2021 British & Irish Lions Squad

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

So AWJ won't be considered for selection on Saturday but will for the first test.

That's complete BS. The first match back after injury shouldn't be against the real test

Welsh bias coming through again

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

So AWJ won't be considered for selection on Saturday but will for the first test.

That's complete BS. The first match back after injury shouldn't be against the real test

Welsh bias coming through again

If he wouldn't do it for Manu he shouldn't do it for AWJ.

If he'd had a stormer against the Stormers then maybe but it feels like an awful idea

 

[General Melchett]

It sounds to me like AWJ isn't yet fit but they are projecting/hoping that he will ok for the first test.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I hope he isn't fit for any of these games as there is a real risk he'll do permanent damage to his shoulder.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Not to get into it further but feeling further vindicated on my stance on Gatland and his bias today.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

My team to date:

1 Sunderland
2 LCD
3 Furlong
4 Henderson
5 Itoje
6 Bearnie/ Curry
7 Curry/ Watson
8 Conan
9 murray
10 Biggar
11 Adam's
12Henshaw / Aki
13 Harris/ Daly
14 Daly/ LRZ/ VDM
15 Watson

I feel the back row will be a lot about how Gatland wants to play. When we play wide we play really well so might want to OSF rather than trying to beat them up with Bearnie at 6 (although he's played really well there).

Again the centres and back 3 have lots of options. I think he'll want Adam's and Watson there and Daly somewhere in the mix. I can't remember which centre pairing have done the best but Harris has really stood out and has Aki who I previously didn't think much of but he's had some great handling as well as smashing it up.

This will probably all change after Saturday but my starting 5 have to be pencilled in now.

 

[General Melchett]

I'd be interested in seeing Curry and Watson play together at 6 and 7 and stick Beirne in the second row with Itoje. Gatland won't do that of course as he's determined to shoehorn AWJ into the side.

 

[Welsh Exile]

I'd be interested in seeing Curry and Watson play together at 6 and 7 and stick Beirne in the second row with Itoje. Gatland won't do that of course as he's determined to shoehorn AWJ into the side.

I like that team too (I've been saying as much for a while) however I don't think we'd see it even if AWJ was still injured as it's more to do about Gatlands insistence on playing a lock at 6 whether that be Beirne or Lawes.

If Gatland wants a big 6 you can bet your arse he wants 2 pretty big locks

 

[General Melchett]

I like that team too (I've been saying as much for a while) however I don't think we'd see it even if AWJ was still injured as it's more to do about Gatlands insistence on playing a lock at 6 whether that be Beirne or Lawes.

If Gatland wants a big 6 you can bet your arse he wants 2 pretty big locks

Yeah I just think we got turned over too many times in the first half yesterday and it highlighted that we need our breakdown specialists like Curry and Watson who have that positional awareness. Beirne is also a turnover guru even if he's playing at lock.

Having said that it's no coincidence that the Lions got back into it after PSDT left the field. The man is a machine.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Yeah I just think we got turned over too many times in the first half yesterday and it highlighted that we need our breakdown specialists like Curry and Watson who have that positional awareness. Beirne is also a turnover guru even if he's playing at lock.

Having said that it's no coincidence that the Lions got back into it after PSDT left the field. The man is a machine.

Apparently he hates the gym and training in general which I found interesting. Just a natural athlete who just wants to play rugby.

 

[General Melchett]

Apparently he hates the gym and training in general which I found interesting. Just a natural athlete who just wants to play rugby.

Yeah he's pretty much a genetic wonder and hard as nails.

 

[Reiser99]

Apparently he hates the gym and training in general which I found interesting. Just a natural athlete who just wants to play rugby.

Hah, that's nothing, England have got their own back row player who hates training and he's a perfect athletic specimen who never looks tired, slow and utterly useless around the field.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The Usain Bolt method of subtly admitting to juicing, gotta respect it!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Struggling to understand Gatlands game plan?

Like what's the point of having an attacking 10 such as Russell or Smith, yet have zero real attacking centres options.
Aki - Poor man's crash ball
Harris - Hey he's a good defender in the 6N's
Henshaw - Solid all rounder
Farrell - mmmmmm
Daly - mmmmmmmm

It's also highlighted in the pack
Simmonds over Stander or even Underhill.
I don't think Navidi is a bad pick I would've had him over Tipuric in the original tour, but Underhill IMO presence in the breakdown both attack and defence was massively missed.

Simmonds is 100% brought in to bring a attacking option, but you can't afford to have 1 forward not doing graft work v a team like SA.

 

[MikeTheNative]

What's happened to Hogg?
I did hear rumours that he was the one tested positive so might see him this Saturday?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I reckon we will see for the first test team
1. Sutherland
2. George
3. Furlong
4. Itoje
5. AWJ
6. Bernie
7. Curry
8. Faletau
9. Murray
10. Biggar
11. Watson
12. Henshaw
13. Harris
14. Adams
15. Hogg (Williams if he doesn't play this weekend)

16. Cowan-Dickie
17. Jones
18. Sinckler
19. Beard
20. Watson
21. Price
22. Farrell
23. Williams/Daly

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Could definitely see that,
Could also see Farrell for Henshaw and Lawes on the bench for a 6:2 as well (depends if/how Henshaw plays this weekend)

 

[BPM]

Struggling to understand Gatlands game plan?

Like what's the point of having an attacking 10 such as Russell or Smith, yet have zero real attacking centres options.
Aki - Poor man's crash ball
Harris - Hey he's a good defender in the 6N's
Henshaw - Solid all rounder
Farrell - mmmmmm
Daly - mmmmmmmm

It's also highlighted in the pack
Simmonds over Stander or even Underhill.
I don't think Navidi is a bad pick I would've had him over Tipuric in the original tour, but Underhill IMO presence in the breakdown both attack and defence was massively missed.

Simmonds is 100% brought in to bring a attacking option, but you can't afford to have 1 forward not doing graft work v a team like SA.

A touch harsh on the centres.

Given Gatland is prepared to welcome AWJ back in to camp, he could definitely have taken a lower risk on Tuilagi.

Beyond that, I'm not too sure there was anyone really putting their hand up.

The jury is still well and truly out on Slade IMO. He has the ability but is all too frequently underwhelming for England. The rest of the England centres weren't even in the conversation.

Ringrose was a tougher omission, but his form wasn't so good that it demanded selection.

JD2 going would have purely been an 'experience' pick as his form has been poor and unless we're looking at North as a 13, none of the other Welsh centres were credible choices.

As for the back row, Simmonds looks like it's a gamble that is unlikely to play off. I can see why Gatland thought it could be worth the risk, but as it stands, Eddie Jones' reservations are gathering substance. I would have taken Underhill and Stander, but there's so much good competition that it was always going to be a very tough one.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Think North was probably pencilled in as starting 13 before his injury

 

[Welsh Exile]

Yeah North was nailed on test 13 imo.