Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

Dog Botherer · 27-11-2016 11:35PM

Stheno wrote: »

Three months.

This may be heresy but I'd not be surprised to see both sexton and sob retire next year due to injuries

I've been bracing myself for the announcement for about a year now. Too many injuries just piling up for the both of them.

Then again, you have someone like Jonny Wilkinson who was absolutely plagued with injuries, but managed to sort himself out well enough to make it to the World Cup final and win the Heineken Cup. You never know.

bilston · 27-11-2016 11:59PM

Provided Vunipola gets back to,playing for Saracens in the business end of the season then he'll travel even if he misses the Six Nations.

As for missing the Lions tour, yeah it would help Ireland if nobody went on tour but playing for the Lions is huge for these guys. There is no way the IRFU would try and stop anyone touring.

Clegg · 01-12-2016 10:46AM

Gregor Townsend has turned down the Lions. Howley's to lose now?

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend has turned down a place on the British and Irish Lions coaching team for their tour to New Zealand next summer.

Townsend is taking over as Scotland head coach at the end of the season and has decided to lead them on their tour to Australia rather than join the Lions.

The 43-year-old was given the option in his Scotland contract to join the Lions, but he informed Warren Gatland last week that he was prioritising his new full-time job with Scotland and would have to turn down the invitation to work under the Kiwi in New Zealand.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/blow-for-gatland-as-townsend-rejects-lions-wknt7kzz9

phog · 01-12-2016 11:13AM

Clegg wrote: »

Gregor Townsend has turned down the Lions. Howley's to lose now?

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/blow-for-gatland-as-townsend-rejects-lions-wknt7kzz9

I'd normally say it would be mad for an up and coming coach to turn down something as big as a Lions Tour but in this instance I think Townsend is making the correct decision. He needs his time with Scotland and this Lions tour bar midweek games could turn out to be a whitewash.

irishbucsfan · 01-12-2016 11:49AM

Please Gregor. You're our only hope.

wp_rathead · 01-12-2016 12:00PM

phog wrote: »

I'd normally say it would be mad for an up and coming coach to turn down something as big as a Lions Tour but in this instance I think Townsend is making the correct decision. He needs his time with Scotland and this Lions tour bar midweek games could turn out to be a whitewash.

Do Scotland have a Summer Tour in 2017? (like Ireland touring Japan)
Makes sense if he wants to concentrate on that rather than Lions

CIARAN_BOYLE · 01-12-2016 12:03PM

wp_rathead wrote: »

Do Scotland have a Summer Tour in 2017? (like Ireland touring Japan)
Makes sense if he wants to concentrate on that rather than Lions

Scotland are touring North America I believe, and England are touring Argentina. Anyone know what Wales are doing?

wp_rathead · 01-12-2016 12:03PM

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Scotland are touring North America I believe, and England are touring Argentina. Anyone know what Wales are doing?

Blaming the Pro12

Buer · 01-12-2016 12:11PM

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Scotland are touring North America I believe, and England are touring Argentina. Anyone know what Wales are doing?

They've a 6 week tour of NZ including 3 tests and a number of midweek matches.

Cathalthesmart · 01-12-2016 12:18PM

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Scotland are touring North America I believe, and England are touring Argentina. Anyone know what Wales are doing?

Away to Tonga and Samoa

molloyjh · 01-12-2016 12:22PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Please Gregor. You're our only hope.

Who's the more foolish? The fool, or the fool who follows him?

Cathalthesmart · 01-12-2016 12:22PM

wp_rathead wrote: »

Do Scotland have a Summer Tour in 2017? (like Ireland touring Japan)
Makes sense if he wants to concentrate on that rather than Lions

Scotland have test away to Australia, they might throw in one/two against pacific Islands. Ireland along with 2 tests versus Japan we play a match versus the USA the week before the 1st Japan test ( All we know is the USA test is on the East coast). England go to Argentina for 2 tests and Wales play Samoa and Tonga.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 01-12-2016 12:26PM

I was wrong above Scotland australia and two other unnamed teams have a competition in Australia

bilston · 01-12-2016 02:49PM

Bad news for the Lions...potentially...but probably the sensible move for Townsend and Scotland.

I asked it a few weeks ago but there must be a good backs coach at club level the Lions could go to before Howley!

bilston · 01-12-2016 02:50PM

Cathalthesmart wrote: »

wp_rathead wrote: »

Do Scotland have a Summer Tour in 2017? (like Ireland touring Japan)
Makes sense if he wants to concentrate on that rather than Lions

Scotland have test away to Australia, they might throw in one/two against pacific Islands. Ireland along with 2 tests versus Japan we play a match versus the USA the week before the 1st Japan test ( All we know is the USA test is on the East coast). England go to Argentina for 2 tests and Wales play Samoa and Tonga.

Didn't realise we play the States. The players will be clocking up a lot of air miles in June.

Buer · 01-12-2016 03:01PM

Cathalthesmart wrote: »

All we know is the USA test is on the East coast

It's in New York.

Cathalthesmart · 01-12-2016 03:23PM

Buer wrote: »

It's in New York.

Has it been confirmed for NY though? Im not surprised tbh, Chicago has got enough big rugby events at this stage. Will be interesting to see the venue.

