Teo gone, Kruis gone, O Mahoney gone

[Hawk97]

Sexton and Faz

http://www.the42.ie/analysis-sexton-far ... 7-Jun2017/


That's what they should bring.

[Hareaway]

You guys clearly all rate him highly , i have watched him against us for a few years now and cant share your enthusiasm.

Not that highly- how many times have you watched him play nz?

Are we doing the 2012 dance ?

If so no worries , he was great that day

As good as he was bad last weekend .

[Margin_Walker]

You guys clearly all rate him highly , i have watched him against us for a few years now and cant share your enthusiasm.

Not that highly- how many times have you watched him play nz?

Are we doing the 2012 dance ?

If so no worries , he was great that day

As good as he was bad last weekend .

Last played the ABs in 2014. He really is a much better player than he was then.

[JM2K6]

Bottom line is that we're going to lose no matter who he picks. But he is all over the shop.

Yeah, the argument of win the test and it'll all be forgotten seems at this stage an unlikely scenario.

Despite everything - in particular the utter farce over the back up picks and the lack of Scots - I still hope they can do it. Gatland is a tough man to like though, and common sense says the AB's will fancy asserting their control in a big way

Should read this, makes you remember that they are all just people trying to do their best, we could do with remembering that sometimes.

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/ ... per-abroad

Although I still want to kick his shins.

Ummm

"We all like to think we influence selection, but of course we don't," Trudi says. "Sam Warburton's always been a favourite of mine because he's just a good guy right across the board -- he doesn't have any bad behaviours, he's a gentleman, he's a professional, he's a great player and his family are lovely.

"Before the Lions four years ago, we went out for dinner and I said to Warren, 'can I have a selection'. And he said yeah, and at that stage Sam was captain of Wales, so I said he'd be good on the tour and Warren said okay, I'll keep that in mind. And then I said 'okay, can he be captain?', and he said 'well now you're pushing it'. So for this one, he said 'suppose you want a selection' and I said 'yep, I'll have Sam'."

and you think this makes Gatland MORE appealing?

[Corkmunsterman]

Bottom line is that we're going to lose no matter who he picks. But he is all over the shop.

Yeah, the argument of win the test and it'll all be forgotten seems at this stage an unlikely scenario.

Despite everything - in particular the utter farce over the back up picks and the lack of Scots - I still hope they can do it. Gatland is a tough man to like though, and common sense says the AB's will fancy asserting their control in a big way

Should read this, makes you remember that they are all just people trying to do their best, we could do with remembering that sometimes.

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/ ... per-abroad

Although I still want to kick his shins.

Ummm

"We all like to think we influence selection, but of course we don't," Trudi says. "Sam Warburton's always been a favourite of mine because he's just a good guy right across the board -- he doesn't have any bad behaviours, he's a gentleman, he's a professional, he's a great player and his family are lovely.

"Before the Lions four years ago, we went out for dinner and I said to Warren, 'can I have a selection'. And he said yeah, and at that stage Sam was captain of Wales, so I said he'd be good on the tour and Warren said okay, I'll keep that in mind. And then I said 'okay, can he be captain?', and he said 'well now you're pushing it'. So for this one, he said 'suppose you want a selection' and I said 'yep, I'll have Sam'."

and you think this makes Gatland MORE appealing?

sonny parker anyone?

[backrow]

I actually think the only way for the Lions to win, is to start lots of fights, cheat, and hope the AB's have an off day. With that line up, and current form, I just don't see much other hope

(and for the fighting I would have kept Teo & POM on)

[nardol]

All this selection stuff is subjective, the arguments are in the margins everyone selected is a deserved Lion.

The issue going in to the 2nd test and the one sure thing that everybody being honest has to agree with - The drafting in of the Welsh nobodies to the Lions in a pre arranged style was the worst decision since 2005.
It: 1. hurt the lions brand and tradition 2. damaged the ability of the team to perform to its potential with 80 min full game appearances mid week for players selected in the 23 today 3. Hurt the poor players brought in. 4. Left the lions short of man power by then not playing these players as subs (but then did for some anyway when he had to)

You have to question Garland's decision making ability when he made such a bad decision that was just bad but blatantly obviously so beforehand.

[Gospel]

The six shirt really is a poison chalice. Everyone who has played blindside on this tour has been roundly trashed. This piano lifting malarky is a thankless task.

