British and Irish Lions 2017

[bendeus]

I'm baffled at launchbury omission. For me, along with hogg, best player of 6N

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Some suggesting that Gatland has looked hard at how Ireland beat the AABs and has decided that the lineout is a relative weakness and a means by which we can disrupt possession and win quick ball.

Given the fact that Launchbury, for all that he's a great player, is weaker there than in other aspects of his game it's possible that Gatland has prioritised ability to get up for the ball over other attributes. If so, we might realistically expect him to start with Kruis and Itoje at lock, with George at hooker (Sarries combo).

Again, if so, he's going to want to pick a dog to come on in the final quarter and then it's a direct choice between Joe and AWJ, which I think the latter shades.

*if* this is the plan we might also expect some other surprises in the starting XV. Faletau to start, for example?

 

[Mr Retro]

What's your objection? Is it along the flat track bully line?

See Stander yesterday? Me either

 

[1927]

Personally, despite all the controversy about his selection I think Moriarty is the right sort of player for NZ and think he will perform well enough in midweek games to force himself into first test!

 

[tadcaster2014]

My money is on the Kiwi's

 

[bendeus]

My money is on the Kiwi's

The Kiwi's what?

 

[bendeus]

Ben Youngs has pulled out of the tour - his brother Tom's wife has a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Is this Getlund's opportunity to appease our Caledonian cousins by picking Laidlaw or will he piss 'em off even more by plumping for Care?

E2A: Biggar also went off injured today so further salve may be applied to Scottish wounds by picking the flakier than a flake Russell to blow hot and cold during midweek matches.

 

[bendeus]

Ben Youngs has pulled out of the tour - his brother Tom's wife has a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Is this Getlund's opportunity to appease our Caledonian cousins by picking Laidlaw or will he piss 'em off even more by plumping for Care?

E2A: Biggar also went off injured today so further salve may be applied to Scottish wounds by picking the flakier than a flake Russell to blow hot and cold during midweek matches.

Poor fuckers, btw

 

[Grandma Death]

Ben Youngs has pulled out of the tour - his brother Tom's wife has a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Is this Getlund's opportunity to appease our Caledonian cousins by picking Laidlaw or will he piss 'em off even more by plumping for Care?

E2A: Biggar also went off injured today so further salve may be applied to Scottish wounds by picking the flakier than a flake Russell to blow hot and cold during midweek matches.

Laidlaw in

British & Irish Lions statement

 

[bendeus]

How, erm, tactical

 

[Balbi]

AB's confirm their warm up match against Samoa as part of an Eden Park double header.

Wales v Tonga followed by AB's v Samoa. Most expensive ticket is $140 (£70), cheapest is $49 (£24).

Bargain.

 

[Teaboy]

Laidlaw is alright and has the advantage of being another reliable goal kicker. Care is probably the more dynamic scrum half but I don't think it really matters as barring injury Murray and Webb have the test places sewn-up.

To be honest I'm not unhappy about English players missing out. It looks like a bloody long tour and a lot of games. Unfortunately I can see injuries aplenty and a couple of heavy losses as well.

 

[bendeus]

Mike Brown whining about non-selection. Gatland basically calls him a wanker.

m.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/39842638

 

[1927]

Mike Brown whining about non-selection. Gatland basically calls him a wanker.

m.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/39842638

Mike Brown in whinging shock!

 

[Teaboy]

He has been much better this season than Halfpenny though, so if you were picking on form alone you wouldn't take Halfpenny. That being said no manager picks on form alone and I think Brown is probably in the twilight of his career anyway.

Besides, see my comments above. He'll be better off having a a bit of fun on the tour in Argentina, get some steak and a decent glass of red.

 

[bendeus]

He has been much better this season than Halfpenny though, so if you were picking on form alone you wouldn't take Halfpenny. That being said no manager picks on form alone and I think Brown is probably in the twilight of his career anyway.

Besides, see my comments above. He'll be better off having a a bit of fun on the tour in Argentina, get some steak and a decent glass of red.

I don't think Brown has been all that this season, tbh. Selfish and frequently dies with the ball. Also can't slot pens from beyond halfway.

I think what Gatland was alluding to was that selection (and this with specific reference to Brown) was not solely based on ability and that 'disruptive' influences were passed over. By inference this is what he sees Brown to be.

 

[Teaboy]

I don't think Brown has been all that this season, tbh. Selfish and frequently dies with the ball. Also can't slot pens from beyond halfway.

I think what Gatland was alluding to was that selection (and this with specific reference to Brown) was not solely based on ability and that 'disruptive' influences were passed over. By inference this is what he sees Brown to be.

I'm not really sure about the attitude thing. I think its possible to mistake a demeanor on the pitch for an attitude.

I agree that he's not had his best season but he was an ever present in a very successful side and he was often the go forward in that side whereas Halfpenny has not had a good 12 months. You know I'm a big fan of Halfpenny but he has been anonymous with the ball and has clearly got the yips from the kicking tee. All kickers have a day off but he has the yips. Hopefully that can be sorted out (it may already have been) but at the moment I'd sooner trust Farrell, Sexton, Laidlaw and maybe even Biggar from the kicking tee before I turned to Halfpenny.

