Lions Tour

Cosmo Kramer

After this weekend it seems like a lot of potential Lions won't have a lot of competitive rugby to play between now and the tour. Wonder if it will impact selection. On form the majority of the squad will likely come from Pro 14 teams but they've been poor this weekend and the likes of Munster, Edinburgh, Scarlets etc are all out of Europe.

Cookiemunster

The Saracens players will be playing in the Championship, but a few of them will still be travelling. As long as the Celtic players keep ticking over in the Rainbow Cup they'll be fine.

Cosmo Kramer

Cookiemunster wrote: »

The Saracens players will be playing in the Championship, but a few of them will still be travelling. As long as the Celtic players keep ticking over in the Rainbow Cup they'll be fine.

Yes, none of it seems ideal to be honest. I'd say Gatty would have been hoping for better from the Pro14 sides this weekend. Then again, the less competitive nature of the competitions might reduce injuries ahead of the tour. And the Saffers are in the same situation so probably not a major issue.

thomond2006

That was a horror show for the Scarlets players.

Sheep Shagger

A coin collection FFS, is there anything they won't license...

https://absoluterugby.co.uk/collections/official-british-irish-lions-accessories-gifts/products/copy-of-british-irish-lions-iconic-captains-album?goal=0_2194b9e9d7-ca0d85ce94-52859845&mc_cid=ca0d85ce94&mc_eid=62b5218db0

OldRio

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

A coin collection FFS, is there anything they won't license...

https://absoluterugby.co.uk/collections/official-british-irish-lions-accessories-gifts/products/copy-of-british-irish-lions-iconic-captains-album?goal=0_2194b9e9d7-ca0d85ce94-52859845&mc_cid=ca0d85ce94&mc_eid=62b5218db0[/QUOTE

Got to keep the cash flowing.

Money
Get away
You get a good job with good pay and you're okay
Money
It's a gas
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
New car, caviar, four star daydream
Think I'll buy me a football team

The Inbetween is mine

Major withdrawals from the Lions coaching party...seems to have slipped right under the radar?
"Gatland had hoped to have Andy Farrell, the Ireland head coach, Steve Borthwick, the Leicester Tigers head coach, and Graham Rowntree, the Munster forwards coach, on his staff for the tour to South Africa" all have withdrawn

sydthebeat

Link?

The Inbetween is mine

sydthebeat wrote: »

Link?

The Times newspaper.. sorry
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british-irish-lions-crisis-as-three-key-coaches-pull-out-of-tour-qm3qbs7v8

sydthebeat

Good to hear that the Irish tour seems to be going ahead and Andy is prioritising it over the lions.

I suppose with covid bubbles etc there will be a lot more than just coaches pulling out.

I wonder will gatland change tact this year and contact the players pre announcement to ensure they are willing to travel??

CatFromHue

There's usually some contact between the Lions and any potential players before the squad announced. They check are the players available and their suit size.

Cosmo Kramer

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

After this weekend it seems like a lot of potential Lions won't have a lot of competitive rugby to play between now and the tour. Wonder if it will impact selection. On form the majority of the squad will likely come from Pro 14 teams but they've been poor this weekend and the likes of Munster, Edinburgh, Scarlets etc are all out of Europe.

This could potentially be an issue again with the Rainbow cup in doubt. Obviously SA similarly affected, but potentially a benefit now to being with a team that is still in European competition like Leinster or Ulster than one that has been out for a while like Munster, Scarlets or Edinburgh.

Could run a quick round of interpros instead but something like that is unlikely to have much intensity with little of substance to play for - Leinster and Ulster will be focussed on Europe, Munster and Connacht will just be winding down really other than those aiming for a Lions jersey or a spot in the summer tour squad maybe.

RugbyLover123

Townsend and Tandy both rumoured to be involved in the management team. Can see Scottish numbers increasing if that’s the case with all 50/50 calls involving Scottish players now going there way.

The Inbetween is mine

Robin MacBryde will be the only Irish coaching connection on the Lions touring party.

Pussyhands

Any love lost for the Lions?

I don't really look forward to it as much as I did 12/16 years ago.

Southern Hemisphere teams were traditionally far far better than Northern Hemisphere teams and pooling players from 4 teams together to try and win was a leveller.

I just don't see how we get to pick to best players from 4 teams and beat a country and think of it as an achievement? The lions players know each other inside out playing each other often in the 6N and HCC and Pro14.

sydthebeat

Pussyhands wrote: »

Any love lost for the Lions?

I don't really look forward to it as much as I did 12/16 years ago.

