(Very) early thoughts on the 2017 Lions

[corny]

That's ok then, plenty of English and Irish players will get a summer off then.

Poor Jamie Roberts won't though. He's plan A, B and C in the attacking plays.

 

[McTallshort]

Poor Jamie Roberts won't though. He's plan A, B and C in the attacking plays.

Don't forget the "just give to George" call

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Is that a joke?
Please tell me that's a joke.
He's ****ing useless!

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Agree on Furlong. TH is right up for grabs.

If Faletau is fit I'd expect him to be the 8, but I do like what Heaslip brings. He's understated, but you don't win 90 caps by accident.

Rory Best has upped his game and it looks like the Irish players are responding to him. Looks like there could be a pretty big Irish contingent in the test team. Could he be a bolter for skipper?

Yep on Best. Hooker is where the Lions really are short of options (assuming Hartley and George being the other two). But I can't forget how awful Best's throwing was on the last Lions tour when he was captain v one of the Australian provincial side - I think it was the one they lost. Ross Ford has 100 caps for Scotland, but his throwing under pressure is equally as suspect.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Best is notorious for having his lineout crumble when the going gets tough.
No amount of perfect games will erase the one, every now and then, that is comically bad.
He wouldn't be a test starter, for me, for that, cause I couldn't trust him.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Best is notorious for having his lineout crumble when the going gets tough.
No amount of perfect games will erase the one, every now and then, that is comically bad.
He wouldn't be a test starter, for me, for that, cause I couldn't trust him.

He hasn't misfired in green for ages though. His throwing and Sexton's weak kicking are outdated notions that are being thrown around this thread. If I was picking the side now I think it'd be an almost completely Anglo-Irish 15, Williams at fullback and Seymour at 11 would be my exceptions, Irish front row and halfbacks, English second row, composition between the two in the backrow and centres is how I see this side not getting embarrassed at the moment.

 

[MikeTheNative]

From a Wales perspective I can only see Liam Williams and Alun Wyn Jones going at this point. Been impressed with Moriaty so far but there is so much competition in the back row as it is. I think Nicky Smith and Sam Davies have the potential but whether they get enough game time to prove themselves is another matter. Hopefully North gains some form at some point as he can be one of the best wingers in the world on his day but they don't seem to come around often anymore.

 

[corny]

One things for sure, if the right players are picked we'll have a cracking team on paper.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

One things for sure, if the right players are picked we'll have a cracking team on paper.

There'll be a lot of players out there who have experience of beating the all blacks, as well, which should hopefully remove a bit of the air of invincibility about them.
Obviously the ABs are still head and shoulders above everyone else, but the players know they can be beaten.

 

[corny]

There'll be a lot of players out there who have experience of beating the all blacks, as well, which should hopefully remove a bit of the air of invincibility about them.
Obviously the ABs are still head and shoulders above everyone else, but the players know they can be beaten.

Yeah thats big alright.

They gave it their best against Ireland too in the second game but still gave up two thirds possession & territory. Thats a platform to win most games. Reading Hansens comments in the aftermath i don't think they'll address the obvious indiscipline either. They have their strengths but they're most certainly human.

 

[LUKE12]

Is huw Jones a possible lions Bolter?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I think so.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

So based on 2016 form and up to the end of November internationals (not including England v Australia) my 38 man squad:

British and Irish Lions 2017

Props

Cian Healy
Mako Vunipola
Jack McGrath

Dan Cole
WP Nel
T. Furlong

Hookers

Dylan Hartley
Jamie George
Rory Best

Locks

AWJ
Joe Launchbury
Maro Itoje
George Kruis
Devon Toner

Back Row

Iain Henderson (picked him at 6, but can also cover lock)
Chris Robshaw
Sean O'Brien
Sam Warburton
Justin Tipuric
CJ Stander

Talupe Faleteau
Jamie Heaslip/Billy Vunipola (if his knee injury turns out to be bad he could be out for up to 9 months, if he doesn't make it then Heaslip for his form this year and having two tours already under his belt is not a bad replacement)

Scrum halves

Connor Murray
Ben Youngs
Rhys Webb

Fly-Halves

Johnny Sexton
Owen Farrell
George Ford

Centres

Jamie Roberts
Jonathan Davies
Jonathan Joseph
Robbie Henshaw

This ones a tough one. Not been that impressed with JD2, but he is coming off a serious knee injury. I think he will come good though in 2017 and he has enough credit in the bank with Gatland, as does Roberts.

Wings

George North
Anthony Watson
Jack Nowell

Full backs

Liam Williams
Stuart Hogg
Lee Halfpenny

6 to cover the back 3 be enough; maybe not. Liam Williams can cover all 3 positions.

