Lions 2013: Combined Country XV 0-64 British and Irish Lions

By Bryn PalmerBBC Sport at Hunter Stadium, Newcastle, New South Wales

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments1088

Lions winger George North

The British and Irish Lions rattled up 10 tries in a one-sided romp over an outclassed Queensland-New South Wales Country XV in Newcastle.

Wing George North scored two of the Lions' six first-half tries, with four more following in an increasingly patchy display after the interval.

It was little more than a training run at times against limited but admirably committed opponents.

But the Lions management will be relieved to avoid any further injury setbacks 11 days before the first Test against Australia.

They will now head to Sydney for Saturday's fifth game of the tour against New South Wales Waratahs, where they are likely to field a majority of their likely Test line-up.

In such an open game it was little surprise perhaps that open-side Justin Tipuric shone, while hooker Richard Hibbard impressed in the loose, even if a couple of line-out throws failed to find their target.

That trend continued when Rory Best replaced the Welshman in the second half, an area the Lions will need to fix ahead of the Test series.

Stuart Hogg enjoyed his first outing at fly-half, linking well with his midfield, putting his back three through holes, while Sean Maitland was prominent in many of the Lions' attacks from full-back.

It took the tourists seven minutes to score their first try, a Tipuric break allowing Brian O'Driscoll to put Alex Cuthbert over in the right corner for his third try of the tour.

But they rattled along at a point a minute for the rest of the first half, the scores coming at regular intervals.

Cuthbert cut back inside on the angle to release Conor Murray for the second, before Tipuric put Hogg through a gaping hole in midfield and the fly-half scorched through it.

His conversion came back off an upright to leave the score 19-0 after 13 minutes.

Jamie Heaslip was getting plenty of practice at claiming kick-offs, but Hibbard missed the Irishman at the tail of a line-out to initiate a brief spell of pressure for the Country XV.

Maitland had a kick charged down, and Heaslip dropped the ball after claiming a line-out catch to give the Lions some tackling practice, the tourists conceding two quick penalties.

Country kicked both to touch, but the Lions defence resisted their attempts to batter their way over, Tipuric winning the ball back to allow North and Maitland to race away up the left flank, the later sending the former over for his first Lions try.

Hibbard was driven over after a line-out take from Ian Evans, before a slick score from a scrum. Cuthbert came off his wing to make the extra man in the line before it was spread swiftly left for North to grab his second.

There might have been more tries before half-time, Murray going alone with support outside him, while Sean O'Brien was denied by a foot in touch in the right corner when he tried to power through the remaining cover.

Leigh Halfpenny came on for the second half, with Maitland switching to left wing in place of North, while Alun Wyn Jones replaced Richie Gray at lock.

To their credit the Country XV kept the Lions at bay for nearly 10 minutes on the resumption, before O'Driscoll skipped over for his third try of the tour.

Halfpenny, who had taken over kicking duties from Hogg, with the Scot landing four kicks out of six, finished the eighth try to bring the score up to 50.

Thereafter the Lions got sloppy, Best sending a line-out off beam, Toby Faletau missing a routine pass without looking, and Matt Stevens knocking on.

O'Brien powered over from close range, but the Lions' execution let them down at times.

The crowd were briefly stirred when they thought Country replacement Dale Ah Wang, a 22-year-old removal man who plays his club rugby with Barron-Trinity Bulls in Cairns, had scored a try 13 minutes from time.

It would have been deserved reward for a spirited effort, but after referral to the television match official, the score was ruled out for a knock-on.

O'Driscoll was denied a second score in the left corner, but he ensured the Lions finished on a high as his deft chip was collected by Jonathan Davies with the final move of the match, with Halfpenny adding his third conversion.

Line-ups

Combined Country: Nathan Trist; Alex Gibbon, Lewie Catt, Tareta-Junior Siakisini, Tom Cox, Angus Roberts, Michael Snowden; Haydn Hirsimaki, Josh Mann-Rae, Tim Metcher, Phoenix Battye, Blake Enever, Richard Stanford, Jarrad Butler, Tim Davidson (capt).

