The lessons from the Royal XV game seemed to have been learned very quickly - don't take the ball into contact and give the opposition chance to compete, don't kick aimless ball away (are you listening Ronan, you're not at a wet, cold Thomond Park kicking it into the corners now), make your first up tackles.

Jamie Roberts looks like being a star on this tour if he can keep this form up. Even taking into account the level of the opposition he's been breaking tackles and giving his forwards a target in both games.

Croft, Stephen Jones and Mike Phillips all put their hands up for the Test side big style yesterday - the Lions need to have pace and dynamism right across the park rather than big lumbering forwards clogging up the middle.

If I was picking the first Test side now, I'd have to go with:

Byrne, Bowe, O'Driscoll, Roberts, S.Williams, S. Jones, Phillips, Jenkins, Mears, Sheridan, AW Jones, O'Connell, Croft, M. Williams, Powell

Fancy Lions to win by at least 20.

The Lions were a mixed bag this morning. Awesome in patches but they let the Cheetahs have too much ball in too much space. The Boks would've murdered that performance - but then that wasn't a full strength Lions side.

Good God, this England game is dull. I'm switching off after only 20 mins.

The English bar in the town are having a St George day with the Lions (yes I know), England Saxons and the football.
I was greeted with 'You ready for some real rugby?' by the landlord, a man from Bournemouth who doesn't like league because he was in the RAF with a bloke from Leeds who 'was a c0ck and eveyone in Leeds likes league'.
Quickly asked if they'd be showing Cas-Wire tonight and walked straight out again.

20 - 0 up after 20 minutes then just clung on to win 26 - 24, and remain unbeaten. Boks must be worried.

Hope Joker didn't put too much on a Lions whitewash.

Been to the England game at OT today (freebie

), crowd announced as over 40,000. Never in a million years was there 40k there today

It did look a bit empty cant understand why they played it there surely twickers would have been packed out

Quid for a kid too, RFL take note.

How many would you say were on then? From the highlights I saw I thought 40,000 was generous.

sonny bill has been linked to play for the wallaby's

[urlhttp://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-sport/sonny-bill-eligible-for-wallabies-20090607-bznf.html[/url

"[iI guess so. I've always just said I'm half Kiwi and half Samoan but I guess I am a bit Aussie.[/i"

I thought just under 30k. A couple of rah rahs behind me had a guess at "about 25,000". Not joking, but people were laughing when they announced the crowd!!

Seen pics on net and spoke to a mate who went on free tickets, he said 30k tops.

wallaby's play a team in blue

Leigh Halfpenny injured, and out of the Lions tour. What a waste of time that was.

Shouldn't have made the original party ahead of Delon Armitage anyway IMO, and certainly not with an injury doubt hanging over him.

Agreed. Can't believe Armitage wasn't selected.

After all "you have always got to have a coloured boy in the team"
(c) Dick Best.

Apparently Halfpenny got selected ahead of him because he's versatile and can kick goals. Not that either are much use now sat on the plane home...

Dion will benefit from playing with england at the mo

wallaby's playing italy tomorrow.canberra

Ryan Jones declared unfit and out of the tour, 2 days after arriving. What's he done, injured himself on the plane?

Just seen the highlights of USA vs Argentina A.
The Argies can play a bit and tried some adventurous stuff. Maybe it was because of the quality of the opposition, either way it was good to watch.

Looks like American football players who dont make the grade are moving into union. Some of the passes were so forward Dan Marino himself would have been proud.

How many were on? Looked like a very small crowd.

wallabys had a very tough game with the italiano's

they nearly won . i cannot see how we are any good for world