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Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

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Comments

  • #242
    Connacht2KXX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 109 ✭✭Connacht2KXX


    thomond2006 wrote: »
    If Sexton goes on the tour and starts the tests then he should be rested until 2017. Lions Tours are potentially career shortening.

    Let's pray he doesn't make the tour.


  • #243
    thomond2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Connacht2KXX wrote: »
    Let's pray he doesn't make the tour.

    He'll make the tour bar a loss of form. Aside from everything else he has credit in the bank with Gatland from 2013.


  • #244
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 20,606 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    bilston wrote: »
    AWJ would be my choice for captain, but he has a lot of competition in the second row in Itoje, Kruis, Toner, Gray, Launchbury and Lawes etc etc.

    Appointing someone with national loyalties is asking for trouble. We got away with it in 2013 because Wales were the best side at the time and deserved the level of selection they got. At the moment, based on the last few weeks anyway, they are arguably the weakest of the Home Nations, so if current form continues Gatland will have some very difficult choices to make given he has to go back to work in Wales in September 2017.

    Isn't it amazing that Toner is in the conversation for the Lions. I mean you don't have to go back far at all to see countless posts that he is about to be replaced by "x" or "y" and is only in the team because of injuries and what not.

    Hugely important player for us now.


  • #245
    molloyjh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,767 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    Clegg wrote: »
    The Express say Rob Howley will be appointed attack coach for the Lions. If this comes to fruition then we're ****ed. Wales have no attacking gameplan that can scare NZ.

    Well if that's the case we may as well concede defeat now. What kind of logic is there behind selecting a head coach and an attack coach from a team that has one of the worst records given their talent against SH opposition of any kind? Wales struggle with Fiji and Samoa, let alone New Zealand. What exactly are these guys going to bring to the table to ensure success with the Lions that they've abjectly failed to bring to the table at Wales? Is it that nobody else wants the job?


  • #246
    former total
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,536 ✭✭✭former total


    Surely Rob Howley's stock is plummeting by the day??

    I'd love to see Townsend appointed as backs/attack coach but it was rumoured that the SRU wouldn't release him.


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  • #247
    Buer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,258 ✭✭✭✭Buer


    molloyjh wrote: »
    Well if that's the case we may as well concede defeat now. What kind of logic is there behind selecting a head coach and an attack coach from a team that has one of the worst records given their talent against SH opposition of any kind? Wales struggle with Fiji and Samoa, let alone New Zealand. What exactly are these guys going to bring to the table to ensure success with the Lions that they've abjectly failed to bring to the table at Wales? Is it that nobody else wants the job?

    Howley would be a disaster but, just to play devil's advocate, who are the other genuine options?

    Schmidt is out. Jones looks after England's attack. Townsend is apparently out.


  • #248
    thomond2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Demanding that an international coach stand down for the season is really hamstringing the Lions. What benefit is there to limit your choices in this way?


  • #249
    molloyjh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,767 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    Buer wrote: »
    Howley would be a disaster but, just to play devil's advocate, who are the other genuine options?

    Schmidt is out. Jones looks after England's attack. Townsend is apparently out.

    Ethel.

    I'm almost serious at this stage.
    thomond2006 wrote: »
    Demanding that an international coach stand down for the season is really hamstringing the Lions. What benefit is there to limit your choices in this way?

    Are they demanding that for the assistants or just the head coach? Thought Gatland was the only one who had to do that. SRU won't release Townsend because he is only taking over in June. They don't want to push his starting date out and have the AIs as his first set of games.


  • #250
    thomond2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    molloyjh wrote: »
    Are they demanding that for the assistants or just the head coach? Thought Gatland was the only one who had to do that. SRU won't release Townsend because he is only taking over in June. They don't want to push his starting date out and have the AIs as his first set of games.

    I don't know. I do find it odd that the unions are resisting releasing their coaches. Wouldn't the unions make more money from a winning series? Think of the merchandise sales alone.


  • #251
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    molloyjh wrote: »
    Are they demanding that for the assistants or just the head coach?

    They're hardly demanding that for Howley given he's the one who was picked to replace Gatland


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  • #252
    Buer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,258 ✭✭✭✭Buer


    molloyjh wrote: »
    Ethel.

    I'm almost serious at this stage.

    You can see how Howley is going to get the gig then. He's the best positioned of a really bad bunch. He has done the Lions gig before, will have done a huge amount of homework on NZ already this year and his CV isn't actually that bad.

    Now that all goes against the fact that his backlines have been brutal and he seems to have no influence over his players currently but I can understand why he's going to be the man on the plane.


  • #253
    molloyjh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,767 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    thomond2006 wrote: »
    I don't know. I do find it odd that the unions are resisting releasing their coaches. Wouldn't the unions make more money from a winning series? Think of the merchandise sales alone.

    If Townsend were in place a year I reckon the SRU might release him, but releasing him at the start of his contract is another thing. We also don't really know if Townsend wants to do the tour. Same with Joe. Joe has spoken about wanting to get a look at the wider squad. He's been working hard to build depth the last few years and this is a big opportunity for him to do that. Maybe he wants to commit to that job rather than take up the Lions one. Townsend may be similar.


  • #254
    former total
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,536 ✭✭✭former total


    Buer wrote: »
    You can see how Howley is going to get the gig then. He's the best positioned of a really bad bunch. He has done the Lions gig before, will have done a huge amount of homework on NZ already this year and his CV isn't actually that bad.

    Now that all goes against the fact that his backlines have been brutal and he seems to have no influence over his players currently but I can understand why he's going to be the man on the plane.

    ... and he keeps picking Alex Cuthbert.


  • #255
    molloyjh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,767 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    Buer wrote: »
    You can see how Howley is going to get the gig then. He's the best positioned of a really bad bunch. He has done the Lions gig before, will have done a huge amount of homework on NZ already this year and his CV isn't actually that bad.

