Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

dregin

awec wrote: »

Last Lions tour we ended up in the Wool Shed watching these matches. Anyone up for another early morning pint? Looks like they're showing all the games again.

On for it, aye.

irishbucsfan

Good to see Ben Smith is fit. If the kiwis are going to have any chance of not being destroyed in the tests they need everyone fit.

FellasFellas

Ollie Jager in Provincial Baabaas squad for first game.

bilston

FellasFellas wrote: »

Ollie Jager in Provincial Baabaas squad for first game.

That will be some moment for the kid.

Not many grow up in Ireland dreaming of playing against the Lions!

phog

Clegg

That's a stupid schedule. Murder on the players.

Also doesn't allow for much time for the best 23 to gel as a squad.

The Lost Sheep

Clegg wrote: »

That's a stupid schedule. Murder on the players.

Also doesn't allow for much time for the best 23 to gel as a squad.

Lions wanted harder schedule than previous tours so are playing the super rugby teams and not ITM cup teams.
Its same as last 2 tours in terms of number of games.

Clegg

Clegg wrote: »

That's a stupid schedule. Murder on the players.

Also doesn't allow for much time for the best 23 to gel as a squad.

Nothing wrong with it.

irishbucsfan

It'll be the last tour like this. The only people happy with this schedule are the Kiwis and Lions officials in line to profit from the matches.

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

It'll be the last tour like this. The only people happy with this schedule are the Kiwis and Lions officials in line to profit from the matches.

My Mrs said she's happy with it, and she's Irish.

I did have to explain to her what the Lion's are, though :pac:

Dirty Dingus McGee

irishbucsfan wrote: »

It'll be the last tour like this. The only people happy with this schedule are the Kiwis and Lions officials in line to profit from the matches.

Good for the fans I would imagine.At least the non test games will be worth watching this time.Our boss is getting Sky Sports put in in work in order to watch these matches.The whole tour is just an entertainment event and a really enjoyable one aswell.

D14Rugby

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Good for the fans I would imagine.At least the non test games will be worth watching this time.Our boss is getting Sky Sports put in in work in order to watch these matches.The whole tour is just an entertainment event and a really enjoyable one aswell.

Well not really, we want to win the series, the other games mean nothing and if they're hindering the NZ games that's a problem.

Dirty Dingus McGee

D14Rugby wrote: »

Well not really, we want to win the series, the other games mean nothing and if they're hindering the NZ games that's a problem.

This is going to get me a lot of flack but I'll say it anyway , as it's not Ireland playing I honestly don't care if NZ or the Lions win the series the tougher schedule makes it all the more entertaining as all the games will be worth watching which wasn't the case in the SA and Australia tours.

D14Rugby

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

This is going to get me a lot of flack but I'll say it anyway , as it's not Ireland playing I honestly don't care if NZ or the Lions win the series the tougher schedule makes it all the more entertaining as all the games will be worth watching which wasn't the case in the SA and Australia tours.

I normally don't care either just don't want 4 years of NZ fans going on about it

D14Rugby

D14Rugby wrote: »

I normally don't care either just don't want 4 years of NZ fans going on about it

Come on man, that's ridiculous.

We only plan on going on about it for 2 years, then we will start going on about winning the RWC 3 times back-to-back

Clegg

The NZ super rugby sides are seriously good. Can see the Crusaders putting it right up to the Lions. The Chiefs and Highlanders too.

RoundBox11

Clegg wrote: »

The NZ super rugby sides are seriously good. Can see the Crusaders putting it right up to the Lions. The Chiefs and Highlanders too.

Were you watching the Crusaders vs Rebels match? These Nz super rugby results can be pretty deceiving. Yes they're seriously good sides but the Rebel's defence in that game was atrocious from what I saw.

It'll be very interesting to see how they fare up against the Lions defence which I reckon will be pretty good with Farrell coaching.

CatFromHue

It should be interesting as the way the All Blacks play can be quite different than what happens in the Super18

D14Rugby

Basil3 wrote: »

Come on man, that's ridiculous.

We only plan on going on about it for 2 years, then we will start going on about winning the RWC 3 times back-to-back

You're joking but that's eerily accurate 😂 bar the world cup bit but you'll probably just carry on about the previous 2 any way

razorblunt

I said it during the 6Nations but Jonathan Davies looks to have trimmed down and picked up a yard of pace.
Playin into form at the right time for the Tour.