[Mr. Very Popular]

For JTB

Maro Itoje says he will calling the Lions' lineout on Saturday. Big test for his ability in that area.

[bessantj]

You look at the team and then you realise the players that HAVEN'T been picked. Gatland was a FOOL not to take Jamie Roberts on tour!!!!

[Bobcock]

If England were to play the AB's on Saturday Eddie Jones would probably pick a side with current available and fit players that could look something like..

Brown,Watson, JJ, Farrell, Daly, Ford, Care, Mako, George, Cole, Launchbury, Lawes, Itoje, Haskell, Hughes.

Swap Liam Williams for Brown
JD2 for Joseph
Sexton for Ford
Murray for Care
Furlong for Cole
AWJ for Launchbury
SOB for Itoje
Warburton for Haskell
Toby for Hughes

I think most of the replacements are upgrades so this Lions team have a better chance than England would have.

You forgot the part where England get Rob Howley involved.

Same thing really but this explains it better....

[DragsterDriver]

You guys clearly all rate him highly , i have watched him against us for a few years now and cant share your enthusiasm.

Not that highly- how many times have you watched him play nz?

Are we doing the 2012 dance ?

If so no worries , he was great that day

As good as he was bad last weekend .

4 times he's played them in total, last time 3yrs ago.

[Homer]

Kruis deserved to get binned after last week,but I think AWJ is lucky to keep his place - Itoje, Lawes and Henderson have been better IMO.
I can just about understand trying a slightly different back row, but Warburton really hasn't shown any form.
I haven't seen any evidence that Sexton/Farrell will work. When they have been on the pitch together they looked like they were on different wavelengths.

You missed the Crusaders game?

No. What did you see there that made you think Sexton/Farrell will work?

There's more evidence that it'll work rather than not but little for either case.

Based on the limited time they have had on the pitch together, I disagree.

[de_Selby]

Sexton and Faz

http://www.the42.ie/analysis-sexton-far ... 7-Jun2017/


That's what they should bring.

That was written before the 1st test though.

A time of great hope and innocence.

[CM11]

Kruis deserved to get binned after last week,but I think AWJ is lucky to keep his place - Itoje, Lawes and Henderson have been better IMO.
I can just about understand trying a slightly different back row, but Warburton really hasn't shown any form.
I haven't seen any evidence that Sexton/Farrell will work. When they have been on the pitch together they looked like they were on different wavelengths.

You missed the Crusaders game?

No. What did you see there that made you think Sexton/Farrell will work?

There's more evidence that it'll work rather than not but little for either case.

Based on the limited time they have had on the pitch together, I disagree.

The link has been posted above but here you go again:

http://www.the42.ie/analysis-sexton-far ... 7-Jun2017/

[hermie]

I like the team, there I said it. On AWJ apparently he got a knock early in the first test. I thought he went well against the Crusaders which was our best game on tour. He needs to massively up his game but so do all the tight 5 if we're being honest.

[CM11]

I like the team, there I said it. On AWJ apparently he got a knock early in the first test. I thought he went well against the Crusaders which was our best game on tour. He needs to massively up his game but so do all the tight 5 if we're being honest.

My worry about AWJ is that he's not sharp and has not looked sharp all tour even in the games he supposedly played well. Fingers crossed for the guy because obviously he's quality on his best days.

[hermie]

Tipuric should be starting with Stander and Toby. SOB'S slowness to breakdown and handling errors not compensated by his occasional line break and poach.

[DragsterDriver]

I like the team, there I said it. On AWJ apparently he got a knock early in the first test. I thought he went well against the Crusaders which was our best game on tour. He needs to massively up his game but so do all the tight 5 if we're being honest.

My worry about AWJ is that he's not sharp and has not looked sharp all tour even in the games he supposedly played well. Fingers crossed for the guy because obviously he's quality on his best days.

He's looked tired. Modern rugby is for young men and freaks only.

[Hawk97]

Sexton and Faz

http://www.the42.ie/analysis-sexton-far ... 7-Jun2017/


That's what they should bring.

That was written before the 1st test though.

A time of great hope and innocence.

And what's changed? We haven't seen the SexyFaz axis since the Crusaders match.

[de_Selby]

Sexton and Faz

http://www.the42.ie/analysis-sexton-far ... 7-Jun2017/


That's what they should bring.

That was written before the 1st test though.

A time of great hope and innocence.

And what's changed? We haven't seen the SexyFaz axis since the Crusaders match.

