B&I Lions tour 2021

[Madness60]

TheGreatSoprendo said:

Disagree re: Hogg but agree on Russell. I'd be surprised if Gatland rates Russell, also (or at least rates him highly enough to be his test starter). I'm surprised anyone thinks Manu is even an option at the moment to be honest. North had a quiet season by his standards last season but he's been outstanding for the Ospreys this season and has done a brilliant job at 13 for Wales. Nobody else offers his combination of physicality and pace at 13. Not sure about SA targetting his head. You simply can't do that anymore and if they are daft enough to try it, it'll almost certainly be red card time.

North would be a long way down my list of outside centres, Manu, RIngrose, Henshaw, Slade and Joseph would all be ahead of him. He's not great defensively and South Africa will expose him. Be interesting to see how he goes against France.

[irocfan]

I guess there's a good argument for Anscombe and argumentative twitching fkwit at 10 leaving fazlet at home - possibly Sexton too (too injury prone these days?)

[joshleb]

Gatland and co went to Jersey last week and there's talk of using that as a base for England and RSA if it turns into an England tour this summer.

Two hotels have already block booked rooms in order to accommodate everyone.

Jersey Evening Post

As far as matchday squads go, with subs/backup, here's mine. Couple of dodgy choices depending if they'll be fit, but some are more for the team spirit too.

Vunipola (Marler?)
Cowan Dickie (George)
Furlong (Sinckler)
Itoje (J Gray)
AWJ (c)
Curry (Watson)
Ritchie (Underhill)
Simmonds (Faletau)
Williams (Care)
Russell (Ford)
Watson (Nowell, will he be fit?)
Henshaw (Ringrose)
North (Slade)
May (VDM)
Hogg (L Williams)

[TheGreatSoprendo]

irocfan said:

I guess there's a good argument for Anscombe and argumentative twitching fkwit at 10 leaving fazlet at home - possibly Sexton too (too injury prone these days?)

I think Anscombe would be a shoo in if he hadn't been out injured for the last 100 years.

[Evanivitch]

TheGreatSoprendo said:

I agree that's a consideration, only Itoje falls into that category in the starting 15, though? I could be persuaded by Ryan or Gray with Itoje on the bench. Talking of which, I'm surprised nobody spotted my deliberate error of not selecting a 2nd row on the bench!

AWJ and Itoje are both 80 minute players so I wouldn't be too bothered.

[irocfan]

looks like Lawes may be struggling to get fit for this

[TheGreatSoprendo]

Now that the 6N is all but over, it's time for the 4 yearly ritual of rugby fans arguing over who should be in the Lions squad/team! I'll stick my neck out and go with a squad of:

BACK 3
Watson
Rees-Zammitt
Hogg
Liam Williams
Van De Merve

CENTRE
Henshaw
Farrell
North
Huw Jones
Slade

OUTSIDE HALF
Ford
Biggar
Russell

SCRUM HALF
Murray
Davies
Youngs

BACK ROW
Faletau
Curry
Tipuric
Watson
Stander
Navidi

2nd ROW
AWJ
Ryan
Itoje
Beirne
Gray

PROP
Sutherland
Wyn Jones
Vunipola
Furlong
Sinkler
Porter

HOOKER
Cowan Dickie
Owens
Kelleher


With a test starting line up something like:

Hogg
Rees-Zammitt
North
Henshaw
Watson
Biggar
Murray

Faletau
Curry
Tipuric
Beirne
AWJ
Furlong
Owens
Sutherland

Reps: Sinkler, Vunipola, Cowan Dickie, Itoje, Stander, Davies, Russell, Huw Jones


Half backs are problematic. What are the chances of sneaking Jalibert and Dupont in and pretending they're Scottish, or something?

[irocfan]

can't say I'd take fazlet or Youngs on their current (ie 6N form). I'd like to see if Underhill and Lawes get fit in time.

What's the lowest ever number of English in the Lions?

[TheGreatSoprendo]

I know what you mean about Faz and Youngs. Scrum half is a bit of a problem area, though. I still rate Tomos WIlliams as probably the best SH in the UK but he's been injured most of the 6N and looked well off the pace when he came on yesterday. I think Faz's ability to cover both 10 and 12 might swing it for him and I suspect Gats likes him as a player, if not as a captain.

I've rated Underhill ever since seeing him play for my home town club as a youngster and I still rate him. However, even if fit, I'm not sure he'd make the squad, which is more a reflection of the quality of the competition than of Underhill himself.

[Madness60]

Gatland will take as many Welsh as he can and may ignore the form of England players under Jones and see what he can do with them, the talent is there as the run to the RWC semi final proved and the England team at peak can play to a higher level than others but not consistently and that is a coaching issue. Fit and on form this would be my 35 man Lions squad

Back 3
Hogg*
Watson*
May
Rees-Zammit
Williams*

Centres
Henshaw*
Manu*
Slade
North*

10
Farrell*
Russell
Biggar*

9 Terrible area of weakness, so I'm going off piste
Cooney
Robson
Spencer

Front row
Furlong*
Sinks*
Stuart
Owens*
George*
LCD
Sutherland
Vunipola*
Healy*

2nd row
Itoje*
Ryan
Launchbury
AWJ*
Lawes*

Back row
Curry
Underhill
Faletau*
Beirne
Watson
Doris

• Previous Lion

[Evanivitch]

Rees-Zammit is definitely a sensation, but Josh Adams is a better rounded player. I hope they both made it, but JA would be my preference.

It's also a shame the Halfpenny seems to have longer lasting concussion complications.

[irocfan]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2021/03/23...

[TheGreatSoprendo]

irocfan said:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2021/03/23...

Good choice that, probably the best of the pundits teams so far. Always did like Greenwood, except when he was scoring tries against Wales, which was basically every time he played us!

[DocJock]

Just announced on Sky Sports, tour to go ahead in SA. Great news.

[zzrman]

DocJock said:

Just announced on Sky Sports, tour to go ahead in SA. Great news.

Indeed the Lions are a touring team and "touring" at home just does'n't cut it. Great News|

[ninja-lewis]

Coaching team announced:

[DocJock]

Pretty much as expected.

[TheGreatSoprendo]

Not bad considering 3 pulled out relatively late on. Shame Edwards isn't available but Tandy's done a decent job with Scotland.

[Brew]

Any idea when they are making a call on how many spectators will be allowed for the game at Murrayfield? I've got CAT4 tickets but fully expecting these to be cancelled as can't see a capacity crowd being allowed

[anonymous-user]

irocfan said:

looks like Lawes may be struggling to get fit for this

Lawes isn’t in the top 10 of second rows and not even top 20 for flankers. Can’t see why he’d be considered even if fit.