Yeah_Right

D14Rugby wrote: »

I normally don't care either just don't want 4 years of NZ fans going on about it

4 years! Ha! Don't worry mate, we'll only go on about it as long as you all have gone on about BOD getting hurt in 2005 so 12 years (and counting)


It's the toughest touring schedule I've ever seen but that's due to the quality of the kiwi SR teams this year.ive never seen them all being so good in the same season. Usually one or two are average to poor and another is just decent. This season there are 4 that look good to excellent and the Blues are alright.

On the flip side, the Maoris don't appear as strong as they have in the past.

Dave_The_Sheep

Corporate event, but still a decent chat between Hastings, Johnson, O'Connell and Williams. Bit of banter, but some decent insights into previous tours. Worth sticking on in the background at least.

bilston

Yeah_Right wrote: »

D14Rugby wrote: »

I normally don't care either just don't want 4 years of NZ fans going on about it

4 years! Ha! Don't worry mate, we'll only go on about it as long as you all have gone on about BOD getting hurt in 2005 so 12 years (and counting)

Weirdly I think Kiwis bring the BOD thing up a lot more than anyone else! Faux outrage is a great motivator!

CatFromHue

I agree Bils, it's as if Umaga and Mealamu are the actual victims in some peoples minds

CIARAN_BOYLE

bilston wrote: »

Weirdly I think Kiwis bring the BOD thing up a lot more than anyone else! Faux outrage is a great motivator!

Last time an Irish person brought it up was to the suggestionin a new Zealand paper that umaga would make good backs coach for Munster to which role he would bring his great discipline.

Buer

So all domestic seasons are now finished and players are travelling with opinions potentially formed on what level of form they're in. The big winners over the last few weeks have been Jonathan Davies and Liam Williams. Gareth Davies would be a near certainty for a call up also if anyone drops out at scrum half. He probably was only left out for politics in reality. Leigh Halfpenny also had a good end to the season and will be giving Gatland a boost.

From an Irish perspective, the big losers to my mind would be Sexton and Stander. Sexton has not played enough, had a stinker last week and picked up another knock. His fragility is a huge concern and I think Farrell will almost certainly get a good long look at the 10 slot before the tests. Stander has been way off the boil since coming back from injury. I don't know if his ankle is still causing him problems but his performances have been way down and he needs to lift himself hugely if he's going to be in the test 23.

penybont exile

Buer wrote: »

So all domestic seasons are now finished and players are travelling with opinions potentially formed on what level of form they're in. The big winners over the last few weeks have been Jonathan Davies and Liam Williams. Gareth Davies would be a near certainty for a call up also if anyone drops out at scrum half. He probably was only left out for politics in reality. Leigh Halfpenny also had a good end to the season and will be giving Gatland a boost.

From an Irish perspective, the big losers to my mind would be Sexton and Stander. Sexton has not played enough, had a stinker last week and picked up another knock. His fragility is a huge concern and I think Farrell will almost certainly get a good long look at the 10 slot before the tests. Stander has been way off the boil since coming back from injury. I don't know if his ankle is still causing him problems but his performances have been way down and he needs to lift himself hugely if he's going to be in the test 23.

Spot on ..... Stander falling away over the last few weeks is a worry for the tour.
Watched the game when I got home last night ..... he was anonymous ..... rarely name checked on the commentary.

Buer

penybont exile wrote: »

Spot on ..... Stander falling away over the last few weeks is a worry for the tour.
Watched the game when I got home last night ..... he was anonymous ..... rarely name checked on the commentary.

Whatever about a possible lingering issue with the ankle limiting his mobility and carrying, the attempted tackle for Beirne's try was just a bloke who looked jaded and off form.

I already thought Faletau was a strong likelihood for the No. 8 jersey but, at this point, Stander isn't the clear stand out for 6 that he was. I reckon a number of guys are now travelling with a real chance of making that blindside spot their own.

Whoever starts next weekend will have a bit of a boost. They'll play the weakest opposition and will have a chance to really stand out in what might be decent enough weather conditions too.

bilston

It's probably hard to predict but any thoughts of a team for next weekend?

I would assume Exeter, Wasps, Scarlets and Munster players won't be considered. We know Ken Owens won't be available either. Is Rhys Webb fit?

Sexton maybe needs games more than Farrell so we could see Laidlaw and Sexton at 9 & 10.

thomond2006

I doubt any of the finalists will play.
It's simply crazy scheduling. Stander looks like he could do with two weeks rest. While I like the idea of the NZ barbarians game,next weekend should really be a week off.