Lions down under 2013

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Lions 2013: Six Nations decider was perfect for tour, says Gatland
British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland says the Six Nations decider between Wales and England was ideal preparation for the tour to Australia.

Gatland believed the quality of rugby dropped at times during the tournament.

However, that changed with Wales' dramatic 30-3 win in the final game.

"We couldn't have asked for any more for the finale with one team playing for the Grand Slam and the other team still in with a chance of winning the championship," said Gatland, 49.

"That set it up for us with a good level of intensity and physicality.

"We felt there was a little bit of a fall-off in the quality of some of the games but not in terms of the character and guts that were shown."

Gatland added that experienced players like Paul O'Connell, Dan Lydiate and Tommy Bowe, who all missed the championship through injury, remain in contention for the summer tour.

His final squad will be announced on 30 April after he refused to bow to pressure to name it a week earlier because of crucial Heineken Cup and Amlin Cup matches.

"We came under a bit of pressure to name the squad a week earlier from the suppliers who have to get a lot of the gear out, get the players suits done and stuff," Gatland said.

"But that is a week that could potentially be significant where there is a lot up for grabs and it gives players who may have been injured more opportunity to come back."

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Lions down under 2013
•Sat 1 June v Barbarians, Hong Kong
•Wed 5 June v Western Force, Perth
•Sat 8 June, Queensland Reds, Brisbane
•Tue 11 June, Combined NSW-Queensland, Newcastle
•Sat 15 June, NSW Waratahs, Sydney
•Tue 18 June, ACT Brumbies, Canberra
•Sat 22 June v Australia, Brisbane
•Tue 25 June, v Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne
•Sat 29 June, v Australia, Melbourne
•Sat 6 July, v Australia, Sydney

       

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Lions 2013: Australia coach Robbie Deans wary of Lions tests
Robbie Deans said he is aware of the tough challenges his Australia side will face when the British and Irish Lions visit this summer.

The coach believes England's win over New Zealand last year and Wales' Six Nations victory over Stuart Lancaster's side proves it will be a stern test.

"We have a great respect for what is coming," Deans told BBC Radio 5 live.

"You only have to look at performance of England against the All Blacks and then Wales against England."

The Lions begin their tour against the Barbarians in Hong Kong on 1 June.

The Warren Gatland-led side then travel to Australia to face Western Force in the first of five tour games against provincial sides before their first Test against the Wallabies on 22 June.

Lions Down Under 2013
•Sat 1 June v Barbarians, Hong Kong
•Wed 5 June v Western Force, Perth
•Sat 8 June, Queensland Reds, Brisbane
•Tue 11 June, Combined NSW-Queensland, Newcastle
•Sat 15 June, NSW Waratahs, Sydney
•Tue 18 June, ACT Brumbies, Canberra
•Sat 22 June v Australia, Brisbane
•Tue 25 June, v Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne
•Sat 29 June, v Australia, Melbourne
•Sat 6 July, v Australia, Sydney

"We have a deep respect for the capabilities of the playing group that is coming," added Deans.

"The Six Nations has been intensely contested, nobody came through unscathed. The last round determined the outcome. We saw in the intensity in that fixture between Wales and England what is coming."

The last time the Lions toured Australia was in 2001 and the Wallabies came out victorious following a deciding third Test in Sydney.

New Zealander Deans has been coach of Australia since 2007 and led the Wallabies in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but believes facing the Lions will be the pinnacle of his coaching career.

Deans is also intrigued by how the Lions will adapt for the Tour and how many players from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland will feature.

Gatland has also yet to decide on his captain, with former skipper Martin Johnson recommending Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones.

He said: "It probably is the pinnacle [of a coaching career] because of the nature of it.

"You have back-to-back Test matches and there is intrigue about adaptation. No two Test matches are the same."

Deans will get to work with his players for three weeks before the first Test, but they will not be allowed to play for their Super Rugby sides in the tour matches.

The Australia coach does not believe that is devaluing those games, but admits the Lions will have better preparations.

"The Lions get to play together, but we won't get that opportunity. We will try to replicate match as possible.

"It is not devaluing the tour matches, quite the opposite. It will ensure we get a preparation of sorts. We will make it effective as possible to make sure we enter into that first Test in as good as possible state."

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22678714

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http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/353171/lions-land-in-australia

[Antonio]

Lions down under 2013
•Sat 1 June v Barbarians, Hong Kong
•Wed 5 June v Western Force, Perth
•Sat 8 June, Queensland Reds, Brisbane
•Tue 11 June, Combined NSW-Queensland, Newcastle
•Sat 15 June, NSW Waratahs, Sydney
•Tue 18 June, ACT Brumbies, Canberra
•Sat 22 June v Australia, Brisbane
•Tue 25 June, v Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne
•Sat 29 June, v Australia, Melbourne
•Sat 6 July, v Australia, Sydney

       

Don't recognize this flag.

[Starman]

Lions down under 2013
•Sat 1 June v Barbarians, Hong Kong
•Wed 5 June v Western Force, Perth
•Sat 8 June, Queensland Reds, Brisbane
•Tue 11 June, Combined NSW-Queensland, Newcastle
•Sat 15 June, NSW Waratahs, Sydney
•Tue 18 June, ACT Brumbies, Canberra
•Sat 22 June v Australia, Brisbane
•Tue 25 June, v Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne
•Sat 29 June, v Australia, Melbourne
•Sat 6 July, v Australia, Sydney

       

Don't recognize this flag.

In fact there are 3 errors. The St Georges cross has been omitted and the flags representing the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are not used in rugby. The Irish rugby team is represented by the whole of Ireland and thus  have a combined flag that represents the IRFU.

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Blah blah blah

[smoooth2]

Lions gave WA Western Force a nice old touch up 69 -17 last night in Perth in front of sellout 43,000 fans.

Follows on from 59 -8 drubbing over the Barbarians in Hong Kong.

Queensland Reds should be a closer game on Saturday night.

Was beaut for WA rugby fans to see Lions. Next visit is 2025 !!

[Antonio]

Blah blah blah

Fantastic the picture says it all.

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Enter the Dragon


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22922831

[Antonio]

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Guide to the British and Irish Lions
The Lions' 37-man squad for this summer's tour to Australia:


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22344539

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23027961


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23039189


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23020809



Don't you just love copy and paste Wolfman?

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2348432/British-Irish-Lions-2013-Tommy-Bowe-Ireland-replace-Alex-Cuthbert-second-Test-Australia.html