Predictions for surprise Lions tourists next year

Fishooks12

So who do you think is going to come from relative obscurity and push for Lions selection next year?

Danny Cipriani to come back and push for contention into the England 6 nations squad with his club form and go from there?

Donnacha Ryan to continue his blistering form and get on the plane?

suggestions please!

(I'm bored)

duckysauce

Fishooks12 wrote: »

So who do you think is going to come from relative obscurity and push for Lions selection next year?

Danny Cipriani to come back and push for contention into the England 6 nations squad with his club form and go from there?

Donnacha Ryan to continue his blistering form and get on the plane?

suggestions please!

(I'm bored)

You must be bored if you are talking about Danny Kip :P . I would like to see Steffon Armitage getting there ,

Tox56

Armitage is the most obvious, I think Tipuric might go if Warburton has a bad injury run again and he impresses in the 6N.

I can't see him going without international gametime, but Warburton appears to be made of glass, obviously don't want to tempt fate but if Tipuric gets his chance he could take that Welsh (and possibly Lions) 7 jersey.

Who knows, Stuart Hogg maybe too

Fireball07

How much of a surprise would Ryan really be? If he continues his current form, I could definitely see him going.

Some young scrum-half to step up in the next year and stake a claim because it is really the weakest position.

durkadurka

Hoggs a good 'un. I think he'll make a big impression this year.

Hagz

I'm gonna go extreme and say George Ford.

Kiwi_knock

Tim Visser would be a good midweek player. Would not be shocked if Manu Tuilagi also made the squad. Really no certainties for the scrum half position, so definitely an opportunity for a player to step up there.

Fishooks12

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Tim Visser would be a good midweek player. Would not be shocked if Manu Tuilagi also made the squad. Really no certainties for the scrum half position, so definitely an opportunity for a player to step up there.

On today's showing I'd have him nowhere near it. Decent ball carrier and puts in some big hits but every other aspect of his game is really lacking

irishbucsfan

yeah Armitage and Hogg are good shouts.

I guess an interesting squad would be:

Healy, Corbisiero, Jenkins
Best, Rees, Hartley (Ford?)
Jones, Cole, Ross

Gray, O'Connell, Ryan
Botha, Lawes, Davies

Lydiate, Ferris, Rennie
Warburton, O'Brien, Armitage
Morgan, Heaslip, Robshaw

Phillips, Youngs, Reddan
Sexton, Halfpenny, Farrell

Davies, Beck, Tuilagi
O'Driscoll, Roberts, Earls

North, Ashton, Visser,
Cuthbert, Bowe, Harry Robinson (Gatland will pick some random young welsh player!)

Kearney, Halfpenny, Foden/Hogg

That's mine right now!

Piliger

I see most players being selected on form, and who knows who will be in form next year. If Munster come back into success then a few more Irish players will be considered. I don't see Ireland doing any better in the 6 Nations than this year with Kidney in charge so I think our representation in the Lions will be quite small. The fact appears to be that the Welsh and English players seem to produce their best when on the internationals stage while Irish players don't.

Fishooks12

Piliger wrote: »

I see most players being selected on form, and who knows who will be in form next year. If Munster come back into success then a few more Irish players will be considered. I don't see Ireland doing any better in the 6 Nations than this year with Kidney in charge so I think our representation in the Lions will be quite small. The fact appears to be that the Welsh and English players seem to produce their best when on the internationals stage while Irish players don't.

Who do you think will make it

Fireball07

irishbucsfan wrote: »

yeah Armitage and Hogg are good shouts.

I guess an interesting squad would be:

Healy, Corbisiero, Jenkins
Best, Rees, Hartley (Ford?)
Jones, Cole, Ross

Gray, O'Connell, Ryan
Botha, Lawes, Davies

Lydiate, Ferris, Rennie
Warburton, O'Brien, Armitage
Morgan, Heaslip, Robshaw

Phillips, Youngs, Reddan
Sexton, Halfpenny, Farrell

Davies, Beck, Tuilagi
O'Driscoll, Roberts, Earls

North, Ashton, Visser,
Cuthbert, Bowe, Harry Robinson (Gatland will pick some random young welsh player!)

Kearney, Halfpenny, Foden/Hogg

That's mine right now!

You think the squad will be that big??

roycon

marlon yarde, ian madigan, gilroy - few wild ones there. discuss

Kiwi_knock

Fishooks12 wrote: »

On today's showing I'd have him nowhere near it. Decent ball carrier and puts in some big hits but every other aspect of his game is really lacking

I certainly would not be bringing him but I just believe that he will be taken because he offers directness. I thought he was very poor today but the Sky Sports panel were still talking of him highly after the game so can see the English press pushing hard for his inclusion.

