The Lions squad for 2021 prediction

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

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.

Tbf May has a rocket of a boot that's appeared from nowhere it feels like.

Whilst Stockdale is good, his defence is honestly woeful, even when I watch Ulster games I cringe a little

 

[TRF_Olyy]

May has been **** for club and country all season, we really arguing he should be in the Lions 23?

At least Watson, who has been middling for country, has been playing well for his club

 

[LIONSxv]

May has been **** for club and country all season, we really arguing he should be in the Lions 23?

At least Watson, who has been middling for country, has been playing well for his club

More so than the likes of Stockdale, who is a defensive liability imo. Tbf to May Glou and England have been rancid all season too.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I really don't understand your hate boner for Stockdale, ha


Harris and LRZ have both looked fantastic for Gloucester, even when they were playing crap

 

[munstermuffin]

He definitely is

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

Keith Earls my friend. No more.
But as Meatloaf says 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

On Stockdale seriously though. If he is on form he is up there with best

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Tbf May has a rocket of a boot that's appeared from nowhere it feels like.

Whilst Stockdale is good, his defence is honestly woeful, even when I watch Ulster games I cringe a little

He probably has the two of the toughest roles defensively in rugby, he's not a great by any means but it's overstated how bad he is*.

In Ulster you're defending with Burns and two of Marshall, McCloskey and Hume. Humes defence is the reason he's not in Ireland squads, McCloskey is a bit of a highlight reel defender and Burns and Marshall don't understand the word, as a result he has so many difficult to impossible defensive decisions to make. Even at that, Ulster had the second best defence in the pro14 this season.

For Ireland the winger is constantly sold out when under pressure because we defend narrow with the wings deep, none of the Leinster or Munster guys have filled the position well either. Stockdale is fine, he won't get utterly done by anyone but Kolbe and he also pulls off some incredible defensive contributions and turnovers. And again, Ireland are more than competent defensively.

FWIW the comparison started with Nowell and then May, none of these guys should tour. Take your pick of Adams, LRZ, Williams, Hogg, Maitland, Watson, Keenan and potentially VDM and Earls as back three options, more full backs the better against SA too imo.

*Poor lad gets it worse than most in our media.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Keith Earls best Irish Wing



Lol May shouldn't be talked about at all. Put Curry on the Wing instead of him ATM

 

[Welsh Exile]

Keith Earls best Irish Wing



Lol May shouldn't be talked about at all. Put Curry on the Wing instead of him ATM

Put Tipuric there surely?

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Murray
Biggar
Watson
Henshaw
Slade
Williams
Hogg

that's my back line sorted now I think.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Put Tipuric there surely?

"Put" would imply that he's not already there

 

[Owen#2]

Personally, I would love to see Navidi in the squad. He might not do anything flashy but his work rate is incredible. He also can cover both flanks and no8.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Seems like Beirne is everyone's 6, partly because he's played well there this 6N and partly because we're assuming Gatland will play a lock at 6. I'm obviously not against this as I'm a big fan of Beirne but I would like to see him in his preferred position in the second row if I'm being honest.

So if we assume that for whatever reason Gatland doesn't want to play a lock at 6 who would be peoples blindside flanker? Most fans and pundits teams seem to have Beirne playing 6 so it'll be interesting to see who's people 2nd/3rd choice for that position is.

I actually really like the idea of Beirne in the second row as I like dynamic, skill full players who can do something a bit special in attack as well as defence especially in that area. I know he's not the biggest 2nd row but if you put him alongside a heavier lock, and he's got some destructive flankers behind him, then it could be a nice blend.

Something like:

AWJ Berine
Underhill Watson
Faletau

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I know you don't like him but if it's not a lock it'll be Curry, realistically - he's the only flanker who's had consistent success (in terms of personal performance) against the SA pack, and he's still the best 7 in the NH despite more recent flavours of the week

Unless they take Jamie Ritchie, but I'm not sure they will

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

- he's the only flanker who's had consistent success (in terms of personal performance) against the SA pack,

Lost on debut v SA and never since. I think we've found our captain.



I hate myself for making this joke.

 

[Welsh Exile]

I know you don't like him but if it's not a lock it'll be Curry, realistically - he's the only flanker who's had consistent success (in terms of personal performance) against the SA pack, and he's still the best 7 in the NH despite more recent flavours of the week

Unless they take Jamie Ritchie, but I'm not sure they will

Mate, I love Curry. Honest. I'd go as far as to say if you don't rate Curry then you don't know what you're talking about. I know I don't put him in many of my teams but it's only coz it's so competitive and we all know Gats is going to start him. It's almost guaranteed.

I just can't bring myself to do Curry and Underhill (even though I love both)

Maybe Curry and Watson.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Tipuric has also got a great record against the Saffers too. Well, last 5 years when he's been playing more regularly

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I can't imagine a Lion's team without Curry tbh. Beirne Curry Faletau looks outrageously versatile.

 

[Welsh Exile]

I can't imagine a Lion's team without Curry tbh. Beirne Curry Faletau looks outrageously versatile.

Yeah, only coz it's Beirne, though. If it was any other lock I'd disagree but Beirne is like Tipuric imo. He can do it all. Then you have Curry who's a out and out beast then you have Faletau all round skills to round it off.

 

[Welsh Exile]

My only thinking is, if we go for a really powerful, big 2nd row (AWJ and Itoje) AND we go for a super big powerful back row the blend might just be a bit off. I mean, I guess we'll be ok as we'll still have Furlong sidestepping his way through the Boks anyway but I like attacking players at the end of the day.

For me, and I know I sound like a broken record, but in the scenario above we simply have to have our best attacking flanker (Tipuric) on the bench to come on in case the physicality isn't quite working. Just like there's no one, imo, who can do what Beirne does (in that role) I don't think there is anyone that can do what Tips does and for that alone he has to be in the match day 23 at the very least. Bench is probably the smartest bet, though.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'm not sure if you massively overrate Tipurics attack or just massively underrate Watson and Curry - I don't see anything that puts him so far ahead of the others that he's a must pick just for his attack

Personally, I would love to see Navidi in the squad. He might not do anything flashy but his work rate is incredible. He also can cover both flanks and no8.

Controversial opinion but imo he's the best(/most important) backrower Wales have (and I include Faletau and Tipuric in that)
He's like the glue that holds the backrow together, they all play significantly better when he's there - not as flashy as others but insane workrate and rarely puts a foot wrong

I can't remember if I said it in this thread or one of the 6N game threads but I wouldn't be adverse to having him on the bench