Replacements: Tom Kearney (for Mann-Rae, 61), Dylan Evans (for Hirsimaki, 53), Rikki Abraham (for Metcher, 68), Rory Arnold (for Battye, 72), Trent Dyer (for Battye, 50), Adam McCormack (for Snowden, 72), Shaun McCarthy (for Cox, 57), Dale Ah Wang (for Catt, 62).

Lions: Sean Maitland, Alex Cuthbert, Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, George North; Stuart Hogg, Conor Murray; Alex Corbisiero, Richard Hibbard, Dan Cole, Richie Gray, Ian Evans, Sean O'Brien, Justin Tipuric, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Rory Best (for Hibbard, 50), Ryan Grant (for Corbisiero, 50), Matt Stevens (for Cole, 50), Alun Wyn Jones (for Gray, 41), Toby Faletau (for Heaslip, 54), Mike Phillips (for Murray, 70), Jonathan Davies (for Roberts, 55), Leigh Halfpenny (for North, 41).

Referee: Steve Walsh (ARU)

Attendance: 20,071

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1088 comments

  • Comment posted by AA, at 13:30 11 Jun 2013

    Don't get the "we think Maitland is rubbish" brigade - his stats were by far the best as the earlier poster said, and how people can dismiss him for "just" making tries is beyond me. A few people worried about Cuthberts place I think. But will Gatland pick him? Probably not. And feel sorry for Hogg who is getting slightly hampered by his ability in a no of areas......

  • Comment posted by BlackBoar, at 13:23 11 Jun 2013

    Caveat I only saw the second half. Maitland is a coaches player. Does things that make space for others and is always in the right place for defence. Cuthbert is a fans player as he makes barnstorming runs but never seems to pass to anybody but looks good from 15 metres out! Does Gatland want a space maker or a finisher at 14?

  • Comment posted by Andrew R, at 13:25 11 Jun 2013

    If you look at the stats on srum.com Maitland ran the most yards, beat the most defenders and had the most offloads in the tackle. I think he is a poss for the test now Bowe is gone. I'm Welsh and think Cuthbert is too much of a liability defensively. I love O'Brien going forward but he has a tendency to pop out the line too. Roberts looked sloppy but won the most turnovers, will be interesting!

  • Comment posted by fruit man, at 13:21 11 Jun 2013

    All those questioning Maitland's performance were clearly watching a different game. If you care to look at the stats (link below) he made more metres, had more clean breaks, more defenders beaten and more offloads than every other player.

    http://www.espn.co.uk/lions-tour-2013/rugby/match/164081.html

  • Comment posted by oscar, at 13:17 11 Jun 2013

    I think people are being very harsh on Maitland. I thought he was absolutely outstanding. He created at least 2 tries, ran some very good lines and had some great offloads. I think Hogg will be on the bench but I'm slightly hesitant to say that Halfpenny has Fullback nailed. The Waratahs game is so important.
    On another note, anyone else embarrassed by the cringe-worthy Sky Sports commentary?

  • Comment posted by Count Pierre Bezukhov, at 14:35 11 Jun 2013

    158.GM Massingbird
    You couldn't be more wrong about the Scots.
    But then you've openly said yourself that you won't be supporting the Lions, so blaming the Scots is a bit pot calling kettle.

    I was in NZ for Sir CW's catastrophe, and met many knowledgeable Scots fans passionately supporting the lions, despite no scots making the test team.

  • Comment posted by philmus, at 13:16 11 Jun 2013

    Hogg has nailed a spot on the bench for the tests, at least. I suspect he may even start. Maitland was also excellent today. Solid at full back and continually coming into the line to create overlaps. He hand in a lot of the tries and made at least two of them.

    I suspect many of the posts dissing him are from Welsh fans who see Cuthbert's chance of playing in the test team slipping away

  • Comment posted by U15123268, at 13:45 11 Jun 2013

    Did some of you watch the game or are you just functioning on preconceived prejudices? BOD as usual outstanding, Hogg a real talent with vision to time the pass and blistering speed, Maitland outstanding in support and running, both hookers can't throw, Dr R did nothing, Tipuric excellent as ever, Gray very effective, Heaslip looks too slow, Front row should have dominated and did not!

