The Lions squad for 2021 prediction

[big ginger 8]

What's the highest level Nowell has actually started at 13 and how often does he line out there?

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

What's the highest level Nowell has actually started at 13 and how often does he line out there?

Never (from memory) internationally but covered for Exeter there. I'm not saying he's the best 13 ever (although he should have been 13 for England to be honest a while ago).

If we want versatility we could get Daly on the bench if he wasn't just in terrible terrible form.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Nowell started for England at 13 once against Japan in 2018 but only lasted there for about 20 mins because an injury on the wing meant he had to shift out.

I'd love to see him tour but there's no way his name should be anywhere near any conversation about the starting 13 jersey. He's not even in the conversation to play there for England with the likes of Slade, Lawrence, Marchant and Joseph around. His versatility could be very useful on tour and could potentially cover 13 from the 23 jersey but yeah... starting him at 13 would be daft.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Stockdale is coming into a bit of form with Ulster and covers the back three, and has played centre with Ulster too I think. Seems a Gatland type.

He's someone I would like too tour, Ulster players generally improve with the Lions and come back better. Leinster and Munster are more miss than hit on the other hand.

 

[LIONSxv]

I like Harris, but is that the best we can do ? If the thinking is try to match boks up physically, we will loose as they have they generally have bigger , stronger centres (Manu aside). Surely ringtone or Slade are better options ?
What I'm reading and seeing on this forum and amongst pundits is a complete focus on the last six Nations. For me selection has to be a mixture of form, ability and pedigree. Way too much focus on very recent form i.e 2 good games in the last six nations

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Stockdale is coming into a bit of form with Ulster and covers the back three, and has played centre with Ulster too I think. Seems a Gatland type.

He's someone I would like too tour, Ulster players generally improve with the Lions and come back better. Leinster and Munster are more miss than hit on the other hand.

I've always liked Stockdale, would definitely be in my tour side.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I think Nowell has always been woefully under-rated as a player. He may not be the best in any one aspect of his game but he is pretty damn good at most things and seems to bathe in vaseline before matches.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Stockdale still better at 11 than 15?

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I think Nowell has always been woefully under-rated as a player. He may not be the best in any one aspect of his game but he is pretty damn good at most things and seems to bathe in vaseline before matches.

Agreed. 13 would have been his best position in my book, but competition for that Eng shirt has been pretty intense for a while.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Adam Jones, Tommy Bowe and Scrum V's Lions squad

Forwards: Ken Owens, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie George, Rory Sutherland, Wyn Jones, Mako Vunipola, Tadhg Furlong, Kyle Sinckler, Tomas Francis, Alun Wyn Jones, Maro Itoje, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson, Taulupe Faletau, Tom Curry, Justin Tipuric, CJ Stander, Hamish Watson, Billy Vunipola.

Backs: Conor Murray, Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Dan Biggar, Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton, Robbie Henshaw, Jonathan Davies, Garry Ringrose, Manu Tuilagi, Stuart Hogg, Liam Williams, Josh Adams, Anthony Watson, Duhan van der Merwe, Louis Rees-Zammit.

 

[BPM]

I like Harris, but is that the best we can do ? If the thinking is try to match boks up physically, we will loose as they have they generally have bigger , stronger centres (Manu aside). Surely ringtone or Slade are better options ?
What I'm reading and seeing on this forum and amongst pundits is a complete focus on the last six Nations. For me selection has to be a mixture of form, ability and pedigree. Way too much focus on very recent form i.e 2 good games in the last six nations

100% agree. Recent/current form is obviously part of it, but I wouldn't pick Harris ahead of Slade, Ringrose or Davies. He might have been better in the last little while i.e. this calendar year but that doesn't make him a better player.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Adam Jones, Tommy Bowe and Scrum V's Lions squad

Forwards: Ken Owens, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie George, Rory Sutherland, Wyn Jones, Mako Vunipola, Tadhg Furlong, Kyle Sinckler, Tomas Francis, Alun Wyn Jones, Maro Itoje, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson, Taulupe Faletau, Tom Curry, Justin Tipuric, CJ Stander, Hamish Watson, Billy Vunipola.

Backs: Conor Murray, Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Dan Biggar, Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton, Robbie Henshaw, Jonathan Davies, Garry Ringrose, Manu Tuilagi, Stuart Hogg, Liam Williams, Josh Adams, Anthony Watson, Duhan van der Merwe, Louis Rees-Zammit.

Billy ha.
They lost all credibility with that. Surprised at no Grey.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Adam Jones, Tommy Bowe and Scrum V's Lions squad

Forwards: Ken Owens, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie George, Rory Sutherland, Wyn Jones, Mako Vunipola, Tadhg Furlong, Kyle Sinckler, Tomas Francis, Alun Wyn Jones, Maro Itoje, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson, Taulupe Faletau, Tom Curry, Justin Tipuric, CJ Stander, Hamish Watson, Billy Vunipola.

Backs: Conor Murray, Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Dan Biggar, Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton, Robbie Henshaw, Jonathan Davies, Garry Ringrose, Manu Tuilagi, Stuart Hogg, Liam Williams, Josh Adams, Anthony Watson, Duhan van der Merwe, Louis Rees-Zammit.

TBH normally my complaint is English players in form being overlooked but here I think it's the opposite, there are English players in woeful form/injured who should not really be there. Not a bad selection overall though

 

[Welsh Exile]

TBH normally my complaint is English players in form being overlooked but here I think it's the opposite, there are English players in woeful form/injured who should not really be there. Not a bad selection overall though

Yeah, I don't think it's far off. Francis would perhaps be a bit lucky but he's a solid scrummager.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

If Tomas Francis tours with the Lions I'll be blown away. He's second choice at Chiefs behind Harry Williams and if someone suggested that Harry Williams should tour they'd be (rightly) laughed at.

 

[ncurd]

TBH normally my complaint is English players in form being overlooked but here I think it's the opposite, there are English players in woeful form/injured who should not really be there. Not a bad selection overall though

Any selection with Mako going fills me with despair absolutely he's useless currently and even if he's Gatland's third choice that's still pretty damning on the 5 guys he'd been picked ahead of.

 

[Welsh Exile]

If Tomas Francis tours with the Lions I'll be blown away. He's second choice at Chiefs behind Harry Williams and if someone suggested that Harry Williams should tour they'd be (rightly) laughed at.

I don't think he will go but I won't be shocked if he does.

How long has he been 2nd choice out of interest?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Porter should be ahead of Francis - especially as he can cover the loosehead midweek as well (are we still doing mid-weeks?) and versatility will be key in a reduced squad (plus he's just an all round better player)

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I don't think he will go but I won't be shocked if he does.

How long has he been 2nd choice out of interest?

Looks like the last time he got a good run of starts at Chiefs was in the 2017/18 season. Can't really remember if that was because Williams was injured or if Francis was first on merit but yeah, around that time.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Looks like the last time he got a good run of starts at Chiefs was in the 2017/18 season. Can't really remember if that was because Williams was injured or if Francis was first on merit but yeah, around that time.

Didn't realise it was that long ago. I agree with TRF, should be Porter. Probably will be too.