Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

My god, would you look at the vocal chords on that

awec

No asking for streams

Match thread is here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057753616

irishman86

Maori have a class haka

irishbucsfan

Haha, just reading a Welsh lad on twitter complaining about the callups because it shows a lack of respect to the Welsh tour

Erik Shin

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Haha, just reading a Welsh lad on twitter complaining about the callups because it shows a lack of respect to the Welsh tour

I hope he was being ironic

shuffol

Dodgy whiff off those call ups. My first thought was that he's favoured younger players to give them experience of a Lions tour so he can reap the reap the benefit of it when he goes back to coaching Wales.

irishbucsfan

Erik Shin wrote: »

I hope he was being ironic

Not at all!

But its in the general context of it being bad for both tours

Erik Shin

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Not at all!

But its in the general context of it being bad for both tours

I'm sure the Welsh 4th choice hookers loss is the Lions gain

irishbucsfan

Gatland is the ultimate pragmatist, which is something we already knew.

He doesn't care about the tradition or winning midweek games or the jersey or anything like that. He only cares about winning the 1st test. The same approach that got him sacked by a more amateurish IRFU.

I don't like it at all. I do also blame the schedule as much as him. The point is being made that he knew this game was coming all along... Its true he did know about this game, but I understand why he didn't bring more players originally after what happened in 2005. I think it's also possible there's an element of politics/finance involved with him having to justify all these callups to the tour management from a financial and logistical perspective.

I wonder if this is a temporary callup, or will these guys stay around even after the Hurricanes game. I also wonder how this will go down with non-Welsh guys in the squad.

Reading around a few different forums and the decision to bring the 4 Welsh players is unanimously unpopular, even on Welsh forums.

Future tours need to ditch mid week matches when the tests start if this is going to be the result.

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

Reading around a few different forums and the decision to bring the 4 Welsh players is unanimously unpopular, even on Welsh forums.

Future tours need to ditch mid week matches when the tests start if this is going to be the result.

They could easily have down 8 games and these callups would never have happened. That's going to have to happen because its clear coaches won't respect these extra games. The SH unions will have to accept it.

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Gatland is the ultimate pragmatist, which is something we already knew.

He doesn't care about the tradition or winning midweek games or the jersey or anything like that. He only cares about winning the 1st test. The same approach that got him sacked by a more amateurish IRFU.

I don't like it at all. I do also blame the schedule as much as him. The point is being made that he knew this game was coming all along... Its true he did know about this game, but I understand why he didn't bring more players originally after what happened in 2005. I think it's also possible there's an element of politics/finance involved with him having to justify all these callups to the tour management from a financial and logistical perspective.

I wonder if this is a temporary callup, or will these guys stay around even after the Hurricanes game. I also wonder how this will go down with non-Welsh guys in the squad.

Agreed. I also thing the matches have been much tougher than the last tour due to the level of opposition so the entire squad is more tired.

razorblunt

Erik Shin wrote: »

Ferris and Ian Mc are being diplomatic.... Ferris doesn't do diplomatic normally....

Sky are sending him to NZ soon , he wouldn't be allowed slate their cash cow.

Erik Shin

razorblunt wrote: »

Sky are sending him to NZ soon , he wouldn't be allowed slate their cash cow.

If he can't speak the truth I would hope he'd have the nuts to tell sky to beggar off

jr86

So test team be as follows?

Halfpenny
Watson
Davies
Teo
North
Farrell
Murray
Vunipola
George
Furlong
Itoje
Kruis
Warburton
SOB
Faletau

jr86

jr86 wrote: »

So test team be as follows?

Halfpenny
Watson
Davies
Teo
North
Farrell
Murray
Vunipola
George
Furlong
Itoje
Kruis
Warburton
SOB
Faletau

Sexton clearly ahead of Farrell imo, much better last two games.

swiwi_

So bring on test one. It's the rugby equivalent of Italy with their stifling defence trying to defeat Brazil 1-0 from a penalty.

This quote sums it up for me, really

What's a pity is that the Lions don't seem to regard the platform their forwards provide as a starting point, more as an end in itself.

If the ABs can at least match the Lions pack, that should be enough for NZ.

whatawaster

Sexton was very good today and Farrell is not fully fit.

Sexton to start next week.

Sky presenter is unreal. "Does Farrell kick next week or do you leave it with Halfpenny"?

irishbucsfan

swiwi_ wrote: »

So bring on test one. It's the rugby equivalent of Italy with their stifling defence trying to defeat Brazil 1-0 from a penalty.

This quote sums it up for me, really

What's a pity is that the Lions don't seem to regard the platform their forwards provide as a starting point, more as an end in itself.

If the ABs can at least match the Lions pack, that should be enough for NZ.

Backs are just namby pambys. No point letting them take plaudits. We'll play direct rugby and win it by playing GOOD rugby. Which is objectively gooder than your rugby, mate.

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

Sexton clearly ahead of Farrell imo, much better last two games.

If Farrell is fit he starts. Only question is whether the old surprise combo with Sexton is launched at the poor ABs.

bilston

Some big questions for Gatland.

Who partners Kruis?

Does Warburton play? If so, where?

Only issue in the backs seems to be who plays 10? Farrell's injury may take care of that question.

I still think to score more tries we should play both JS and OF.

Erik Shin

2 Scots called up now... Earls above international standard so won't be called

Clegg

I don't see how you can leave Sexton out now. He has played his way into form.

Sephiral

Deliberately having it in mind to call up players with your own squad nearby really undermines the lions ethos.

I would say that there will be players in the midweek team who will be looking at these lads lining up with them and feeling a bit unappreciated.

I think Sexton has been better than Farrell over the whole tour. Both should play but that won't happen under Gatland.

Clegg

McGeechan's and Ferris's side for next week

Vunipola
George
Furlong
Itoje
Kruis
PoM
SoB
Faletau

Murray
Sexton/Farrell
Te'o
Davies
Watson
North
Halfpenny

Erik Shin

Erik Shin wrote: »

2 Scots called up now... Earls above international standard so won't be called

If they were calling up rubbish players, Earls would be near the top of the list.

My humble opinion of course.

CurryFlavoured

Team picks itself now, other than Warburton squeezing in (which I don't think he should) and Sexton/Farrell. North hasn't been great but he'll play.

Buer

Sephiral wrote: »

I think Sexton has been better than Farrell over the whole tour. Both should play but that won't happen under Gatland.

Over the whole tour, I think it's Farrell. But over the past week and in the two big games, Sexton has been the better. There's an argument that he was the better of the two when they shared the field last week and today showed that he's back in form on his own.

Gatland isn't afraid to make big calls but he's also a creature of habit and has his trusted guys. Sexton playing well over the past week on top of being his trusted man from the last tour will see him get the nod even if Farrell is back in full training this week, I reckon.

Defensive solidity is going to be a big factor too which is seriously overlooked by many and Sexton has the edge there at the moment.

irishbucsfan

Basil3 wrote: »

If they were calling up rubbish players, Earls would be near the top of the list.

My humble opinion of course.

https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/875966515136405504

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/875966515136405504

That does very little to change my opinion that he offers nothing special going forward, and is fairly clueless on basic tackling technique.