Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

irishbucsfan · 17-06-2017 11:09AM

Basil3 wrote: »

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

I assume you haven't seen his last two performances!

At the moment he's scoring and laying on tries for others

corny · 17-06-2017 11:10AM

bilston wrote: »

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.

That shouldn't really be an issue. Itoje adds far more to the game.

Erik Shin · 17-06-2017 11:12AM

Basil3 wrote: »

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

My humble opinion of course.

Of course....and you're on the same wavelength as Gatland....so that says it all really

17-06-2017 11:13AM

Erik Shin wrote: »

Of course....and you're on the same wavelength as Gatland....so that says it all really

I'm probably on the same wavelength as anyone not from Munster.

Boscoirl · 17-06-2017 11:14AM

POM or SOB or both could lose out if gatland tries to shoehorn AWJ and Warburton into the team

irishbucsfan · 17-06-2017 11:14AM

I think we're in a position where the competitive positions are one where the is no wrong decision to make.

Farrell/Sexton. Both world class on form and both are on form.

POM/SOB/Warburton. Any two of those with Faletau are as good as any test back row in the world.

I think our problem is that in positions where there's no real competition we're very weak. Back 3 in particular.

I don't think they've got the discipline to win without scoring tries and I don't think they have the try-scoring ability to win without being disciplined.

Former Former · 17-06-2017 11:15AM

bilston wrote: »

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.

Itoje has been good but AWJ is still favourite IMO, especially if Warburton isn't picked. Maybe Itoje at 6, especially if POM got injured today.

I don't see how Warburton can be justified at this point. O'Brien was immense today and Warburton has so little game time.

I can't see anyone other than Te'o at 12 so it's a straight pick between Sexton and Farrell. Right now I'd go with Farrell but it's very close.

Erik Shin · 17-06-2017 11:16AM

Basil3 wrote: »

I'm probably on the same wavelength as anyone not from Munster.

Nope

17-06-2017 11:19AM

Erik Shin wrote: »

Nope

Anyone not from Munster who also has half a clue about rugby?

Am I getting closer?

I just realised my Mrs probably thinks he's good.

stephen_n · 17-06-2017 11:22AM

Basil3 wrote: »

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

Of all the criticisms you could make of Earls, offering little going forward is a strange one, especially with his try scoring record. At times his defense is suspect and the failed attempts at centre hampered his cause. But in an attack sense he is by far in away one of the best we've produced.

corny · 17-06-2017 11:22AM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I think we're in a position where the competitive positions are one where the is no wrong decision to make.

Farrell/Sexton. Both world class on form and both are on form.

POM/SOB/Warburton. Any two of those with Faletau are as good as any test back row in the world.

I think our problem is that in positions where there's no real competition we're very weak. Back 3 in particular.

I don't think they've got the discipline to win without scoring tries and I don't think they have the try-scoring ability to win without being disciplined.

Does it really matter who plays in the back three? They're spectators with the gameplan they're given.

Bazzo · 17-06-2017 11:24AM

Basil3 wrote: »

Anyone not from Munster who also has half a clue about rugby?

Am I getting closer?

I just realised my Mrs probably thinks he's good.

He racked up 1 try and 3 assists in the first 30 minutes of the match this morning. Picked up a second for himself towards the end and was pissing through the Japanese defence for fun at times. I'm not from Munster.

Sephiral · 17-06-2017 11:26AM

Buer wrote: »

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 hi...

I meant over the tour as a whole rather than the whole tour. I think Sexton, Henderson and possibly one or two others being involved in a really ropey opening match have coloured perceptions of their standards negatively. I think the two mentioned have actually been superb after that. I also think Sexton is a better flyhalf than Farrell overall despite Farrell being a really fantastic player.

Also, SoB is too good to not start. It is between Warburton and POM for the other shirt and captaincy. AWJ shouldn't be in the 23.

You'd have to fancy the ABs by 10-15 with the lions having a lot of territory and possession at this stage. Hard to see the pack being able to completely strangle them and that backline will need a miracle to score a try.

CurryFlavoured · 17-06-2017 11:27AM

Earls is a bit of a flat track bully when it comes to attacking play, and isn't strong defensively. Not a fan personally, don't think he'd add anything to the current options.

17-06-2017 11:34AM

CurryFlavoured wrote: »

Earls is a bit of a flat track bully when it comes to attacking play, and isn't strong defensively. Not a fan personally, don't think he'd add anything to the current options.

He's always looked good against the minnows and when surrounded with so many fresh caps of course he stands out but hes no more deserving of a Lions call up than he was 4 weeks ago.

17-06-2017 11:46AM

For TroL - The Irish Haka (taken from Reddit)

.ak · 17-06-2017 11:57AM

corny wrote: »

Does it really matter who plays in the back three? They're spectators with the gameplan they're given.

