TRC10 wrote: » Wow, I didn't see that coming. Incredible honour for Murray. I'm absolutely chuffed for him. It says a lot about how highly he's regarded and the influence he has in camp. He's never even captained Munster, and now he's leading the Lions on tour. He's on a list with some absolute Irish greats. Willie John, POC, BOD.
sydthebeat wrote: » Murray was very very good yesterday... Would have been in the "excellent" only for a small few box kicks that went either short or long. His passing was crisp and varied and he led the pack around the park. None of the other 9s in the squad currently comes anywhere near him and his abilities off his boot.... So when deciding on the captain it mashes sense to be choosing the most looked in player with the most lions experience. Notable mention for Ken owens as possibly the next closest lock in with experience, but maybe gats isn't yet convinced who his starting 2 is
Clegg wrote: » The entire South African team has gone into isolation after three positive tests. This'll set their preparations back by at least a week. Hopefully everyone will be ok.https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1409113632001118214?s=09
salmocab wrote: » Presumably they can isolate and train together? I find it hard to see there not being some issues on this tour.
bilston wrote: » Congrats to Conor. I was surprised when I first heard the news, it definitely came out of left field, but he is probably nailed on as anyone can be in the team and is quite calm on the pitch as well which contrasts to someoneike Owen Farrell. Also, if he isn't the most experienced Lion in the squad now he would be pretty close.
Clegg wrote: » Kinsella says there is talk of moving 5 matches from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
crossman47 wrote: » Well done Murray. Shows he's better regarded outside Ireland than at home where his critics have been numerous (and generally wrong).
youcancallmeal wrote: » Is that just to avoid the teams travelling around? Probably makes sense
clsmooth wrote: » Delighted for him. He was absolute top quality between 2013-2018. I don’t think it’s unfair to say his form has dipped from those levels though. Tailor made for the game they appear to want to play in South Africa.
jacothelad wrote: » PLus...... Ciaran Fitzgerald, Tom Kiernan, Ronnie Dawson, Robin Thompson, Karl Mullin, Sammy Walker, Tom Smith, and my favourite......Tom Crean.......He became captain of The British & Irish Lions on the 1896 Tour to South Africa after Johnny Hammond suffered an injury early in the trip. He played 21 times on the Tour in total, including in all four Tests, as he guided the tourists to a 3-1 series victory – even scoring a try in the second match with the Springboks. In addition to his success with the Lions, Crean also featured nine times for Ireland before fighting in both the Boer War and World War One, earning the Victoria Cross. Also, while not a tour captain, POM also captained the B&I Lions in a test;
Bazzo wrote: » Were you on that tour yourself Jaco?
Clegg wrote: » The entire South African team has been vaccinated apparently as have their Lions counterparts. So ther probably shouldn't be issues with them.training together. But who knows what the protocol actually is for this? Kinsella says there is talk of moving 5 matches from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
Clegg wrote: » Every time I watch Aki play I'm constantly startled at how big he actually is. He's built broader than most backrows.
Shaka Hislop wrote: » I think he's going to start the first test, Gatland and Tandy seem to love his defensive brilliance.... Farrell is probably looking at the bench in that one
youcancallmeal wrote: » There was talk on RTE radio that they might do away with the warm up matches altogether and just play the 3 test matches. I guess it's not completely out of the question, will have to wait and see
ClanofLams wrote: » Missed the game yesterday, watched today, Aki was one of the best players on the field, himself and Henshaw look very comfortable together. Think he’s in the mix for a test place, if Farrell was nailed on at 12, he would have likely got captain I’m guessing.
bilston wrote: » Agree. Bundee is the sort of 12 that Gatland likes. Even as Ireland coach it was Maggs or Henderson at 12, with Wales it was Jamie Roberts and Scott Williams. The one exception being the last Lions tour in the 2nd and 3rd tests with Sexton and Farrell at 10 and 12, even then he went with Ben Te'o in the 1st Test.
TRC10 wrote: » No, Gavin Henson in his early years with Wales. Gatland is a pragmatist. He'll do what he needs to do to win. Roberts, Williams and Parkes happened to be the best 12s he had for that period so he used them and played to their strengths. But in his early years, Henson (who is in the complete oposite mould of 12) was the best he had so he used him and played to his strengths. Te'o went well v the Crusaders and the MABs but as soon as he knew it wouldn't work, he changed it and brought Sexton in and shifted Farrell to 12. Gatland is very much a pragmatist.
Richie_Rich89 wrote: » How much did Henson as first-choice 12 and Gatland as coach overlap. Not by much, I'd have thought.
