The Lions squad for 2021 prediction

[FLOBALOB]

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?

I don' think its a matter of being 2nd choice, its just the way Chiefs play their props. In fact Francis started in both recent matches against Bristol and Leinster. And TBF he's had a good season both with Chiefs and Wales and looks a bit more energetic now he's a bit slimmer. I always feel Chiefs scrum is more solid with him rather than Williams. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he's picked for tour..

 

[klitarris]

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.

Marler for Mako (or Sutherland if he doesn't want to go), Porter for Francis, Underhill for Stander, Navidi for Billy.

I can't see Manu making it personally, I'd have Russell in and count Farrell primarily as a 12, Stockdale for either VdM or LRZ.

AWJ to be tour captain but that by no means guaranteeing him a starting spot.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some players but I'd be pretty content with that squad.

 

[LIONSxv]

Marler for Mako (or Sutherland if he doesn't want to go), Porter for Francis, Underhill for Stander, Navidi for Billy.

I can't see Manu making it personally, I'd have Russell in and count Farrell primarily as a 12, Stockdale for either VdM or LRZ.

AWJ to be tour captain but that by no means guaranteeing him a starting spot.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some players but I'd be pretty content with that squad.

Stockdale over Johnny may...? I understand people are down on England.
May was considered as the world's premier finisher in 2020... surely his game hasn't deteriated so much that a guy who doesn't regularly start for Ire is a better bet

 

[RedruthRFC]

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.

By this stage, picking him strikes me like doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. Even if he was on top form guaranteeing you 50m, 4 offloads and 15 tackles a game, it would still be brave putting him in, given how costly it is when his opposite number finds him out. Given what happened the last time he faced South Africa and the last time he played a test, I don't see why anyone would consider picking him without an explanation of why it happened and what has been done to stop it happening again.

 

[RedruthRFC]

The wing selection is interesting. It strikes me that there are defensive question marks over a lot of the wingers in the frame. Who would be the outstanding candidates from a defensive point of view? Assuming that SA play the same game plan as they did back when they last played rugby, you're looking for someone assured under a high ball as well as someone who's not going to get destroyed for pace or by the footwork of his opposite number.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

who doesn't regularly start for Ire is a better bet

Stockdale has always started when fit since he was 21. He's also been the world's premier finisher in a calendar year too. (2018) It's a very reasonable comparison given where the two are at with form. If neither are likely to start (they're not imo) Stockdale is the better 23 option too.

May is also 31 now, that's 2-3 years of losing his pace and acceleration, considering the type of player he is it's not beyond reason to think he'd fade seemingly overnight.

 

[big ginger 8]

Stockdale over Johnny may...? I understand people are down on England.
May was considered as the world's premier finisher in 2020... surely his game hasn't deteriated so much that a guy who doesn't regularly start for Ire is a better bet

Stockdale is a nailed on starter for Ireland when fully fit.

May was fantastic in 2020 but he's now at an age (especially for wingers) where drops offs can be sharp and irreversible and people tend to presume as such.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Adams is pretty solid defensively and good under the high ball as well as defending or attacking cross field kicks.

 

[FLOBALOB]

I can't see both LRZ and May going. Of the 2 LRZ is more likely . Watson is a cert

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

High ball wingers are the Welsh ones - Liam Williams and Josh Adams. Both are pretty good in defence too.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

While it's not what I'd like to see I'd be very surprised if the wing selection is anything other than DVDM, Adams, Watson and LRZ.

 

[BPM]

I think Watson and Adams are inked in.

Sadly, I think van der Merwe has basically won a place. As a big, powerful winger, he's right up Gatland's street.

I'm less convinced by Rees-Zammit. He's taken very well to test rugby and has outrageous pace, but personally, I'd rather have May.

I'd have Williams as one of my 15s, but also as an option on the wing.

 

[LIONSxv]

Stockdale is a nailed on starter for Ireland when fully fit.

May was fantastic in 2020 but he's now at an age (especially for wingers) where drops offs can be sharp and irreversible and people tend to presume as such.

Really , I saw him on the bench quite a bit circa 19/20?
By this logic Liam Williams who is the same age as May and has never been as quick, is also a non starter.
I'd bet my house that Johnny May would still beat Stockdale in a 100m race and is a better defender and far better under the high ball

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Really , I saw him on the bench quite a bit circa 19/20?

He subbed against England and played every other minute of rugby for Ireland last year. Nailed on in 2019 too.

By this logic Liam Williams who is the same age as May and has never been as quick, is also a non starter.

Not at all, Williams isn't near as reliant on his pace whereas May has potentially lost his biggest strength.

I'd bet my house that Johnny May would still beat Stockdale in a 100m race and is a better defender and far better under the high ball

Id bet my car (don't have a house) that Jacob Stockdale can kick the ball further and more accurately, can create more for his teammates and is far better at affecting a game positively from the midfield. If you take a world class players (which they are at their best) three main strengths this is an easy game.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Stockdale is a nailed on starter for Ireland when fully fit.

May was fantastic in 2020 but he's now at an age (especially for wingers) where drops offs can be sharp and irreversible and people tend to presume as such.

Is that a good thing?

Not even the best irish winger

 

[big ginger 8]

Is that a good thing?

Not even the best irish winger

I don't think he should go on the Lions, think he's still lacking a bit of burst since coming back, just refuting the point that he's in and out of the team.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Is that a good thing?

Not even the best irish winger

He definitely is

Edit: yeah I'd only tour him as a 23 option, which is a reason not to in itself.

 

[LIONSxv]

He subbed against England and played every other minute of rugby for Ireland last year. Nailed on in 2019 too.

Not at all, Williams isn't near as reliant on his pace whereas May has potentially lost his biggest strength.

Id bet my car (don't have a house) that Jacob Stockdale can kick the ball further and more accurately, can create more for his teammates and is far better at affecting a game positively from the midfield. If you take a world class players (which they are at their best) three main strengths this is an easy game.

Reading your posts re the Irish lads, I shocked you boys haven't won your last 40 internationals. Given the superiority of your players.
I know England were woeful in the six nations and as such certain players should be excluded i.e Vunipola bros, Daly, possibly even Farrell.
Barring the England game ,Irelands form post 18 has been poor. Yet you seemingly advocate your players superiority.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Reading your posts re the Irish lads, I shocked you boys haven't won your last 40 internationals. Given the superiority of your players.
I know England were woeful in the six nations and as such certain players should be excluded i.e Vunipola bros, Daly, possibly even.

Lol, just said I wouldn't tour him and I'm literally throwing your flawed arguments back at you in reverse... I don't think you've watched an Ireland game that England weren't involved in based on your posts though.

 

[LIONSxv]

Lol, just said I wouldn't tour him and I'm literally throwing your flawed arguments back at you in reverse... I don't think you've watched an Ireland game that England weren't involved in based on your posts though.

Lol I'd have as many Irish lads touring as English. More in the starting xv