The Lions Backrow

d-gal

Seriously how the hell are we gonna pick a starting 3?!

Ferris, Lydiate, SOB, Warburton, Tipuric, Heaslip, Morgan, POM, Faletau, Croft, Robinson, Rennie, Denton + 20 others!

It's an insane selection

irishbucsfan

Lydiate, Warburton, Morgan/Heaslip I'd say.

If Ferris stays fit all season he might push Lydiate, but then that is probably unlikely.

Fishooks12

Ferris, SOB and Morgan for me

Tox56

Impossible to know with injuries, but it also depends on how they want to approach it.

If they want to contest the breakdown I think SOB and Warburton would be a good partnership, but then you have the familiarity of Lydiate and Warburton, Ferris and Warburton is an option.

If Warburton gets injured constantly, SOB might be a possibility at 7 if he keeps up his play. Tipuric possibly too but I dont think he'll have enough time to impress at international level.

twinytwo

Fishooks12 wrote: »

Ferris, SOB and Morgan for me

im divided between gatland being a dick and wanting to the win the tour.

as it stand now id go for the same but i think gatland will play sammy at 7 because he will name him captain.

kevohmsford

Ferris, Warburton and Morgan.

Fishooks12

Warburton was outplayed by Pocock twice now in 2 weeks while SOB outplayed McCaw twice

Kiwi_knock

I would not have Warburton in my backrow but seeing as he most likely will be captain I say the backrow will be: Lydiate, Warburton, and Morgan. Ferris would be ahead of Lydiate if he can maintain fitness.

danthefan

With Gatland in charge I would be very surprised if both Lydiate and Warburton didn't start.

I think there was sort of a feeling Aus would be there for the taking, they've beaten Wales twice now so I don't think that's going to be the case.

Hagz

No way will Gatland pick Lydiate ahead of Ferris, he'll pick Warburton alright, but he won't pick Lydaite.

bamboozle

Morgan's a plodder who'd be shown up on the hard ground in OZ, SOB, Warburton, Ferris, Lydiate & Heaslip - any 3 from those 5

Clegg

Warburton hasn't played since the 6 Nations. He struggled against Australia but lets wait until he's fully fit before writing him off.

SOB has performed very well against Mc Caw but at the same time Mc Caw doesn't look 100% either.

Lions starters will be decided by how players go in next years 6 Nations.

Fishooks12

bamboozle wrote: »

Morgan's a plodder who'd be shown up on the hard ground in OZ, SOB, Warburton, Ferris, Lydiate & Heaslip - any 3 from those 5

He wasn't plodding last week on the hard ground in SA

If he gets fit he'll compliment a breakdown orientated six and seven very well

wp_rathead

could be decent backrow:
6: Ferris/SOB (if Ferris not fit)
7: Warbutton
8: Denton

Tox56

Fishooks12 wrote: »

bamboozle wrote: »

Morgan's a plodder who'd be shown up on the hard ground in OZ, SOB, Warburton, Ferris, Lydiate & Heaslip - any 3 from those 5

He wasn't plodding last week on the hard ground in SA

If he gets fit he'll compliment a breakdown orientated six and seven very well

Morgan was poor last week, he made a good run but his defence was weak for a guy his size

danthefan

Croft is mentioned in the first post, he has a very serious neck injury and apparently his future in the game is in doubt. If/when he does come back might not give him time enough to make the first team, so tbh I think he can be all but ruled out.

thomond2006

SOB, Armitage, Heaslip

Ferris/Lydiate on the bench

The Lions will have great depth at backrow, there will some class players that won't get on the plane.

shuffol

Some change in depth from 3 years ago, Andy Powell.

thomond2006

shuffol wrote: »

Some change in depth from 3 years ago, Andy Powell.

and Worsley

bamboozle

Fishooks12 wrote: »

He wasn't plodding last week on the hard ground in SA

If he gets fit he'll compliment a breakdown orientated six and seven very well

thought he was poor last week, i see him as a NH soft ground number 8.

razorblunt

I don think Heaslip will get a Test start, perception of him outside Ireland (even outside Leinster) is vastly different.

Saying that though he came good in the SA tour so he might step it up again if he's continually getting pushed hard from others.

On a side note anyone know when the market is open to bet on players making the tour/visser? I want to throw my hat in for visser before the autumn tests.

twinytwo

razorblunt wrote: »

I don think Heaslip will get a Test start, perception of him outside Ireland (even outside Leinster) is vastly different.

Saying that though he came good in the SA tour so he might step it up again if he's continually getting pushed hard from others.

