(Very) early thoughts on the 2017 Lions

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Wonder what the lions might look like if you split it into junior academies.
Say English POV.
Saracens - 4 (George, Itoje, Kruis, Farrell)
Tigers - 2 (Cole, Youngs)
Harlequins - 2 (Sink, Marler)
Wasps - 2 (Billy V, Daly)
Worcester - 1 (Hartley)
Irish - 1 (Watson)
Bristol - 1 (Mako)

And if Launchbury, Ford and JJ are in that would give +1 to Quins, Tigers and Irish.

 

[Maverick1987]

Ha it'd be priceless if Donnacha is seen as good enough for Lions but not good enough for Irish contract.

He'd add dog to pack hugely though and be that prick in 2nd row that good packs need. All the contenders for pack are monsters but no real agressive streak in them. Like CJ is a monster but a real nice guy. You need 1 or 2 like Ryan that are right bollixs that will puck first then ask.

I'm sorry but I don't care if he's got as much dog as the RSPCA he's just not close to the standard of Launchbury .... if Joe doesn't go it will be a travesty

To be fair it suits us (England) we need someone to captain the Argentina tour and Joe can do that . Fingers crossed they leave George out too

 

[Bada-Bing!]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-un...george-ford-chris-robshaw-among-englands-six/

Telegraph corroborating BBC's story that Launchbury and JJ not making it. Ford, Brown, Robshaw and Haskell also unlikely.
Although looking like 7 props and Marler will make it. Hartley looks like 50/50.

 

[Maverick1987]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ru...406/Launchbury-Joseph-set-miss-cut-Lions.html

Daily Mail too .....

 

[TRF_Cymro]

 

[NickBD]

Understand Ford, Brown, Haskel, Robshaw, Hartley not making the cut. Even get Launchbury, I know he was great in 6N but as mentioned the amount of locks to pick, world class lock would miss out.

However Joseph missing out is a farce. Going for big backs again, wouldn't be surprised to see Roberts.

I do like Sinckler going on tour. He was very impressive coming off the bench.

 

[munstermuffin]

I'm sorry but I don't care if he's got as much dog as the RSPCA he's just not close to the standard of Launchbury .... if Joe doesn't go it will be a travesty

To be fair it suits us (England) we need someone to captain the Argentina tour and Joe can do that . Fingers crossed they leave George out too

No point being good technically if you have no bite. Look at recent NZ losses and you'll see every pack had a dog in it. Ryan also did number on English 2nd rows in 6Nations. 1 game Ireland's pack looked off was Scottish game when he was off but pack had no bite.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I wonder if cuthbert will be going

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

I wouldn't mind biggar going cause who gives a **** about third choice fly-half. If JJ doesn't go that would be a disgrace.

 

[Goodey]

Understand Ford, Brown, Haskel, Robshaw, Hartley not making the cut. Even get Launchbury, I know he was great in 6N but as mentioned the amount of locks to pick, world class lock would miss out.

However Joseph missing out is a farce. Going for big backs again, wouldn't be surprised to see Roberts.

I do like Sinckler going on tour. He was very impressive coming off the bench.

Generally agree with this, there are a bunch of different pack combinations that could work but Joseph should be nailed on

 

[BobbyM]

I really don't get the call of going for just "crash ball" forwards. NZ will have SBW back and fekitoa, there's a more physical centre partnership than any of those mentioned above. Already getting the feeling that, as per usual with Gatland, it's a cop-out of a team with him picking players based on rep rather than form.

 

[BobbyM]

I should say "crash ball" centres rather than forwards

 

[FLOBALOB]

I should say "crash ball" centres rather than forwards

I wouldnt call Elliot Daly a crash ball centre.

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I should say "crash ball" centres rather than forwards

I wouldnt call Elliot Daly a crash ball centre.

 

[Maverick1987]

I wonder if cuthbert will be going

He's gonna be captain mate ....

 

[MikeTheNative]

I'll be disappointed if both Joseph and Launchbury don't go, it will be a shame that one of the most exciting centres in the Northern Hemisphere doesn't play.

