British and Irish Lions 2017
- Thread starter bendeus
- Start date
1927
Funnier than he thinks he is.
I wonder whether it was Gatkand's decision or pressure from others!
It also begs the question, if that was the style he intended to adopt in the tests were there better players left at home!
Smangus
comatose at a desk
Who else would you have at wing/fb? Looks pretty potent to me, if they click it could be awesome , if not then bang goes the series.
edit - I suppose Cuthbert....
1927
Funnier than he thinks he is.
Well if we have he's spent a long time trying to convince us otherwise! Maybe he has started thinking about his next job! Team Adidas!Instant reaction; "Have we got Gatland wrong?"
1927
Funnier than he thinks he is.
My point was , not that he's picked an attacking back 3 from those on tour, but If he wanted to attack who else might he have taken! Cuthbert wouldn't have been in the list until they got to the point where bendeus and me were unavailable! LolWho else would you have at wing/fb? Looks pretty potent to me, if they click it could be awesome , if not then bang goes the series.
edit - I suppose Cuthbert....
Balbi
Hey, Dean Yager!
I prefer their full name, The Most Dominant Team In History Sponsored By Adidas, Weetbix and Anchor Milk
1927
Funnier than he thinks he is.
The most cynical team in history! surely weetabix and milk isn't a good combo, they'll just get soggy!I prefer their full name, The Most Dominant Team In History Sponsored By Adidas, Weetbix and Anchor Milk
Balbi
Hey, Dean Yager!
Mark Reason with his 'I'm like Chris Rattue but for the other newspaper' reckons
Lions tour: More hope than expectation as Gatland gambles on novices
Lions tour: More hope than expectation as Gatland gambles on novices
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Never saw that selection coming, to be fair. I like it a lot, though. Power and precision with a lot of attacking gas. I'd imagine the Weetabix All Stars may be slightly surprised as well
1927
Funnier than he thinks he is.
Love that they are writing off our chances!
I'm a fan of AWJ but I think it's a mistake leaving Itoje on the bench. I rate him as one of England's few world class players. I thought it hurt us in the 6N having him at blindside although this was understandable given our complete dearth of flankers. Basically though like England, the Lions have an embarrassment of riches in the second row.
On the whole I'm a bit surprised by the selection. I had Gatland down as somebody that when under pressure fell back on tried and tested players that he knows and trusts. So yeah, bit surprised with the exclusions of Halfpenny and North. That being said all coaches seem to love Daly.
The emergence of Te'o is interesting and suggests Eddie Jones may have missed a trick in the Spring.
On the whole I'm a bit surprised by the selection. I had Gatland down as somebody that when under pressure fell back on tried and tested players that he knows and trusts. So yeah, bit surprised with the exclusions of Halfpenny and North. That being said all coaches seem to love Daly.
The emergence of Te'o is interesting and suggests Eddie Jones may have missed a trick in the Spring.
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
I'm wondering if Gatland is subscribing to the Eddie Jones philosophy of, rather than regarding starters and subs as best > not quite as good he is seeing them as starters and finishers. Bringing on the likes of 1/2p, Itoje and Warburton on 60 will add a different dimension to the game without, imo, weakening the XV on the field one iota. Just a thought, really. A fresh Itoje on at 60 could wreak havoc, 1/2p could keep them pinned back and punish infringements and Warburton could shore up defence and strengthen the breakdown. Not a bad bench to have...
1927
Funnier than he thinks he is.
That's my reading of it 100%. Try something different, give the flair players their head, if it doesn't work, switch it. I think we might see the bench used in a different way to the norm on Saturday, with subs being made well before the 60 minute mark which has become the norm.
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
I don't think anyone is criticising AWJ, mate, but right now England's lock options, not least the two Sarries locks on tour, are fucking immense. Itoje and Kruis are a younger and more athletic than AWJ and offer more lineout threat.
That said, AWJ has never, ever taken a step back and won't do so on Saturday. He's a leader and an absolute dog. Third Lions tour and the seventh Lions test he'll start - that's all you need to know about him as a player, really,
gawkrodger
Well-Known Member
Certainly how the Kiwi press is reading it.
I'm really annoyed (partly because my opinion on how the Lions will do has risen) that i have to teach a class at 10am on Saturdays
My thought is that it would make sense to maintain the Kruis-Itoje partnership which was so dominant for Sarries and England before Kruis' injury.
Still, I suppose Warren G has to regulate.