Kiwi_knock

roycon wrote: »

marlon yarde, ian madigan, gilroy - few wild ones there. discuss

I was thinking Madigan as well but I doubt he will get any game time for Ireland between now and the Lions tour so it will be hard for him to be in contention.

Tox56

I can see the English media pushing for Robshaw, there are better options but there has to be some English players going and they'll be sure to hype him up.

Fishooks12

Tox56 wrote: »

I can see the English media pushing for Robshaw, there are better options but there has to be some English players going and they'll be sure to hype him up.

I have a feeling Gatland won't bow to media pressure, and if he doesn't he won't bring Robshaw who's a decent 7 but not near our other options

Hagz

What are the chances of him bringing Hartley......

Something tells me Dylan will sit this one out.

Fishooks12

Hagz wrote: »

What are the chances of him bringing Hartley......

Something tells me Dylan will sit this one out.

Hopefully he will

1) I don't like him and he has a terrible attitude coupled with very poor discipline

2) He's pretty poor hooker and offers little bar a solid enough throw


3) The alternatives are much better

Podge_irl

I had Madigan as my outside bet a couple months back, but him not touring to NZ has put a bit of a downer on that one. Still think he has a chance if he plays in the AIs and gets a bench spot for the 6N. I would dearly, dearly love to see him play with some of those Welsh backs. I don't rate Farrell at all and think Priestland is no great shakes himself. Still though, unlikely to happen.

ray jay

I can't see Madigan being in contention at all. He'll be lucky if he gets a few minutes here and there off the bench for Ireland over the next year. Even if he somehow plays a couple of full matches, that won't be enough to leapfrog him ahead of the players with longer track records.

wp_rathead

I can see POC, Heaslip and possibly even BOD not being brought on Lions tour
Me? I'd bring all three but just have this feeling that Gatland won't select them

TheKeenMachine

Some bolters IMO could be

England
Christian Wade (Wing)

Scotland
Tim Visser (Wing)
Joe Ansbro (Wing)

Wales
Harry Robinson (Wing(Again!))
Ashley Beck (Centre)
Scott Williams (Centre)
Dan Biggar (Fly-Half)

Ireland
Craig Gilroy (Wing)
Ian Madigan (Fly-half)
Dominic Ryan (Openside Flanker)

Obviously depends on how much international exposure these guys get but I can nearly guarantee one of them will be there

padser

wprathead wrote: »

I can see POC, Heaslip and possibly even BOD not being brought on Lions tour
Me? I'd bring all three but just have this feeling that Gatland won't select them

I'd be shocked if a fit (including match fit) POC wasn't brought.

I think BOD unlikely to be honest. Hope I'm wrong though.

Scioch

If BOD is fit he'll be travelling. There aint no two ways about it.

Fishooks12

padser wrote: »

I'd be shocked if a fit (including match fit) POC wasn't brought.

I think BOD unlikely to be honest. Hope I'm wrong though.

Bar a massive loss of form or injury BOD will travel. himself Davies and that goon Manu will probably bee the main options at 13

pappyodaniel

The Lions no. 8 position is well stocked with the likes of Heaslip, Morgan and Faletau but I reckon if Dave Denton has another big 6Nations he might be worth bringing.

Funk It

I'm going to put it out there that I can see either Duncan Weir or Laidlaw being in contention for getting picked.

For the hell of it, Joe Marler as well, if he breaks into the English side for the 6N. 2 young LHs with him and Healy battling it out would be great.

Fishooks12

Funk It wrote: »

I'm going to put it out there that I can see either Duncan Weir or Laidlaw being in contention for getting picked.

For the hell of it, Joe Marler as well, if he breaks into the English side for the 6N. 2 young LHs with him and Healy battling it out would be great.

I'd agree, wouldn't be surprised to see Marler or Laidlaw on the plane

Although I think there's too many better options than Weir if Gatland wants to bring a young 10 to supplement the experience of Priestland and Sexton who I think are definite travelers

Chavways

Tony Buckley

desertcircus

Richardt Strauss, if he gets his foot in the door with Ireland, could be in a strong position. Madigan could be a good bet, but he'd need serious gametime in a green jersey in the next twelve months.

Have absolutely no idea who'll get picked at backrow, you could pick fifteen serious contenders. That said, I'd kill to see the Lions converted to a European team in time for next year: a backrow of Ferris-Dusautoir-Parisse would be ridiculously good, not to mention the fact that Parra would most likely stroll into the nine jersey.

Funk It

Fishooks12 wrote: »

I'd agree, wouldn't be surprised to see Marler or Laidlaw on the plane

Although I think there's too many better options than Weir if Gatland wants to bring a young 10 to supplement the experience of Priestland and Sexton who I think are definite travelers

I just don't see what the fuss is with Priestland, he froze against Ireland in the 6N, and again last weekend against Australia. Weir could be an interesting one, can't fault his defense, which could keep Quade Cooper quiet, would love to see a Laidlaw Weir 9 10 combination for Scotland.

