(Very) early thoughts on the 2017 Lions

[Peat]

I am still absolutely incredulous about the amount of people pointing to Farrell's club form as a reason for picking him for England, and that's not just my standard "No one cares who does what in an inferior competition". He's playing behind the most dominant pack in the league by some margin and his armchair ride has been upgraded to a fighter jet ride. Pretty much every EQP 10 out there would look cock of the walk at Sarries. Ben Botica would look like an England option there.

Also, his goal kicking is currently very ordinary. Should be nowhere near the Lions.

Anyway, back to the Lions... not a current team/squad, more forecast

LHP - Probably mix of the Irish and English
HK - Real worry as none of the starting 4 will be good enough in 2017
THP - Decent options, possibly a year early for Furlong, Fagerson and Hill
LK - Lots of v good options across all 4 but no top lineout runner at this point
FL - Probably mix of the Welsh and Irish, English options need to start hauling arse. Don't think the Scots have a guy here yet.
N8 - Faletau and an Englishman with Denton contesting.

SH - Murray, Webb, A Dirt Tracker (probably English, maybe G Davies)
FH - Biggar, Sexton, A Dirt Tracker (Russell or an Englishman)
CE - Good options across all 4 but nothing outstanding
WI - North, A Scotsman, A Couple of Englishmen
FB - Halfpenny, A Dirt Tracker

Tbh... the 6N coaches' reaction to the schedule has led me to lose my enthusiasm for the Lions at this date. We are fast approaching the point at which it no longer makes any sense for the Home Nations.

p.s. Matt, that team is horrifically biased.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

1. Cronin
2. Herring
3. Furlong
4. Moloney
5. Dillane
6. Munster fella, O'Donoghue?
7. JVDF
8. Conan
9. McGrath
10. Jackson
11. Gilroy
12. McCloskey
13. Marshall (Ringrose having been robbed by the Lions)
14. Earls
15. Olding

thatll give Canada or Japan a good hiding and be the start of the build up of a squad that will win the 2019 World Cup.
Left out because they'll be touring with the glorified Barbarians or cuz they're old and not fun: McGrath, Healy, Best, Strauss, Ross, Hendo, Ryan, SOB, Henry, Heaslip, Ruddock, TO'D (how the **** is he 28?), Murray, Sexto, Robbie "blue blood" Henshaw, The aforementioned best player in the world Garry Ringrose, Payne, Kearney.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

1. Croninmyass
2. Red Herring
3. Footlong
4. Butt Moloney
5. Dildoane
6. Munster fella, O'Donoghue?
7. JVDF wd40
8. Conanlickit
9. McFart
10. Jacksoff
11. DILDrOy
12. McCtossme
13. Marshall (lickmyRingrose having been robbed by the Lions)
14. Earls
15. Bolding
.

Fixed

 

[munstermuffin]

People forgetting there could be few bolters but was asked a question today and couldn't answer but here it goes I'll put it to ye.

Ben Te'o is my example.
If he plays super stuff for Worcester and is selected for the Lions uncapped.
Could he then return home and play for Aus?

Now I'm just using that player but he get my drift on overall question.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I think we are all forgetting that Sam Underhill will be a nailed on starter.

 

[Maverick1987]

I think we are all forgetting that Sam Underhill will be a nailed on starter.

Easy . Back row of 6. Itoje 7. Underhill 8. Hughes and watch all the Welsh run away crying bias even though the coach is Gatland

Although 6. Underhill 7. Kvesic 8. Hughes would be boner inducing .....

Imagine if one country could have that back row all the time !
Bloody Eddie ..... Haha

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Easy . Back row of 6. Itoje 7. Underhill 8. Hughes and watch all the Welsh run away crying bias even though the coach is Gatland 

Although 6. Underhill 7. Kvesic 8. Hughes would be boner inducing .....

Imagine if one country could have that back row all the time !
Bloody Eddie ..... Haha

When Maverick1987 doesn't know of Josh "second best player in world rugby after Garry Ringrose (***le mentioned prior to this post) Van der Flier.

 

[Maverick1987]

When Maverick1987 doesn't know of Josh "second best player in world rugby after Garry Ringrose (***le mentioned prior to this post) Van der Flier.

I know of Van der Flier . But with Nathan Hughes in this back row we don't need anymore foreigners !!

Edit : I just checked it out he's not from South Africa ! Still not as good as Underhill anyway

 

[lentenbok]

When Maverick1987 doesn't know of Josh "second best player in world rugby after Garry Ringrose (***le mentioned prior to this post) Van der Flier.

or Iain Henderson.

