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Rugby Union
2021 British & Irish Lions Tour
South Africa vs British & Irish Lions - Test 1
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<blockquote data-quote="Mrs. Peter Quinn" data-source="post: 1049652" data-attributes="member: 12190"><p>What it's pleasing is that even though this tour has been a bit of a disaster in terms of the circumstances and quality of warm ups, this is nonetheless shaping up to be a big one. Touch wood that there are no cases to scupper either squad.</p><p></p><p>I'm pretty happy with the squad with a few doubts.</p><p></p><p>What I'm reading from it is that Gatland knew who he trusts going into this series, and wanted and needed to see *just enough* from those names to warrant but not guarantee selection.</p><p></p><p>For example Watson has been good enough without being spectacular, but because Gatland knows he can handle the big tests and has done it for Lions before, he gets that nod. In that sense, it's really quite hard for bolters and new caps to get into the squad as long as old timers don't totally screw up. Adams is super unlucky - but I really take Keith Woods point about how hard it is to compare player who played in the joke warm up games versus south Africa A. It's such a different level and while I think Adams needs a shot at it soon, running in tries against these opposition isn't the best marker we have.</p><p></p><p>But Faletau and Murray are ones who clearly haven't shown enough and I have to agree with that (although it feels a bit mad for the former to not even be in the 23) I'm surprised Gatland made such a strong call with this.</p><p></p><p>I've heard quite a few non English pundits talking up Lawes in the backrow and it makes me uneasy. I've never thought it really works except for one game against Oz in 2009.</p><p></p><p></p><p>I think the second test will be tighter but I'm going SA by 7-10. I like the team but don't really see where we win this game. With Smith on the bench it could have been a different story.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mrs. Peter Quinn, post: 1049652, member: 12190"] What it's pleasing is that even though this tour has been a bit of a disaster in terms of the circumstances and quality of warm ups, this is nonetheless shaping up to be a big one. Touch wood that there are no cases to scupper either squad. I'm pretty happy with the squad with a few doubts. What I'm reading from it is that Gatland knew who he trusts going into this series, and wanted and needed to see *just enough* from those names to warrant but not guarantee selection. For example Watson has been good enough without being spectacular, but because Gatland knows he can handle the big tests and has done it for Lions before, he gets that nod. In that sense, it's really quite hard for bolters and new caps to get into the squad as long as old timers don't totally screw up. Adams is super unlucky - but I really take Keith Woods point about how hard it is to compare player who played in the joke warm up games versus south Africa A. It's such a different level and while I think Adams needs a shot at it soon, running in tries against these opposition isn't the best marker we have. But Faletau and Murray are ones who clearly haven't shown enough and I have to agree with that (although it feels a bit mad for the former to not even be in the 23) I'm surprised Gatland made such a strong call with this. I've heard quite a few non English pundits talking up Lawes in the backrow and it makes me uneasy. I've never thought it really works except for one game against Oz in 2009. I think the second test will be tighter but I'm going SA by 7-10. I like the team but don't really see where we win this game. With Smith on the bench it could have been a different story. [/QUOTE]
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South Africa vs British & Irish Lions - Test 1
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