Backline Dilemma for Gatland in the British Lions Team

[big ginger 8]

Come on you have to admit how partisan you Irish lads are when it comes to Lions selection. It's not as bad on here as it was on the old BBC 606 forum but you can still lack some objectivity when Lions selection is discussed.

There is no such thing as an objective person here. Everyone has some amount of bias, some just have less than others. There's a definite English bias here because of the mainly English clientele. Maybe you don't notice it as much because you are also English. It's not really a surprise that Irish people call for Irish people, English for English, Welsh for Welsh and Scottish for Scottish. It's not really a surprise, given that that's who those people are watching most. Even when you watched Leicester play Munster say as is natural you'd have been more focused on your team than Munster and it would have only been something really standout that would have...well stood out to you. It only becomes a problem when the bias is so ridiculous that nothing else even bares consideratio and it hinders realistic debate.. Say when Sam Davies is claimed to be the Lions definite starting 10 or if I called for Jack Conan to start.

So basically its very unfair of you to claim Irish people are particularly biased and by association claim everyone else is far more objective.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Come on you have to admit how partisan you Irish lads are when it comes to Lions selection. It's not as bad on here as it was on the old BBC 606 forum but you can still lack some objectivity when Lions selection is discussed.

Everyone is going to be bias to their own guys but your examples of Heaslip, who's arguable been the best Lion in the two tours Gatland has been involved in and is in serious form, and Zebo, who at best has been backed to scrape into the squad and is a much better player than 2015 are weak enough. I think that England should have the biggest representation follwed by Ireland. I don't think I'd have a Welsh or Scottish player in apart from the back 3 honestly, maybe a backrow could sneak in in Warburton but SOB is better imo.

 

[Groundhog]

Haha there's like what, 6 active Irish posters on this site and a shed tonne of English posters? There's a couple Scots and the Welsh just discovered fire. Yeah it's easy to see how we look partisan when you're otherwise in an echo chamber boys. The irony of calling us partisan when the fact that you too are partisan blinds you from the fact that you're partisan.
But that aside Heaslip is a show pony who avoids contact because he's afraid of getting injured, and he's anonymous.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

But that aside Heaslip is a show pony who avoids contact because he's afraid of getting injured, and he's anonymous.

This is why you are the best Irish poster Groundhog...

 

[Groundhog]

This is why you are the best Irish poster Groundhog...

Love conquers fear. My desire to **** on Leinster from any height exceeds my national pride. I long for the days when Ireland was split into openly warring provincial kingdoms where I could have rode into a Leinster village on horseback and struck down any man who doesn't have a picture of Ronan O'Gara next to their bed.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Heaslip > Stander
Sexton > O'Gara
Me > The province of Munster, not Ulster thought, those guys made me.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Heaslip > Stander
Sexton > O'Gara
Me > The province of Munster, not Ulster thought, those guys made me.

Weren't you a Munster supporter pre 2008?

 

[munstermuffin]

Heaslip > Stander
Sexton > O'Gara
Me > The province of Munster, not Ulster thought, those guys made me.

I'd put all of those opposite.
ROG > Sexton
Stander > Heaslip
And well you well where you from

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Weren't you a Munster supporter pre 2008?

No, my favourite player as a little lad was Nathan Spooner, I remember Donneybrook, I remember Andy Goode tearing us a new one after strolling through our group, blue blood!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

No, my favourite player as a little lad was Nathan Spooner, I remember Donneybrook, I remember Andy Goode tearing us a new one after strolling through our group, blue blood!

Was that in 2005?

12 Daryl Gibson, 13 Ollie Smith was a hell of a partnership.

 

[munstermuffin]

Was that in 2005?

12 Daryl Gibson, 13 Ollie Smith was a hell of a partnership.

Ollie Smith was 1 of the most natural 13s I've ever seen.

 

[munstermuffin]

No, my favourite player as a little lad was Nathan Spooner, I remember Donneybrook, I remember Andy Goode tearing us a new one after strolling through our group, blue blood!

Your in a minority so

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Ollie Smith was 1 of the most natural 13s I've ever seen.

Agreed honestly thought he would be England's 13 after the 2003 World Cup for a long time, but alas not.

 

[munstermuffin]

Agreed honestly thought he would be England's 13 after the 2003 World Cup for a long time, but alas not.

Injuries hit him badly too but he was lovely to watch in full flow

 

[martinspoonboy1]

You did straight up called him ****!

The Irish Lions I'd pick if I were Gatland would be McGarth, Best, Furlong, SOB, Stander, Heaslip, Murray, Sexton (Jackson if injured), Henshaw and Payne... Clearly shows where we struggle...

Jackson?! Really? I think Biggar, Russell, Farrell (if playing 10) and Ford come ahead of him. I would give him as much chance as Sam Davies.

 

[TheSaffycen]

I think Jackson has a very good chance. Apart from the Scotland game, he has performed very well for Ireland. He's a great goal kicker and he has a good tactical boot on him, needs to work a little bit on game management but Russell is also poor in that regard. Sam Davies genuinely has no chance as he isn't even making appearances for his country.

 

[martinspoonboy1]

I think Jackson has a very good chance. Apart from the Scotland game, he has performed very well for Ireland. He's a great goal kicker and he has a good tactical boot on him, needs to work a little bit on game management but Russell is also poor in that regard. Sam Davies genuinely has no chance as he isn't even making appearances for his country.

There's no way Jackson is touring. The lions historically pick 2 10s. Sexton is nailed on as one option. For the sake of argument let's say Farrell is a 12 option. You think Gatland will pick Jackson over Dan Biggar? His golden boy. Plus sexton looks likely to return soon so Jackson will be in the same boat as Davies . Not first choice for his country. And he's not a utility option either.

 

[Groundhog]

To be fair unless Jackson emerges in a big way this tournament he's not getting picked.

 

[Peat]

There's no way Jackson is touring. The lions historically pick 2 10s. Sexton is nailed on as one option. For the sake of argument let's say Farrell is a 12 option. You think Gatland will pick Jackson over Dan Biggar? His golden boy. Plus sexton looks likely to return soon so Jackson will be in the same boat as Davies . Not first choice for his country. And he's not a utility option either.

Is Biggar really Gatland's golden boy, or just the best fly-half he's got? He didn't pick him for the last Lions tour.

 

[martinspoonboy1]

Is Biggar really Gatland's golden boy, or just the best fly-half he's got? He didn't pick him for the last Lions tour.

I'm not convinced Biggar will go. But I imagine he's ahead of Jackson in Gatland's eyes. Will be interesting to see who out of Ford and Biggar is ahead in the kind of Gatland. Pre tournament I would have definitely said ford but Biggar won the head to head hands down