Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

irishbucsfan

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

But only Halfpenny has any significant experience playing in that full back position. Zebo would be a good call up and it would give him time to learn the systems.

Given the Lions are playing high ball to gain territory none of those other full backs would be near Zebo for catching those up and unders.

Very little injuries so far but the Maoris have yet to come.

Watson and Williams (and Daly in the past) have played as much or more full back than Zebo. So playing time in the position is not a reason to call him up.

I'd have him there because I rate him higher as a full back than them (well maybe not Williams but he's only really played wing so far), but that's just my opinion.

Tigerandahalf

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Watson and Williams (and Daly in the past) have played as much or more full back than Zebo. So playing time in the position is not a reason to call him up.

I'd have him there because I rate him higher as a full back than them (well maybe not Williams but he's only really played wing so far), but that's just my opinion.

Forgot about Williams. He is solid in fairness.

pickarooney

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Forgot about Williams. He is solid in fairness.

Ah yeah, if you need a lad to contest the high kicks he's flawless.

The real mccoy 91

Daly looked ok this morning when he was on. He could be a back sub for the tests as he can cover nearly everywhere.

awec

Lions really need to win on Saturday now and beat the Chiefs. Need to build some sort of momentum.

The real mccoy 91

awec wrote:

Lions really need to win on Saturday now and beat the Chiefs. Need to build some sort of momentum.

Saturdays game the big guns will be back out and I'd expect them to win the less said about these midweek games the better really

irishbucsfan

awec wrote: »

Lions really need to win on Saturday now and beat the Chiefs. Need to build some sort of momentum.

Yeah I think it's important. A win in a good game will stand to them

The real mccoy 91

The test team is obviously becoming a lot clearer as games go on atm I think it's looking like
1.mako/mcgrath
2.owens
3.furlong
4.itoje
5.kruis
6.o Mahoney
7.warburton
8.faletau
9.murray
10.farrell
11.north
12. Te'o
13.davies
14.watson
15.halfpenny
16 . george
17.mako/mcgrath
18. Sinkler
19.awj
20.stander/o brien
21.webb
22. Sexton
23.daly

Buer

I think that could be on the money but I've no idea what Daly has done to be included in the 23!

As much as he is hated, Liam Williams was decent at the weekend. He got involved repeatedly, looked dangerous with ball in hand and, possibly most important, he has demonstrated he can perform against NZ in NZ previously.

OldRio

Or Warburton. But he will be picked.

Buer

OldRio wrote: »

Or Warburton. But he will be picked.

I don't think the arguements for Sam Warburton and Elliot Daly are really comparable.

OldRio

I was simply saying he has not done enough. Never compared players.
Warburton has played about three games since April I think.

Burkie1203

OldRio wrote: »

I was simply saying he has not done enough. Never compared players.
Warburton has played about three games since April I think.

SoB has been out a while too. But once fit he is defo in the 23 IMO. Warburton will start barring injury.

At the moment i reckon its gonna be
6 pom
7 warburton
8 faletau

20 sob

sydthebeat

I don't know what Rory best seems to have done to make people write him out of the test side.

I thought he was good today and the last game, and ken owens could have played himself out of the test squad today. The line out went awry after he came on. Best offers more in dense than the other two, while George offers more going forward.

Currently id have best starting and George at 16

FellasFellas

Sinckler is now nailed on I'd say to be 18 in the tests. Cole hasn't offered much, looks very much the elder tighthead on the tour. Best either starts or doesn't make the 23 for me. AWJ had a poor game today but doubt he was looking forward to playing 60 mins, still looking like him and Kruis but I can imagine Itoje and Kruis will play on Saturday. POM/SW/TF with SOB 20 is looking best if I'm honest, as we know Warburton will not be dropped.

MV JG TF AWJ GK POM SW TF
CM OF GN BT JJ AW LH

KO JMG KS MI SOB RW JS LW/JP

Buer

Can't see Joseph making the team. He was good in attack today but was shown up in defence too. He was beaten twice in the build up to Naholo's try. First time, beaten on the outside and gave up 10 yards before getting his man down and the second time just fell off a tackle which almost led to the try. It was scored off the recycle.

Davies is a big Gatland player and he has spoken in the past about a kicking option at 13. In that regard, I think it's Davies first, Payne second for the 13 jersey.

A little disappointing that Henshaw hasn't got a run there. Himself and Davies are very similar at 13 and Henshaw showed some nice touches with the boot last week.

irishbucsfan

Murray Kinsella saying that he thinks Gatland is keeping a Sexton/Farrell midfield under wraps as a surprise. And all the praise of Te'o is a smokescreen to hide this. Says that they looked to slick and had too good an understanding to be two guys who have never trained together (as Gatland/Farrell claimed).

Interesting idea.

aloooof

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Murray Kinsella saying that he thinks Gatland is keeping a Sexton/Farrell midfield under wraps as a surprise. And all the praise of Te'o is a smokescreen to hide this. Says that they looked to slick and had too good an understanding to be two guys who have never trained together (as Gatland/Farrell claimed).

Interesting idea.

Didn't Woodward try something similar in 05?? I can't remember the combination or positions off hand without looking for them, but I'm pretty certain there was some partnership that started the first Test that was being kept under wraps and didn't feature together in any of the warm-ups.

Sephiral

Jones 10 - Wilkinson 12 maybe?

I think with the right outside centre, it is the best option. But the outside backs have all been crap-mediocre.

Buer

It was Jones and Wilkinson alright. The key part is that apparently Woodward kept it under wraps entirely. I think it was EOS who said the week of the test he didn't know that was the plan.

He was the backs coach.

swiwi_

I would like to announce that I'm withdrawing from predicting results. 1-3 for the tour so far is grounds for harikari. My last prediction is therefore Lions 3 ABs 0.

Podge_irl

swiwi_ wrote: »

I would like to announce that I'm withdrawing from predicting results. 1-3 for the tour so far is grounds for harikari. My last prediction is therefore Lions 3 ABs 0.

It's worse than the Lions!

.ak

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Murray Kinsella saying that he thinks Gatland is keeping a Sexton/Farrell midfield under wraps as a surprise. And all the praise of Te'o is a smokescreen to hide this. Says that they looked to slick and had too good an understanding to be two guys who have never trained together (as Gatland/Farrell claimed).

Interesting idea.

Hardly a surprise tho. How many journos called it before the tour?

irishbucsfan

.ak wrote: »

Hardly a surprise tho. How many journos called it before the tour?

That's not quite the point. It's not that noone called it before the tour. It's that noone expects it based on what has happened, and specifically what has been said, during the tour.

buck65

Farrell is a decent 12.

Clegg

Still waiting for Warburton to spark into life this tour. He's isn't at his Cardiff Blues level of not giving a toss, but he isn't at his Welsh captain best either.

swiwi_

All Blacks team to play Samoa

Ben Smith (c), Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moodie.

Reserves Nathan Harris, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Scott Barrett, Vaea Fifita, TJ Perenara, Lima Sopoaga, Jordie Barrett.

irishbucsfan

Rubbish team, walkovers ahead

prettyboy81

Gulps loudly!

Yeah_Right

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Rubbish team, walkovers ahead

Don't worry, we'll put out a proper team when we get to the Rugby Championship. Need to give some experience this month while we're playing 2nd tier teams.