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(Very) early thoughts on the 2017 Lions

0tago said:
If Blade Thompson becomes a regular All Black I will eat my boots.

Todd is well ahead of him.
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But they cover different positions. Todd is an out and out 7. Once Ardie Savea finishes with the sevens/Olympics he'll be chosen ahead of Todd imo, to compete with Cane at 7. Neither will be chosen regularly at 6 for the ABs.

Anyway, I mentioned Blade Thompson's name, so no need to get your knickers in a twist over him. I rate Dixon higher than him from what I've seen and more likely to be a long term replacement at 6 than Todd or Blade Thompson.
 
The_Blindside said:
But they cover different positions. Todd is an out and out 7. Once Ardie Savea finishes with the sevens/Olympics he'll be chosen ahead of Todd imo, to compete with Cane at 7. Neither will be chosen regularly at 6 for the ABs.

Anyway, I mentioned Blade Thompson's name, so no need to get your knickers in a twist over him. I rate Dixon higher than him from what I've seen and more likely to be a long term replacement at 6 than Todd or Blade Thompson.
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Not true, Todd is more than capable of playing blindside as well, he's played that position many times for the ITM winning Canterbury team. Dixon should definitely be in there, this Rio campaign is a bit of a distraction in all honesty, maybe they have told Ardie to go off and play it like that did with Nonu years ago, but I'm scratching my head a little because I thought this would be the perfect year to groom A.Savea more and same goes for A.Ioane and we actually really need SBW this season, really not a fan of this 7's business.
 
0tago said:
Not true, Todd is more than capable of playing blindside as well, he's played that position many times for the ITM winning Canterbury team. Dixon should definitely be in there, this Rio campaign is a bit of a distraction in all honesty, maybe they have told Ardie to go off and play it like that did with Nonu years ago, but I'm scratching my head a little because I thought this would be the perfect year to groom A.Savea more and same goes for A.Ioane and we actually really need SBW this season, really not a fan of this 7's business.
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Big difference between playing 6 in the ITM cup and test level. Look Todd is just not going to be picked at 6 for the ABs when ABs have bigger and better options imo. Todd will be chosen to compete at 7 and for my money he's 2nd in the pecking order until Ardie is available, by which time he'll then be third. And that's not taking into account how quickly Gibson of the Blues develops.

Also Hansen has gone on record to say that the ABs or him have had any say in whether players can or can't play at the Olympics. See: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...lympics-decision-was-completely-up-to-players

Akira Ioane would even be ahead of Todd at 6, when he's available after the Olympics. But as I've questioned in the post RWC ABs thread, I don't know how much of a line out option he is and i think at this point Dixon is the more rounded player and has more Super Rugby seasons under his belt. No question Akira is a talent, and will at some point he will be blooded by Hansen, more than likely at 6.
 
The_Blindside said:
Big difference between playing 6 in the ITM cup and test level. Look Todd is just not going to be picked at 6 for the ABs when ABs have bigger and better options imo. Todd will be chosen to compete at 7 and for my money he's 2nd in the pecking order until Ardie is available, by which time he'll then be third. And that's not taking into account how quickly Gibson of the Blues develops.

Also Hansen has gone on record to say that the ABs or him have had any say in whether players can or can't play at the Olympics. See: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...lympics-decision-was-completely-up-to-players

Akira Ioane would even be ahead of Todd at 6, when he's available after the Olympics. But as I've questioned in the post RWC ABs thread, I don't know how much of a line out option he is and i think at this point Dixon is the more rounded player and has more Super Rugby seasons under his belt. No question Akira is a talent, and will at some point he will be blooded by Hansen, more than likely at 6.
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I personally think it's a mistake some of them taking up 7's. I can understand Messams desire a little because he was becoming fringe and less of a feature. SBW is jsut being SBW, but it was actually a chance for him to show his maturity and step into a leadership role for the AB's, especially with the inexperienced MF we're now left with. Ardie has nearly written off his Lions tour chances as well as Ioane. Really not smart decisions.
 
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An old thread, I know, but who do people think has put a hand up for potential Lions selection today? Obviously Ireland are yet to play, but from Wales and England, who's upped their chances as well as who's made you think that maybe they shouldn't go that you thought would have done.

For me, Itoje has cemented his place in the squad, maybe even as a starter. If Haskell can continue on today's form then I'd be happy to see him take a back row spot in the squad. However, with Williams' great display at 15 put up against Brown's poor one, I'd have thought Williams has a decent chance at taking Brown's place. North once again showed that he is one of the few NH players who, physically can really take it to the SH sides and beat their defenders.

Discuss
 
All speculation, but nice to anticipate - injuries and form permitting:

No way Brown will make it: his decision making and lack of real pace is slowly being shown up for England, let alone the Lions. Much better options out there than him.

Itoje: well there is enough Jizz on this forum already about him. Clearly a Test Match animal and would be in my Lions squad without a shadow of a doubt. Makes Lancaster's decision not choosing him in the RWC squad all the more ludicrous.

North- certainly for his experience last time round if nothing else. At his very best, up there with the very best wingers in world rugby. And you need a top class "big" winger in your squad.
 
I can't help feeling that J. Davies is consistently getting worse. His passing game sometimes just comes across as ludicrous, throwing high 3 man miss passes and some of his physicality seems to have gone. I'd have thought that JJ and Henshaw are both ahead of him for the Lions 13 shirt at the moment. If he makes the squad it's as 12/13 cover, rather than a starting shirt for sure.

Faletau also completely out performed Vunipola today. Vunipola just doesn't have the fitness to take on the southern hemisphere.

On another note, what are the chances of Jones coaching the Lions? Surely they've got to be quite high considering the way in which he's rejuvenated the England team.
 
Eddie Jones has gone on record as ruling himself out to be the next Lions coach.
 
Lions team of today's form:
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Dylan Hartley
3. Cole
4. Itoje
5. Wyn Jones
6. Henderson
7. Haskell
8. Faletau
9. Webb
10. Ford
11. North
12. Farrell
13. JJ
14. Nowell
15. Williams
 
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TobyBeastTeague said:
Lions team of today's form:
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Dylan Hartley
3. Cole
4. Itoje
5. Wyn Jones
6. Henderson
7. Haskell
8. Vunipola
9. Webb
10. Ford
11. North
12. Farrell
13. JJ
14. Nowell
15. Williams
Click to expand...

Only one Irishman?
 
j'nuh said:
Faletau was better than Vunipola today.
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Oops, I meant to put Faletau there. I've corrected it.

- - - Updated - - -

TRF_Peat said:
Only one Irishman?
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I was trying to put more in there, but can you honestly say any more should be? If you have any suggestions I'm open to them, but I think all were out performed TBH.
 

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