I'm not saying Halfpenny shouldn't have been picked just I can understand why Brown is put out. Anyway, Hogg is head and shoulders above both at the moment.

 

[bendeus]

I'm not really sure about the attitude thing. I think its possible to mistake a demeanor on the pitch for an attitude.

I agree that he's not had his best season but he was an ever present in a very successful side and he was often the go forward in that side whereas Halfpenny has not had a good 12 months. You know I'm a big fan of Halfpenny but he has been anonymous with the ball and has clearly got the yips from the kicking tee. All kickers have a day off but he has the yips. Hopefully that can be sorted out (it may already have been) but at the moment I'd sooner trust Farrell, Sexton, Laidlaw and maybe even Biggar from the kicking tee before I turned to Halfpenny.

I'm not saying Halfpenny shouldn't have been picked just I can understand why Brown is put out. Anyway, Hogg is head and shoulders above both at the moment.

Agree, but this is Gatland saying it rather than me.

I'd say Hogg is head and shoulders above any other NH 15 going forward. He's defensively very suspect, though, both as the last man and in the air. I wouldn't be overly surprised to see a more solid defender, e.g. Payne start, to the eternal fury of Scotland.

I'd trust Biggar over all of them from the tee given that his conversion % from the tee is superior to all those listed. He won't get a test berth, though.

Where I would trust 1/2p over the others is the massive kicks from distance. The others pale against him with those - it could come down to these fine margins.

I can understand why Brown is put out. I also find it funny because he's a player that I and many others dislike, at least for his game time behaviour and attitude. He may be a Saint off the pitch but I can only judge on what I can see.

 

[bendeus]

Oh fuck, Billy Vunipola out of the tour. Haskell called up. Massive blow.

www.lionsrugby.com/news/16233.php

 

[gawkrodger]

tour lost then

Billy Vunipola withdraws from British and Irish Lions squad for New Zealand

edit: should read before I post!

 

[Smangus]

Bummer

 

[bendeus]

tour lost then

Billy Vunipola withdraws from British and Irish Lions squad for New Zealand

edit: should read before I post!

Going to need to wrap Faletau in cotton wool for the duration of the tour.

 

[bendeus]

Interesting that they called up the Brand instead of a specialist 8. Can only assume Heaslip is on standby if a wing slot becomes available.

 

[Smangus]

I think Heaslip is injured still

 

[Smangus]

At least the Brand's scrumcap will match the shirt

 

[Balbi]

They're here and the press have started to go even madder.

Criticism of Gats picking the guys who've been in camp for a week against the Provincial BaaBaas over 'playing his best side' while simultaneously begging Hansen to stop the Super Rugby sides playing the best AB's (Whitelock, Retallick, Ben Smith, Beauden Barrett) in the remaining rounds and the Super Rugby games against the Lions.

Windy.

 

[bendeus]

XXIII for first game against the In Zid Baa Baas:

Hogg; Watson, Joseph, Te’o, Seymour; Sexton, Laidlaw; Marler, Best, Sinckler; Jones, Henderson; Moriarty, Warburton, Faletau.

Replacements: George, Vunipola, Furlong, Kruis, Tipuric, Webb, Farrell, Payne

Decent enough mix (though weaker in the tight 5) and a very, very strong bench. Hard to read into it in terms of units/intent for the tests, really, as it deliberately excludes any of the late joiners.

Particularly like the look of that backrow

E2A: Outrageous Scottish over-representation in that backline

 

[Smangus]

Great interview with Ian McGeechan here well worth a listen for his take on the lions and philosophy behind it.

BBC Radio 5 live - 5 live Sport, 5 live Rugby, Dawson meets McGeechan

 

[Balbi]

It's even better if you compare it to the How Not To Win A Lions Series which is 90 minutes of EVERYONE who isn't Clive Woodward and Alastair Campbell talking about how fucked up the 2005 tour was.

Accentuated by Sir Clive basically admitting he didn't understand the Lions , denying any of his screamingly obvious mistakes repeatedly and saying he regretted nothing because the tour wasn't really as valuable as the world cup win

 

[bendeus]

It's even better if you compare it to the How Not To Win A Lions Series which is 90 minutes of EVERYONE who isn't Clive Woodward and Alastair Campbell talking about how fucked up the 2005 tour was.

Accentuated by Sir Clive basically admitting he didn't understand the Lions , denying any of his screamingly obvious mistakes repeatedly and saying he regretted nothing because the tour wasn't really as valuable as the world cup win

Look at that side for the first test. At least half of them were totally over the hill:

Lions: Robinson; Lewsey, O'Driscoll (captain), Wilkinson, Thomas; Jones, Peel; Jenkins, Byrne, White, O'Connell, Kay; Hill, Back, Corry.
Replacements: Thompson, Rowntree, Grewcock, Jones, Dawson, Greenwood, Horgan

Woodward still blames the whinging celts and their delicate sensibilities for the defeat.

 

[Smangus]

He sounded pretty unrepentant/arrogant about it all. Hasn't learnt any lessons by the sound of it.