Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

Yeah_Right · 21-06-2017 07:10PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

What's Codie Taylor like?

He's good but he's nowhere near Dane Coles. Been in the AB squad for a couple of years now. He does the basics of a hooker well and works hard round the field. Doesn't have the dynamism of Coles.

Looking at the team and who the Lions will likely put out, I think the ABs have a clear advantage in the backs. The loose forwards are pretty even especially with the lack of game time for Read and Kaino. The second row battle is mouth watering. The two best locks in the world vs the outstanding talent the Lions have.

The front row is interesting because I think individually the Lions players are better but this AB front row bested the Lions in the scrum a couple of weeks with the Crusaders.

Really looking forward to the game now. It's starting to get real!

Clegg · 21-06-2017 07:15PM

That's an electric backline, but the pack is nothing that will scare the Lions.

21-06-2017 07:34PM

Yeah_Right wrote: »

He's good but he's nowhere near Dane Coles. Been in the AB squad for a couple of years now. He does the basics of a hooker well and works hard round the field. Doesn't have the dynamism of Coles.

Looking at the team and who the Lions will likely put out, I think the ABs have a clear advantage in the backs. The loose forwards are pretty even especially with the lack of game time for Read and Kaino. The second row battle is mouth watering. The two best locks in the world vs the outstanding talent the Lions have.

The front row is interesting because I think individually the Lions players are better but this AB front row bested the Lions in the scrum a couple of weeks with the Crusaders.

Really looking forward to the game now. It's starting to get real!

That's my way of thinking as well regarding the forwards. Before the series, I thought the lions would have the upper hand in the forwards, but I've been pretty underwhelmed with their scrum (not saying it's bad, just not smashing the opposition like I thought it would), and I don't reckon they've been winning much in the loose forward battle.

Buer · 21-06-2017 08:02PM

Holy sheeeet. AWJ starts. Liam Williams starts!

POM captain.

Clegg · 21-06-2017 08:02PM

PoM confirmed as captain.

3 of last 4 Lions tours have had Irish captains in the 1st test.

awec · 21-06-2017 08:02PM

Williams
Watson
Davies
Ben Teo
Daly
Farrell
Murray
Vunipola
George
Furlong
AWJ
Kruis
POM (Captain)
SOB
Faletau

Subs
Owens
McGrath
Sinckler
Itoje
Warburton
Webb
Sexton
Halfpenny

D14Rugby · 21-06-2017 08:03PM

British & Irish Lions (v New Zealand, 1st Test, Saturday, June 24, 7.35pm NZST, 8.35am BST)
15. Liam Williams – Scarlets, Wales, #833
14. Anthony Watson – Bath Rugby, England, #816
13. Jonathan Davies – Scarlets, Wales, #778
12. Ben Te’o – Worcester Warriors, England, #815
11. Elliot Daly – Wasps, England, #822
10. Owen Farrell – Saracens, England, #780
9. Conor Murray – Munster, Ireland, #790

1. Mako Vunipola – Saracens, England, #787
2. Jamie George – Saracens, England, #819
3. Tadhg Furlong – Leinster, Ireland, #818
4. Alun Wyn Jones – Ospreys, Wales, #761
5. George Kruis – Saracens, England, #817
6. Peter O’Mahony (capt) – Munster, Ireland, #832
7. Sean O’Brien – Leinster, Ireland, #796
8. Taulupe Faletau – Bath Rugby, Wales, #779

Replacements
16. Ken Owens – Scarlets, Wales, #829
17. Jack McGrath – Leinster, Ireland, #827
18. Kyle Sinckler – Harlequins, England, #814
19. Maro Itoje – Saracens, England, #825
20. Sam Warburton – Cardiff Blues, Wales, #800
21. Rhys Webb – Ospreys, Wales, #820
22. Johnny Sexton – Leinster, Ireland, #791
23. Leigh Halfpenny – Toulon, Wales, #775

Clegg · 21-06-2017 08:05PM

No North is a bit of a shocker.

Thought he was bulletproof.

Tigerandahalf · 21-06-2017 08:05PM

awec wrote: »

Williams
Watson
Davies
Ben Teo
Daly
Farrell
Murray
Vunipola
George
Furlong
AWJ
Kruis
POM (Captain)
SOB
Faletau

Subs
Owens
McGrath
Sinckler
Itoje
Warburton
Webb
Sexton
Halfpenny

Few big surprises there. I presume Halfpenny is out with concussion. Massive loss.

