Lions v Argentina

[Kiwi_punter]

Just saw this line on tonight's (or tomorrow morning's for us antipodeans) warm up game at the millenium stadium. That's a rather huge head start for Argentina. Anyone got any info or opinion on this game? Lions -42.5 $1.85 Argentina +42.5 $1.90 www.tab.co.nz Lions: G Murphy; D Hickie, O Smith, G D'Arcy, S Williams; J Wilkinson, G Cooper; G Rowntree, S Byrne, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, D Grewcock; M Corry, L Moody, M Owen (capt). Replacements: S Thompson, J White, B Kay, L Dallaglio, C Cusiter, R O'Gara, S Horgan. Argentina: B Stortoni; J Nunez Piossek, L Arbizu, F Contepomi (capt), F Leonelli; F Todeschini, N Fernandez Miranda; F Mendez, M Ledesma, M Reggiardo, P Bouza, M Sambucetti, F Genoud, M Schusterman, J-M Leguizamon. Replacements: E Guinazu, L de Chazal, M Carizza, S Sanz, F Bosch, L Borges, L Lopez Fleming Referee: S Dickinson (Australia) And this from the BBC:

The pressure is on the selected players not to get this one wrong Lions assistant coach Ian McGeechan

How strong a test Argentina will provide is debatable given they are missing 25 players through club commitments. Even Pumas captain Felipe Contepomi admits: "I don't know if we have much chance of winning."

[rowdy]

Re: Lions v Argentina Yeah mate, pretty hard to get any read on this game. A few extracts from nzoom.com though: "This is a massive game for us as begin our preparations," Clive Woodward said."I'm happy that Jonny Wilkinson is able to take his place in the team. He's there on merit after playing particularly well in his last game against Gloucester. But I don't want to single him out. It's an important game for him as it is every other player."Clearly we will be looking at combinations such as the second-row, back-row, half-backs and centres, but we will be looking at individual players and how they play their part in hopefully winning a test match."We want to see how people handle this one-off pressure because we need players who can step up to the mark on the day. The game represents the first chance for coach Clive Woodward to see members of his mammoth 45-man squad in action together and he has taken the opportunity to involve players who need game time. Leading that list is Jonny Wilkinson, who has not played an international since kicking the winning drop goal in the 2003 World Cup final and was added to the Lions squad only last week after coming through his latest comeback games unscathed. Wilkinson, one of four first-fives in the party, will combine with Wales halfback Gareth Cooper, who spent most of his side's grand slam campaign cheering on Dwayne Peel from the bench. The centre duo also looks internationally rusty with Gordon D'Arcy, who missed the last four games of the Six Nations after pulling a hamstring in Ireland's first match, lining up alongside Ollie Smith.Smith was one of the surprise inclusions in the Lions tour party after making only a couple of replacement appearances in England's disappointing Six Nations but is just the sort of dark horse who could come through for a test slot.Scottish flanker Simon Taylor, a world-class player but also desperately short of game time after another injury-ruined year, is another who will relish the opportunity while Wales number eight Michael Owen leads the team out. Obviously not a game to bet the house on, BUT, IMO, 1) although N.H sides dont have a tendancy to score big points, when given a weak opposition their eyes seem to lite up and often drift from their conservative structured play slightly and put points on the board. The question is obviously how weak is this Argintinean side!? 2) Well 25 players out, really thats about all I know. Theres still a couple good players in there, Contempomi, Arbizu, Mendez, but obviously ud expect them to be outclassed all over the park. 3) Home crowd advantage. Doesnt happen very often that the locals get to see the Lions on their own turf, a couple times in the last 30 years. BIG crowd support. 4) I guess a lot of these Lions boys have got a lot to prove, big chance to show what they r worth. 5) Lastly JW's back hes worth at least 10 or more depending on how many minutes he plays. Not a game to bet on but for fun 1 unit Lions -42.5 @ $1.87 (for once NZ TAB looks to be value as other bookies have this one set as high as 46.5, Sporting odds and Bluesq have 42.5 @ 1.91 though, havnt got an account there though)