Cathalthesmart · 01-12-2016 03:24PM

bilston wrote: »

Didn't realise we play the States. The players will be clocking up a lot of air miles in June.

Don't know if all this traveling at the end of a long season is really such a smart move by the IRFU. Obvious we are doing this for America's vote in the RWC bid.

Lake1989 · 01-12-2016 03:26PM

Cathalthesmart wrote: »

Don't know if all this traveling at the end of a long season is really such a smart move by the IRFU. Obvious we are doing this for America's vote in the RWC bid.

Argentina are the ones who suffer most, I dont think a few flights will will do much if any harm to Ireland. Argentina/Jaguares have had something ridiculous like 55 long haul flights this year.

The Lost Sheep · 01-12-2016 03:38PM

Cathalthesmart wrote: »

Has it been confirmed for NY though? Im not surprised tbh, Chicago has got enough big rugby events at this stage. Will be interesting to see the venue.

Ive seen a few articles saying its in NY but no official confirmation. Chicago has got games due to connections with AIG and involved NZ.

Cathalthesmart wrote: »

Don't know if all this traveling at the end of a long season is really such a smart move by the IRFU. Obvious we are doing this for America's vote in the RWC bid.

I don't see it as being an issue. Why would it?

Cathalthesmart · 01-12-2016 04:00PM

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Ive seen a few articles saying its in NY but no official confirmation. Chicago has got games due to connections with AIG and involved NZ.

I don't see it as being an issue. Why would it?

I knew that with AIG being sponsors. The issue is player welfare, I dont remember there being so much travel in one season for the Irish team, already traveled to America in November, traveling against in June and then Japan. I would hope a lot of the older players like Trimble, D.Ryan, Toner, etc will be left home to rest for the new season.

Buer · 01-12-2016 04:25PM

Cathalthesmart wrote: »

I knew that with AIG being sponsors. The issue is player welfare, I dont remember there being so much travel in one season for the Irish team, already traveled to America in November, traveling against in June and then Japan. I would hope a lot of the older players like Trimble, D.Ryan, Toner, etc will be left home to rest for the new season.

I would imagine there's a realistic chance Toner won't be getting the summer of regardless of Irish duty.

Lake1989 · 01-12-2016 04:27PM

Cathalthesmart wrote: »

I knew that with AIG being sponsors. The issue is player welfare, I dont remember there being so much travel in one season for the Irish team, already traveled to America in November, traveling against in June and then Japan. I would hope a lot of the older players like Trimble, D.Ryan, Toner, etc will be left home to rest for the new season.

A flight to and from Chicago isnt going to cause any player welfare issues.

Mr Tickle · 01-12-2016 04:35PM

realistically the US game can be a development side of sorts. We're not tallking about putting miles on the clock for the spine of the team.

thomond2006 · 01-12-2016 04:36PM

Mr Tickle wrote: »

realistically the US game can be a development side of sorts. We're not tallking about putting miles on the clock for the spine of the team.

It depends if the US get a full release of players. If not then a development Irish side would probably crush them like the NZ Maori did in Chicago.
They would be a lot better with the likes of Manoa, MacGinty and Wyles available.

Mr Tickle · 01-12-2016 04:46PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

It depends if the US get a full release of players. If not then a development Irish side would probably crush them like the NZ Maori did in Chicago.
They would be a lot better with the likes of Manoa, MacGinty and Wyles available.

In terms of courting the vote we're probably better off not hammering them. It'd be good to give them and ourselves a real test.

01-12-2016 04:59PM

Cathalthesmart wrote: »

The issue is player welfare

The issue for YOU is player welfare.

Its not an issue considering most players will hop on a long haul flight the day after their last game of the season for a holiday. Its also not an issue as it'll be June and their last long haul flight will have been in November.

bilston · 01-12-2016 06:19PM

Cathalthesmart wrote: »

bilston wrote: »

Didn't realise we play the States. The players will be clocking up a lot of air miles in June.

Don't know if all this traveling at the end of a long season is really such a smart move by the IRFU. Obvious we are doing this for America's vote in the RWC bid.

Going to Japan two and a bit years out from the WC isn't a bad idea though. Sure we may only have a handful of players there who will go to the WC but it will be useful for the management to have a look at various venues etc for training, places to stay and just get a general flavour of the place while in a rugby orientated environment.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 01-12-2016 06:53PM

bilston wrote: »

Going to Japan two and a bit years out from the WC isn't a bad idea though. Sure we may only have a handful of players there who will go to the WC but it will be useful for the management to have a look at various venues etc for training, places to stay and just get a general flavour of the place while in a rugby orientated environment.

I'd imagine there will be 15 plus players in the rwc squad for 2019 who will be in Japan this summer.

bilston · 01-12-2016 09:17PM

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

bilston wrote: »

Going to Japan two and a bit years out from the WC isn't a bad idea though. Sure we may only have a handful of players there who will go to the WC but it will be useful for the management to have a look at various venues etc for training, places to stay and just get a general flavour of the place while in a rugby orientated environment.

I'd imagine there will be 15 plus players in the rwc squad for 2019 who will be in Japan this summer.

Could be. Depends on injuries and how many players go to NZ and I suppose there may be a handful of players we don't know a lot about yet who will go to the WC. The likes of Porter, Ryan and Stockdale for example.

Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

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