Lions: Return to Oz

[Saintjay]

Personaly I think it is far to early for this debate.

A Gatland team with nearly all Welsh players against Australia that thought fills me with dread. Given that the last two meetings have made it clear Wales are not good enough to beat them.

 

[bushytop]

Not that I'm suggesting an all Wales Lions test XV but we have been missing some fairly significant players during the last two matches vs the Aussies.

Injuries permitting Wales will put that right this summer.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not that I'm suggesting an all Wales Lions test XV but we have been missing some fairly significant players during the last two matches vs the Aussies.

Without wanting to start a s**t storm: Australia were missing influential players in November, and were away from home too.

 

[Saintjay]

I best clarifiy my thoughts on this before starting a s@@t storm as Olyy put it. I am not saying the welsh lads are not good enough to be in the Lions team. It's just that if the best we have got have lost twice to them and shipped 20 plus points to them every game it really seems like we could be in all sorts of trouble.

 

[Luimneach18]

I best clarifiy my thoughts on this before starting a s@@t storm as Olyy put it. I am not saying the welsh lads are not good enough to be in the Lions team. It's just that if the best we have got have lost twice to them and shipped 20 plus points to them every game it really seems like we could be in all sorts of trouble.

Thats why you have irish players in the team we will sort that problem

 

[Draggs]

I am actually stunned that this thread did not come up after the first Six Nations weekend.
I won't actually contribute in this one, and will wait for the post Six Nations, pre Summer tour, or post Summer tour edition.

 

[retardedgenius]

Thats why you have irish players in the team we will sort that problem

and scots, remember last time scotland played australia we won. Matt guieto is such a legened up here

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Who's that Northern Hemisphere side that beat Australia twice on the trot recently?
Home and away? The only side to beat a Tri-nation side in their back yard in ages...

It'll come to me eventually :huh:

 

[Saintjay]

and scots, remember last time scotland played australia we won. Matt guieto is such a legened up here

So now we are looking at a team with experience of beating Australia, so that will be Ireland, England and Scotland in recent times

 

[retardedgenius]

So now we are looking at a team with experience of beating Australia, so that will be Ireland, England and Scotland in recent times

in other words it will consist of a team who are new to international rugby, team that cant score tries and the irsh. thats one good team

 

[Me 1]

So now we are looking at a team with experience of beating Australia, so that will be Ireland, England and Scotland in recent times

And Wales if 2008 is recent

 

[Zed]

I think it will be a great tour, very competitive and the Lions have a good chance of winning the series. Australia have been up and down lately and had heaps of injuries during the WC, combined with QC playing the worst I've ever seen him! But if he's back to his best, then watch out!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I think it will be a great tour, very competitive and the Lions have a good chance of winning the series. Australia have been up and down lately and had heaps of injuries during the WC, combined with QC playing the worst I've ever seen him! But if he's back to his best, then watch out!

You do realise a lot can happen within a year in rugby?

 

[Zed]

You do realise a lot can happen within a year in rugby?

No, I didn't realise. Damn.

 

[Peat]

And Wales if 2008 is recent

Not really

No, I didn't realise. Damn.

:lol:

I'll come back to this after the 6N, a lot could happen in it that could change people's minds. However, because I'm bored, I'm going to throw out a few ideas on how things look at present.

- The competition to go in the pack will be ferocious, in every shirt but 7 you can easily throw up 3 or 4 names who you'd think would do well out there and deserve the shot. 7's slightly simpler as only half of the countries involved produce/use them. As things stand, I think we should be targeting forward dominance.

- The competition in the backs will be less so, seems to me there's a lot of confidence players, and players not really fulfilling potential, and so-so players in the Home Nations at present. I think the backs might be Welsh dominated, but then again, things change quicker in the backs than in the forwards and there are lots of players out there who I see having the potential to be bolters.

- If Gatland is coach, I imagine he'll be quite bolter friendly, and while he might take out a lot of Welsh players, I wouldn't bank on too many in the test team, as he seems quite willing to chop and change.

