Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

evolving tipperary · 19-04-2017 01:12PM

Nift wrote: »

He's a fullback being played in centre. He is no longer needed at 13 because of Ringrose emergence. Besides he has no chance now of making Lions.

This must be sweet for someone!

D14Rugby · 19-04-2017 01:13PM

bilston wrote: »

That's half the squad!

Yep. Can't say I'm too fond of Gatland so maybe that's affecting my view a bit but I still think he's made lots of mistakes

bilston · 19-04-2017 01:13PM

Thinking about it if I was picking a test side from that squad I'd probably have Payne at 13. I still think it will be Davies though.

Burkie1203 · 19-04-2017 01:14PM

Is Henshaw the baby of the squad therefore responsible for looking after BIL?

GymJim · 19-04-2017 01:16PM

Na I'd imagine it's Sinckler unless I'm mistaken. Actually no must be Itoje

D14Rugby · 19-04-2017 01:16PM

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Is Henshaw the baby of the squad therefore responsible for looking after BIL?

Itoje? I think they're roughly the same age.

bilston · 19-04-2017 01:17PM

D14Rugby wrote: »

bilston wrote: »

That's half the squad!

Yep. Can't say I'm too fond of Gatland so maybe that's affecting my view a bit but I still think he's made lots of mistakes

A few of them are lucky. I'd say Payne will surprise a lot of people now that he's been picked. I don't think Billy Vunipola can be described as lucky, he will probably start the tests. The likes of Dan Cole, Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric were always going to travel as well.

The rest are probably 50/50 calls so yes they are lucky to have fallen on the right side of that, but I don't think there are any outrageous calls. Te'o maybe and the non selection of Launchbury are the two that stand out a bit to me.

bilston · 19-04-2017 01:17PM

D14Rugby wrote: »

bilston wrote: »

That's half the squad!

Yep. Can't say I'm too fond of Gatland so maybe that's affecting my view a bit but I still think he's made lots of mistakes

A few of them are lucky. I'd say Payne will surprise a lot of people now that he's been picked. I don't think Billy Vunipola can be described as lucky, he will probably start the tests. The likes of Dan Cole, Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric were always going to travel as well.

The rest are probably 50/50 calls so yes they are lucky to have fallen on the right side of that, but I don't think there are any outrageous calls. Te'o maybe and the non selection of Launchbury are the two that stand out a bit to me.

kmart6 · 19-04-2017 01:17PM

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Is Henshaw the baby of the squad therefore responsible for looking after BIL?

Itoje no?

TomsOnTheRoof · 19-04-2017 01:17PM

Brewster wrote: »

Comparing Earls Ireland try scoring record to Payne's is not a runner, Payne only became irish qualified a few years ago! It is hard to compare players in different positions, but when all attributes are considered, Payne is a better fullback/centre than Earls is a winger. It is easier to compare Payne to Zebo in a straight fullback v fullback battle, and Payne is just a classier player. Zebo is a great player, Payne I believe borders the world class category in that he would get in to any squad in the world, including NZ albeit with Ben Smith ahead of him, who himself is probably the best fullback in the world...

You categorically stated that Payne was a better player than Earls. That's nonsense. Payne is a very dependable centre and a good fullback, if a bit iffy under the highball. Earls was probably our best back over the course of the 6 nations and caused the opposition no end of trouble when he actually got the ball. This is reflected in the number of defenders beaten and line breaks he made. Infact, according to accenture he was, statistically speaking, the best winger in the tournament. To dismiss his try scoring and ratio out of hand is just ignorance. Earls might not be everybody's cup of tea but he's a top notch winger and criminally underrated.

Burkie1203 · 19-04-2017 01:21PM

TomsOnTheRoof wrote: »

Earls might not be everybody's cup of tea but he's a top notch winger and criminally underrated.

Earls is good. He is not top notch.

Squidgy Black · 19-04-2017 01:22PM

kmart6 wrote: »

Itoje no?

Itoje is the youngest, October 1994
Henshaw June 1993
Sinckler March 1993

19-04-2017 01:22PM

Payne is a better player than Earls

D14Rugby · 19-04-2017 01:22PM

bilston wrote: »

A few of them are lucky. I'd say Payne will surprise a lot of people now that he's been picked. I don't think Billy Vunipola can be described as lucky, he will probably start the tests. The likes of Dan Cole, Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric were always going to travel as well.

The rest are probably 50/50 calls so yes they are lucky to have fallen on the right side of that, but I don't think there are any outrageous calls. Te'o maybe and the non selection of Launchbury are the two that stand out a bit to me.

Yeah I didn't mean lucky as in 100% shouldn't be there just that there are equal or slightly better options in my opinion.
I just don't rate the vunipolas, don't know why just never liked how they play for some reason.
Te'o stands out like a sore thumb, very poor selection.

Clegg · 19-04-2017 01:26PM

Gatland was asked if it's a straight shoot out between Sexton and Farrell for the 10 jersey. He replied "Don't discount Biggar".

