The Lions squad for 2021 prediction

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Lawes would almost be the perfect 19, he's great off the bench for a meaty impact. Wouldn't be a starter at lock for me and think he'd be around 6th choice blind side.

 

[Jakedood]

Lawes would almost be the perfect 19, he's great off the bench for a meaty impact. Wouldn't be a starter at lock for me and think he'd be around 6th choice blind side.

Is he though? Compared with a Henderson, or maybe Beirne, or James Ryan? All three irish lads are in form and playing better than a guy who's a good international player, dont get me wrong, but I'd choose all three over him personally

I would be surprised if he goes, especially as he's been out with injury etc

The funny thing is, when you think of it, if Lawes did play for Lions I wouldnt be aggrieved, so many good players around this year potentially

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Is he though? Compared with a Henderson, or maybe Beirne, or James Ryan? All three irish lads are in form and playing better than a guy who's a good international player, dont get me wrong, but I'd choose all three over him personally

I would be surprised if he goes, especially as he's been out with injury etc

The funny thing is, when you think of it, if Lawes did play for Lions I wouldnt be aggrieved, so many good players around this year potentially

Completely forgot about Henderson and Grey actually.

I take back all I said. Still can't fit Grey, Ryan, Itoje, Bearnie and Henderson into one team.

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

I'm not sure who else I would include from them but I think we've all underestimated the Scottish representation. Two Scottish coaches will definitely see at least half a dozen Scots in the squad.

I'm thinking more:
11
9
9
7

 

[Jakedood]

I'm not sure who else I would include from them but I think we've all underestimated the Scottish representation. Two Scottish coaches will definitely see at least half a dozen Scots in the squad.

I'm thinking more:
11
9
9
7

The question is who?

Maybe Matt Fagerson, he did go well at 8, but i dont think where you coach has that big an impact, maybe only on 50/50 calls

I hope Russell goes I really do

Any other potentials? Maybe DvDM though he's not scottish and i refuse to reason about him as such. The fact he left as soon as possible after internationally qualifying speaks volumes

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Of the Scots I'd be taking Sutherland, Watson, Price, Russell, Harris, DVDM and Hogg. I also think that a strong case can be made for Gray and I'm a big fan of Ritchie but it's hard to make room for him.

 

[BPM]

I wouldn't take van der Merwe for the same reasons as Jakedood and I'm still unconvinced that Harris is among the best 13s available for selection.

I agree on Watson, Price, Russell, Hogg though and I'd also take Gray. 5 for me.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

so many good players around this year potentially

There are. But the variance of views here and in pundit opinions suggest there are actually far fewer really outstanding ones than we might have hoped.

Who's a nailed on test starter? Probably Furlong, Itoje, Curry and Faletau up front. Behind it's almost totally up for grabs with Watson and Henshaw seemingly the only consistent choices at the moment. Liam Williams probably although not sure in which shirt.

 

[Jakedood]

There are. But the variance of views here and in pundit opinions suggest there are actually far fewer really outstanding ones than we might have hoped.

Who's a nailed on test starter? Probably Furlong, Itoje, Curry and Faletau up front. Behind it's almost totally up for grabs with Watson and Henshaw seemingly the only consistent choices at the moment. Liam Williams probably although not sure in which shirt.

Id maybe add Hogg in there too, not many people would challenge that. But yeah i get you, its a good point re outstanding choices. I do like the competition for places mind! Rugby is brilliant isn't it

 

[Owen#2]

What do people think of Care's chances? He's apparently playing really well at the moment (I haven't watched any of it so i can't comment on that) and he's in probably the weakest position for the Lions.

Personally, he would be my first choice. He's had a great season so far, consistent performances. I think he offers something better than Murray and youngs ( who basically just do the same damn thing time and time again in my opinion). I would have him as my starter hands down, Murray as my third choice and probably Davies as your go to off the bench to spice it up. I know youngs is good player but for me, he doesn't seen to be able to just grab the game by the scruff of the neck and take control like care or Davies can

 

[Owen#2]

If sexton doesn't play and have a blinder this weekend, is his chances to tour gone? Bigger is my first choice but don't know who I would go for.

 

[Leinster Fan]

I'd be up for Care touring. Iirc he only got dropped by England because he didn't perform as a starter and as such was too much of a risk with only two scrumhalves in a world cup squad. Not as much of a risk with the Lions. He's playing well, we're short of options and he's proven as an impact sub (at the very least) at international level.

If sexton doesn't play and have a blinder this weekend, is his chances to tour gone? Bigger is my first choice but don't know who I would go for.

He's definitely out this week. Can understand both sides of the argument on that front.

 

[BPM]

Care was very harshly treated by Eddie Jones. He was dropped after Japan gave us a scare. IIRC correctly, Care kicked the ball out with the clock on red before half time which seems to have been the cardinal sin that put paid to his test career.

That game also put Mercer and Lozowski in Eddie's bad books but Care was the biggest loser as he would surely have gone to the RWC advert Heinz. At the time, there was a lot of clamour for Robson and Spencer re wasn't that much disappointment about Care dropping out of the picture, but in hindsight, it was probably England's loss.

He could be a great wildcard for the Lions and would be an ideal impact sub, but TBH I don't see him going. Rhys Webb is probably in the same boat.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'm pretty sure the article was mixing up Care and Ashton but I read something the other day that Care turned down a spot in an England "XV" game, and that's what was the final nail in his coffin for EJ

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Considering how poor Young's has been it's a bit of a joke that care was left out in the cold. Every time we get quick ball You he launches it at someone's head, or behind that. Such an all round rubbish set of basics under pressure.
Really hope he doesn't tour with the lions as I actually want us to win.

 

[BPM]

Possibly? I don't remember that, but I can understand it from Care's POV if that's true.

 

[BPM]

Considering how poor Young's has been it's a bit of a joke that care was left out in the cold. Every time we get quick ball You he launches it at someone's head, or behind that. Such an all round rubbish set of basics under pressure.
Really hope he doesn't tour with the lions as I actually want us to win.

That's not really true though. Youngs is wildly inconsistent, but not consistently poor. Sometimes he can be very good - the infuriating thing is that you can never be entirely sure what you're going to get.

I always preferred Care, but that's probably my Quins bias coming through too.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

That's not really true though. Youngs is wildly inconsistent, but not consistently poor. Sometimes he can be very good - the infuriating thing is that you can never be entirely sure what you're going to get.

I always preferred Care, but that's probably my Quins bias coming through too.

Personally I think his basics are always poor though. I've seen games where he snipes and keeps defences guessing and 'plays well' but you can guarantee in that same game he will throw poor passes at least 50% of the time. I can't remember watching him ever and not thinking his passing is poor.

 

[BPM]

Depends what you mean by 'basics'. For a guy that has played the entirety of his career at 9, I 100% agree that his pass is not anywhere near good enough. However, he snipes well, his box kicking is mostly very good and he's a reliable defender.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Possibly? I don't remember that, but I can understand it from Care's POV if that's true.

Aye, I understand why he would (and I understood why Ashton did as well, as his first kid had just been born and he didn't want to fly to....South Africa? New Zealand? Wherever it was)

Though, as I disclaimered above, it might just have been shoddy journalism confusing the two as I think they were both dropped around the same time