Well yeah, North, case in point. Almost cost us today with another awful display.

Back three players do an awful lot more than just run with the ball.

Former Former · 17-06-2017 11:59AM

corny wrote: »

Does it really matter who plays in the back three? They're spectators with the gameplan they're given.

They're going to have to defend. A lot.

D14Rugby · 17-06-2017 12:29PM

You know, I thought I couldn't care less who won this tour but after those call ups turns out I definitely could. Feel sorry for lads like healy and launchbury to name two. Disgraceful set of call ups.

17-06-2017 12:37PM

D14Rugby wrote: »

You know, I thought I couldn't care less who won this tour but after those call ups turns out I definitely could. Feel sorry for lads like healy and launchbury to name two. Disgraceful set of call ups.

Would you be happy for Healy to go all the way out there to play one mid-week game? Would he?

17-06-2017 12:43PM

Basil3 wrote: »

Would you be happy for Healy to go all the way out there to play one mid-week game? Would he?

Nah the tour has taken a bit of a nose dive. Just want to see our lads finish what they have committed to and to take a break before next season asap.

D14Rugby · 17-06-2017 01:15PM

Basil3 wrote: »

Would you be happy for Healy to go all the way out there to play one mid-week game? Would he?

Before these call ups, definitely, for props especially the route to the tests isn't too far, now though maybe not.

Boscoirl · 17-06-2017 01:55PM

https://twitter.com/youngmunsterrfc/status/876003334024560640

jr86 · 17-06-2017 03:16PM

Vunipola, Best, Furlong, AWJ, Itoje, Stander, Warburton, Vunipola
Murray, Sexton, Daly, Farrell, Henshaw, North, Hogg

This was the predicted test team acc to Paddy Power's odds before the plane left

Interesting how things change in just a few weeks. How far Stander has fallen down the pecking order and Best unlikely to even bench next week

Funny enough Henshaw was a real outsider with the likes of William Hill. The centre spots were always going to be filled by "form" players in the warm ups, as there are no stand outs

Peregrine · 17-06-2017 03:42PM

Earls always shines against weaker opposition. That's not new. I'm not at all surprised to see him rip up USA and Japan.

But come Autumn and Six Nations, he's a mixed bag. He shouldn't be anywhere near the Lions squad. Zebo is the only Irish back three player that would deserve to be there if he had been called up.

TomsOnTheRoof · 17-06-2017 03:54PM

It's laughable. Earls puts in a great performance, the second in a week, and people still criticise him. He's been Ireland's best wing this season and statistically speaking (according to accenture) he was the best wing in the 6 Nations (along with Zebo).

17-06-2017 04:00PM

TomsOnTheRoof wrote: »

It's laughable. Earls puts in a great performance, the second in a week, and people still criticise him. He's been Ireland's best wing this season and statistically speaking (according to accenture) he was the best wing in the 6 Nations (along with Zebo).

If only the Lion's played the USA.

stephen_n · 17-06-2017 04:01PM

TomsOnTheRoof wrote: »

It's laughable. Earls puts in a great performance, the second in a week, and people still criticise him. He's been Ireland's best wing this season and statistically speaking (according to accenture) he was the best wing in the 6 Nations (along with Zebo).

Yes but as always context is important, zebre would probably beat the USA and Japan.

The Rape of Lucretia · 17-06-2017 06:03PM

TomsOnTheRoof wrote: »

It's laughable. Earls puts in a great performance, the second in a week, and people still criticise him. He's been Ireland's best wing this season and statistically speaking (according to accenture) he was the best wing in the 6 Nations (along with Zebo).

He didnt put in any great performances, this week or last. He is playing Pro12 Zebre level opposition. Whatever he does against them counts for absolutely zilch. He wasnt within an asses roar of a Lions spot, and still isnt.

On the callups from Gats, probably the right thing to do. The remaining midweek games arent really Lions games at all, rather money earning exhibitino games against the second stringers. The focus is on the tests, and the first team cannot be risked now they are confirmed test players about to earn real Lions caps. Who sits on the bench for those games is irrelevant, and coaches priviledge, he may as well give the spots to a few Welsh boys and look after his own. If their were a real spate of injuries, he would be calling out genuine players, Launchers, Rings, Church, etc

The Rape of Lucretia · 17-06-2017 06:08PM

Deleted User wrote: »

For TroL - The Irish Haka (taken from Reddit)

This tour is really making a mockery of it. While the obligatory stand-and-face-dont-advance is an obscene and arrogant imposition by NZ on the world, fundamentally, it had some relevance as a curio of test rugby. But should have been left for the exclusive use of the AB test team. Every Tom Dick and Harry team having a go. Well, too much of a good thing and all that. (On the Maori NZ game, surely this was the last Lions venture against them - NZ will have to catch up with the rest of the world in the next few years and cut out this racially discriminatory team.)

Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

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