(Very) early thoughts on the 2017 Lions

[TRF_Olyy]

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

Te'eo has an English Mum

 

[ratsapprentice]

Yiss.

 

[YoungScud]

Te'eo has an English Mum

Of course, it's possible I suppose that, being English qualified but not having been selected might be enough to get away with it, but it'd be opening a can of worms, not the least of which would be the Lions being accused of opening up to mercenaries.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Of course, it's possible I suppose that, being English qualified but not having been selected might be enough to get away with it, but it'd be opening a can of worms, not the least of which would be the Lions being accused of opening up to mercenaries.

Which is part of the reason why a lot of 'Scottish' players can't play for the Lions

 

[TRF_Olyy]

not the least of which would be the Lions being accused of opening up to mercenaries.

Maitland went last time round, Flutey the time before.
It's nothing new.

 

[munstermuffin]

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

Yes which he is eligible.

 

[munstermuffin]

Of course, it's possible I suppose that, being English qualified but not having been selected might be enough to get away with it, but it'd be opening a can of worms, not the least of which would be the Lions being accused of opening up to mercenaries.

But is it mercenaries. Like these guys commit to nations. My question is basically something like if Te'o played for the Lions does that cap commit him to England or is he free to still play for Aus.

 

[YoungScud]

Which is part of the reason why a lot of 'Scottish' players can't play for the Lions

Name one

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Name one

Well if we are talking about Scottish players not born in Scotland:

Sean Maitland
Tommy Seymour
David Denton
John Hardie
John Barclay
WP Nel (Blatant mercenary)
Tim Swinson
Blair Cowan
Sam Hidaglo-Clyne
Duncan Taylor

Also that was in response to the comment about using mercenaries in the Lions.

 

[YoungScud]

Well if we are talking about Scottish players not born in Scotland:

Sean Maitland
Tommy Seymour
David Denton
John Hardie
John Barclay
WP Nel (Blatant mercenary)
Tim Swinson
Blair Cowan
Sam Hidaglo-Clyne
Duncan Taylor

Also that was in response to the comment about using mercenaries in the Lions.

Yes, Riki Flutey grew up dreaming of pulling on the white shirt. You, not unexpectedly, but unreasonably, reacted to something I didn't say. I said (now read the words this time) that they could find themselves open to accusations. Not by me, but I do know how the media and people like you love to use a cliche or two. As a Scot, I don't have any reason to throw that word at others. Maybe one day you'll grow up too.

While we're at it, nice dodge. You still haven't named a 'Scottish' player who can't play for the Lions. Of course, that might be because you opened your mouth before you thought about what you were going to say.

- - - Updated - - -

Perhaps I should clarify my stance in this. When rugby was an amateur sport, with mostly amateur ideals, the 'mercenary' issue might have been valid. With the advent of professionalism, all that goes out fo the window. A professional sportsman has a finite working life and has to maximise his salary during that period, so that he can essentially fund any plans he has for his much longer non-playing life. With that in mind, he will do whatever it takes to achieve that. Meanwhile, even at the inertnational level, money is king. Maximum revenue comes from winning. Coaches, governing bodies and players are subjected to intense pressure to win, and win however they can. If that means using perfectly legal methods of slecting players for the national side, then it does, and I feel there's no shame attached to that. What i do balk at, however, is the blatant hypocrisy that surrounds the issue. "I burgled one house, you burgled 2, so you're a thief and I'm not." Try that in court.

 

[Maverick1987]

Yes, Riki Flutey grew up dreaming of pulling on the white shirt. You, not unexpectedly, but unreasonably, reacted to something I didn't say. I said (now read the words this time) that they could find themselves open to accusations. Not by me, but I do know how the media and people like you love to use a cliche or two. As a Scot, I don't have any reason to throw that word at others. Maybe one day you'll grow up too.

While we're at it, nice dodge. You still haven't named a 'Scottish' player who can't play for the Lions. Of course, that might be because you opened your mouth before you thought about what you were going to say.

- - - Updated - - -

Perhaps I should clarify my stance in this. When rugby was an amateur sport, with mostly amateur ideals, the 'mercenary' issue might have been valid. With the advent of professionalism, all that goes out fo the window. A professional sportsman has a finite working life and has to maximise his salary during that period, so that he can essentially fund any plans he has for his much longer non-playing life. With that in mind, he will do whatever it takes to achieve that. Meanwhile, even at the inertnational level, money is king. Maximum revenue comes from winning. Coaches, governing bodies and players are subjected to intense pressure to win, and win however they can. If that means using perfectly legal methods of slecting players for the national side, then it does, and I feel there's no shame attached to that. What i do balk at, however, is the blatant hypocrisy that surrounds the issue. "I burgled one house, you burgled 2, so you're a thief and I'm not." Try that in court.