- If George NORTH! doesn't do at least one Samoan side-step on Quade Cooper's face, we're going to have to downgrade him to just plain ordinary George North.

 

[Toby Faletau-Jones]

I really hope Gatland doesn't get the job. It will screw up Wales' chances for that year providing we are still playing decent rugby then. I think most of the Lions pack will come from Scotland - Gray, Denton, Hamilton are some to name. As for backs, a combination of Ireland, Wales and England. Obviously Scotland's too, but predominantly these 3 countries in this area.

I know each country wants more of their own players, but we need to play to our strengths. Scotland have perhaps got the largest and most powerful pack in the UK, while at this moment Wales have the best backs.

 

[Seaton]

I think most of the Lions pack will come from Scotland - Gray, Denton, Hamilton are some to name.

I know each country wants more of their own players, but we need to play to our strengths. Scotland have perhaps got the largest and most powerful pack in the UK, while at this moment Wales have the best backs.

I sincerely hope not, for a couple of reasons:

1) As it stands, our front-rankers are in the front of the most to least rank line at the moment, and don't look likely to improve or in Jacobsen's case be present next year.

2) Locks, well Gray may get in if he refinds the form he had in last year's Six Nations. Hamilton... first time these last few weeks I have ever seen him break a tackle for Scotland. His weight loss may or may not have greatly affected his scrumming capabilities. (sp) Otherwise I would still have Kellock ahead of him.

3) Back-row... Early days for Denton, maybe Rennie if Warburton is the only other fetcher included. Still distant shots though.

4) Scotland are playing games in SA at the time, I wouldn't be fussed at all if any of our players missed the cut. However the players of course will have a better attitude to the Lions than me, and will want to go.

 

[Toby Faletau-Jones]

Personaly I think it is far to early for this debate.

A Gatland team with nearly all Welsh players against Australia that thought fills me with dread. Given that the last two meetings have made it clear Wales are not good enough to beat them.

Injuries, and lack of time off for the Welsh after the World Cup through Rabodirect, HC and LV cup. Australia, a couple of injuries, and like 2 months off. They were always going to beat them on this occasion. The World cup, Wales not used to being in the semi's and were more psychological damaged after defeat going into the Oz game - they didn't seem to be there mentally. Fair play the Aussies played quite well though and throughly deserved to win.

Excuses, excuses but unfortunately true.

All im saying is, after Wales' summer tour to Oz judge them then. It will be a more accurate reading. No excuses this time as both teams will have full compliment (hopefully) of players. Plus the Aussies will be in their own backyard so to speak.

I think for all the UK teams, this summer will be a indicator as to how each of them has developed. Hopefully all 4 win their tests as this will breed confidence for the Lions.

Apologies for changing subject. Just needed to say this though.

 

[profitius]

I really hope Gatland doesn't get the job. It will screw up Wales' chances for that year providing we are still playing decent rugby then. I think most of the Lions pack will come from Scotland - Gray, Denton, Hamilton are some to name. As for backs, a combination of Ireland, Wales and England. Obviously Scotland's too, but predominantly these 3 countries in this area.

I know each country wants more of their own players, but we need to play to our strengths. Scotland have perhaps got the largest and most powerful pack in the UK, while at this moment Wales have the best backs.

It'll be mostly a Welsh team if Gatland gets the gig. It makes sense because Gatland will want them playing a similar style and its easier to pick players familiar with that style of play. He'll add in the best of the rest ie Gray, POC, Hartley (they'll look to demolish the Aussie scrum) etc.

Of course this will not help Wales in the following season.

 

[Peat]

It'll be mostly a Welsh team if Gatland gets the gig. It makes sense because Gatland will want them playing a similar style and its easier to pick players familiar with that style of play. He'll add in the best of the rest ie Gray, POC, Hartley (they'll look to demolish the Aussie scrum) etc.

Of course this will not help Wales in the following season.

Would have honestly thought he was the last choice at hooker in the British Isles to demolish scrums...

Got a half-thought that Gatland might take Cipriani.