the tackle - if you don't have that competition you might as well play rugby league (no problem with that - but hey it's the way it is). The penalties awarded against O'Driscoll in particular were just incorrect, the second one (when BOD asked the ref to look at the big screen) he was first man there and on his feet - he's allowed under the laws to compete for the ball with his hands until the ref calls ruck. There is no difference between hemispheres, they usually punish the attacker for not releasing - even in the southern hemisphere - and for the entire tour the Lions have been able to compete like this with different officials.
Also, if this ref really wanted a free flowing game he should have come down like a ton of bricks on something like, say, deliberate killing of the ball near the try line? Yet in the first half he didn't, twice. The Lions were driving a maul and it was as certain a try as you could ask for 3 yards out and the Australian 7 came in round the side and scythed it down - two offences for the price of one. He didn't even penalise it, after North didn't get the ball down a couple of phases later he gave a penalty for another offside to the Lions. The offence at the ruck was a definite yellow card and for me a definite penalty try. Then just before half time the Lions were on the Aussie line again and through came four Australians all off their feet over the ball and cynically killed it and the attack. Another definite yellow card ignored. The ref was frankly diabolical. He allowed the Australians to collapse their own scrum and still play on - you can't play on after a scrum collapses, he allowed them to hit early at the scrum every time and only the Lions were penalised. A complete disgrace and thank Christ we don't see him again.

Rhinoms is correct, England got him for the first of their games against Argentina and he slaughtered us in the second half and killed the game completely.

Mostly agree. I would probably be tempted to give Bowe a run though, Cuthbert has looked a little lost all tour. He did finish his try well but his work rate is not awesome and he did benefit from the early disruption to the Aussie midfield as that hampered their wide game. I suspect he would have been attacked a lot. O'Connor is simply not an international 10 and didn't have the nouse to target Cuthbert.
I would bring Roberts in but actually I'd drop Davies. I thought BOD was by far the better of the two today and there is a huge emotional thing for BOD next week, he'll play out of his skin.

The rest? Back row looks awful, Tom Croft went missing, Heaslip hasn't been in great form most of the season and it shows (what a shame Ben Morgan got injured early in the 6 Nations, he's carried the ball like a monster on the England tour - exactly what the Lions need), and I'm afraid the captain is showing the form that got him dropped at the start of the season. Mike Phillips had the worst game I've ever seen from him - and I have always liked him as a player. Luckily Sexton did everything right, some delightful short kicks and simple ball distribution. Looked calm and collected. Front 5 were awesome also.

Coach may not make any changes though and have Roberts on the bench - Bowe may appear in the 3rd test win or lose next week.

Good points DHM i think Gatland dropped a clanger not taking Robshaw irrespective of what happend in Cardiff and agree re-Morgan looks to me like we've may have another Dallaglio or even better on our hands.
I expected better from Phillips because i personally think he's the best 9 we have when on form.
Agree re-front 5 especially Wyn-Jones.
I was very impressed with the young England team in Argentina looks to be a lot of good prospects especially Burns and the younger Vunipolo.

A bit like every other person with a job - if someone offered you a 200% pay increase you would off like a shot so way do you think RL players should be any different?

Typical small-minded northern RL thinking.