Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

awec · 21-05-2017 09:00PM

Interesting that he's called up a flanker to replace an 8. Faletau and Stander the 8s now?

irishbucsfan · 21-05-2017 09:02PM

awec wrote: »

Interesting that he's called up a flanker to replace an 8. Faletau and Stander the 8s now?

I personally think Stander was always going to be the 8, maybe quite an unpopular opinion but I'd say it's fairly likely now.

razorblunt · 21-05-2017 09:04PM

Hands up if you got this
30f509892eb22b91b5ca1aa504496db4_cj-stander-no-longer-playing-like-hes-got-something-to-prove-cj-stander-meme_752-501.jpeg

30f509892eb22b91b5ca1aa504496db4_cj-stander-no-longer-playing-like-hes-got-something-to-prove-cj-stander-meme_752-501.jpeg

.ak · 21-05-2017 09:06PM

That changes things...

Personally I think he was the first name on the team sheet.

I like Haskell, so I'm glad he got called up, he's plays good footy, but it is interesting that he got a call up and not an 8.

bilston · 21-05-2017 09:08PM

Disaster for the Lions.

Teferi · 21-05-2017 09:14PM

Haskell has been playing like a drain recently but will up the bantz factor on the tour which I think was lacking so not a bad call up.

.ak · 21-05-2017 09:17PM

Rumour that Jack Conan has been told to stand by.

.ak · 21-05-2017 09:17PM

That's not a rumour at all, I just made it up.

Let's see how soon before it's in the papers.

Squidgy Black · 21-05-2017 09:18PM

.ak wrote: »

That's not a rumour at all, I just made it up.

Let's see how soon before it's in the papers.

To appear on rugbylad as confirmed within the next 3 minutes

Littlehorny · 21-05-2017 09:24PM

Feel Heaslip is very unlucky here, one of Irelands best performers in the 6 nations and a specialist no.8 and full of experience. Haskill is big, strong and honest but isn't that good of a player in my opinion, slow for a no.7 and his ball handling is not great.

21-05-2017 09:25PM

Heaslip still not back from injury.

Cookiemunster · 21-05-2017 09:26PM

Littlehorny wrote: »

Feel Heaslip is very unlucky here, one of Irelands best performers in the 6 nations and a specialist no.8 and full of experience. Haskill is big, strong and honest but isn't that good of a player in my opinion, slow for a no.7 and his ball handling is not great.

He's been out injured since the 6 nations........

CatFromHue · 21-05-2017 09:29PM

With SOB teetering on inclusion that's a big loss to the ball carrier players.

Teferi · 21-05-2017 09:31PM

.ak wrote: »

Rumour that Jack Conan has been told to stand by.

I heard it was James Ryan.

Buer · 21-05-2017 09:33PM

Massive blow to the Lions. I would imagine he was the first name on the team sheet. He is the one back row player we had that's very, very difficult to contain. Even being man marked, he will get over the gain line and has the handling skills to make room for others. He's as close to an unstoppable option as the Lions had. There isn't another No. 8 that can do what he does and I say all of that as someone who considered him a one dimensional, lazy git a year or two ago.

I would make Faletau favourite for the 8 jersey now. I thought he was touch and go to get on the plane a few months ago but his form has been fantastic over the past couple of months culminating in being named Player of the Month last week. He has been on fire. Gatland is a fan and he was very good in NZ last summer.

But, no question for me, the slender hopes the Lions had just went up in smoke. Very disappointing. The tour will be a far worse spectable for the absence of someone like BV.

Dog Botherer · 21-05-2017 09:38PM

Haskell call seems a bit bizarre. I get that he's an established international but, well, I dunno, he's always seemed a bit crap to me. He'll have the occasional good match but those are few and far between. He has a big engine but it's difficult to say what else he brings to the team. Reminds me a lot of the infamous Andy Powell actually.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 21-05-2017 09:44PM

Dog Botherer wrote: »

Haskell call seems a bit bizarre. I get that he's an established international but, well, I dunno, he's always seemed a bit crap to me. He'll have the occasional good match but those are few and far between. He has a big engine but it's difficult to say what else he brings to the team. Reminds me a lot of the infamous Andy Powell actually.

Supposedly a good dressing room figure that will be a mid week leader.

Tigerandahalf · 21-05-2017 09:45PM

Vunipola out is a massive loss. He would have been one of the very few guaranteed to start.

The Lions have been very lucky with injuries so far. Next week will hopefully pass ok.

