(Very) early thoughts on the 2017 Lions

[Vieux Talonneur]

Gray's in the form of his life, agreed. Itoje's going OK, but I don't think he's tearing up too many trees at the moment. Certainly not enough to overtake a 100 cap experience differential.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Gray's in the form of his life, agreed. Itoje's going OK, but I don't think he's tearing up too many trees at the moment. Certainly not enough to overtake a 100 cap experience differential.

You shouldn't get picked just because you have 100 caps if there are better or more in form players. Launchbury is currently the best lock in the northern hemisphere and Gray is also phenomenal.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

You shouldn't get picked just because you have 100 caps if there are better or more in form players. Launchbury is currently the best lock in the northern hemisphere and Gray is also phenomenal.

Agreed, but experience is a huge thing in test rugby, especially in the front 5 and you don't cast that aside unless someone else is making a really compelling case. When they do, on a sustained basis, the shirt's theirs. But down under there's a strong argument that the Lions may need Jones' guaranteed 7/10 every week more than someone who blows hotter and colder.

Its a very difficult one. Launch is a great player, but not sure he's right at the top of the NH pile at the moment.

 

[McTallshort]

Yeah I know all the form stuff etc etc but I would just get excited about seeing those two in the same side, great set piece, great carrying, great workrate. Very mobile too.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Agreed, but experience is a huge thing in test rugby, especially in the front 5 and you don't cast that aside unless someone else is making a really compelling case. When they do, on a sustained basis, the shirt's theirs. But down under there's a strong argument that the Lions may need Jones' guaranteed 7/10 every week more than someone who blows hotter and colder.

Its a very difficult one. Launch is a great player, but not sure he's right at the top of the NH pile at the moment.

Who is though? Don't get me wrong right now AWJ would probably be in my 23 but not to start. I'm not sure who is actively better than Launch right now? due to injury and then playing blindside for England, Itoje simply hasn't been able to continue the momentum he had, same applies to Kruis. Henderson is a hell of player, also ahead of AWJ right now, as is Gray Jnr. And by the way, while I'm not going to say Launch is ready for lions captaining, he's been good for Wasps and for England on the weekend was one of the few trying to get the other guys hyped up when we were under the cosh.

 

[Ruud]

How about this for a squad:

(Brackets being the inevitable injury replacements!)

Loosehead Prop:
Jack McGrath
Mako Vunipola
Gethin Jenkins
(Joe Marler)

Hooker:
Rory Best
Dylan Hartley
Jamie George
(Ken Owens)

Tighthead Prop:
Tadhg Furlong
Dan Cole
WP Nel
(Kyle Sinckler)

Lock:
Alun Wyn Jones (capt)
Joe Launchbury
Maro Itoje
Richie Gray
Jonny Gray
(George Kruis, Ian Henderson)

Back Row:
Sean O'Brien
Sam Warburton
CJ Stander
Chris Robshaw
James Haskell
Jamie Heaslip
Billy Vunipola
(Ross Moriarty, Justin Tipuric)

Scrum-Half:
Conor Murray
Ben Youngs
Rhys Webb
(Greig Laidlaw)

Fly-Half:
Jonny Sexton
Dan Biggar
(George Ford)

Centre:
Owen Farrell
Robbie Henshaw
Jonathan Davies
Jonathan Joseph
(Huw Jones)

Wing:
Elliot Daly
Anthony Watson
Sean Maitland
George North
(Simon Zebo)

Full Back:
Stuart Hogg
Leigh Halfpenny
Liam Williams
(Rob Kearney)

14 English
9 Irish
9 Welsh
5 Scottish

All opinions and comments welcomed

 

[Goodey]

It'll be a greatly expanded squad from last time I think. 40+ players. The midweek fixtures will be coming thick and fast and are supposed to be against full strength Super Rugby sides, unlike last time. So while the Lions of 2013 ended up playing people like Barritt, Wade and a retired Shane Williams towards the end as squad members I think we'll see a second string 23 taking shape quite quickly this time.

 

[McTallshort]

Kruis instead of Richie Gray, not sure about Maitland and Gethin Jenkins? Otherwise could live with that

 

[Goodey]

Yeah probably Healy over Jenkins. Latter isn't getting an international kit back on any time soon, though they do normally like to take someone who can scrum both sides.