If a player plays for Scotland they can play for the lions however they have qualified . Even though I wouldn't pick a single Scottish person for the lions . But that's just personal opinion

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Young scud it was a comment that Scots shouldn't worry about the lions taking in mercenaries because Scotland had a fair few. But you are too uptight so I won't bother with the rest of your comment. Having your knickers this twisted can't be healthy.

 

[YoungScud]

Young scud it was a comment that Scots shouldn't worry about the lions taking in mercenaries because Scotland had a fair few. But you are too uptight so I won't bother with the rest of your comment. Having your knickers this twisted can't be healthy.

So, no then, you can't name a Scot who can't play for the Lions then? Not my words, yours. As for your other comment, that's twice now. Is English your first language? I never expressed any worries about the Lions takingin 'mercenaries', I simply said there may be repercussions, and expressly said this would not be from me. You, showing your hubris, had to retort to a post you clearly misunderstood.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I could explain how you have once again not understood what I've written in your desperation to be indignant but that would be a waste of both our time. It seems even adding a winking smiley isn't enough to show you when a joke is being made.

 

[Peat]

Do I need to create a special thread for off the cuff remarks about the Scottishness of the Scottish team so we can trap the whole bloody thing in one place?

YoungScud - Who are the repercussions going to come from though?

They're not coming from the SH, because they make too much money to rock that boat too much. The fans? If the fans still keep coming after Riki Flutey, I doubt they'll be driven away by Teo'o.

 

[g6mcg]

Do I need to create a special thread for off the cuff remarks about the Scottishness of the Scottish team so we can trap the whole bloody thing in one place?

Please.

 

[YoungScud]

Do I need to create a special thread for off the cuff remarks about the Scottishness of the Scottish team so we can trap the whole bloody thing in one place?

YoungScud - Who are the repercussions going to come from though?

They're not coming from the SH, because they make too much money to rock that boat too much. The fans? If the fans still keep coming after Riki Flutey, I doubt they'll be driven away by Teo'o.

The media for a start. They'd have a field day. They do now. Do you really believe they'd say nothing if the player mentioned went on a Lions tour and then went off to play for Australia? By repercussions, I don't mean from governing bodies, but I'm pretty sure it would refuel the argument about qualification periods etc. It's a subject we apparently can't let go. By the way, I never mentioned Scotland originally, nor did I hurl abuse at England. I simply, from experience, stated what I thought would happen if he went on tour. I never at any time said he wasn't entitled to.

Look, Lions tours have been criticised for a number of years now, some of it justified, a lot of it not. For myself, I relish them. I don't want anything to bring them to an end. For me, this particular issue is one that won't die, won't go away. I wish it would, but it won't.

"Also that was in response to the comment about using mercenaries in the Lions." Tallshort, you might claim you were joking there, but that seems to be your M.O. when you are challenged. A smiley will make it all right, it was just a joke. The quote doesn't make it look that way. What appears to have happened is that you assumed it was just the Sweaties whinging again, when it clearly wasn't.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If Te'eo is good enough for the Lions he'll be capped by England before then anyway.
Especially if Manu doesn't get over his injury issues.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

If Te'eo is good enough for the Lions he'll be capped by England before then anyway.
Especially if Manu doesn't get over his injury issues.

He's not and he won't. I really like him as a player but he lacks vision at pro 12 level at times nevermind international.

 

[McTallshort]

The media for a start. They'd have a field day. They do now. Do you really believe they'd say nothing if the player mentioned went on a Lions tour and then went off to play for Australia? By repercussions, I don't mean from governing bodies, but I'm pretty sure it would refuel the argument about qualification periods etc. It's a subject we apparently can't let go. By the way, I never mentioned Scotland originally, nor did I hurl abuse at England. I simply, from experience, stated what I thought would happen if he went on tour. I never at any time said he wasn't entitled to.

Look, Lions tours have been criticised for a number of years now, some of it justified, a lot of it not. For myself, I relish them. I don't want anything to bring them to an end. For me, this particular issue is one that won't die, won't go away. I wish it would, but it won't.

"Also that was in response to the comment about using mercenaries in the Lions." Tallshort, you might claim you were joking there, but that seems to be your M.O. when you are challenged. A smiley will make it all right, it was just a joke. The quote doesn't make it look that way. What appears to have happened is that you assumed it was just the Sweaties whinging again, when it clearly wasn't.

Who are you talking too? When did I say I was joking? Get your facts straight before gobbing off.