While the NZ super rugby teams are putting up cricket scores at the moment the opposition down there is very poor.

Haskell is limited but he will have no pressure and I loved his attitude after he didn't make the initial squad. He could end up making a big impact. Hope it goes well for him.

As for the other Vunipola - Mako got a lesson against Exeter. Their TH with hair longer than rapunzel had him in a lot of trouble. The Lions are very reliant on Jack McGrath on that LH side.

After Sexton's poor show at the weekend Farrell looks the better option at 10 now.

With Stander gone from 6 Itoje could be starting there with maybe Kruis and AWJ in the 2nd row.

Any update on Ken Owens? Hartley was anonymous against Connacht.

Buer · 21-05-2017 09:45PM

Dog Botherer wrote: »

Haskell call seems a bit bizarre. I get that he's an established international but, well, I dunno, he's always seemed a bit crap to me. He'll have the occasional good match but those are few and far between. He has a big engine but it's difficult to say what else he brings to the team. Reminds me a lot of the infamous Andy Powell actually.

Haskell is a far superior player to someone like Powell. If the Lions squad was named a year ago, he'd be a strong favourite for a test start. Was also named player of the tour when England beat Australia 3-0 last summer and he was sensational.

He's a guy that gets a significant amount of grief this side of the Irish sea but is a very good player and, by all accounts, a brilliant guy to have in camp. If he didn't play abroad for a few years, he'd be closer to 100 test caps by now (and may still make it). You don't get that by being a bit crap.

Dog Botherer · 21-05-2017 10:03PM

I dunno, obviously coaches see something in him, but I doubt he'd bench for Leinster. Maybe for Munster.

Maybe could someone enlighten me as to what exactly he does well? Sincere question, I've wondered for a long time.

pickarooney · 21-05-2017 10:07PM

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Vunipola out is a massive loss. He would have been one of the very few guaranteed to start.

The Lions have been very lucky with injuries so far. Next week will hopefully pass ok.

While the NZ super rugby teams are putting up cricket scores at the moment the opposition down there is very poor.

Haskell is limited but he will have no pressure and I loved his attitude after he didn't make the initial squad. He could end up making a big impact. Hope it goes well for him.

As for the other Vunipola - Mako got a lesson against Exeter. Their TH with hair longer than rapunzel had him in a lot of trouble. The Lions are very reliant on Jack McGrath on that LH side.

After Sexton's poor show at the weekend Farrell looks the better option at 10 now.

With Stander gone from 6 Itoje could be starting there with maybe Kruis and AWJ in the 2nd row.

Any update on Ken Owens? Hartley was anonymous against Connacht.

Stander gone from 6? Faletau will play 8 surely?

Clegg · 21-05-2017 10:15PM

SoB hasn't played in ages now.

Wouldn't be surprised if he pulls out of the tour.

irishbucsfan · 21-05-2017 10:16PM

Haskell would be an absolutely brilliant judge for Court.

evolving tipperary · 21-05-2017 10:23PM

Sean O'Brien's body needs nothing but treatment if he wants another two to three seasons at the top level. If he goes on tour I can't see his body standing up to it...

RoundBox11 · 21-05-2017 10:27PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Haskell would be an absolutely brilliant judge for Court.

It seems like Haskell is never far from some weird scandal. I'd be worried if Hartley is called up as well for what the two of them will do to the dressing room. Both literally and psychologically

Dog Botherer · 21-05-2017 10:49PM

https://twitter.com/GLove39/status/866402905129177089?s=09

D14Rugby · 21-05-2017 10:58PM

evolving tipperary wrote: »

Sean O'Brien's body needs nothing but treatment if he wants another two to three seasons at the top level. If he goes on tour I can't see his body standing up to it...

I saw obrien training a while ago and he looked okay, I think the scarlets thing was a risk vs reward of him playing and had we had less backrows he would have played. I think he'll be okay for the tour but maybe that's just me being optimistic

Christy42 · 21-05-2017 11:30PM

razorblunt wrote: »

Hands up if you got this

While I admire her confidence I feel like that little girl will struggle against the likes blacks. I also wouldn't peg her as a forward though some have been on the lighter side before.

Jump_In_Jack · 21-05-2017 11:33PM

Ross Moriarty may step up, he looked really impressive during the 6nations.

thebaz · 22-05-2017 01:12AM

Billy V is a massive loss - can see injuries mounting up , and NZ hitting peak - somehow I think will be long summer.

Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

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