Thetownend.com

We don't seem to have a thread for the Lions Tour unless I'm a blind idiot (not ruling that one out though).

First warm up game against the Barbarians in Hong Kong today, coverage is on TalkSport regrettably, which means I've had to re-tune my radio to that station for the first time in forever.

Anyone else care about the egg chasing or is the lack of a thread illustrative of total disinterest?



Barbarians: Payne; Rokocoko, Daly, Laulala, Ngwenya; Evans, Yachvili; James, Brits, Castrogiovanni, Wentzel, Mumm, Manoa, S Jones, Parisse.

Replacements: Ghiraldini, D Jones, Lo Cicero, Hamilton, Harinordoquy, Fotuali'i, Hook, Tindall.

British and Irish Lions: Hogg; Cuthbert, Davies, Roberts, Maitland; Farrell, Phillips, Vunipola, Hibbard, A Jones, Gray, O'Connell, Lydiate, Tipuric, Faletau.

Replacements: T Youngs, Healy, Stevens, A Jones, Heaslip, Murray, Sexton, North.



That is one very intimidating front row for the Lions.

I'm bored so I'm going to watch it.

Schalk Brits just decked Owen Farrell for no apparent reason. They play for the same club. Sarries training could be fun at the start of the year.

Only a yellow, haha.

First test today, total apathy from the TEF or are we up early to watch a touch of Aussie smashing?

I'm 4 beers deep and counting... Supposed to be cricketing at 1pm... Come on rain

Going to have to beat the Ref as well

Fantastic try by the Aussies, great start to the game. perhaps this will be more of a test than the media have portrayed this to be.

George North puts the Lions in the lead and the TalkSport commentator makes a sticky mess all over his microphone. While Brian Moore refers to the Aussies as "shackle draggers". Delightful.

Oh is that what SD stands for, as he's using on twitter. As funny as a dose of the trots.

Great try by North.  Game on.

And another from North! Suddenly Kanye's baby name doesn't look half as fucking stupid!

...although the TMO is having a good old think about this. No try, tits.

Correct decision though, and the Lions knew it. Still 3 pts is a good return.

It's a bloody good thing they can't kick.

North, Folau, Genia and Halfpenny all playing fantastically but a little sloppy at the back from the Lions.

Folau's just sparked Berrick Barnes rather nastily.

If the Lions blow this I reckon they will lose the series 3-0.

Australia are under cooked & struggling with injuries yet are still managing to keep in this game.

Absolute bollocks Posh.  The Lions strength in depth should see them win one test at least. having  said that I expect them to win the series win or lose today.

Your comment there reminds me of the OTT kind of reaction from the media we're unfortunately used to these days. 

Jeez we're trying to throw this away at the end here.

Hahaha the Aussie kicker fell over and the Lions win! That was bloody close and a really, really good game.

You think so, remember the last time in Australia.

We win the first test & Australia improve after that to take the next two.

Everything has gone wrong for Australia in this game, if the Lions hadnt won in those curcumstances I honestly couldn't see them winning either of the next two.

Doesn't matter now, as they managed to hang on.

Australia would have blitzed us years back...i think the art of winning is eluding the country of Aus at this time in history.

A great quote by Billie Jean King......Champions are scared to lose,losers are scared to win :D

Wonderful, isn't it! :)

Great game, with the exception of Genea and Falau I thought the Lions kept them at bay pretty well.

Living in Canada the only feed on TV is the Aussie one. To their credit they commentated pretty neutrally, but every time Falau touched the ball one commentator would go on about his DAAAAAYYY-BOOOOOO. And that was just annoying.

Also the obsession with calling every event in the game 'something-time' (eg. try-time, lineout-time, scrum-time) was rubbish.

Here we go then, third & decisive test.

Can Wales beat Australia & win the series.

Heart says they can, head says no.

The scrum is dominating so far, hope they can keep it going

Looks like the answer is Yes :)

My good wife is hiding in the kitchen....her being Australian :D

Aussies manshamed up front with a proper NH ref and utterly dominant when tested in the second half

Welsh flanker Martyn Williams called it exactly right at half time

Everyone relax. Aussies are gone, not counting chickens, Lions just too strong.

Are the BBC doing a highlights programme later?  Second half sounded like we dismantled them.  Result.

Lovely. Hope that's the first Aussie humiliation of many this summer

Hopefully she'll be hiding a lot there this summer...and winter !!!

I have no interest in Rugby but it's absolutely delightful to learn that Aussies have lost.