We saw it at the end of the 1st test The game was long lost at that stage and they weren't getting any real ball to work with but they did get some time together.

I like the selection of the two of them btw

[hermie]

I like the team, there I said it. On AWJ apparently he got a knock early in the first test. I thought he went well against the Crusaders which was our best game on tour. He needs to massively up his game but so do all the tight 5 if we're being honest.

My worry about AWJ is that he's not sharp and has not looked sharp all tour even in the games he supposedly played well. Fingers crossed for the guy because obviously he's quality on his best days.

True. But the unfortunate thing for the Lions is that Kruis was a bag of shite on Saturday as well. Very difficult to drop both of them, particularly when you're making changes elsewhere.

[Hawk97]

Oh yeah, but the game was gone. I'm quite excited to see it from the get-go. I don't think SBW will monster it, like some are suggesting. Farrell hits harder than Te'o, and Sexton is a tough defender.

[hermie]

I like the team, there I said it. On AWJ apparently he got a knock early in the first test. I thought he went well against the Crusaders which was our best game on tour. He needs to massively up his game but so do all the tight 5 if we're being honest.

My worry about AWJ is that he's not sharp and has not looked sharp all tour even in the games he supposedly played well. Fingers crossed for the guy because obviously he's quality on his best days.

He's looked tired. Modern rugby is for young men and freaks only.

He's got a lot of miles on the clock but he's only 31. Still young for a lock forward.

[theo]

Sexton and Faz

http://www.the42.ie/analysis-sexton-far ... 7-Jun2017/


That's what they should bring.

That was written before the 1st test though.

A time of great hope and innocence.

And what's changed? We haven't seen the SexyFaz axis since the Crusaders match.

We saw it at the end of the 1st test The game was long lost at that stage and they weren't getting any real ball to work with but they did get some time together.

I like the selection of the two of them btw

Sexton came on for Teo in the 56th minute when the score was 20-8. Still plenty of chances to pull it back.

[dargotronV.1]

Bottom line is that we're going to lose no matter who he picks. But he is all over the shop.

Yeah, the argument of win the test and it'll all be forgotten seems at this stage an unlikely scenario.

Despite everything - in particular the utter farce over the back up picks and the lack of Scots - I still hope they can do it. Gatland is a tough man to like though, and common sense says the AB's will fancy asserting their control in a big way

Should read this, makes you remember that they are all just people trying to do their best, we could do with remembering that sometimes.

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/ ... per-abroad

Although I still want to kick his shins.

the bored wouldn't be the bored without a bit of shin kicking

[Mahoney]

For JTB

Maro Itoje says he will calling the Lions' lineout on Saturday. Big test for his ability in that area.

I was quietly hoping that would be the case.

[Willie Falloon]

In fairness to AWJ he has form for pulling out big games. Hopefully he goes well

Last Saturday would have been a good time to do that.

Itoje, Lawes and Henderson are the 3 best locks on tour. All impact players.

Not one of them can call a lineout though.

So we are carrying a passenger to call lineouts after they cleaned us out at ruck time last week? That is not very smart.

It's the nature of the beast. Not all locks can call lineouts (it does, after all, require a modicum of intellect), and others don't want to. Our two lineout callers in the squad are AWJ and Kruis. One of them had to start this week. Which one would you have preferred?

There are clearly some Hail Mary's in the choices, but then at this stage, I expected nothing less. AWJ's selection, Warburton's, Stander's, Farrells at 12, Nowell's are alll rolling of the dice.

Personally, although I might not agree with all of them, I at least understand them. As you note, we got cleaned out at the ruck last week. Specifically Sam Cane did a number on us. This time last year Warburton was keeping Cane largely in check during Wales' summer tour. I imagine Warburton's major task will be to try and do the same again.

As noted previously, we need to score tries to win, and this setup gives us the best chance in the backs.

However, it all still comes down to the tight 5. Never mind AWJ, if the other 4 of them have shite games as well then it won't matter who was picked as that last member of the 5...we'll get absolutely shafted once again.

Well Henderson called the lineout in the matches he has played in, including the 1st match when he was partnered by AWJ.

You're arguement is pure and utter horseshit.

[de_Selby]

Sexton and Faz

http://www.the42.ie/analysis-sexton-far ... 7-Jun2017/


That's what they should bring.

That was written before the 1st test though.

A time of great hope and innocence.

And what's changed? We haven't seen the SexyFaz axis since the Crusaders match.

