The Lions squad for 2021 prediction

[ncurd]

You'd like these bits:

Jones, his 159 games making him the game's most capped international, should be on pension. His Six Nations performances are overhyped. He was picked on past glories and because of familiarity, having played a decade of Test rugby for Wales under Gatland.

Appreciate the tour and bow to the occasion, but don't put Captain Plod on a pedestal and don't add to the delusion that this is a team of world beaters.

Its prime grade A Welsh bait with a sprinkling of SA salt.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I mean a lot of them probably do just because
A) they're rugby fans
B) a lot of their friends are playing in these comps

I regularly see SA players commenting on the Du Preez brothers/Akkers/Fafs social media saying they'd watched them/congratulating them on wins etc.

I didn't read the article because from what everyone on here has said it sounds like trash - but just wanted to make a note on that point

Yeah, a lot of us watch NH games, and so does the players. True. I just don't think there will be any in depth studying of the players at this point by any of our players. They're too busy preparing for their own games, and try and focus on getting a call up to the Bok side.

The studying of the opposition at this point in time will most probably be done by the Springbok coaching team, who doesn't have a lot to do at the moment anyway, other than the camps they're having on a weekly basis at a franchise.

I just meant that the person who wrote that article is a moron, that doesn't have the whole picture, and now wants to make it sound like the SA camp is not worried, or unfocused about the upcoming tour.

 

[Which Tyler]

Yeah, a lot of us watch NH games, and so does the players. True. I just don't think there will be any in depth studying of the players at this point by any of our players. They're too busy preparing for their own games, and try and focus on getting a call up to the Bok side.

Surely, at this point, they haven't played any rugby in 18 months; so they've not had much to do other than watch other people play rugby, and go to the gym.

But yes, the analysis is for the analysts, not players - who get fed the results of that analysis. But the players will have been watching; and those expecting to play against the Lions will have been paying close attention to the players they'd be expecting to play against.

 

[ncurd]

it sound like the SA camp is not worried

Apart from general unreadiness for not having played together for 18+ months what are you guys worried about? A well prepped SA team should beat this Lions one.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Surely, at this point, they haven't played any rugby in 18 months; so they've not had much to do other than watch other people play rugby, and go to the gym.

But yes, the analysis is for the analysts, not players - who get fed the results of that analysis. But the players will have been watching; and those expecting to play against the Lions will have been paying close attention to the players they'd be expecting to play against.

The springboks haven't played since the World Cup, no.

But the players representing the Springboks, have been playing on a bi-weekly basis since August last year...

 

[Welsh Exile]

Apart from general unreadiness for not having played together for 18+ months what are you guys worried about? A well prepped SA team should beat this Lions one.

Is there any squad the Lions could take that would make you confident?

 

[Which Tyler]

But the players representing the Springboks, have been playing on a bi-weekly basis since August last year...

Sorry, I didn't know that.
TBH though, I've struggled to even follow my own club for the last 14 months.

 

[ncurd]

Is there any squad the Lions could take that would make you confident?

Not confident but happier at the moment our plan appears to beat SA at their own game. I'd rather we were looking at playing the same way Eng played the SF against NZ or how they played against France in the 6 Nations. Or how France are playing in general not go for the arm wrestle but open up the game. No point in whining Gatland was never going to go for it.

 

[Jakedood]

Not confident but happier at the moment our plan appears to beat SA at their own game. I'd rather we were looking at playing the same way Eng played the SF against NZ or how they played against France in the 6 Nations. Or how France are playing in general not go for the arm wrestle but open up the game. No point in whining Gatland was never going to go for it.

Would you ever want the likes of an Ian McGeechan to come help out again? I mean that guy seemed to really know his stuff

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The game passed Geech by a long time ago - whenever they wheel him out as a talking head he sounds so outdated/doesn't really have a clue about the modern game

He'd be decent for a pre-game speech n that, but in terms of selection and tactics it'd be a big NO from me

 

[TRF_heineken]

Not confident but happier at the moment our plan appears to beat SA at their own game. I'd rather we were looking at playing the same way Eng played the SF against NZ or how they played against France in the 6 Nations. Or how France are playing in general not go for the arm wrestle but open up the game. No point in whining Gatland was never going to go for it.

Beat us at our own game?

To me your team is more based around an All Black model. Mobile props, fast loose forwards, Fly Halves that can play centre and vice versa. Fast wingers.