We can completely discount him.

kilns · 19-04-2017 01:28PM

TomsOnTheRoof wrote: »

Brewster wrote: »

Comparing Earls Ireland try scoring record to Payne's is not a runner, Payne only became irish qualified a few years ago! It is hard to compare players in different positions, but when all attributes are considered, Payne is a better fullback/centre than Earls is a winger. It is easier to compare Payne to Zebo in a straight fullback v fullback battle, and Payne is just a classier player. Zebo is a great player, Payne I believe borders the world class category in that he would get in to any squad in the world, including NZ albeit with Ben Smith ahead of him, who himself is probably the best fullback in the world...

You categorically stated that Payne was a better player than Earls. That's nonsense. Payne is a very dependable centre and a good fullback, if a bit iffy under the highball. Earls was probably our best back over the course of the 6 nations and caused the opposition no end of trouble when he actually got the ball. This is reflected in the number of defenders beaten and line breaks he made. Infact, according to accenture he was, statistically speaking, the best winger in the tournament. To dismiss his try scoring and ratio out of hand is just ignorance. Earls might not be everybody's cup of tea but he's a top notch winger and criminally underrated.

Payne is simply a better all round player than Earls, its not a slight on Earls but Payne is top class and when not playing for Ireland is missed hugely.
I firmly believe if Payne was fully fit for the Six Nations, Ireland would have won it

TomsOnTheRoof · 19-04-2017 01:28PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Payne is a better player than Earls

Impossible to state that categorically. You could definitely argue that's he's a better player defensively but going forward Earls is a bigger threat.

whatawaster · 19-04-2017 01:28PM

Payne is a better 13 and 15 than Earls. Earls is a better winger.

irishman86 · 19-04-2017 01:29PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Payne is a better player than Earls

Thats a well thought out argument, I feel the doubters will have no comeback from it

19-04-2017 01:30PM

irishman86 wrote: »

Thats a well thought out argument, I feel the doubters will have no comeback from it

Payne is categorically a better player than Earls

TomsOnTheRoof · 19-04-2017 01:31PM

kilns wrote: »

Payne is simply a better all round player than Earls, its not a slight on Earls but Payne is top class and when not playing for Ireland is missed hugely.
I firmly believe if Payne was fully fit for the Six Nations, Ireland would have won it

Payne not being fit wasn't the losing of the 6 nations. Poor selection policy and questionable coaching did that. Ringrose is a more than able replacement for Payne and offers much more going forward, even if he is still a bit naive in defence. Payne is currently our best option at full back but who's to say that would still be the case had O'Halloran been given a shot.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 19-04-2017 01:31PM

whatawaster wrote: »

Payne is a better 13 and 15 than Earls. Earls is a better winger.

Earls is a better winger now. A couple of seasons before he came to Ireland Payne had a very good season on the wing in super rugby.

TomsOnTheRoof · 19-04-2017 01:32PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Payne is categorically a better player than Earls

Opinion masquerading as fact is still just opinion.

CMOTDibbler · 19-04-2017 01:32PM

I'm bitterly disappointed. Based on a cast iron prediction a couple of pages back, I bought a huge pack of popcorn, had the kettle filled to the brim and was sitting back and waiting for the Heaslip #outrage to break out and... nothing!

sydthebeat · 19-04-2017 01:33PM

dunno why were arguing about earls... .he didnt get selected and doesnt compete with Payne in a positional sense

accensi0n · 19-04-2017 01:34PM

Payne is better than earls.

Clegg · 19-04-2017 01:35PM

There's a lack of top quality outside backs for the Lions. I'd have Hogg bordering on it for his running game, but that's about it. Maybe Payne if he plays fullback as well.

kilns · 19-04-2017 01:35PM

TomsOnTheRoof wrote: »

kilns wrote: »

Payne is simply a better all round player than Earls, its not a slight on Earls but Payne is top class and when not playing for Ireland is missed hugely.
I firmly believe if Payne was fully fit for the Six Nations, Ireland would have won it

Payne not being fit wasn't the losing of the 6 nations. Poor selection policy and questionable coaching did that. Ringrose is a more than able replacement for Payne and offers much more going forward, even if he is still a bit naive in defence. Payne is currently our best option at full back but who's to say that would still be the case had O'Halloran been given a shot.

Wrong, it is no coincidence that some of Irelands best performances in recents times have been when Payne is in the team. He is our defensive leader and we would not have conceded some of the soft tries against Scotland if he was there.
He is our best 15 and our best 13 (even though its not his natural position) and he will end up starting the tests in NZ in either one of those positions

CIARAN_BOYLE · 19-04-2017 01:36PM

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

I'm bitterly disappointed. Based on a cast iron prediction a couple of pages back, I bought a huge pack of popcorn, had the kettle filled to the brim and was sitting back and waiting for the Heaslip #outrage to break out and... nothing!

Well Heaslip is injured and the poster who would have come on screaming obscenities and curses at how the worthless showpony's career is over because he wasn't picked for the lions has been banned.

kilns · 19-04-2017 01:38PM

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

I'm bitterly disappointed. Based on a cast iron prediction a couple of pages back, I bought a huge pack of popcorn, had the kettle filled to the brim and was sitting back and waiting for the Heaslip #outrage to break out and... nothing!

If fit he would have travelled

Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

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