(Very) early thoughts on the 2017 Lions

[ALJ]

Flankers:

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)

I've been thinking about this exact position for Faletau for the Lions (i.e. why can't TF and BV play together).

Not sure if he will actually travel as a flanker (or if we would even know when the squad is picked) but I think TF on the blindside would be an excellent fit.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Great day for Warren Gatland yesterday, Seymour - Hogg - Williams must be the starting back three. Heaslip, Murray, Sexton are the best 8, 9 and 10. There's only 9 positions that should be mostly English to figure out.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Great day for Warren Gatland yesterday, Seymour - Hogg - Williams must be the starting back three. Heaslip, Murray, Sexton are the best 8, 9 and 10. There's only 9 positions that should be mostly English to figure out.

Think that's premature. Seymour was good but Visser also great. Thought Williams didn't have his best although he was good. I rate Heaslip, I do, but he definitely hasn't bagged that spot yet.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Vunipola would still be my 8 but Heaslip is playing himself above TF.
Watson for me should be in line for the lions 7 shirt he has outplayed all the other flankers he has been against despite having a backwards pack but I reckon Warburton will be starting
Murray is miles ahead at 9.

Would like to see ATM:
1) Vunipola
2) Best
3) Cole
4) Itoje
5) Kruis/Launchbury
6) Stander
7) Watson
8) Vunipola
9) Murray
10) sexton
11) Williams
12) Farrell
13) Joesph
14) Seymour
15) Hogg

16) George (IMO)
17) McGath
18) Furlong
19) Kruis/Launchbury
20) Heaslip/O'Brien
21) Webb
22) Henshaw (Farrell covering 10)
23) Daly

- - - Updated - - -

Think that's premature. Seymour was good but Visser also great. Thought Williams didn't have his best although he was good. I rate Heaslip, I do, but he definitely hasn't bagged that spot yet.

Seymour IMO has been the best winger in the home nations all season in my eyes, been great for Glasgow and Scotland.
Visser benefited from being up against a crap North.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I didn't think Heaslip was particularly stand out yesterday.
He's been good, and definitely 2nd choice atm (Faletau has looked poor in his return so far) but if Binny is even half the player he was when he comes back in a couple of weeks it's his shirt to lose.

 

[Jockstap]

1 McGrath
2 Best
3 Furlong
4 Wyn Jones
5 J. Gray
6 Stander
7 Watson
8 Vunipola
9 Murray
10 Sexton
11 Williams
12 Farrell
13 Henshaw
14 Nowell
15 Hogg

16 Hartley
17 Vunipola
18 Cole
19 Launchbury
20 O'Brien
21 Youngs
22 Russell
23 Joseph

I know Henshaw plays 12 for Ireland but he played 13 against the All Blacks and Aussie and did well. He has to start, if it's between him or Farrell then Farrell goes to the bench for me. The amount of work he goes through for Ireland every game is staggering.

 

[Peat]

You might want to give the hookers something to aim at there :mellow:

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I don't hate that team @Tigs Man, I'm not sure if you need Farell at 12 with Sexton starting, Heaslip starts and finishes for me, George would start for me with Scannell on the bench and Best backing up in case of injury and SOB doesn't tour for me behind of Warburton, Watson and potentially Leavy (I'm sure there's more if I watched other sides closely) but could make it up, I'd like to see Daly over JJ too.
@HenryChinaski I think Seymour is Scotland's best back, Hogg's creativity is needed in a team that won't be properly prepared, Williams does nothing wrong and adds much needed grit, Heaslip is (unique opinion alert) the best player in the world imo and hasn't played badly since the RWC. If these calls were made I'd support the team.

 

[Jockstap]

You might want to give the hookers something to aim at there :mellow:

Who would you sacrifice for a bean pole?

 

[munstermuffin]

Hamish Watson for me is a must at 7. Based on form he's been best 7 over past few weeks. But it's all pointless as I've feeling this may be like the 05 tour and pick the name as opposed to the form.

On Owen Farrell I'd have him in team as he's a fabulous player and in my eyes England won't rate him highly enough until he's missing a few games and they see how vital he is.

 

[Peat]

Who would you sacrifice for a bean pole?

Not sure tbh. Helpful of me I know.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Am I the only one who would be ****** if AWJ was picked as captain after this comment:
m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39092731

If I was Bigger or Halfpenny I would be livid with him.

Farrell is the form 12 in my eyes and is probably the biggest leader out of any other the backs for England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales

Can see Gatland picking a squad of
1) Vunipola, McGrath, Marler
2) Hartley, Best, George
3) Cole, Furlong, Lee/Francis
4) AWJ, Launchbury, Lawes/Kruis
5) Itoje, Charteris
6) Stander, Haskell, Moriarty
7) Warburton, Tips, O'Brien
8) Vunipola, TF, Heaslip
9) Murray, Webb, Youngs
10) Sexton, Bigger
11) North, Seymour,
12) Farrell, Henshaw, Williams
13) Davies, Joesph,
14) Williams, Watson, Nowell
15) Halfpenny, Hogg

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Aye,
AWJ was my pick for caption before but after yesterday I'd choose literally anyone else.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Heaslip lads, trust me!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

You can't captain the test side from the dirt road side

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Henson for Lions 12.

I'm on that there Henson bandwagon again.

 

[Jockstap]

Am I the only one who would be ****** if AWJ was picked as captain after this comment:
m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39092731

If I was Bigger or Halfpenny I would be livid with him.

Farrell is the form 12 in my eyes and is probably the biggest leader out of any other the backs for England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales

Can see Gatland picking a squad of
1) Vunipola, McGrath, Marler
2) Hartley, Best, George
3) Cole, Furlong, Lee/Francis
4) AWJ, Launchbury, Lawes/Kruis
5) Itoje, Charteris
6) Stander, Haskell, Moriarty
7) Warburton, Tips, O'Brien
8) Vunipola, TF, Heaslip
9) Murray, Webb, Youngs
10) Sexton, Bigger
11) North, Seymour,
12) Farrell, Henshaw, Williams
13) Davies, Joesph,
14) Williams, Watson, Nowell
15) Halfpenny, Hogg

A bigger leader than Sexton? Nonsense. I agree with most of the squad it's just the order of choice you're way off the mark, especially the front and back rows. It'll be settled in Dublin anyway. Providing Ireland can get past Wales and England have a good game against Scotland.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

A bigger leader than Sexton? Nonsense. I agree with most of the squad it's just the order of choice you're way off the mark, especially the front and back rows. It'll be settled in Dublin anyway. Providing Ireland can get past Wales and England have a good game against Scotland.

Yeh Sexton is nothing compared to Farrel in terms of leadership.

And that wasn't in any order.

 

[Jockstap]

Yeh Sexton is nothing compared to Farrel in terms of leadership.

And that wasn't in any order.

You're a nutter, Sexton would be Captain if wasn't playing 10. He's the best leader we have in a team of leaders. My dad would bate the ****e out of your dad.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

You're a nutter, Sexton would be Captain if wasn't playing 10. He's the best leader we have in a team of leaders. My dad would bate the ****e out of your dad.

Yer da sells avon