The UAFC

Hello and welcome to a new edition of player watch, this week featuring the much maligned British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warbuton.
I had to rewatch the second test again as I couldn't remember much about it so armed with my sky remote I decided to watch the game with a view to seeing exactly what this Welsh legend brings to the table.
Also learned how little time the ball spends in play.

Here are his stats.
7 tackles 1 missed.( where espn found another 3 from God knows).
0 turnovers
1 carry for 0 yards.
3 lineout wins 1 lost.

Considering he had no opposite number for most of the game not great stats.
However stats don't always tell the true story as Baggy will tell you.

The good stuff was his lineout work and driving play in general is very polished and first class.
He made 3 quality assisted gain line hits which completely halted the All Blacks from first phase.

However he goes missing during phase play.
In 8 Lions attacking phases and in 6 All Blacks ones he literally did nothing.
No rucks hit, tackles, carrys nothing because he was late to every situation.
His contribution was virtually nil for the last 15 or so minutes.

I should point out SOB was phenomenal and to the fore.
George and Itoje weren't too far behind.
Didn't have to actually look for them at any stage as with Warbuton.

Warbuton however spends most of the game looking busy doing nothing.
He is the beneficiary of the myth if you don't see him he must be doing something like Richard Hill used to do.
I really wanted to believe what others were telling me that he slows up oppositon ball.
That simply wasn't the case and at best he was a mild nuisance.

Literally he offers slightly more than Clive Ross does only one is a double Lions captain and the other very much isn't.

Sam Warburton is a good player. I have no idea how he became Gatland's golden child, because he doesn't do anything particularly well. He's the ultimate jack of all trades, a poor man's Chris Robshaw.

The fact that he is twice Lions' tour captain mystifies me.

Just read the Telegraph review of Warbuton who gave him a 7 out of 10 rating.
" Badly needed to slow down the All Blacks ball and did just that making a critical impact at the breakdown." it stated.
No he didn't.
Don't believe the hype.

bazzaj wrote:Just read the Telegraph review of Warbuton who gave him a 7 out of 10 rating.
" Badly needed to slow down the All Blacks ball and did just that making a critical impact at the breakdown." it stated.
No he didn't.
Don't believe the hype.

It's funny what PR will be run when your job depends on access

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bazzaj wrote:Hello and welcome to a new edition of player watch, this week featuring the much maligned British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warbuton.
I had to rewatch the second test again as I couldn't remember much about it so armed with my sky remote I decided to watch the game with a view to seeing exactly what this Welsh legend brings to the table.
Also learned how little time the ball spends in play.

Here are his stats.
7 tackles 1 missed.( where espn found another 3 from God knows).
0 turnovers
1 carry for 0 yards.
3 lineout wins 1 lost.

Considering he had no opposite number for most of the game not great stats.
However stats don't always tell the true story as Baggy will tell you.

The good stuff was his lineout work and driving play in general is very polished and first class.
He made 3 quality assisted gain line hits which completely halted the All Blacks from first phase.

However he goes missing during phase play.
In 8 Lions attacking phases and in 6 All Blacks ones he literally did nothing.
No rucks hit, tackles, carrys nothing because he was late to every situation.
His contribution was virtually nil for the last 15 or so minutes.

I should point out SOB was phenomenal and to the fore.
George and Itoje weren't too far behind.
Didn't have to actually look for them at any stage as with Warbuton.

Warbuton however spends most of the game looking busy doing nothing.
He is the beneficiary of the myth if you don't see him he must be doing something like Richard Hill used to do.
I really wanted to believe what others were telling me that he slows up oppositon ball.
That simply wasn't the case and at best he was a mild nuisance.

Literally he offers slightly more than Clive Ross does only one is a double Lions captain and the other very much isn't.

Damn it man, just as I thought you were talking reasonable sense, you go and say that about Richard Hill. Now I loathe the English as much as the next man, but FFFS Jizzer, Richard Hill's only flaw was that unlike a couple of his media chasing teammates he maintained a low profile off the pitch, on it, he was a marvellous player & the best of that RWC winning pack in my esteemed opinion.

When you speak of 3 assisted tackles that will be where your tackle count and theirs will be different, I think most tackles are included whether solo or "team" tackles.

As for not slowing up the opposition, I saw him a couple of times doing the old 'I got here by accident'' routine with the hands up, a tactic popular amongst sheepshaggers from all countries where sheep are shagged.

Baggy you got the complete wrong end of the stick when I was talking about Hill.
Reread and see if it makes more sense when I say I totally agree with you.

As for the 3 assisted tackles I included them in the 7.
I also included a grab / choke attempt tackle attempt so I was being over generous.
Espn counted 10 and I have no clue how they arrived at that number unless they were including the warm up.

Saw the title of this thread and looked in expecting to see a discussion something akin to one about Micky Mouse watches, 'cept about rugby players.

Then realised it was about Warburton, so not far wrong then

bazzaj wrote:Baggy you got the complete wrong end of the stick when I was talking about Hill.
Reread and see if it makes more sense when I say I totally agree with you.

He's right y'know baggy

Richard Hill = good

Sam Warlessbutton = nowhere near

Richard Hill = actually doing the work he's credited with

sam Warlessbutton = living on an undeserved reputation

A Sam Warbuton watch.
Wonder if that's part of the Lions official merchandise?

bazzaj wrote:A Sam Warbuton watch.
Wonder if that's part of the Lions official merchandise?

I'd bet Mickey Mouse would wear one if they became availalble

He's already bought a Leigh Halfpenny one.
For 1/2 a penny.

Beats me why he was even in the original tour squad never mind the extended Welsh division.

bazzaj wrote:He's already bought a Leigh Halfpenny one.
For 1/2 a penny.

never did have any cents

bazzaj wrote:His contribution was virtually nil for the last 15 or so minutes.

Really should have addressed this earlier, so apologies for missing it.

Doncha know he has the unenviable task of post match interviews to prepare for during this crucial phase of the match?

Don't want to be doing those while breathless or with blood, sweat and tears flowing now, do ya?

True it's at well he did because I thought he spoke most eloquently.