bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
So, it's almost upon us. That time when we can put aside our emnities, stop hating each others' players (except Fat Dylan, obv) and instead start appreciating their talents, physical prowess and what they bring to the side. We can, for once, be united by rugby (except when the useless fucker from team x, the idiot coach from team y, or the unutterably daft decision by the captain from team z undermines that unity)
I don't think this 6N augers well, TBH. Lots of tough, physical and often scrappy and uninspiring rugby on offer. Too much of the 'honest triers' and too little of the rubicon crossing flyers to, in my opinion, trouble the ABs at home. Some question marks, too, about the coaching staff. Most on here know my opinion of Gatland, Howley speaks for himself and I'm not sure I'm entirely bought into Farrell's defensive philosophy (Ireland conceded quite a few tries this tournament). On the flip side, Ireland have shown how to beat the ABs and that they're fallible if pressure is unrelenting and execution is near-perfect.
One thing's for sure - to win a tour in NZ you need to bring something different - Carwyn's Lions in '74 showed that the only way to beat the ABs over a tour is to outthink them; keep them guessing and stay on the front foot mentally, physically and tactically. Gatland ain't no Carwyn, and the squad won't be peppered with JPRs, Prices, Barry Johns, GOEs, etc., etc. Nevertheless, we've got to go there believing we've got a chance.
Gatland will obviously go to dominate up front - there'll be a lot of beef in that pack - and to keep discipline and hold the line defensively at the back. Will he go with his innate conservatism and include Halfpenny, whose indifferent form hasn't exactly lit up the pitch but whose defence probably still puts him ahead of the rest of the field, and whose boot can 'do a Neil Jenkins' and snaffle points from distance if there are infringements anywhere up to halfway or Hogg, who is electric going forward but suspect as a final line of defence? The next few weeks will be very interesting, and some brilliant players won't even travel. Here, for the sake of it, is my XXIII - a mix of who I'd pick and who I think Gatland will go for.
Vunipola, Owens, Furlong
Itoje, AWJ
Stander, Vunipola, Warburton (c)
Hogg, North, Joseph, Farrell, Sexton, Murray, Watson
Bench
Nel
Cole
Launchbury
J George
Faletau
Webb
Te'o
Halfpenny
1 Scot
4 Irish
4 Welsh
6 English in the starting line up
Just a starter for ten
Feel free to shoot me down
I don't think this 6N augers well, TBH. Lots of tough, physical and often scrappy and uninspiring rugby on offer. Too much of the 'honest triers' and too little of the rubicon crossing flyers to, in my opinion, trouble the ABs at home. Some question marks, too, about the coaching staff. Most on here know my opinion of Gatland, Howley speaks for himself and I'm not sure I'm entirely bought into Farrell's defensive philosophy (Ireland conceded quite a few tries this tournament). On the flip side, Ireland have shown how to beat the ABs and that they're fallible if pressure is unrelenting and execution is near-perfect.
One thing's for sure - to win a tour in NZ you need to bring something different - Carwyn's Lions in '74 showed that the only way to beat the ABs over a tour is to outthink them; keep them guessing and stay on the front foot mentally, physically and tactically. Gatland ain't no Carwyn, and the squad won't be peppered with JPRs, Prices, Barry Johns, GOEs, etc., etc. Nevertheless, we've got to go there believing we've got a chance.
Gatland will obviously go to dominate up front - there'll be a lot of beef in that pack - and to keep discipline and hold the line defensively at the back. Will he go with his innate conservatism and include Halfpenny, whose indifferent form hasn't exactly lit up the pitch but whose defence probably still puts him ahead of the rest of the field, and whose boot can 'do a Neil Jenkins' and snaffle points from distance if there are infringements anywhere up to halfway or Hogg, who is electric going forward but suspect as a final line of defence? The next few weeks will be very interesting, and some brilliant players won't even travel. Here, for the sake of it, is my XXIII - a mix of who I'd pick and who I think Gatland will go for.
Vunipola, Owens, Furlong
Itoje, AWJ
Stander, Vunipola, Warburton (c)
Hogg, North, Joseph, Farrell, Sexton, Murray, Watson
Bench
Nel
Cole
Launchbury
J George
Faletau
Webb
Te'o
Halfpenny
1 Scot
4 Irish
4 Welsh
6 English in the starting line up
Just a starter for ten
Feel free to shoot me down
