(Very) early thoughts on the 2017 Lions

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Seymour isn't even starting for Sale though.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hell do a job in the second row with Armitage, though

 

[Mumbles119]

My possible 2017 Lions Team
Team, Squad
15 Stuart Hogg, Leigh Halfpenny, Mike Brown
14 Anthony Watson, Andrew Trimble
13 Robbie Henshaw, Jonathan Joseph, Jonathan Davies
12 Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi, Scott Williams
11 George North, Jack Nowell,
10 George Ford, Dan Biggar, Johnny Sexton
9 Conor Murray, Rhys Webb, Ben Youngs
8 Billy Vunipola,
7 James Haskell, Sam Warburton,
6 Taulupe Faletau, CJ Stander, Justin Tipuric
5 George Kruis, Steffon Armitage, Alun Wynn Jones
4 Maro Itoje, Iain Henderson, Courtney Lawes
3 WP Nel, Dan Cole, Samson Lee
2 Dylan Hartley ©, Rory Best
1 Mako Vunipola, Jack McGrath, Cian Healy

Welcome to the forum jcon!

I have to ask... Steffan Armitage at 5! Was that a typo?

 

[ratsapprentice]

I have to ask... is it that difficult to spell Steffon! Was that a typo?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I have to ask... is it that difficult to spell Steffon! Was that a typo?

I thought he was Teflon Armitage.

 

[Mumbles119]

I have to ask... is it that difficult to spell Steffon! Was that a typo?

Yes it was. Sorry. Consider me reprimanded.

 

[ratsapprentice]

****ing right.

 

[Saint4805]

I like Seymour - especially impressed with him under the high ball and is a good finisher. However, I suspect Gatland may favour Maitland over him, having picked him on the last Lions tour, that he can cover wing and full back and also being a Kiwi knows the NZ conditions well.

I'd say Maitland is better defensively and has the versatility to play 15 but that aside Seymour is the better option. If Liam Williams gets picked (along with 1/2P and Hogg) then Maitland as an option to cover 15 is less crucial although I agree Gatland might favour him because of the kiwi factor and playing for Saracens won't do him any harm.

 

[Zootalaws]

Early thoughts? Yer gonna lose, but will give it a decent shove.

Half a dozen or so players will create a scene in a bar/club/public.

Everyone will have a great time.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Locks this time round is going to be so competitive. The Lions have 3 "towers" that can be picked who are over 6 foot 8 - particularly useful in mauls and using their inspector gadget like arms to get to the ball being protected at the back. The ones I am thinking of are:

Devon Toner
Richie Gray
Luke Charteris

I think Gatland will pick at least one of these in the squad, just to give a different option. So, if he does pick AWJ, Itoje, Kruis, and one of the above, then it looks like between Johnny Gray, Launchbury, Henderson and Lawes for the fifth lock spot. Out of those Henderson's versatility to cover 6 may give him the nod.

 

[westernforce]

mumbles

hartley captain ?? pls don't make me laugh..

 

[Jockstap]

Who the **** is going to be Captain? The Captain has always been the guy who is a nailed on starter, but this time around there aren't any, maybe Conor Muray and Billy Vunipola? It has to be Rory Best now right, after Hartley pulled a Hartley?

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Who the **** is going to be Captain? The Captain has always been the guy who is a nailed on starter, but this time around there aren't any, maybe Conor Muray and Billy Vunipola? It has to be Rory Best now right, after Hartley pulled a Hartley?

Is Vunipola nailed on? I'd have Faletau over him. For me the nailed on are Itoje (At 4 or 6, you gotta fit him in), Murray and Henshaw (12 or 13).

 

[munstermuffin]

If Sexton is fit would he be nailed on as a starter. He is captain material. Itoje has captained underage and would be a call similar to that of Martin Johnson in 97 and he turned out OK.
But personally for me the best captains are those in the pack.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Has Gatland ever chosen a back as a captain? I can't recall, but I doubt he would pick one as captain.

 

[j'nuh]

Who the **** is going to be Captain? The Captain has always been the guy who is a nailed on starter, but this time around there aren't any, maybe Conor Muray and Billy Vunipola? It has to be Rory Best now right, after Hartley pulled a Hartley?

Alun Wyn Jones for me. He's one of few players in the NH who lives up to the adage "form is temporary, class is permanent". Even if there are two players more in form than him at the time... it would take a big gap in form for me to think he shouldn't start. Even then, I think there may be ways of accommodating three talented locks in a XV, with Henderson or Itoje a possibility at 6.

I also think it's really strange that he doesn't captain Wales.

Best and Sexton could also be decent options. Although both have the issue of likely being replaced halfway through the second halves of tests.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I am also leaning towards AWJ as captain. Just hope he's saving his best form for 2017.

 

[Jockstap]

I am also leaning towards AWJ as captain. Just hope he's saving his best form for 2017.

I'd be happy with AWJ but how is he playing these days? Sexton is a natural leader, the guy is a general, but he gets injured too easily.

 

[corny]

Warburton will be captain. Gatland has already shown he favours continuity.

Wouldn't pick Wyn Jones. He tends to get a bit edgy with the chat to the refs. I thought he was gonna attack Marius Mitrea on Friday. We need a better talker because lets face it, there's no Martin Johnson type figure waiting to be picked...the only relevant function of the captain will be to chat to the ref.

Sexton won't survive the warm up games. There'll be no gimme tests against the Kiwi franchises and they're obviously going to look to soften him up. You can't wrap him in cotton wool and he'll be carrying a lot of ****les that late in the season. Can't see him making it.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

It's going to be Warburton or AWJ as captain. A forward and a Welsh player.Hartley's blown his chances IMO after his thuggish attack on SOB, as he is the only other player I think Gatland would consider as captain. Warburton would make a good tour captain; just don't think on current form he is the best 7.

I can't see Sexton's body holding up either, which is why I hope Ford goes as a third fly half and Gatland doesn't go for Biggar.

- - - Updated - - -

I'd be happy with AWJ but how is he playing these days? Sexton is a natural leader, the guy is a general, but he gets injured too easily.

From the games I've see him play this year, not totally on top form for Wales. Still he is class when he is and has credit in the bank after captaining the last winning Lions test.