6. Henderson
7. O'Brien
8. Stander

sounds quite impressive to me, unless you want to stick Hendy in second row.

 

[McTallshort]

I will probably change my mind on this but I would be happy if any England players who tour Aus this year miss the Lions tour. Its just too much.

 

[munstermuffin]

or Iain Henderson.

6. Henderson
7. O'Brien
8. Stander

sounds quite impressive to me, unless you want to stick Hendy in second row.

Henderson 6 with POM in at 6

 

[Peat]

Henderson 6 with POM in at 6

Ah, the old "Two blindsides" trick, very clever...

 

[munstermuffin]

Ah, the old "Two blindsides" trick, very clever...

No. It's 2 6.5s my friend

 

[lentenbok]

No. It's 2 6.5s my friend

or 'rolling subs' like the NZ 7(+1)s

 

[Maverick1987]

I will probably change my mind on this but I would be happy if any England players who tour Aus this year miss the Lions tour. Its just too much.

To be honest I'm not that arsed if no England players get picked at all maybe we should try our best to offend Gatland as much as possible between now and the lions tour . Would do us the world of good

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

To be honest I'm not that arsed if no England players get picked at all  maybe we should try our best to offend Gatland as much as possible between now and the lions tour . Would do us the world of good

Just say he's only coaching Wales because NZ would never have him. That should do it. Also if we beat Wales with Eddie Jones then it will a double whammy, England coached by an Aussie beating a New Zealander. Oh he would be seething. Maybe we can ask if would like the roof at Twickers closed? I'm sure we could find a huge sheet of canvas somewhere...

 

[McTallshort]

Just say he's only coaching Wales because NZ would never have him. That should do it. Also if we beat Wales with Eddie Jones then it will a double whammy, England coached by an Aussie beating a New Zealander. Oh he would be seething. Maybe we can ask if would like the roof at Twickers closed? I'm sure we could find a huge sheet of canvas somewhere...

What would be even better if an English team coached by and English coach beat a Welsh team coached by a Welshman! or is that just old fashioned wishful thinking?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Just say he's only coaching Wales because NZ would never have him.

Is it an insult if it's just a plain old fact of life?

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

My full 37-man squad (I'm English, so excuse bias, I don't watch a lot of domestic rugby outside of the Prem so take this with a pinch of salt):
Props:
Cian Healy (This is just me being hopeful, I know that at the moment he doesn't deserve to be in there)
Jack McGrath
Mako Vunipola
Paul Hill
Samson Lee
WP Nel

Hookers: (This is the really biased one, I don't know any young Welsh or Irish hookers)
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Jamie George
Scott Baldwin

Locks:
Alun Wyn Jones
Iain Henderson
Joe Launchbury
Jonny Gray
Maro Itoje

Back Rowers:
CJ Stander
Dan Lydiate
Justin Tipuric
Nathan Hughes
Sam Warburton
Sean O'Brien
Taulupe Faletau

Scrum Halves:
Conor Murray
Gareth Davies
Lloyd Williams

Fly Halves: (Gonna get a lot of disagreement on this one, but Sexton's form is dropping as well as he'll be 32 by the tour. Faz and Biggar have both been in far better form recently, don't feel I can pick Sexton purely off of past form)
Dan Biggar
Owen Farrell

Centres: (Depending on how Slade does he could definitely take Roberts' spot)
Jamie Roberts
Jonathan Davies
Robbie Henshaw
Jonathan Joseph

Back Three:
Anthony Watson
George North
Jack Nowell
Leigh Halfpenny
Luke Fitzgerald
Stuart Hogg
Tommy Seymour

XV
1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. WP Nel
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Sean O'Brien
7. Sam Warburton
8. Taulupe Faletau
9. Gareth Davies
10. Owen Farrell
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Jonathan Joseph
14. Anthony Watson
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Scott Baldwin
17. Cian Healy (Please.)
18. Paul Hill
19. Jonny Gray
20. Nathan Hughes
21. Conor Murray
22. Dan Biggar
23. Jack Nowell

 

[YoungScud]

People forgetting there could be few bolters but was asked a question today and couldn't answer but here it goes I'll put it to ye.

Ben Te'o is my example.
If he plays super stuff for Worcester and is selected for the Lions uncapped.
Could he then return home and play for Aus?

Now I'm just using that player but he get my drift on overall question.

No. Players have to be eligible to play for the Home nations.