We saw it at the end of the 1st test The game was long lost at that stage and they weren't getting any real ball to work with but they did get some time together.

I like the selection of the two of them btw

Sexton came on for Teo in the 56th minute when the score was 20-8. Still plenty of chances to pull it back.

It sounds like you were more optimistic than I was about where the game was going

[Hawk97]

Which players are adept at calling the lineout; something no PRist can claim to be an expert in. So many nuances and training moves involved that it's impossible for a fan to know.

[beastofbrum]

I know jiffy junior played well last sat but would still prefer Joseph for that try scoring ability which we desperately need.

[IBWT]

AWJ is a weird one. You probably could make a decent case that he's been the least impressive second row in the entire squad but has started both tests. Hopefully he can pull a big game from out of somewhere.

[Lobby]

It's the nature of the beast. Not all locks can call lineouts (it does, after all, require a modicum of intellect), and others don't want to. Our two lineout callers in the squad are AWJ and Kruis. One of them had to start this week. Which one would you have preferred?

There are clearly some Hail Mary's in the choices, but then at this stage, I expected nothing less. AWJ's selection, Warburton's, Stander's, Farrells at 12, Nowell's are alll rolling of the dice.

Personally, although I might not agree with all of them, I at least understand them. As you note, we got cleaned out at the ruck last week. Specifically Sam Cane did a number on us. This time last year Warburton was keeping Cane largely in check during Wales' summer tour. I imagine Warburton's major task will be to try and do the same again.

As noted previously, we need to score tries to win, and this setup gives us the best chance in the backs.

However, it all still comes down to the tight 5. Never mind AWJ, if the other 4 of them have shite games as well then it won't matter who was picked as that last member of the 5...we'll get absolutely shafted once again.

Well Henderson called the lineout in the matches he has played in, including the 1st match when he was partnered by AWJ.

Your argument is pure and utter horseshit.

Could be said of all of JTB's attempts to deflect criticism of his idol on this tour

[JM2K6]

It's the nature of the beast. Not all locks can call lineouts (it does, after all, require a modicum of intellect), and others don't want to. Our two lineout callers in the squad are AWJ and Kruis. One of them had to start this week. Which one would you have preferred?

There are clearly some Hail Mary's in the choices, but then at this stage, I expected nothing less. AWJ's selection, Warburton's, Stander's, Farrells at 12, Nowell's are alll rolling of the dice.

Personally, although I might not agree with all of them, I at least understand them. As you note, we got cleaned out at the ruck last week. Specifically Sam Cane did a number on us. This time last year Warburton was keeping Cane largely in check during Wales' summer tour. I imagine Warburton's major task will be to try and do the same again.

As noted previously, we need to score tries to win, and this setup gives us the best chance in the backs.

However, it all still comes down to the tight 5. Never mind AWJ, if the other 4 of them have shite games as well then it won't matter who was picked as that last member of the 5...we'll get absolutely shafted once again.

Well Henderson called the lineout in the matches he has played in, including the 1st match when he was partnered by AWJ.

Your argument is pure and utter horseshit.

Could be said of all of JTB's attempts to deflect criticism of his idol on this tour

To be fair, all he's said is that AWJ is intellectually bereft compared to the other locks on tour.

[RodneyRegis]

Jeepers.

Is he seriously considering Jack Nowell to come on to save the game?

If this is true then AWJ then definitely has the pictures.

In fairness to AWJ he has form for pulling out big games. Hopefully he goes well

Last Saturday would have been a good time to do that.

Itoje, Lawes and Henderson are the 3 best locks on tour. All impact players.

Not one of them can call a lineout though.

Well Maro is calling it on Saturday...

As he did during the 6N

[RodneyRegis]

Where is the pace?

Jd2

[jezzer]

Tipuric should be starting with Stander and Toby. SOB'S slowness to breakdown and handling errors not compensated by his occasional line break and poach.

We haven't seen the line busting SOB for 2 years now. He's more intelligent a player than Stander but he wastes a lot of go forward with handling errors these days and he's not the breakdown guy he was. He's basically an 8 now, who can play 6 but shouldn't play 7. Most of his best rugby was at 6 imo.

[nardol]

7 posts


fook off noob

and dont come back

[jezzer]

7 posts


fook off noob

and dont come back

Joined 2 weeks after you, plum

[Kid A]

7 posts


fook off noob

and dont come back

Marvellously inclusive sport, rugby union.