Reason to believe . . .

As much as I want the Lions to win the test series against the All Blacks, I must admit that I didn't give them much of a chance before the tour started and even less of a chance after the early loss to the Blues. My heart said Lions but my head said 3-0 to the All Blacks.

Even now I'm thinking that the only reason the Lions are in this great position to win the series is because of an unfortunate red card and it's a big worry that it took them so long to put the 14 man All Black team away, but I am finding some reasons to be optimistic.

Historically, the Lions have peaked for the 3rd test. 4 years ago, with the series squared at 1-1 and missing their captain Sam Warburton, Alun-Wyn Jones led the team to a comprehensive 41-16 thumping of the Wallabies. 8 years ago, after 2 close losses to the Springboks, the Lions thrashed us 28-9 in the 3rd test.

It's perfectly understandable that the Lions should improve as these tours progress and as the players from different unions develop an understanding and a team ethic. There's also no midweek game before the final test so the team is fresher.

A lot of the talk on the various rugby websites is all about how dangerous the All Blacks are after losing a game and how their players want to take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win a series against the Lions . . . but I think we're going to see an improved Lions team on Saturday and they will have a fighter's chance of winning the series.

Can't wait!

Come on the Lions!!!

  

 
I hear that the All Blacks are focused on being more physical in the coming test. One would have thought that that was a given in every test match.

Their emotions are running high and I wouldn't be surprised to see this test spoilt by flaring tempers and a lot of off the ball stuff.

It would be a pity as this is poised nicely for a cracker of a match.

It could go either way. I am absolutely hopeful of a Lions win.

When the series kicked off I hoped the Lions would win, but as I stated on another thread, I believe the AB's are the better side and therefore deserve to win. I mean FFS, how do you not put a team away when they are a man down for 50 mins? That said, I am just hopeful for good clean game. Can't wait for this game, especially because I missed the game last weekend.   

 Yes, feelings are running high but they always have against the Boks in past years and these days the smart teams go for controlled aggression - living on the edge. SBW has already provided the example of what happens if you go over the mark. 
ABs will also be working on getting their attack going as they went into their shells once in the last game. It almost worked as they kept the ball away from the Lions and racked up points through penalties but for sure in this next test they will need to score tries.

 
The All Blacks should be thankful for the poor discipline shown by the Lions. It's those penalties that kept you in the match.

Hopefully the Lions will do better with this in the coming test. A totally different match without all those free points given to you.

Go Lionnnnnnssss!!!!!

 Yawn 

 That's all we ever hope for bluebok.......a good, clean game. And fair.  Is Cloudy admitting to devious wee abs play!!!
Lions scrum has not been what one would have thought and lions forwards have been a bit pap. However one cannot discount totally what my good friend rooitwitterbug has suggested about Lions momentum.Odds will be on the wee abs. 

Hacked waaaugh reading between the lines you are a nervous wreck! 

 Good to see you back on the forum Beeno.

 "The All Blacks should be thankful for the poor discipline shown by the Lions. It's those penalties that kept you in the match."

wrong,... very wrong,.... this wasn't "poor discipline" in abstract,... that was the Lions' tactic to stop the AB,.... penalty after penalty the Lions prevented the AB building phases and, hence, getting any momentum,.... which, by the way, is foul play (and should have been adressed as such showing yellow card )

so those penalties kept the Lions in the match, not the AB

'Adressed' ...hahaha. Well you are talking rubbish again. Nobody with half a brain, unlike you of course, would think the Lions' poor discipline didn't help the ABs. Hell all their points came from penalties. Get real Neanderthal.

 and here we have again the poor old man showing his teenager behaviour,.... bullying, laughing at ortographic mistakes,... it's so pathetic

Oh, and, please, learn some rugby,..... that wasn't poor discipline,.... that was a deliberate tactic,... as I said, pouring "penalty after penalty the Lions prevented the AB building phases and, hence, getting any momentum",... they preferred to have Barrett kicking to goal (and hoping he misses some of them) than risking any possible AB try,... this way they also slow the rhythm of the game3

the tactic worked perfectly for them,... and this is what matters

 The ABs were well advised to drop a game against the Lions. Was announced months ago.

NZ can not be hegemonic over the world of rugby. They must lose now and then to keep the dream alive, the dream others teams contend.

 Article describing the Lions tactic
This sums up what was going on pretty well. It's how the game is played and even if on the edge or illegal if they were getting away with it they won't stop. ABs do the same and so do all teams, it's a matter of degree sometime but all do it. ABs lost, I accept that but no harm in looking at why they lost so it can be countered next time.

  yes, they were "on the edge or illegal",.... many times illegal (11+13 penalties),....  and as every team has to do, adjusting to what the ref let do on the field,... no issue at all with it

and they are pushing the boundaries as much as they can since they perceived Barrett's kicking to goal as an AB weakness,.. they prefer to let Barrett the opportubity to get 3 points than risking a 7 pointer

What rot....the objective is to sail as close to the law as possible, without conceding penalties. The penalties the Lions conceded kept the ABs in the game. Case closed.

 So Basque...the ABs lost due to foul play by the Lions?

 ABs lost because the Lions scored more points The Lions won, I accept it and am ready for the next game. 
The other reasons included they were playing with 14 men, they didn't take enough advantage of the possession they had - they had a lot. Their strategy was to keep the ball away from the Lions that worked but they had no luck scoring tries.
Also, the Lions did play on the edge of the law very well and they did stop the ABs continuity by committing infringements (which slowed the ball down for the ABs) and which sometimes resulted in penalties. I think they gambled on Barrett not being able to kick enough points and they won.  The link in my post above covers some of the points I have made here.

 
And so the shrill tone of tearful Kiwis continues.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahaa!!!

Gooooooooooooo Lionnssssss!!

What makes u think the Lions will win CC or even come close ? You the Lions the ref and whose army?

 I hoping the ABs win the third game.

Though i would like to know if Basque is claiming that the Lions won due to foul play. M y guess is that he won't dare answer

 Somewhere on the Mud Islets.