Edit - See he is named in the subs. Big call.

awec · 21-06-2017 08:05PM

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Few big surprises there. I presume Halfpenny is out with concussion. Massive loss.

Halfpenny is on the bench...

Islander13 · 21-06-2017 08:06PM

North omission sensible. Itoje less so

Trojan · 21-06-2017 08:07PM

Sexton on the bench, obviously didn't do enough in that last game.

CurryFlavoured · 21-06-2017 08:07PM

A few surprises! Thought Itoje should've been in ahead of AWJ. Surprised to see both Daly and Halfpenny in there, both played a few days ago. I can kind of understand Williams who was exceptional yesterday and has a lot of flair, but Daly hasn't done much. Thought Mr. reliable halfpenny would play, happy enough to see North dropped as he's been average.

LuckyGent88 · 21-06-2017 08:07PM

Delighted for POM. What an achievement.

Nice to see the form of Daly rewarded over George north and think Williams can bring a lot more to the attacking side than 1/2 P.

awec · 21-06-2017 08:08PM

Pretty odd having a #23 who can only play in one position.

budhabob · 21-06-2017 08:08PM

Islander13 wrote: »

North omission sensible. Itoje less so

Personally think Itoje on the bench makes sense from an impact POV!

SlickRic · 21-06-2017 08:09PM

AWJ the big eye sore in that team. It should be Itoje all day long.

eigrod · 21-06-2017 08:09PM

Well done Peter O' Mahony. What an honour. Delighted for him.

21-06-2017 08:10PM

Big calls from Gatland. Fair play to him, a few selections a lot of people probably weren't expecting.

Islander13 · 21-06-2017 08:10PM

Davies ahead of O'Driscoll a shocker

HankScorpio102 · 21-06-2017 08:10PM

awec wrote: »

Pretty odd having a #23 who can only play in one position.

He can cover wing. He's a lot more versatile than North or even Nowell. Plus Daly and Williams can provide cover aswell.

stephen_n · 21-06-2017 08:11PM

1/2p benching is an odd one, didn't think Williams had done enough to shift North let alone him. Daly starting is strange too, assume Farrell will be kicking though.

prettyboy81 · 21-06-2017 08:11PM

AWJ the one that really sticks out. So much for the consistency of the Sacarcens forwards in the line out & pack.

CurryFlavoured · 21-06-2017 08:11PM

I don't have a big problem with the 'surprises', other than AWJ. Williams has a lot of flair, and if you can trust Farrell's kicking (which I think you can), then what Halfpenny can bring to the team is reduced big time. Based on the tour and this seasons form (and the fact that 3 of the front 5 are Saracens), I don't see how you can choose AWJ over Itoje.

swiwi_ · 21-06-2017 08:11PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

What's Codie Taylor like?

Softly spoken. Wicked sense of humour. Deadly at pool. Always pays his round. All round good guy really.

Buer · 21-06-2017 08:13PM

Itoje being omitted is insane. I understand that he'll be seen as a great impact man to have but this is NZ in Auckland. There might not be a contest left to have an impact on after 50 minutes.

I'm happy enough with the back three. Daly doesn't deserve a spot but North did even less so. Liam Williams looked bang in form the other night so I'm happy to see him there.

But I think leaving Halfpenny out is a risk right now. Not due to his glittering performances but due to the fact that Owen Farrell is 5/8 on this tour off the tee and all his misses have been handy kicks. I'd imagine he's likely to put that right on Saturday but, in such tight decisions and such fine margins, I'm surprised they didn't go with Halfpenny.

Altogether quite pleased with the side. I'm tempted to go back and see how badly we all called it a few months ago. Not many people had POM, SOB, AWJ, Kruis, George or Vunipola in their pack in March.

ScrubsfanChris · 21-06-2017 08:14PM

Spent the day with POM filming an Audi commercial back in January.
Like to think a few of my words that day inspired him to reach this moment

Buer · 21-06-2017 08:15PM

awec wrote: »

Pretty odd having a #23 who can only play in one position.

Daly will be needed to cover inside if required. Williams is completely comfortable moving to the wing to accommodate Halfpenny.

But I would say the real reason he's on the bench is if Farrell's kicking doesn't improve. He offers too little as a player to be much use at 23.

Buer · 21-06-2017 08:15PM

Islander13 wrote: »

Davies ahead of O'Driscoll a shocker

Too soon.

D14Rugby · 21-06-2017 08:15PM

awec wrote: »

Pretty odd having a #23 who can only play in one position.

Players on the pitch are versatile enough to cover though so shouldn't be a problem

Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

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