I would like to see the travelling outhalfs to be something like Sexton, Farrell, Laidlaw/Madigan

Fishooks12

Funk It wrote: »

I just don't see what the fuss is with Priestland, he froze against Ireland in the 6N, and again last weekend against Australia. Weir could be an interesting one, can't fault his defense, which could keep Quade Cooper quiet, would love to see a Laidlaw Weir 9 10 combination for Scotland.

I would like to see the travelling outhalfs to be something like Sexton, Farrell, Laidlaw/Madigan

Don't rate Priestland myself but my reasoning for him being brought is that Gatland clearly likes him

Funk It

Fishooks12 wrote: »

Don't rate Priestland myself but my reasoning for him being brought is that Gatland clearly likes him

Fair enough reasoning I suppose. Probably wrong to say that he froze last week, but his mistakes were obviously costly.

Good shout with Strauss, would have to put Cronin in the mix as well in that case.

Just to level it down, might throw down a few certain travelling Lions members, barring injury: Healy, Richie Gray, C Murray, Sexton, O'Driscoll, Welsh backline, Tuilagi, Kearney, Warburton, O'Brien, Ferris, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones

Monty Burnz

Chavways wrote: »

Tony Buckley

In his preferred position of outside centre.

TheKeenMachine

Funk It wrote: »

Fair enough reasoning I suppose. Probably wrong to say that he froze last week, but his mistakes were obviously costly.

Good shout with Strauss, would have to put Cronin in the mix as well in that case.

Just to level it down, might throw down a few certain travelling Lions members, barring injury: Healy, Richie Gray, C Murray, Sexton, O'Driscoll, Welsh backline, Tuilagi, Kearney, Warburton, O'Brien, Ferris, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones

I think to describe Murray and Tuilagi as certain tourists is a bit much

Podge_irl

Murray? Eh.... No.

Funk It

TheKeenMachine wrote: »

I think to describe Murray and Tuilagi as certain tourists is a bit much

I think that Tuilagi will travel alright, would guess that Philips will be the scrumhalf with Youngs on the bench. Suppose putting Murray in as a certain traveler is a bit much alright, bit of an oversight on my part but still think he will get a place.

thomond2006

Greig Laidlaw could well be a bolter, it's rare for a British/Irish player to be able to play 9 & 10 and his versatility might help him.

Podge_irl

When is the last time an Irish scrum half actually toured with the Lions?

TheKeenMachine

Funk It wrote: »

I think that Tuilagi will travel alright, would guess that Philips will be the scrumhalf with Youngs on the bench. Suppose putting Murray in as a certain traveler is a bit much alright, bit of an oversight on my part but still think he will get a place.

Yeah I would agree Tuilagi will probably travel, but is not a certainty. Would you have Murray ahead of Reddan, Care or Laidlaw?

TheKeenMachine

Podge_irl wrote: »

When is the last time an Irish scrum half actually toured with the Lions?

John Robbie in 1980 I believe.

CatFromHue

TheKeenMachine wrote: »

John Robbie in 1980 I believe.

He'd an interesting time after touring: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Robbie

TheKeenMachine

CatFromHue wrote: »

He'd an interesting time after touring: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Robbie

Have you read Invictus? He plays a minor role in it.

CatFromHue

Nope haven't read it. What does he do in it?

TheKeenMachine

CatFromHue wrote: »

Nope haven't read it. What does he do in it?

It just talks about his radio show and it has him talking on it on the morning of the World Cup Final I think.

bilston

wprathead wrote: »

I can see POC, Heaslip and possibly even BOD not being brought on Lions tour
Me? I'd bring all three but just have this feeling that Gatland won't select them

If he's fit BOD will go, as will POC. If Heaslip keeps playing the way he did on Saturday then he'll go as well.

sydthebeat

i think greig laidlaw has as good a chance as any of the favourite scrum halves

bamboozle

laidlaw, visser, hogg, Matthew Morgan, Rickardt Strauss and who knows a year from now the u20's ferrisesque Henderson might be in the running...

Cardinal Richelieu

Lions selection is like Eurovision voting, always politics in the background based on the make up of the coaching team that yields the odd surprise. Scots Manager, Welsh(NZ)coach, most likely an English captain if O'Connell is not fit.

Tox56

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

Lions selection is like Eurovision voting, always politics in the background based on the make up of the coaching team that yields the odd surprise. Scots Manager, Welsh(NZ)coach, most likely an English captain if O'Connell is not fit.

Who could that English captain possibly be? I can't think of many English players who would be assured of their starting place