Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

Clegg wrote: »

The antipathy Heaslip inspires is something else. I'll never get why he's so disliked amongst the small minority of fans. He's the best number 8 to ever come from Ireland.

5 lions caps across two tours show how highly rated he is outside of Ireland as well.

I expect Faletau and Vunipola to be the 8s. But injuries happen, and injuries happen to those guys quite often. So lets see what happens.

sydthebeat wrote: »

Logically it actually does.

How?

flangemeistro wrote: »

Imagine the Leinster heads exploding tomorrow afternoon if Ryan and O'Mahony travel ahead of the consistent, indestructible, unquestionable, wolverine like Heaslip.

I'll actually snortle on my refreshment of choice. Just wait for the pages and pages of hyperbole and hysteria with a dash of knee jerk topped off with imho.

It will make the IRFUs rewarding of central contracts even more laughable and nostalgic.

Sweet dreams chaps.

Obvious trolling is obvious.

As a warning to everyone else who thinks they can use this thread as a provincial pissing contest: Don't. Bans will follow.

Well I'm glad I cheered you up anyway.

flangemeistro wrote: »

You're hilarious, thanks for cheering me up even more before I nod off by counting stags.

AK as predictable as always handing out infractions for supposed provincial pissing contests while the real trolls slip under the radar with their bias masked in sarcasm and patronism that they think will go over the uneducated heads.

Oops, questioning a mod, what's next one week? Two week ban? so I can't gloat at the hateful 8 tomorrow when Ryan deservedly gets a spot while they act like they're delighted for him through gritted teeth even though they've been spending the last two weeks basically knocking him and explaining why he's not as good as Toner and how Heaslip is more integral to the Irish set up.
Hypocrites.

Well, seeing as you've racked up 2 Yellow Cards, 6 Red Cards, 3 Bans and you're clearly a very bitter, disruptive poster who cares about nothing more than a bit of tribalism and bringing threads to somewhere this community has worked very hard at avoiding then's let's just call it a permanent ban until you can convince myself and the other mods who volunteer their time cleaning up your messes to shorten it.

bilston wrote: »

I still want to know how we are getting these leaks given the players only find out when the squad is publicised. That leaves just the coaches.

I'm sure there's an element of tactical leaks. It makes the bombshells less severe and the criticism diluted. It also gets the media on site if they can give them a little tidbit here and there.

I don't believe any media outlet has the squad correct, by the way. We've seen this every tour before now with massive rumours and "expected to" being the dominant phrase in the build up. Best being omitted last time was out of the blue. The media were convinced Jamie Robinson was going in 2009.

The last couple of days have seen journalists claiming t have been leaked information saying the squad is anything between 37 and 40 players.

There's some accuracy and some red herrings out there. We'll know at lunch time.

.ak wrote: »

Is it 12 noon it's being announced?

Yeah. Presume Sky will drag it out as much as possible to get their moneys worth

The Scots here are seething at the prospect of only 1/2 players selected (presuming Hogg and Seymour), I've agreed with them that you can build a strong case for Jonnie of the Grays, but Richie the Elder doesn't deserve to be on that plane at all. Frankly he's lucky to be picked by Scotland as a starter. In fairness it's the barstoolers that are shouting for Richie, the more 'in the know fans' think Watson and Brown should also go.

Nel would have been a lock in if it weren't for the untimely neck injury.

When do the players find out themselves out of curiousity? Does Gatland ring them personally?

Watson had a fine 6N once he was introduced. Unfortunately, he plays the same position as two of Gatland's favourites.

I think Johnny Gray can feel aggrieved. I'd be tempted to bring Laidlaw still for flexibility and the fact that he was playing very well up to the injury. He's going to return to action in the next 1-2 weeks probably so will be entirely fit for the tour.

Huw Jones had a good shot at being named before injury ruined it for him and Dunbar deserves more discussion than he has received to date. Unfortunately, it's another area where there are multiple options available who are very similar.

The wingers can probably be a little disappointed if neither are selected, particularly Seymour. You can really see the impact of not having a Scottish representative on the coaching staff.

I do find a little curious the potential selection of guys like Marler and Biggar. The importance of bringing a sense of camraderie to the group has been stressed before and John Spencer pointed out only this week that personalities will need to be considered in terms of guys who will get along and make for a good atmosphere.

Blokes like Biggar and Marler are hardly good examples of that. Both are known for their questionable temperament and I don't see them as the type who will bring a huge amount of good feeling to the group. With Marler, I think he's the beneficiary of Rowntree's presence.