Lions Goal Kicker

[RugbyKing]

Laidlaw being very underrated. Scotland had 31 penalties, missed 4 for a 87% success rate. Wales had 37 penalties, missed 6 for an 83% rate.

Not sure on the breakdown of who took and missed kicks for Scotland though. Laidlaw took the majority.

Halfpenny, Laidlaw or Sexton. No one mention Farrell.

I like Greg Laidlaw too as well as you, my friend. I only started to watch rugby before start of 6n. Ever since my first watching of a match though, I hear "Farell, Farell, Farell!" haha! But it is Laidlaw on my mind, oh wow. What a guy. He never missed a kick this time did he? Thats what he does all the time and the best. Kicks everywhere, anywhere all over the field. You are a smart man.

 

[g6mcg]

I don't know if it's fair to say any one kicker is the best based off of single performances. All the kickers put forward here have had fantastic and off days with the boot. While personally I think the 11/11 Farrell slotted recently shows a serious level of class with the boot, others will rightly put forward great kicking performances from Halfpenny, Sexton and Laidlaw.

Personally, I think Halfpenny should get the nod just because he has the greatest range (although Laidlaw's been looking good from far out...) and so should get settled into the role of kicking if he's going to be taking any kicks at all.

I've always thought Laidlaw had more of a Paterson range, and that kicks towards the halfway line were a bit beyond him. I think Hogg took one from around that distance against Ireland, which I'm going to use as tentative evidence... I'd be delighted to be proved wrong though!

 

[psychic duck]

I've always thought Laidlaw had more of a Paterson range, and that kicks towards the halfway line were a bit beyond him. I think Hogg took one from around that distance against Ireland, which I'm going to use as tentative evidence... I'd be delighted to be proved wrong though!

Even less.

Distance with his goal kicking isn't his biggest problem, it's that his clearing punt kicks go about 20 metres distance and Scotland can never get any territory with that. Selecting Duncan Weir helps Scotland out massively in that regard. Laidlaw's lack of distance was a big problem during his time at 10, or when he was paired with Ruaridh Jackson.

 

[RugbyKing]

Even less.

Distance with his goal kicking isn't his biggest problem, it's that his clearing punt kicks go about 20 metres distance and Scotland can never get any territory with that. Selecting Duncan Weir helps Scotland out massively in that regard. Laidlaw's lack of distance was a big problem during his time at 10, or when he was paired with Ruaridh Jackson.

But please help me, I have seen Laidlaw kick many of them over from start of the 6n to the end. Even very far away from the posts he can kick. So what will be his problem, mainly?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

But please help me, I have seen Laidlaw kick many of them over from start of the 6n to the end. Even very far away from the posts he can kick. So what will be his problem, mainly?

I think it's that his accuracy decreases the further back he goes. Some kickers (like Leigh Halfpenny) will have the same accuracy from 5m up to 55m, but then others (like Laidlaw) will be brilliant upto 30m or so, and then it'll drop off from there.
He doesn't have the biggest range (you sometimes see players, on a good day, kicking from just inside the opposition's half) but he's got enough range, imo, to be a very good kicker - no trouble on conversions and the majority of kicks inside the opposition's half.

 

[Draggs]

I think it's that his accuracy decreases the further back he goes. Some kickers (like Leigh Halfpenny) will have the same accuracy from 5m up to 55m, but then others (like Laidlaw) will be brilliant upto 30m or so, and then it'll drop off from there.
He doesn't have the biggest range (you sometimes see players, on a good day, kicking from just inside the opposition's half) but he's got enough range, imo, to be a very good kicker - no trouble on conversions and the majority of kicks inside the opposition's half.

I remember just over a year ago Halfpenny missing some pretty easy ones for a standard goal kicker within 30-35m. Just takes time.
Paterson was never good beyond 40m, but had a reputation for being outstanding as a kicker. I suppose you could give Adam Jones one sitter a match and he would eventually break Steyn's record.

 

[RugbyKing]

I remember just over a year ago Halfpenny missing some pretty easy ones for a standard goal kicker within 30-35m. Just takes time.
Paterson was never good beyond 40m, but had a reputation for being outstanding as a kicker. I suppose you could give Adam Jones one sitter a match and he would eventually break Steyn's record.

Im sorry but I have difficult time understanding sometimes. Does this mean Adam jones can kick over the posts as well? Something I did not know the front guys could do! Wow, he is a very good player. Does he kick for his team any time?

 

[KAPman]

I'd Go for Sexton at 10 and give kicking duties to Halfpenny. Halfpenny can kick from anywhere inside the opposition half and capable from just inside his own. It would also relive some pressure for sexton, or whoever the 10 is and allow them to focus on their running and tactical game.
Surprised no one has mentioned Bigger as a potential 10 for the Lions. I was impressed by him in the 6 nations. Not a potent runnign outside half, but he bossed the game pretty well, delivered good passes to the first resevere, kicked well, wasn't shy in defence. Decent general at 10.
Would go for Sexton, but think Dan Bigger deserves a place on the tour

 

[TommyV]

I'd Go for Sexton at 10 and give kicking duties to Halfpenny. Halfpenny can kick from anywhere inside the opposition half and capable from just inside his own. It would also relive some pressure for sexton, or whoever the 10 is and allow them to focus on their running and tactical game.
Surprised no one has mentioned Bigger as a potential 10 for the Lions. I was impressed by him in the 6 nations. Not a potent runnign outside half, but he bossed the game pretty well, delivered good passes to the first resevere, kicked well, wasn't shy in defence. Decent general at 10.
Would go for Sexton, but think Dan Bigger deserves a place on the tour

Biggar has staked his claim with Sexton out injured and Farrell struggling to get the back-line going and cracking a bit against Wales. As good a chance if any. Personally if Sexton isn't fit enough or struggles for form coming back and Biggar keeps up the way he's been playing for club and country all season, I reckon he should start.

 

[RugbyKing]

Biggar has staked his claim with Sexton out injured and Farrell struggling to get the back-line going and cracking a bit against Wales. As good a chance if any. Personally if Sexton isn't fit enough or struggles for form coming back and Biggar keeps up the way he's been playing for club and country all season, I reckon he should start.

I always see Biggar since I start watching the rugby though as just a small kid. He has not grow up yet. When will the guy learn a lesson? Laidlaw has more mind than Biggar though, is what I think.

Why not can jonny wilkinson get to play for the lions? What a superb victory for him in 2003. He can do this again? Well, we shall see, my friends.

 

[Aedaphon]

Wilkinson for kicker

Unfortunately it looks like Gatland is going to shy away from Toulon players who might not be able to make the tour at the beginning of the season, but frankly he is (to me at least) the best kicker the home nations has produced in recent memory.