Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

jr86 · 06-05-2017 11:25PM

Buer wrote: »

He is precisely the sort of player the tour needs. Some players don't have a prayer of the test team. Seymour and Nowell are already nailed on wingers for the midweek side. Laidlaw won't have a sniff of playing NZ. This whole "we can only pick guys who are capable of starting the tests" is rubbish. You'll wind up with 40 lads who will slit each others throats for a test spot with zero team ethic.

If Laidlaw can help consolidate this squad through experience and leadership then his presence will be worth its weight in gold. His value as an actual scrum half isn't as important as what he can bring to the group overall, as stupid as that sounds. Players who foster the right mentality and atmosphere are as important and more so than some guys who might start a test.

I always found it telling that Ian McGeechan said the greatest Lion of all time for him was Jason Leonard. He went on 3 tours but only ever started 2 tests (both in 1993) but his contribution off the pitch was massive through motivating and preparing the other players.

Wouldn't write off nowell yet?

durkadurka · 06-05-2017 11:42PM

Buer wrote: »

He is precisely the sort of player the tour needs. Some players don't have a prayer of the test team. Seymour and Nowell are already nailed on wingers for the midweek side. Laidlaw won't have a sniff of playing NZ. This whole "we can only pick guys who are capable of starting the tests" is rubbish. You'll wind up with 40 lads who will slit each others throats for a test spot with zero team ethic.

If Laidlaw can help consolidate this squad through experience and leadership then his presence will be worth its weight in gold. His value as an actual scrum half isn't as important as what he can bring to the group overall, as stupid as that sounds. Players who foster the right mentality and atmosphere are as important and more so than some guys who might start a test.

I always found it telling that Ian McGeechan said the greatest Lion of all time for him was Jason Leonard. He went on 3 tours but only ever started 2 tests (both in 1993) but his contribution off the pitch was massive through motivating and preparing the other players.

I can say in 12 words what buer says in 200.

razorblunt · 07-05-2017 12:18AM

I, for one, look forward to watching Laidlaw standing at rucks wondering WTF he's going to do with the ball.
After that he can look at the referee befuddled.

awec · 07-05-2017 12:54PM

If Biggar is out who is next on the list? Jackson? Ford?

Buer · 07-05-2017 01:00PM

awec wrote:

If Biggar is out who is next on the list? Jackson? Ford?

Ford I'd imagine but I would go for Jackson. Russell in with a decent shout too.

Ford's form has nose dived recently and that's according to Bath fans as much as anyone.

shootermacg · 07-05-2017 01:05PM

Buer wrote: »

Ford I'd imagine but I would go for Jackson. Russell in with a decent shout too.

Ford's form has nose dived recently and that's according to Bath fans as much as anyone.

Sam Davies is a pretty decent attacking 10 and more importantly he's from Wales.

Buer · 07-05-2017 01:42PM

shootermacg wrote:

Sam Davies is a pretty decent attacking 10 and more importantly he's from Wales.

Not a hope of him going as a 10 ahead of those with international experience and has never been capped by Gatland.

Only way he goes is if Gatland wants a utility back to replace Biggar. Davies is injured himself at the moment though.

jr86 · 07-05-2017 01:43PM

awec wrote: »

If Biggar is out who is next on the list? Jackson? Ford?

Cipriani?

Had a great season for Wasps by all accounts, and late call ups are often more "flavour of the month" types. Can cover 12 and 15 too

Ford had a very average six nations and as Buer points out, by all accounts is playing the same for Bath

shootermacg · 07-05-2017 01:43PM

Buer wrote: »

Davies is injured himself at the moment though.

That's great news. He gave Munster a really hard time the last time they played.

Buer · 07-05-2017 01:50PM

shootermacg wrote:

That's great news. He gave Munster a really hard time the last time they played.

Expected to be back in next few weeks so quite possibly will feature. They'll be without one of them though.

Killed the Ospreys yesterday. Played the second half with no outhalf and then Webb was carded.

swiwi_ · 07-05-2017 02:36PM

Buer wrote: »

I think that's a pretty solid assessment of how they're going to approach things, especially if Coles is ruled out. The Lions will love a crack at a slightly unfamiliar NZ line out set up although there won't be too many concerns if Taylor comes in. Beyond him though, could be a worry for NZ.

Ah, I'm not worried yet. Losing Coles would be a blow, he's in the discussion for world's best 2...but Taylor has been playing well...and the talented Harris finally made his return from injury for the Chiefs in the weekend. The options are a little weaker after that, especially the Blues 2 Parsons...NZ fans are pretty keen on the young canes rake Ricky Riccitelli as a potential bolter, but more likely for the Autumn internationals.

Injury update:

NMS - out, could be back for the Maori game
Squire - out for 4-6 weeks (busted thumb)
Coles - dicky calves, now with added concussion, return TBC
Kaino - successful surgery, back in for 3-5 weeks (back for Samoa test)
Dagg - might be back for Hurricanes game
B. Smith - out for 1-2 weeks, ankle sprain
Read - out for 5 weeks, broken thumb (back in time for Samoa test)
Cruden - out with concussion, back for Chiefs v Reds.
SBW - concussion in the weekend, no news yet of time out

Lions will win first 2 tour games (Combo side, Blues), but game 3 vs the Crusaders with their ABs will be where things start to get real.

