Lions Tour

Hurrache wrote: »

Sigh, we have a higher proportion of our population fully vaccinated compared to the UK, over 3% here compared to less than 2 in the UK.

This piece of data, at a specific point in time, proves that the old 'lies, damned lies and statistics' saying remains very valid.
The UK has a clearly defined policy of vaccinating as many as possible with the first jab and then giving the second jab 12 weeks later.
Therefore the second jab stats are about to accelerate massively - my 80 year old in-laws in Scotland are getting it in the next fortnight or so, having had the first in January.

RugbyLover123 wrote: »

Another hyped up Scotland team that fails to produce. Home losses to Wales and Ireland. They can have no complaints if they have so few picked.

That is fair, I doubt Gatland was impressed by that performance, especially Russell. Sexton may be a bit old and not as dynamic but he is reliable and kicks his points.

RugbyLover123 wrote: »

Another hyped up Scotland team that fails to produce. Home losses to Wales and Ireland. They can have no complaints if they have so few picked.

They could have Hogg and Watson as test starters if both keep up their form. Henshaw and Beirne similarly for us.

I think Furlong, Ryan, Henderson, Beirne, Stander, Sexton and Henshaw all have a real chance of making the squad. So does Ringrose, but yesterday was a bad time to put in am uncharacteristic performance.

There could be a surprise or two as well.

The England game will be huge for Lions selection.

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

Whilst they piss around trying to decide if there will be a tour, another commercial box is ticked....

The official beer of the tour FFS

https://www.lionsrugby.com/2021/03/15/lions-announce-fullers-london-pride-as-official-beer?fbclid=IwAR1K3d2VCv9kAbOocwzb4p8xIh6NdA59SuFJq8xqe_JjJS5zSA4qo9rKopE

Galahad was always an outside bet

My 15 for the Lions

L Williams
L Rees Zammit
J Davies
R Henshaw
J Adams

D Biggar
G Davies

M Vunipola
J George
T Furlong

AW Jones (C)
M Itoje

T Beirne
H Watson
B Vunipola

7 Welsh, 3 Irish, 4 English, 1 Scot

A few players aren't playing well but you would expect the Vunipolas to be very fresh come the Lions though not in form at the moment. Furlong will also be fresh. At hooker I'd be happy to go with Owens but I think George has been badly missed in the England scrum.

Some positions you could pick 3 or 4 lads and they would all do a good job. James Ryan is one that stands out but I think AW Jones is the outstanding candidate for captaincy.

At 1 you could pick a few lads as well.

The Irish and English backlines are quite poor and they seem to lack the basic skills of passing and putting players into space. So I don't think they will have a lot of numbers in the team.

You would be tempted to take Murray and Sexton especially with the matches likely to be in the UK and the higher possibility of wet games and needing more control.

There is big competition in the back row especially at 6 and 7 with Curry and Underhill very possible starters plus Jamie Ritchie from Scotland.

Owen Farrell could also be an option at 10/12 though I think his passing game isn't great.

I think the Lions are strong in the key areas of scrum and lineout and hopefully a good contest ahead of us.

With all due respect to everyone else, Tadhg Furlong will be the first name on the Lions test teamsheet.

Irish players nailed on: Furlong, Beirne, Sexton, Henshaw.

Irish probables: Henderson, Stander, Murray, Earls, Keenan (can't express how much I admire this lad for putting himself in this position)

Irish players in the long list mix, but have had issues with form, injuries, bans etc: Herring, Porter, James Ryan, O'Mahony, Connors, Doris, Conan, Van der Flier, JGP, Ringrose, Carbery, Aki, Stockdale.

In other words, the above will have to have a searing finish to their respective European campaigns to better their rivals from other nations.

The subject of bolters is always a bit of fun. Ryan Baird getting a few mentions in the press, but personally I don't see it this time around, unless he smashes all around him for Leinster and they at least make the final in Europe. Another fella I'd love to see get his name into the conversation is Robert Balacoune. Just something about him.

Ah finishing 4th and the obligatory english contingent and warrens welsh lads as champions probably means you will see less than usual. For example I don't see stander there, maybe midweek team but he is not going to beat out curry, underhill, faleteau ,watson etc. There is a lot of depth there. Not to mention competition in second row pushing beirne to 6. He will probably fit tipuric in or on the match day bench too.

sydthebeat wrote: »

Can anyone make an argument for finn Russel as a lion?

I see moments of magic mixed into long periods of calamity with him. Definitely not what you want in an attritional game against the bokke

It's a cliche but how good is he behind a losing pack? Seems like he looks great at racing where he has giants punching holes at every phase.

sydthebeat wrote: »

Can anyone make an argument for finn Russel as a lion?

I see moments of magic mixed into long periods of calamity with him. Definitely not what you want in an attritional game against the bokke

It seems to be quite trendy within the media to call Russell a ‘maverick’ and fawn over him and yeah he can throw a lovely try scoring pass/kick on occasion but in reality he frequently follows that up with an interception, a missed penalty etc.

I’ve heard him being called the best 10 in the world in recent weeks which is very wide of the mark imo. He was Scotland’s worst player against England, poor against Wales and non-existent against Ireland.

Could you imagine Farrell or Sexton going off injured in a Lions Test game after 10 minutes and relying on Russell to come on and to run the game and kick all his penalties for you?

It’ll be between himself and Biggar for the third 10 spot. Luckily enough I can’t see Gatland picking him near a test team.

I'd be leaving Russell and Hogg at home. Their little bits of magic are undermined by the basics not being good enough. Too many errors in both players.