    Now that all goes against the fact that his backlines have been brutal and he seems to have no influence over his players currently but I can understand why he's going to be the man on the plane.

    Yeah, the calm and objective me knows that. Having broken the bank to go on the 2013 tour only to see us struggle against the worst Australian side I can remember I just grimace at the thought of what we'll be like in NZ.


  • #256
    thomond2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    former total wrote: »
    ... and he keeps picking Alex Cuthbert.

    I now have images of Beauden Barrett kicking behind Cuthbert for 80 minutes. Oh boy.


  • #257
    Buer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,258 ✭✭✭✭Buer


    former total wrote: »
    ... and he keeps picking Alex Cuthbert.

    An inanimate object would be more useful than him.

    Perhaps a tube of Pringles.


  • #258
    bilston
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,049 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    Wales might be grateful if the Lions demand Howley steps down to focus on the Lions...

    There must be a club coach out there they could look at?


  • #259
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 55,208 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    bilston wrote: »
    Wales might be grateful if the Lions demand Howley steps down to focus on the Lions...

    There must be a club coach out there they could look at?

    I know of two they should take.

    2015-01-05_spo_5896424_I1.JPG

    may-2014-allen-clarke-ulster-assistant-coach-celtic-league-201314-v-picture-id542497726?s=594x594


  • #260
    molloyjh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,767 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    bilston wrote: »
    Wales might be grateful if the Lions demand Howley steps down to focus on the Lions...

    There must be a club coach out there they could look at?

    There is one that springs to mind who, according to his official bio, "is credited with transforming [his team] into one of the most potent attacking sides in Europe".

    Yes, you guessed it....
    Neil-Doak_rdax_499x529_80.jpg

    EDIT: Damn you awec!!!!


  • #261
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 55,208 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Please tell me his official bio doesn't actually say that?

    Edit: it does. I despair.


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  • #262
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    I would pay good money to see ulsterrugby.com if it had all it's copy rewritten by awec


  • #263
    molloyjh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,767 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    irishbucsfan wrote: »
    I would pay good money to see ulsterrugby.com if it had all it's copy rewritten by awec

    Would def beat Frannos wiki page anyway! Get Jaco in for the craic too.... :D


  • #264
    Buer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,258 ✭✭✭✭Buer


    bilston wrote: »
    Wales might be grateful if the Lions demand Howley steps down to focus on the Lions...

    There must be a club coach out there they could look at?

    I posted previously that the options would fall to guys like:


    Mike Catt - sacked England backs coach

    Mark McCall - not a hope he'll touch it and has no international coaching experience or existing relationship with the Lions or Gatland

    Alex King - Sacked ("mutual consent") by Northampton a few weeks ago

    Jason O'Halloran - Scottish backs coach. Only in the job a year and never coached at a higher level than NPC prior to that.

    Mark Mapletoft - Again, no experience at a high level or relationship with the Lions

    Aaron Mauger - Not a hope

    So, in closing, welcome aboard Rob Howley.


  • #265
    thomond2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Awec should be given a section of a newspaper to write his weekly Ulster Rugby: Woe is Us column.


  • #266
    Axl Tender Oboist
    Posts: 24,798 ✭✭✭✭ Axl Tender Oboist


    thomond2006 wrote: »
    Awec should be given a section of a newspaper to write his weekly Ulster Rugby: Woe is Us column.

    An 'Agonising Aunt' instead of an 'Agony Aunt'?


  • #267
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 36,171 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    Woejus more like.


  • #268
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    pickarooney wrote: »
    Woejus more like.

    Awec's Weekly Woejus Whinefest, every monday morning in the Belfast Telegraph


  • #269
    blackhound
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 284 ✭✭blackhound


    There seems to be a lot of talk of Furlong for the Lions no and certainly he has done his chances no harm at all. Now that the Autumn internationals are over for Ireland what Irish players do you think will be included? Obviously the six nations will decide a lot of the players but as of right now the players I think will travel are:
    McGrath
    Best
    Furlong
    Toner
    Stander
    O'Brien
    Heaslip
    Murray
    Sexton
    Henshaw

    Others who may have a chance are Ringrose, Dillane, Henderson and Van Der Flier. Obviously back row is a hugely competitive area throughout the 4 nations. I'd love to see Ringrose brought but I can't help but think Gatland will not bring too many bolters and most will be more experienced internationals

    Edit: Also Cian Healy is probably a good shout too.


  • #270
    Rainman16
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 566 ✭✭✭Rainman16


    The Autumn internationals will really have put allot more Irish names into consideration for Lions selection, But It's really too early to tell. If any of the Irish guys who have impressed in the last 4 games end up having a bad 6 nations campaign then they won't be going. Nobodies place is guaranteed,


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  • #271
    Kal El
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 613 ✭✭✭Kal El


    blackhound wrote: »
    There seems to be a lot of talk of Furlong for the Lions no and certainly he has done his chances no harm at all. Now that the Autumn internationals are over for Ireland what Irish players do you think will be included? Obviously the six nations will decide a lot of the players but as of right now the players I think will travel are:
    McGrath
    Best
    Furlong
    Toner
    Stander
    O'Brien
    Heaslip
    Murray
    Sexton
    Henshaw

    Others who may have a chance are Ringrose, Dillane, Henderson and Van Der Flier. Obviously back row is a hugely competitive area throughout the 4 nations. I'd love to see Ringrose brought but I can't help but think Gatland will not bring too many bolters and most will be more experienced internationals

    Edit: Also Cian Healy is probably a good shout too.
    It begins :pac:
    What chance does Ringrose have when he was only played because of injuries and wont start in the 6 nations over Payne and Henshaw.


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