For some reason I think the plan will be to make the game as loose as possible, and then let the chaos be to the Lions' favour. Maybe the thinking is that the lack of Springbok game time, would mean our guys aren't fit enough, and our forwards will tire soon, which could also make our bomb squad inefficient.

 

[ncurd]

Beat us at our own game?

To me your team is more based around an All Black model. Mobile props, fast loose forwards, Fly Halves that can play centre and vice versa. Fast wingers.

For some reason I think the plan will be to make the game as loose as possible, and then let the chaos be to the Lions' favour. Maybe the thinking is that the lack of Springbok game time, would mean our guys aren't fit enough, and our forwards will tire soon, which could also make our bomb squad inefficient.

We haven't picked the fly-halves for it, I'll be mightily surprised if Russell is in the test day line up I'm still in slight shock he made the plane at all.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Not confident but happier at the moment our plan appears to beat SA at their own game. I'd rather we were looking at playing the same way Eng played the SF against NZ or how they played against France in the 6 Nations. Or how France are playing in general not go for the arm wrestle but open up the game. No point in whining Gatland was never going to go for it.

You can't blame Gats for doing this though (if that is what he's doing)

Firstly, he has got good success out of it for Wales against SA. Our record against them has been very good in recent years.

Secondly, when you're dealing with the lions you have limited time so keeping things as simple as possible is probably best.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Beat us at our own game?

To me your team is more based around an All Black model. Mobile props, fast loose forwards, Fly Halves that can play centre and vice versa. Fast wingers.

For some reason I think the plan will be to make the game as loose as possible, and then let the chaos be to the Lions' favour. Maybe the thinking is that the lack of Springbok game time, would mean our guys aren't fit enough, and our forwards will tire soon, which could also make our bomb squad inefficient.

Nah, we'll do what Wales have done successfully several times against SA. Keep the ball in play, move your pack around and front up physically. Going to be 3 arm wrestles

 

[ncurd]

The game passed Geech by a long time ago - whenever they wheel him out as a talking head he sounds so outdated/doesn't really have a clue about the modern game

He'd be decent for a pre-game speech n that, but in terms of selection and tactics it'd be a big NO from me

This it honestly felt he was a bit behind the ball in 2009 although he was a much needed figure

Firstly, he has got good success out of it for Wales against SA. Our record against them has been very good in recent years.

You keep saying this SA were shockingly bad at times in last world cup cycle, they lost to Italy at one stage. had to sack their manager with just over a year to go and turn it around! This is the world cup winning team get some perspective of who Gats actually beat.
EDIT: In fact they specifically sacked their manager and turned it around after loosing to Wales 2-0

 

[Welsh Exile]

This it honestly felt he was a bit behind the ball in 2009 although he was a much needed figure

You keep saying this SA were shockingly bad at times in last world cup cycle, they lost to Italy at one stage. had to sack their manager with just over a year to go and turn it around! This is the world cup winning team get some perspective of who Gats actually beat.

Firstly, SA have never been shockingly bad, they are one of the biggest rugby nations in the world. Sure, 2015/2016 weren't exactly golden years for them but were they, in your opinion, some terrible team in 2017/2018?

They did alright against you in 2018 didn't they? Were they that bad?

 

[ncurd]

Firstly, SA have never been shockingly bad, they are one of the biggest rugby nations in the world. Sure, 2015/2016 weren't exactly golden years for them but were they, in your opinion, some terrible team in 2017/2018?

Theu did alright against you in 2018 didn't they? Were they that bad?

They didn't do alright in 2018, they lost 2-0 to you guys in a series and sacked their manager and captain.

 

[ncurd]

They didn't do alright in 2018, they lost 2-0 to you guys in a series and sacked their manager and captain.

Sorry not 2-0, lost in USA

 

[Welsh Exile]

Sorry not 2-0, lost in USA

But they beat England though,'right?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I mean 16-18 were hardly vintage Boks - they went 7-7 in 2018, for example.
Many were writing them off pre-RWC (smugly I predicted them to win the comp, pre-tournament, and was shouted down for it )

Shockingly bad is an over exaggeration, but the 2019 vintage was so so much better than the years previous


It's been so long that I don't think you can look into form or tactics of any game pre-RWC, I mean look at Gatland's win over them in summer 2018: Hardly 1st XV vs 1st XV, it was two B sides scrapping in America for some weird reason
England beat them with Cipriani at 10 and Brown on the wing
None of these results bare any significance on what's going to happen in 2021 - I'd argue you can't even take into account the World Cup seeing as we're now halfway through the next cycle