On a side note anyone know when the market is open to bet on players making the tour/visser? I want to throw my hat in for visser before the autumn tests.

scored two tries on is first outting for scotland

roycon

have to say warburton is a certainty. both in my opinion and also i believe from the perspective of the people who'll be picking the team. what might work against ferris is that he cant jump in the lineout much anymore because of his knee.dont think lydiate is a great player really. not very well rounded player although he fits in well with wales gameplan and got player of the six nation. cant see morgan making the team at all. robshaw will definitely get on the plane at least. obrein can conmfortably play all three backrow positions but isnt useful in the lineout.but i reckon he'll have to be brought on the plane.

6. Ferris if hes fit
7. Warburton a certain starter - possibly as captain
8. Denton, Robshaw, Heaslip, Faletau,

roycon

thomond2006 wrote: »

SOB, Armitage, Heaslip

Ferris/Lydiate on the bench

The Lions will have great depth at backrow, there will some class players that won't get on the plane.

not in a millon years. at least two of them wont even make the plane

Fireball07

If Ferris is fit, he has to start. He is crazily good.


At 7, you have Warburton, Tipuric, SOB, Armitage and even Rennie. It might be Irish bias that makes me favour SOB as of now, but we've still got a season to go. Whoever is most in-form at the time should be picked.

At 8...you've got more choices. Heaslip/Morgan are probably the two favourites but Denton and Faletau aren't bad either.


I'd go for Ferris/SOB/Morgan as of now.

shuffol

SOB is the perfect replacement though, covers all 3 spots to a high standard and would be a nightmare for tiring defences.

irishbucsfan

roycon wrote: »

have to say warburton is a certainty. both in my opinion and also i believe from the perspective of the people who'll be picking the team. what might work against ferris is that he cant jump in the lineout much anymore because of his knee.dont think lydiate is a great player really. not very well rounded player although he fits in well with wales gameplan and got player of the six nation. cant see morgan making the team at all. robshaw will definitely get on the plane at least. obrein can conmfortably play all three backrow positions but isnt useful in the lineout.but i reckon he'll have to be brought on the plane.

6. Ferris if hes fit
7. Warburton a certain starter - possibly as captain
8. Denton, Robshaw, Heaslip, Faletau,

Lydiate isn't well rounded but you have Denton as an 8



Armitage is a great call. So easy to forget him. Best player in the Top 14 this season. I'd have him starting.

.ak

I'm a SOB fan, but there's a lot to be said for a backrow of Ferris, Tupiric and Heaslip with SOB on the bench.


It's all very subjective though.. who knows who Gatland will favour. Who knows, the issues he had with the IRFU may come back to haunt us, and we might have to deal with the fact only one or two players will make the starting 15.

It's hard to look at it unbiasedly also. I'd imagine there's a Welsh and English forum saying they'd want an all Welsh or English backrow.

Also depends on what type of game we're playing. To be honest, I'd much rather a pacey backrow to compete with the speed Australia will play at.

ShamFeen

Don't forget John Barclay when he's on form is the best openside around. Pity Robinson has moved him between 8 and 6 this year

totallegend

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Lydiate isn't well rounded but you have Denton as an 8



Armitage is a great call. So easy to forget him. Best player in the Top 14 this season. I'd have him starting.

First Lions game is 1St June in Hong Kong, I think if Toulon are in the shake up for Top 14 final Armitage will stay in France.

Cpt_Blackbeard

.ak wrote: »

I'm a SOB fan, but there's a lot to be said for a backrow of Ferris, Tupiric and Heaslip with SOB on the bench.


It's all very subjective though.. who knows who Gatland will favour. Who knows, the issues he had with the IRFU may come back to haunt us, and we might have to deal with the fact only one or two players will make the starting 15.

It's hard to look at it unbiasedly also. I'd imagine there's a Welsh and English forum saying they'd want an all Welsh or English backrow.

Also depends on what type of game we're playing. To be honest, I'd much rather a pacey backrow to compete with the speed Australia will play at.

I'd be very surprised to see Heaslip start. He is a very good player and he has been much improved, but I'd struggle to remember the last time he outplayed his opposite number in an Irish jersey.

Tox56

Well the only time a Lions competitor outplayed Heaslip in the 6N was Morgan on the back of a ridiculously dominant scrum.

Morgan has been less than impressive without this platform, and Faletau hasn't been great either for Wales. Havent seen Denton recently but he was quieter against Ireland than in some other games. Heaslip doesn't have huge compeition, at least not as competitive as some other positions.

irishbucsfan

Also look how Heaslip played for Leinster. I'm watching the Clermont game right now, he was phenomenal. Lions selection will be based on international form but Gatland is not a fool and he'll easilly pick Heaslip if he replciates his form for Leinster.