  • Comment posted by clownfeatures, at 13:24 11 Jun 2013

    why the bad feeling towards Maitland? Thought he did pretty well, I'd pick him over Cuthbert. Can't read too much into 1/2 performance as obviously couldn't get himself together for this team. Though Hogg looked pretty decent at 10, again taking into account the opposition. Murray is just a worse version of Phillips, Tipuric and O'Brien looked good again.

  • Comment posted by GlaschuWarrior, at 13:07 11 Jun 2013

    @10

    You obviously didn't watch the game, Maitland was superb. Some of the quickest hands in the team. Made at least 3 tries.

  • Comment posted by farmboyfarmer, at 13:28 11 Jun 2013

    Haven't really thought much of Maitland when I have previously seen him, but today he really proved his worth. His good hands and passing make him a good provider, but he also has balance and speed in a squad which seems to lack it. Will be interesting to see which way Gatland swings. I imagine he will stick with the welsh way and may have Maitland as an alternative on the bench.

  • Comment posted by falconar13, at 14:46 11 Jun 2013

    Cuthbert may be a better out and out finisher but Maitland is a much better all round, creative, and defensive player which is what is needed against the Aussies.

  • Comment posted by cmar, at 01:07 12 Jun 2013

    To all you over there, was in the Brewery pub in Newcastle before the match, tables of English Irish Scottish and Welsh supporters, all wearing Lions shirts, all sung their own songs and each others together and at the end all shouted Lions Lions Lions, shame the posters on here don't get that same camaraderie spirit, it is pretty great to be all together honestly, great banter and FRIENDSHIPS

  • Comment posted by Obsen, at 14:20 11 Jun 2013

    @158 Still writing your dire, offensive and anti-Scottish comments I see. How wrong you are. Please BBC, why must we suffer GM Massingbird's bile!

  • Comment posted by U15517844, at 16:46 11 Jun 2013

    brucyboy You don't need to be so biased when making your selection this is not a interview to be a Sky sport pundit.

  • Comment posted by Will, at 15:15 11 Jun 2013

    As an Aussie I'd pick this team to beat us:
    1 Vunipola-pity Healy is out
    2 Youngs-work rate/lineout
    3 Jones-by far
    4 POC-lineout general
    5 Grey-dynamic
    6 SOB-ball runner/can fetch
    7 Tipuric-form fetcher
    8 Faletau-third lineout option
    9 Philips-physicality
    10 Sexton
    11 Maitland-link man
    12 JR-comb with BOD
    13 BOD
    14 North
    15 Penny
    Parling, Tuilagi, Heaslip, Hogg on bench

  • Comment posted by U15240454, at 15:07 11 Jun 2013

    It has to be BOD and Manu in the centres. Jamie Roberts offers nothing in attack and you don't have to look hard to find times when Manu has made something from nothing on a big stage (New Zealand, France 2012, Prem final 2013).
    Manu's offloading game is also underrated as BOD said himself. He is much more than the battering ram that Jamie Roberts has been this year (to ill effect)

  • Comment posted by Justin150, at 14:49 11 Jun 2013

    In terms of second row combinations, POC and Parling are direct like for like, command the line out but slightly lighter weight than ideal in scrum (which means they should not be paired together). POC is clearly superior around park. Any of AWJ, Gray, Evans can play together as a combination although AWJ would be my 3rd choice of those 3.

    Best guess is that POC and Gray will be the test combo

  • Comment posted by JohnnyWAL, at 22:43 12 Jun 2013

    @1020 JR rubbish this season? He has made a positive difference in the few games he has played at club level and was consistent in the 6N oh the whole. Just because Faz team play for penalties and he knocks over the majority that makes him a great rugby player? Or just a good kicker, this season other than 1 game (A friendly against NZ) Faz has been poor against good opposition, just stating facts

  • Comment posted by U15546297, at 12:02 12 Jun 2013

    Here we go other nations instead of being one and giving a fair reflection to all players instead of bashing them and it's seems to be the same old culprits on here usually through there jealousy over the Welsh players playing for lions how stupid do you guys look especially @ChristianWade14 if you know your rugby you get turned over through lack of support !

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