The Lions squad for 2021 prediction

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

That back row is triggering me hard.
If Faletau gets injured
[h3][/h3]Refuse to believe it

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Simmonds touring just seems wrong

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Simmonds touring just seems wrong

Worse case scenario is if Simmons tours and doesn't play a test.

I hope if he goes he plays a test just to put to bed if he is going to do well at this level. But if he doesn't play a test and is a midweek Andy the amount of Eddie doesn't pick British and Irish lion Sam Simmonds articles will make the premiership top try scorer ones look tame.

 

[big ginger 8]

Conan should egg McBryde's house if Simmonds goes ahead of him.

For real though don't know why people think Gatland wants a big backrow? Not really his m.o., his most capped backrow is probably Lydiate Warburton and Faletau. It's the centres he really wants big.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I mean isn't that a pretty big size back row? Certainly seems traditional style

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It's certainly going to be a very mobile backrow
Think we're definitely going to miss some punch in that pack though

 

[Leinster Fan]

I'm honestly not too passionate about Irish players getting overlooked, but if Simmonds goes ahead of Conan and Doris I'll be annoyed. Not that I think Conan and Doris should be certs or locks for the Lions (although if they were English it'd have gone through the media cycle by now) but they should be way closer than Simmonds. Good player, has struggled at international level, has struggled against strong packs and doesn't fit the opposition.

Stander should really be going and I don't understand how he's fallen so far down the discussion order. He went last time and despite my issues with him he's probably been Ireland's best player under Farrell.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Stander missing out for Simmonds would be pretty mad,

Also think they're missing a trick (if this is the case) with no Henderson - he carries into contact fantastically well, and there's going to be a lot of brick walls to be run into in SA

 

[big ginger 8]

I mean isn't that a pretty big size back row? Certainly seems traditional style

I'd argue if it's traditional it therefore can't be 'big' as in bigger than usual. Obviously they're not small humans but are pretty much protypical sized backrowers. Can't remember Gatland ever playing a heavyweight unit like Lawes, Curry and Vunipola.

 

[Leinster Fan]

Stander missing out for Simmonds would be pretty mad,

Also think they're missing a trick (if this is the case) with no Henderson - he carries into contact fantastically well, and there's going to be a lot of brick walls to be run into in SA

Yeah, I've been assuming Henderson will go. In form he's an option to start and at worst he's a great guy to bring off the bench.

He went last time and is probably a better player now, I'd be surprised if he misses out (and there will be plenty of Ulster fans annoyed if Ryan goes and he doesn't given their form this year - not a line of thinking I necessarily agree with completely but would be able to see where they're coming from).

 

[big ginger 8]

Yeah not bringing Henderson would be a mistake, he's exactly the type of guy you want vs SA and the tour environment seems to suit him.

 

[Welsh Exile]

100% agree about Henderson. I like Gray but that's a big mistake, if true. Simmonds is another one but I honestly think Care is bonkers. The centers is kind of a "who else have we got" scenario. If you swapped out Gray for Henderson, Simmonds for Stander and Care for either Price or Gareth Davies and I'd be reasonably happy.

It's probably fake anyway. The Simmonds stuff I'm kind of expecting now, though. No smoke without fire.

 

[Leinster Fan]

Has to be fake

Light weight as **** back row.
Chris Harris?!?!?!?
Josh Adams?!?!?!?!

To be fair if you swap out Simmonds for another 8 it's not dissimilar to what most of us had.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57004215

AWJ confirmed as captain.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

The great thing about Henderson is he has fantastic feet to spin out of the first tackle, very rarely does he just get smashed backwards. Few locks are as good at him at making ground and it's not just about smashing through the opponent. He made a good impression on the 2017 tour, his games were some of the best of his career. He's the only Ulster player I'd consider but would be very disappointed if he wasn't picked.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Sorry, I couldn't resist...

 

[ncurd]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57004215

AWJ confirmed as captain.

I suspect many journos will look stupid (but forgotten) by the end of the day.

This was inevitable since the jam slam don't agree with it but hey ho what you gonna do. Hope in the next Lions tour we pick a captain whose actually going to definitely start.

 

[Welsh Exile]

I don't really see AWJ as an impact player so if he doesn't start the first test I probably wouldn't have him on the bench over someone like Ryan or Henderson.

The more I think about it the more I think it'll be Itoje at 6 and 2 of AWJ, Beirne, Ryan and, hopefully, Henderson (if he makes the squad)

 

[ncurd]

I hate to channel Olyy in this but it's bloody Lions the best of all 4 nations. Surely we can play an actual flanker at flanker?

 

[Welsh Exile]

I hate to channel Olyy in this but it's bloody Lions the best of all 4 nations. Surely we can play an actual flanker at flanker?

I agree but I think it's in part fed by the obsession over the idea that we have to have some monster pack to beat the South Africans which I think is bollix personally. Not saying we can't win with Itoje or Berine at 6 but there's more than 1 way to skin a cat.