The only real competitor for him imo is Ben Morgan (don't think Faletau or Denton are on their level). Morgan would be a good shout though, there'd be no complaints from me.

KJY

Just watched the Wales vs Australia and I have to say I would have Dan Lydiate nailed onto start. No one can tackle with the consistent, fearless ferocity he does. He would be complimented greatly by big ball carriers like SOB and Morgan.

Podge_irl

I think Ferris, if fit, provides everything Lydiate does with regards hard tackling but adds a much better offensive game.

KJY

I think Ferris puts in some monstrous hits but I'd say his tackle count would be a lot lower. I'd also seriously doubt he will be fit. It was a miracle he got through the RWC

I just really love Lydiates style of player so I may be biased

roycon

ben morgan is in the same league as haskell for me. just dumb and big. i dont even know if he'll be in the england team next year . he still struggles to finish games. seems a bit overweight

Hype710

Probably the area I change my mind on the most. Right now a Lydiate-O'Brien-Heaslip trio is what I'd go for. The fact it's so competitive may mean Warburton misses out on the captaincy. I think a real outside bet for captain is Rory Best, he's an obvious leader and head and shoulders above his competition.

.ak

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

I'd be very surprised to see Heaslip start. He is a very good player and he has been much improved, but I'd struggle to remember the last time he outplayed his opposite number in an Irish jersey.

Are you serious? He was outstanding in the 6n, our stand out forward. You're probably struggling to remember because you don't want to.

Let's look at it another way - what other specialist 8s would be better?

Morgan: Vastly overrated and made look incredibly mediocre by SA. A big physical 8 with not much else in his arsenal.
Falatau: Specialist in a Welsh squad surrounded by massive flankers and linking up with massive backs. I think he'd struggle in a mixed Lions squad.
Denton: Probably the best alternative, but I think Heaslip is the better all round footballer.

Quite simply Heaslip is the best Number 8 in the British Isles and just because he isn't making barnstorming runs to please you doesn't mean he isn't the best out there. His handling, pace, linking and work at the breakdown is beyond that of any of the above alternative.

He tore the ABs a new one yesterday from his sheer abrasiveness. Big tests bring out the best in Heaslip, and they don't come much bigger than the Lions tour.

yimrsg

Even though it would be weak to awful in the lineout.

6 SOB
7 Warburton/Tipuric
8 Armitage

Turnovers galore!

jacothelad

yimrsg wrote: »

Even though it would be weak to awful in the lineout.

6 SOB
7 Warburton/Tipuric
8 Armitage

Turnovers galore!

Armitage is a dwarf - and over-rated I think. Industrious and fast but .......

irishbucsfan

jacothelad wrote: »

yimrsg wrote: »

Even though it would be weak to awful in the lineout.

6 SOB
7 Warburton/Tipuric
8 Armitage

Turnovers galore!

Armitage is a dwarf - and over-rated I think. Industrious and fast but .......

Did you see him this season in France?

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Did you see him this season in France?

Jaco just hates his brother so much that he'd never give him a chance!

GerM

thomond2006 wrote: »

and Worsley

Criminally underrated player for me. No coincidence the Lions blew SA off the field up front with him in the side in the last test.

GerM

Morgan is decent for me but lucky there's no outstanding 8 in England. I'd probably still have Easter ahead of him who is a far more intelligent player. Needs another 2 years before he's at that level. Good in open space on the front foot but definitely lacking in the dirty work and conditioning. He has been taken off in every international start he has had. You can't have someone in there that will almost definitely have to be taken off due to lack of an engine.

cgpg5

yimrsg wrote: »

Even though it would be weak to awful in the lineout.

6 SOB
7 Warburton/Tipuric
8 Armitage

Turnovers galore!

Armitage is a 7 or nowhere.

Current-
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton
8. Morgan

However a lot will change in a years time. This time last year Morgan and Denton and even Armitage would've been nowhere near in the reckoning.

thomond2006

Morgan is behind all 3 of Faletau (Gatland being the coach), Heaslip and Denton IMO.

Morgan is that prop that plays 8 for England right?

irishbucsfan

I would rate Morgan ahead of Faletau and a long way ahead of Denton based on this year. Gets through a lot of work, is an intelligent carrier and controls the ball well.

cgpg5

Waldron had an immense tour of SA. If he keeps this up and forces his way into the team he could well make the plane. Tom Johnson also. I'd imagine he'll be blindside for the 6n