 

[Maverick1987]

No point being good technically if you have no bite. Look at recent NZ losses and you'll see every pack had a dog in it. Ryan also did number on English 2nd rows in 6Nations. 1 game Ireland's pack looked off was Scottish game when he was off but pack had no bite.

I wouldn't take too much out of the England vs Ireland game . It was just one game where Ireland played really well and England didn't (tbh I still think we would have beaten you if Heaslip was fit cos it was POM that did all the damage ....) Ireland beat NZ but you wouldn't have Ryan in a combined Ire/NZ team

 

[General Melchett]

I wouldn't mind biggar going cause who gives a **** about third choice fly-half. If JJ doesn't go that would be a disgrace.

Third choice fly half could well find himself playing in the tests if Sexton gets injured and Farrell plays at 12. With HIA now in play, I think we will see more replacements called up than in any other Lions tour. It's a brutal schedule and it looks like the centres will be asked to run through brick walls.

 

[TobesHodges]

My Lions Starting Team :-

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje
5. Ian Henderson
6. CJ Stander
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Billy Vunipola

9. Connor Murray
10. Johnny Sexton
11. Liam Williams
12. Owen Farrell
13. Robbie Henshaw
14. Jack Nowell
15. Stewart Hogg

16. Rory Best
17. JP Nel
18. Jack McGrath
19. Johnny Gray
20. James Haskell
21. Rhys Webb
22. Finn Russell
23. Anthony Watson

 

[munstermuffin]

I wouldn't take too much out of the England vs Ireland game . It was just one game where Ireland played really well and England didn't (tbh I still think we would have beaten you if Heaslip was fit cos it was POM that did all the damage ....) Ireland beat NZ but you wouldn't have Ryan in a combined Ire/NZ team

I'm not necessarily saying Ryan needs to be in. And certaintly not dismissing Launchbury. More the pack needs a bit of a bollix. Ryan if he get selected would deserve it for his form. And in a combined Ire NZ team I'd have him in. But more as I rate him the best lock available to Ireland and would start with Whitelock for me. But that's because I don't think All Blacks have great depth at lock

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I wouldn't take too much out of the England vs Ireland game . It was just one game where Ireland played really well and England didn't (tbh I still think we would have beaten you if Heaslip was fit cos it was POM that did all the damage ....) Ireland beat NZ but you wouldn't have Ryan in a combined Ire/NZ team

That's not the case whatsoever, POM improved the lineout and that was it, we stole one and England bizarrely decided not to challenge ours, Henderson was also calling them which was a first. Heaslip would have been better around the park and freed up CJ and SOB to have a bit more fun. There's also a hell of a lot of weight being put on Scotland's performance against England.

I think you're mixing up "bite" and an engine in the second row muff, with SOB, Furlong and McGrath Ireland didn't lack "bite" but Henderson and Toner aren't going to do the work Ryan does, AWJ, Kruis and Launchbury do though!

Are all these "JJ is a class above" statements based on what he has done in previous years? If you take the Scotland game out of the equation where everything was given to England's attack he was really just on Jones' and Ringrose's level, better defence but worse attack than Jones and Ringrose's game v Scotland aside there's not much difference in their defensive game whatsoever and while Jones is a better runner given space, Ringrose is more likely to create something under pressure. If the rumoured centres do travel he's got it wrong but for me Ringrose over JJ isn't madness whatsoever especially considering Ringrose was comfortably better than JJ and then Daly in the last two significant rounds prior to selection, I'd have them both over Te'o, who is not good enough to start at test level imo, and JD2. Schmidt or Cotter wouldn't go near Te'o or JD2 if they were coaching.

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I'm not necessarily saying Ryan needs to be in. And certaintly not dismissing Launchbury. More the pack needs a bit of a bollix. Ryan if he get selected would deserve it for his form. And in a combined Ire NZ team I'd have him in. But more as I rate him the best lock available to Ireland and would start with Whitelock for me. But that's because I don't think All Blacks have great depth at lock

You think Donnacha Ryan is better than former IRB player of the year Brodie Retallick?... That's a bit of a stretch now!