Of course Bolters a plenty, including the likes of:

JVDF
Huw Jones, as mentioned above
John Hardie - knows the conditions well in NZ.
James Haskell (again tough one to leave out in list above, but so many options in backrow)
Sean Maitland (Gatland is a fan and Maitland can cover wing and full back)
Elliot Daly, despite his faux pas yesterday.

Manu Tuilagi - if he can ever get fit enough to last the first half of 2017. Worth a punt because of what he can bring and getting over the gain line in midfield.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Considering England have another walk in the park next week and I'm sick bored and hungover I give you the team I would pick to try to not get embarrassed. Basing it on 2016 as a whole.

15. Williams
14. May (This feels wrong)
13. Joseph
12. Henshaw
11. North
10. Sexton
9. Murray
8. Heaslip
7. O'Brien
6. Stander
5. Itoje
4. Kruis
3. Furlong
2. Best
1. McGrath

16. Ehhh... Hartley I suppose, no one to bring much impact.
17. Healy
18. Cole
19. AWJ
20. Faletau/Vunipola
21. Webb, hopefully. Youngs has become less stupid though.
22. Farrell
23. Hogg

LH's - Mako, Marler
Two hookers, we're poor here.
TH's - Lee, Nel
2nd Rows - Toner, Launchbury
Backrows - Henderson, VdF
OH's - Ehhhh... Ford, Jackson or Biggar I suppose. Carbery tempts me if his goal kicking improves.
Centres - Ringrose, Davies
Back three - Zebo, Watson

English participation suffers from the lack of competition they had this year which isn't fair but its hard to compare players who played an intense Autumn like Ireland to the walk in the park England are having. Its obvious I don't watch English club rugby too.

Apart from the likes of Best and Heaslip who won't make the next World Cup I'd rather, and probably will, see a lot less Irish players.

 

[LUKE12]

I would go with

1) Mcgrath
2) Best
3) Nell
4) Itoje
5) Jones
6) Vunipola
7) Hardie (if fit)
8) Faletau
9) Murray
10) Sexton
11) Watson
12) Tuilagi ( if fit)
13) Daly
14) North
15) Hogg

 

[munstermuffin]

Will big issue be versatility.
Like for example Liam Williams will have better shot than say just a specialist winger.
Or Farrell wil be selected as a 12 instead of 3rd 10. Like overall wgat are we expecting 38 man squad or what.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Considering England have another walk in the park next week and I'm sick bored and hungover I give you the team I would pick to try to not get embarrassed. Basing it on 2016 as a whole.

15. Williams
14. May (This feels wrong)
13. Joseph
12. Henshaw
11. North
10. Sexton
9. Murray
8. Heaslip
7. O'Brien
6. Stander
5. Itoje
4. Kruis
3. Furlong
2. Best
1. McGrath

16. Ehhh... Hartley I suppose, no one to bring much impact.
17. Healy
18. Cole
19. AWJ
20. Faletau/Vunipola
21. Webb, hopefully. Youngs has become less stupid though.
22. Farrell
23. Hogg

LH's - Mako, Marler
Two hookers, we're poor here.
TH's - Lee, Nel
2nd Rows - Toner, Launchbury
Backrows - Henderson, VdF
OH's - Ehhhh... Ford, Jackson or Biggar I suppose. Carbery tempts me if his goal kicking improves.
Centres - Ringrose, Davies
Back three - Zebo, Watson

English participation suffers from the lack of competition they had this year which isn't fair but its hard to compare players who played an intense Autumn like Ireland to the walk in the park England are having. Its obvious I don't watch English club rugby too.

Apart from the likes of Best and Heaslip who won't make the next World Cup I'd rather, and probably will, see a lot less Irish players.

I sense a big conflict in you Alpha Bro, on the one hand you really hate the Lions, that they get in the way of your beloved Ireland and their quest for world domination; yet on the other hand you just can't help picking a Lions team. Come on admit it, you love the Lions really.

 

[munstermuffin]

I sense a big conflict in you Alpha Bro, on the one hand you really hate the Lions, that they get in the way of your beloved Ireland and their quest for world domination; yet on the other hand you just can't help picking a Lions team. Come on admit it, you love the Lions really.

I think his ossue is the Lions usually destroy our guys longterm. From carrying the others

 

[j'nuh]

There'll be a lot of players out there who have experience of beating the all blacks, as well, which should hopefully remove a bit of the air of invincibility about them.
Obviously the ABs are still head and shoulders above everyone else, but the players know they can be beaten.

Will I get jumped if I say... Scotland have never won, Wales haven't in 60 years, England needed them to be sick, and Ireland are rugby gods?

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I think his ossue is the Lions usually destroy our guys longterm. From carrying the others ��

Ah yes, of course; that's the reason why Ireland can't get past QFs at RWCs. With so much depth now this shouldn't be a problem;0).