Laidlaw to replace Youngs. Russell or Jackson to replace Biggar if he's ruled out.

swiwi_ · 07-05-2017 02:50PM

All Blacks channelling their inner Dutch for 2017.

Fun times ahead if any travelling Leinster fans pack their luminescent yellow road-worker change strip for the trip down-under.

07-05-2017 02:51PM

What happened to Biggar?

Bridge93 · 07-05-2017 02:52PM

That shirt is outstanding

Buer · 07-05-2017 03:01PM

Deleted User wrote:

What happened to Biggar?

Hurt his ankle yesterday. Taken off a few minutes into second half. Going for a scan. Doesn't look like he will he ruled out at this point but might be out of action for a few weeks.

razorblunt · 07-05-2017 03:16PM

swiwi_ wrote: »

All Blacks channelling their inner Dutch for 2017.

Fun times ahead if any travelling Leinster fans pack their luminescent yellow road-worker change strip for the trip down-under.

Adidas must have had a surplus of Munster training jerseys.e

bilston · 07-05-2017 06:47PM

jr86 wrote: »

Cipriani?

Had a great season for Wasps by all accounts, and late call ups are often more "flavour of the month" types. Can cover 12 and 15 too

Ford had a very average six nations and as Buer points out, by all accounts is playing the same for Bath

He was dreadful in the one game he has played this season that is close to test match level. Not a chance he travels unless three or four out halves go down with injury.

Christy42 · 07-05-2017 07:16PM

razorblunt wrote: »

Adidas must have had a surplus of Munster training jerseys.e

I feel like they should calling themselves the all blacks if they were that.

awec · 07-05-2017 08:01PM

Mike Brown isn't happy. :pac:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/05/07/mike-brown-slams-warren-gatlands-decision-leave-ofbritish-irish/

He told The Rugby Paper: “I didn’t take it well. I was gutted. I feel I’ve played really well from 2015 onwards so it was really disappointing to get the call, but you can’t let one man’s decision define you.

“It’s really disappointing for guys like myself, James Haskell and Dylan Hartley because we probably won’t get another opportunity. I’ve had no feedback about being on standby either, which is also disappointing, so I’m not going to keep up false hopes.

It's cause you're just not that good Mike.

Squidgy Black · 07-05-2017 08:02PM

Mike Brown is definitely one of the biggest ars?holes in rugby.

Going on a whinge to the Telegraph is definitely going to help your chances as a replacement.

.ak · 07-05-2017 08:25PM

swiwi_ wrote: »

All Blacks channelling their inner Dutch for 2017.

Fun times ahead if any travelling Leinster fans pack their luminescent yellow road-worker change strip for the trip down-under.

Oh god take my money!

07-05-2017 08:34PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuSQEsVgnWE

Bridge93 · 07-05-2017 10:29PM

He's been pretty **** since 2015. Ironically the upturn in England's form coincided with a dip in his. He was a one man show for England times during the World Cup and before it.

Buer · 08-05-2017 12:12PM

I think he is a little hard done by not to have gone on a tour but the fact of the matter is that he comes across as a complete wally. I'm using wally because the first two letters are the same as the word I wanted to use.

He's exactly the sort of guy that couldn't be carried on a tour. I'd say the memories of the 2001 and 2005 tours with the poor PR and player morale issues ensure that nobody like MB will ever go on a Lions tour again.

But Dan Biggar was selected....so who knows?!

thomond2006 · 08-05-2017 12:18PM

Is Dan Biggar much worse than Sexton though in terms of narkiness?

Buer · 08-05-2017 12:29PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Is Dan Biggar much worse than Sexton though in terms of narkiness?

Not just narky with DB. He's got a bit of a d*ckish streak in him. I recall a few years back when he did that sh*tty thing (think it was against Aironi or Treviso) of scoring a breakaway try in a rout before smugly walking to the touch line to dot it down and make the conversion as difficult as possible. Carlos Spencer, you ain't, buddy.

Nigel Owens had to warn him to keep his mouth shut early on at the weekend. He's a right mouth and more than just a bit stroppy. .

thomond2006 · 08-05-2017 12:43PM

Buer wrote: »

Not just narky with DB. He's got a bit of a d*ckish streak in him. I recall a few years back when he did that sh*tty thing (think it was against Aironi or Treviso) of scoring a breakaway try in a rout before smugly walking to the touch line to dot it down and make the conversion as difficult as possible. Carlos Spencer, you ain't, buddy.

Nigel Owens had to warn him to keep his mouth shut early on at the weekend. He's a right mouth and more than just a bit stroppy. .

This I remember. Tommy Bowe gave Biggar a piece of mind after he did it.

CatFromHue · 08-05-2017 02:08PM

There's nothing to get worked up over what Brown said, he doesn't "slam" Gatland at all.

All he said is that he was disappointed not to tour or to be on standby, which is fair enough really. He was playing great stuff not that long ago too.

Anatom · 08-05-2017 03:28PM

Official photo...

18403997_1305524376169567_6058037765338963512_o.jpg?oh=ecbf8418578182727d5d11a24e3024f7&oe=597901E0

awec · 08-05-2017 03:50PM

Dan Biggar been on the pies?

Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

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