2021 British & Irish Lions Squad

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Maybe that's why Ben curry isn't in the England squad...........

They are already working on a parent trap type swap

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Maybe that's why Ben curry isn't in the England squad...........

They are already working on a parent trap type swap

Or the Prestige.

 

[Which Tyler]

Or the Prestige.

Spoilers!

I always said that Dimes made a mistake in admitting there were 2 Curries - just have one hide in the changing room and swap shirts at half-time

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Spoilers!

I always said that Dimes made a mistake in admitting there were 2 Curries - just have one hide in the changing room and swap shirts at half-time

To be fair it's only two that they've admitted to. Maybe it's been quadruplets all along.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Lions team to face the Sharks: Liam Williams; Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Mako Vunipola, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Zander Fagerson; Iain Henderson (capt), Adam Beard; Josh Navidi, Tom Curry, Sam Simmonds.

Replacements: Ken Owens, Rory Sutherland, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Stuart Hogg, Chris Harris

 

[General Melchett]

Lions team to face the Sharks: Liam Williams; Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Mako Vunipola, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Zander Fagerson; Iain Henderson (capt), Adam Beard; Josh Navidi, Tom Curry, Sam Simmonds.

Replacements: Ken Owens, Rory Sutherland, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Stuart Hogg, Chris Harris

Not the hardest starting 15 to predict I guess given the process of elimination. Hogg on the bench covering 10 by the looks of it. I hope that doesn't mean they are trying Russell / Farrell at 10/12 again on Saturday. Would like to see Russell play with Henshaw at 12.

 

[Which Tyler]

Would like to see Russell play with Henshaw at 12.

What? And allow Russell a chance to succeed and stake a claim?
Never!

 

[General Melchett]

What? And allow Russell a chance to succeed and stake a claim?
Never!

You're probably right. Pair them together again which will make Biggar a shoe in for 10. It probably grates Gatland badly to have a flair 10 and ball playing 12. He's a Biggar - Aki - Henshaw man all day long.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

What? And allow Russell a chance to succeed and stake a claim?
Never!

If the last tour was anything to go by it wouldn't matter anyway. The only time the Lions backs looked in any way decent in the warmups was when Sexton and Farrell were at 10-12 but Gats through a test away starting Farrell at 10.

 

[Jakedood]

Henderson the only man to play a part in all 3 games so far?

 

[General Melchett]

If the last tour was anything to go by it wouldn't matter anyway. The only time the Lions backs looked in any way decent in the warmups was when Sexton and Farrell were at 10-12 but Gats through a test away starting Farrell at 10.

And basically threw a series away. I'm convinced that Farrell is only in the squad because he saved Gatland's arse with that late penalty in the third test. That's how he rolls - players with 'credit in the bank' trumps current form.

 

[will311293]

As much as Russell looked good on Saturday, did think he was treating it a little casually towards the end. At the moment IMHO i think it's Biggar, Aki, Henshawe's shirts to lose.

Also Watson and Harris were fantastic as well. Harris just seemed very composed and Watson is just fire and brimstone all the time.

 

[will311293]

And basically threw a series away. I'm convinced that Farrell is only in the squad because he saved Gatland's arse with that late penalty in the third test. That's how he rolls - players with 'credit in the bank' trumps current form.

TBF, Gatland does love a credit in the bank player - Lawes has hardly played yet made it and if we remember when Haskell got picked (even if he was in good form at the time), i think it was realistically because he was a Gats player and had that credit.
I'm not sure Farrell starts in the test team which seems correct but he does have experience and suppose he is one of the few who have toured 3 times. Gatland knows what he's getting i suppose.

 

[ncurd]

I still think come the tests it'll be a Biggar/Farrell combo and it'll be rank.

 

[General Melchett]

TBF, Gatland does love a credit in the bank player - Lawes has hardly played yet made it and if we remember when Haskell got picked (even if he was in good form at the time), i think it was realistically because he was a Gats player and had that credit.
I'm not sure Farrell starts in the test team which seems correct but he does have experience and suppose he is one of the few who have toured 3 times. Gatland knows what he's getting i suppose.

Gatland will put Farrell on the bench for the tests no matter how he's playing claiming he covers 10/12 and in the event of late kicks at goal. If Russell doesn't get a chance with kicking duties in the warm up games then this will be pretty much confirmed.

 

[General Melchett]

I still think come the tests it'll be a Biggar/Farrell combo and it'll be rank.

Yuck.

 

[will311293]

Gatland will put Farrell on the bench for the tests no matter how he's playing claiming he covers 10/12 and in the event of late kicks at goal. If Russell doesn't get a chance with kicking duties in the warm up games then this will be pretty much confirmed.

True. Farrell just seems destined for that Bench spot. Kind of the same with Daly whose started well on tour but also covers 12/13/14/15 and has a massive boot which Gats loves.

Russell is just too maverick i think for Gats which is a shame as he's a hell of a player.

 

[Jakedood]

I still think come the tests it'll be a Biggar/Farrell combo and it'll be rank.

I dont wanna be too down, as the style they're trying to play, and actually Biggar looked really really good v Japan for me, not just a solid defensive/kicking 10, but distributing really well.

Farrell isnt an awful 12 either, though didnt click great at the weekend with Russell, who doesnt really need an extra distributor, and also there were so many holes in the defense it wasnt a great test

But if i was going now, I'd actually go Biggar - Henshaw - Daly tbh (or Harris, more likely)

 

[big ginger 8]

Henshaw has a hamstring strain so was always out of this game and by the sounds of it at least the next one. Gatland does seem like he has him as the test starter at least.

 

[Jakedood]

Henshaw has a hamstring strain so was always out of this game and by the sounds of it at least the next one. Gatland does seem like he has him as the test starter at least.

Whether thats 12 or 13 is the thing

He's getting unfairly labelled as a bulldozer because he's so physical and effective, but he does have a lot more strings to his bow