On the front row I reckon if Owens keeps playing the way he did against England he'll get in over Hartley.

 

[McTallshort]

Wouldn't have Hartley near the Lions at the minute

 

[corny]

-Jenkins has no business being named.
-If the Scots win at Twickenham, Hamish Watson might be a shout. Not the Gatland archetype but effective none the less.
-There are a good few wingers i'd pick ahead of Maitland.
-Agree Hartley doesn't deserve to tour.
-How is Marty Moore getting on at Wasps? I know he's injury prone but ability wise i think he's good enough to tour. Do you have to be playing international rugby to be selected? Nick Abendanon on anyones radar?

 

[munstermuffin]

Nick Abendanon is probably handicapped by release issues

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I don't rate him over Hogg or Williams anyway. And I wouldn't say he's noticeably better than Halfpenny.

 

[Goodey]

Maitland is technically an incumbent and hasn't gone anywhere since 2013. Wouldn't be too surprised at him getting called up.

 

[FLOBALOB]

Maitland is technically an incumbent and hasn't gone anywhere since 2013. Wouldn't be too surprised at him getting called up.

Thats why he wont go.
Quite a few others have gone somehere since 2013,right past him in pecking order.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

As it stands, this is the squad we're getting from Gatland.He's expected to name 35 or 36. My preferences if applicable are in brackets.

Hooker:
Rory Best
Jamie George
Ken Owens

Loosehead Prop:
Jack McGraph
Mako Vunipola
Allan Dell


Tighthead Prop
Tadhg Furlong
Dan Cole
Zander Fagerson

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

Flankers:
Sean O'Brien
CJ Stander
Sam Warburton
Hamish Watson (James Haskell)
Toby Faletau (Yep, I think he'll go as a flanker, effectively at the expense of someone like Haskell or Watson. You heard it here first)

Number 8:
Jamie Heaslip
Billy Vunipola

Scrum Half:
Connor Murray
Ben Youngs (Dan Robson)
Gregg Laidlaw (Rhys Webb)

Fly-half
SAM DAVIES
Johnny Sexton
Fin Russell

Centres
Owen Farrell
Robbie Henshaw
Jonathan Davies ( Elliott Daly)
Ben Te'o
Jonathan Joseph


Outside Backs
Stuart Hogg
Liam Williams
George North
Leigh Halfpenny (Simon Zebo/Tommy Seymour)
Anthony Watson

11 English
10 Irish
8 Welsh
7 Scottish

Making the unlucky 15 as follows:

1. Cian Healy
2. Dylan Hartley
3. Kyle Sinkler
4. George Kruis
5. Courtney Lawes
6. James Haskell
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Nathan Hughes

9. Rhys Webb
10. George Ford
11. Johnny May / Simon Zebo
12. Alex Dunbar
13. Huw Jones
14. Tommy Seymour
15. Elliott Daly

 

[Peat]

I thought the Scottish scrum had been getting marmalised? Not that I'd be taking Dell ahead of Healy or Marler anyway, and neither will be Gatland, take that one to the bank.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I thought the Scottish scrum had been getting marmalised? Not that I'd be taking Dell ahead of Healy or Marler anyway, and neither will be Gatland, take that one to the bank.

There's about 2 players I this squad I haven't seen much of and Dell is one of them. I thought he was fancied though? I would really trust Marler and haven't seen much of Cian since his return.

 

[BPM]

I thought the Scottish scrum had been getting marmalised? Not that I'd be taking Dell ahead of Healy or Marler anyway, and neither will be Gatland, take that one to the bank.

100% agree. The pecking order at loosehead has a good few players ahead of Dell by my reckoning. McGrath and Mako are the most likely first and second choice with Marler, Healy and a few Welsh props ahead of Dell. Dickinson would be ahead of Dell too if he's fit, I'd wager.

 

[g6mcg]

Agreed on Dell and Fagerson being very unlikely. Nel may be in with a shout depending on when he's back, as I don't think there's a clear third tighthead.

Surprised to see Henderson as likely at lock - I've not been that impressed by him there yet and there's a lot of strong options.