Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

thomond2006 · 21-06-2017 08:16PM

awec wrote: »

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

Halfpenny played a lot on the wing years ago.

Clegg · 21-06-2017 08:17PM

Don't know if Warburton is the right selection for the bench. If you're going with Itoje and Sinckler for impact surely you'd go for a player like Stander as your backrow sub. Don't think Warburton offers the same impact.

Buer · 21-06-2017 08:18PM

HankScorpio102 wrote: »

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

Nowell is far more versatile. He has significant experience at 11, 13, 14 and 15.

In the last 4 years, we could count Halfpenny's starts which haven't been at 15 on one hand I'd say.

D14Rugby · 21-06-2017 08:19PM

Clegg wrote: »

Don't know of Warburton is the right selection for the bench. If you're going with Itoje and Sinckler for impact surely you'd go for a player like Stander as your backrow sub. Don't think Warburton offers the same impact.

He's there because he's captain and that's all. He's not a game changer at all so it's odd to have him on the bench

spock. · 21-06-2017 08:20PM

Credit to Gatland for dropping North, didn't think he would.

Itoje should be starting though.

Burkie1203 · 21-06-2017 08:22PM

D14Rugby wrote: »

He's there because he's captain and that's all. He's not a game changer at all so it's odd to have him on the bench

If AWJ and POM both go off around 60 minutes in, who takes over as captain? Warburton is the only forward with previous lions experience too.

Buer · 21-06-2017 08:22PM

spock. wrote: »

Itoje should be starting though.

I'd say he's absolutely gutted. Gatland definitely giving AWJ the nod based on their history.

AWJ has had a good tour but I would imagine that Itoje is a name that NZ fans and coaching staff are quietly pleased to see on the bench. You know exactly what you're getting with AWJ and they'll run the legs off him.

PTH2009 · 21-06-2017 08:23PM

No Standar ???

Burkie1203 · 21-06-2017 08:24PM

PTH2009 wrote: »

No Standar ???

Was obvious when he played 80 on tuesday and he has been fairly average so hardly a surprise

lehe8707 · 21-06-2017 08:24PM

Clegg wrote: »

Don't know if Warburton is the right selection for the bench. If you're going with Itoje and Sinckler for impact surely you'd go for a player like Stander as your backrow sub. Don't think Warburton offers the same impact.

Give Gatland a chance. At least he didn't pick him in 7 jersey. No Warburton for Test 2 now and well be sucking diesel.

Buer · 21-06-2017 08:25PM

Burkie1203 wrote: »

If AWJ and POM both go off around 60 minutes in, who takes over as captain? Warburton is the only forward with previous lions experience too.

I'd imagine Farrell would be a likely candidate or Kruis who appears to have taken a real leadership role. But I doubt the plan is to take POM off unless he's injured.

On the balance of things, Warburton doesn't really deserve to be there nor is there much rationale in him being a bench player. They'd get far more impact from Stander or even Tipuric being in that jersey.

Buer · 21-06-2017 08:26PM

PTH2009 wrote: »

No Standar ???

Writing was on the wall for him some time ago. It would have been a big surprise if he was named.

WeleaseWoderick · 21-06-2017 08:27PM

Definitely think they've missed a trick with not starting Itoje. The Saracens front (4 of )5 with Furlong looked a great unit against the Maori.

AWJ is a great player but I'd have the other 4 locks ahead of him on tour form alone.

Delighted with the back 3 but I'd have some reservations whether the centres can bring them into the game enough.

Finally, big congratulations due to POM. Huge achievement and great to see another Irish test captain.

Richard Hillman · 21-06-2017 08:27PM

Gatlands squad management and rotation has been horendous. It's like the game popped up a week earlier than thought.

A winger and a full back that played midweek, North left out of both games, no centres or wings on the bench.

Tigerandahalf · 21-06-2017 08:27PM

Buer wrote: »

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.

I think Halfpenny's goalkicking is worth 6 points alone. He is also a very solid defender, tackles really well as the last man. Tackling wouldn't be L Williams' best quality.

If it is a wet game on Saturday I think the Lions have a chance but less so now with Halfpenny out. Farrell can be very dodgy at the kicks, has days where everything goes astray. Other days he is very accurate. I'm not sure about Daly as a defender either.

It is an exciting backline if they click and can finish their chances. Definitely more step and pace in the backline with Daly and Williams.

Clegg · 21-06-2017 08:29PM

Huge achievement for Furlong and McGrath. We had Wallace and Hayes as Lions but we've never had two props of test Lions standard at the same time.

Buer · 21-06-2017 08:32PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Halfpenny played a lot on the wing years ago.