Southern Hemisphere teams were traditionally far far better than Northern Hemisphere teams and pooling players from 4 teams together to try and win was a leveller.

I just don't see how we get to pick to best players from 4 teams and beat a country and think of it as an achievement? The lions players know each other inside out playing each other often in the 6N and HCC and Pro14.

lions record since 2000

win 1
draw 1
loss 4

if a series win is not much of an achievement, why is it so hard to obtain ?

Pussyhands

sydthebeat wrote: »

lions record since 2000

win 1
draw 1
loss 4

if a series win is not much of an achievement, why is it so hard to obtain ?

Because money.

The Lions in 2017 played 6 games in 17 days before the first test. This is on top of very long seasons with 6N and Champions Cups. Players are not robots. It's a tighter schedule than a football world cup that is not as physically demanding.

If you had Ireland or England play v the cream of NZ, SA and AUS, would you see them winning as an achievement?

Former Former Former

Pussyhands wrote: »

Because money.

The Lions in 2017 played 6 games in 17 days before the first test. This is on top of very long seasons with 6N and Champions Cups. Players are not robots. It's a tighter schedule than a football world cup that is not as physically demanding.

If you had Ireland or England play v the cream of NZ, SA and AUS, would you see them winning as an achievement?

Your middle paragraph utterly undermines your point. You've just told us exactly why it's a big ask to win a tour so you've answered your own question.

But here's the great thing about it... You don't have to watch it. You don't have to get into it. You don't have to post on social media about how you're not interested cos of how sh1t it is. Job done.

aloooof

Pussyhands wrote: »

If you had Ireland or England play v the cream of NZ, SA and AUS, would you see them winning as an achievement?

Certainly less so largely because historically, the SH teams have been superior. SH teams have won 8 RWC's while the NH only has 1.

Pussyhands

Former Former Former wrote: »

Your middle paragraph utterly undermines your point. You've just told us exactly why it's a big ask to win a tour so you've answered your own question.

But here's the great thing about it... You don't have to watch it. You don't have to get into it. You don't have to post on social media about how you're not interested cos of how sh1t it is. Job done.

It's not really a level playing field if one team has to be fatigued and carrying injuries to have a chance of a contest.

ArmaniJeanss

Pussyhands wrote: »

Because money.

The Lions in 2017 played 6 games in 17 days before the first test. This is on top of very long seasons with 6N and Champions Cups. Players are not robots. It's a tighter schedule than a football world cup that is not as physically demanding.

Very few players would play all those 6 games though. It's pretty much a given that there will be weekend players and midweek players.
You could scrap the midweek games and artificially make the schedule look easier, but I doubt anyone wants that. A midweek game for the lesser lights in a provincial ground is part of the charm.

And the comparison with soccer world cup schedule - The teams drawn in the groups last to commence (usually group G & H) will generally play 6 games in 21/22 days if they reach the semi-final. But crucially many of the players will have played all 6 games, so it's not really that easier a schedule.

joseywhales

As much as I want to see Irish players achieve lions caps, for their own careers, I am probably happier if I see less going, since there is bound to be covid incidents on a tour like that in south africa in the middle of covid. Even if they manage through it, it's going to be a stressfull time.

The Inbetween is mine

Could be a few players going who are at their careers end.. CJ .. Toner maybe? Could be a few more in the UK who could take 6-8 spots.... players who their sides don't need back for the seasons start.

redmca2

I understand Gatland will select his squad shortly.
It's a pity that the only "Lions eligible" club still playing in the Champions Cup won't get 1 more chance to show the merits of Kelleher, Keenan, VDF (especially) and many others

Buer

redmca2 wrote: »

I understand Gatland will select his squad shortly.
It's a pity that the only "Lions eligible" club still playing in the Champions Cup won't get 1 more chance to show the merits of Kelleher, Keenan, VDF (especially) and many others

The squad isn't being selected until after the semi finals of the Champions Cup.

redmca2

Buer wrote: »

The squad isn't being selected until after the semi finals of the Champions Cup.

Delighted to be corrected !!

sydthebeat

All players being considered will be receiving letters around now, notifying them to be ready should they be selected

damianmcr

sydthebeat wrote: »

All players being considered will be receiving letters around now, notifying them to be ready should they be selected

I didnt know this was a thing.

redmca2

Buer wrote: »

The squad isn't being selected until after the semi finals of the Champions Cup.

Delighted to be corrected !!

Cookiemunster

damianmcr wrote: »

I didnt know this was a thing.

AFAIK the 'possibles' also usually get measured for suits around the same time they're told they're on the long list. Although I don't know how that would work this time.