(Very) early thoughts on the 2017 Lions

[Ragey Erasmus]

You know a current winger who could create something from nothing and has done so repeatedly?

Roko

 

[The Jones Boy]

How many players are they taking this time?
Is it 40?
So two full separate teams with separate benches?

It's not the scheduling that is the killer, not with two full teams.
It's the time of the year.
It's right in the middle of the SH domestic season so the home players will be fresh but the Lions will have had long seasons behind them. It will be the end of season fatigue that will be the hard part for the Lions.
That and... every low level Kiwi team will be playing their hearts out for the privilege of being on the world rugby stage because playing the British and Irish Lions may well be the pinnacle of a rugby career for many of the players they will face on this tour.
The Fantasy of a B+I Lions team is no less 'special' than it is for those lower tier NZ provincial players they will meet in the midweek games who will see this as a once in a lifetime experience.
Make no bones about it, NZ is excited at the prospect of the Lions coming to town. Right through the country people are already talking about it and after the loss to Ireland in Chicago the Lions stock has increased significantly.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Two previous squads have been 37 players, so around that number or maybe 38 players for next year, I would have thought.

 

[sigesige00]

The 2nd jersey of the last season was very good, but I could not get one. Do you have any pics of the jerseys of the coming season?

 

[j'nuh]

Borthwick, Howley and Farrell.

Not particularly happy with that!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

TBH only dislike Howley of those 3.

Shame not Townsend then you would have a coach from each nation coaching setup.

 

[MojoPin]

No way does Howley deserve a spot on that team. No way. Still hoping we'll see a second backs coach announced...fingers crossed.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Announcement is at 12pm isn't it? Going by what Gatland said before England game on Saturday there will be more coaches to be announced other than aforementioned. If nothing else, to give a coach an afternoon off.

 

[Groundhog]

So we'll be playing give it to the big kid rugby? Tight.....

 

[ncurd]

So we'll be playing give it to the big kid rugby? Tight.....

Yup might as well give up talking about who plays on the wings it doesn't matter anyway. Joseph too small as well....

 

[AzaMatt]

Yup might as well give up talking about who plays on the wings it doesn't matter anyway. Joseph too small as well....

British and Irish Lions coaching staff confirmed

Rob Howley, Steve Borthwick and Andy Farrell have been confirmed.

howley mind. what the hell is going on

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Can't believe Gatland offer Townsend assistant backs coach under Howley.

 

[MikeTheNative]

Looking forward to Cuthbert on the wing and Roberts in the centre.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Predicted XV: (Preferred in brackets)
1. Mako Vunipola (McGrath)
2. Dylan Hartley (Best)
3. Cole (Furlong)
4. Maro Itoje
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Kruis)
6. CJ Stander
7. Sam Warburton c (Tipuric)
8. Taulupe Faletau
9. Rhys Webb (Conor Murray)
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. George North
12. Robbie Henshaw
13. Jonathan Davies (Joseph)
14. Liam Williams (Watson)
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Williams)

TBF I don't think Roberts will start at 12. Scott's been preferred over him for Wales so I reckon Gats and Howley aren't his biggest fans anymore. Gats seems to rate Sexton, but if he's unfit then I reckon Biggar's getting the start.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

An attack coach who's side averaged 14 points in NZ earlier this year, a defence coach who gave up 7 tries in two games against them and a tall lad who looks like he spends most of his time concentration on not letting saliva leak from his mouth... Can see this squad losing as many games as they win!

 

[ratsapprentice]

Gatland's said that he'll almost certainly be announcing more coaches moving forward.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Trouble is who would want to work under Howley?

 

[MojoPin]

So disappointing. After the turgid performances Wales have put out recently I was really hoping to see much better things from the Lions in 2017 to make up for it. We'll see I guess but not feeling very confident or excited at the moment.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I don't understand what Howley's about. He's been so poor he should just stick to thinking about Wales and nothing else beside. I'm ok with the rest.

Re. North, I think that whenWales are playing poorly people like to create scapegoats and hoist the blame on a smaller number of individuals - i.e focusing on how bad Cuthbert has been and not seeing that North has been AWOL too.

HOWEVER, I do believe that in a good setup with an invigorated team spirit he will come good and I agree that to date he's just about the only eligible candidate to have demonstrated world class form. I think if you're picking your best team I'd like to see him involved. It would however, feel "undemocratic" for want of a better word because there's a thick wad of english wingers who have been better than him for some time and we'll definitely be in danger of sparking up the old favouritism disputes of last tour.

The reason I would probably choose North is because despite their flashes of brilliance I categorically do not trust the following:

1) May
2) Yarde
3) Zebo
4) Earls
5) (obviously) Cuthbert

 

[ratsapprentice]

Trouble is who would want to work under Howley?

I don't know, but Wilkinson and Ben Ryan have been mentioned.

I think if George North was a Kiwi he'd have a better strike rate than Savea.

Big fan.