Years ago being the important part. He's able to cover wing in the same way Rob Kearney can. They tried him there for a game for Wales against Japan in the autumn just to give Williams a run at 15 and didn't try again. The last time before that was January 2012.

Tigerandahalf · 21-06-2017 08:33PM

Weather for Auckland on Saturday is for rain in the morning but to dry off in the afternoon. It could still change but the ball is likely to be greasy.

Boscoirl · 21-06-2017 08:35PM

Nice few surprises in that line up,

No Allen Dell though, unlucky to miss out

PTH2009 · 21-06-2017 08:35PM

The early kick offs are a killer ,Would love a few pints watching it but hard too access a pub serving

Anyway working Sat morning so prob get up and watch the game and hopefully see the lions win

d-gal · 21-06-2017 08:38PM

POM being named captain is just massive for Ireland

At the start of the 6nations some people reckoned he couldn't make the Irish 23. Comes in as a last min replacement against England and beats the hell out of them. Couple months later he's captain of the Lions.

Congrats POM. What an outstanding achievement. Falls in with the greats

irishbucsfan · 21-06-2017 08:39PM

Buer wrote: »

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.

Well! I had POM, Warburton and Stander in my back row. So even though I got it very wrong on Stander I'm fairly happy. Definitely didn't have George... I don't think AWJ/Kruis is exactly a shocking 2nd row, both are clearly in the top few players in those positions.

irishbucsfan · 21-06-2017 08:40PM

I guess certain people can stop sarcastically calling POM "captain incumbent" now... nothing incumbent about it any more! Delighted for the man. I can't wait to see him lead these lads out.

Still a massive, massive challenge, but I'm super excited.

jr86 · 21-06-2017 08:41PM

Very happy with that team bar awj. He never really lets the side down and is a "safe" call but itoje just gives so much more.

I seem to be one of the only people I know who really rates nowell over here, i would love for him to have snuck into the 23 but I wouldn't be shocked to see him start a test yet

Halfpenny on the bench makes sense for his impact off the tee if Farrell isn't going well.

George north not starting is one of the most sensible calls I've seen

I'm very quietly confident about this one. Vunipola will be a huge miss but there's still humongous fire power in that pack. Most balanced lions test team in a while? Lack of superstars this time around but no bang average players like times before

thebaz · 21-06-2017 08:43PM

delighted for POM - always had the leader attributes -

but shocked at Itoje omission - why not Itoje and AWJ .

heart says Lions, but head says .... there goes my saturday lie in.

Clegg · 21-06-2017 08:45PM

d-gal wrote: »

POM being named captain is just massive for Ireland

At the start of the 6nations some people reckoned he couldn't make the Irish 23. Comes in as a last min replacement against England and beats the hell out of them. Couple months later he's captain of the Lions.

Congrats POM. What an outstanding achievement. Falls in with the greats

Tbf that's because at the start of the 6N he really was clinging onto a place in the 23.

BBDBB · 21-06-2017 08:45PM

Congratulations to POM on the captaincy. Well deserved, can't wait to see you touching noses with that fella wearing the chamois budgie smugglers

Dickerty · 21-06-2017 08:45PM

jr86 wrote: »

Very happy with that team bar awj. He never really lets the side down and is a "safe" call but itoje just gives so much more.

I seem to be one of the only people I know who really rates nowell over here, i would love for him to have snuck into the 23 but I wouldn't be shocked to see him start a test yet

Halfpenny on the bench makes sense for his impact off the tee if Farrell isn't going well.

George north not starting is one of the most sensible calls I've seen

I'm very quietly confident about this one. Vunipola will be a huge miss but there's still humongous fire power in that pack. Most balanced lions test team in a while? Lack of superstars this time around but no bang average players like times before

Would have been a lot happier with Nowell on the bench, Halfpenny is not a game changer, unlikely to snaffle a try. Sexton is already there as kicking backup and covers 12, and Williams can play 13 or wing.

AWJ is a bad call. His experience better be worth it. Also sorry for Tupiric who can't get a break!

Clegg · 21-06-2017 08:48PM

Just point SoB at the nearest All Black pls.

I've yet to see a performance from an Irish player to better his against NZ in 2013.

jr86 · 21-06-2017 08:48PM

Buer wrote: »

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.

I had an inkling George would be very close a long time now. He was streets ahead of Hartley all year and it's not an uber competitive position. I think Eddie jones was the only coach on planet earth who would have persisted with Hartley in the 6n

Early on in the year i was sure launchbury itoje and Warburton would all start. The back 5 was always going to be a minefield really. Id imagine most assumed Farrell would be 12 though with AN other outside him

Lions 2017 [MOD WARNING IN OP]

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