B&I Lions tour 2021
Discussion
BlackWidow13 said:
Me neither. However, the unavoidable truth is that England are (annoyingly if you support them) one of the most variable teams in the world. They can look pedestrian against Italy for 60 minutes and play NZ off the park. I genuinely don’t think any of the other four home nations can deliver that unenviable range of performance.
Put another way, against the SH sides you can be pretty sure what the outcome will be if Scotland, Wales or Ireland are playing. They play to a much more consistent level. Like it or not, despite being able to play pretty badly, England have the best chance out of the home nations of beating any one of the SH sides.
TL;DR: England players seem to be able to rise to a big game occasion strangely well.
I'd go as far as to say we're virtually French in our ability to play sPut another way, against the SH sides you can be pretty sure what the outcome will be if Scotland, Wales or Ireland are playing. They play to a much more consistent level. Like it or not, despite being able to play pretty badly, England have the best chance out of the home nations of beating any one of the SH sides.
TL;DR: England players seem to be able to rise to a big game occasion strangely well.
t for no discernible reason and then suddenly came NZ... Cliffe60 said:
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.Evanivitch said:
Absolutely gutted for George North.
indeed, and LaunchEvanivitch said:
I admire Lawes ability to make a career out of ineffective (but not illegal) late tackles, but no way he'd be on the plane.
Just like the (incredibly English-biased) BBC Rugby Union podcast seem to think Danny Cipriani has a chance
last year Cips would (should!) have been a shoo-in, this year? Not. A. Chance. The DC I can see going is CareJust like the (incredibly English-biased) BBC Rugby Union podcast seem to think Danny Cipriani has a chance
Cliffe60 said:
It’s quite hard to choose. Big clamour for the Welsh as they won the 6N but they beat Scotland and Ireland on the back of red cards ( justified but lucky for them) and beat England with the help of possibly the worst refereeing performance ever.
Scotland started and finished well, but were their normal below average team in the other games.
England played well v France but we’re terrible otherwise as were Ireland except v England.
For England , I’d say only Itoje, Watson, Curry and Sinckler are certs.
Sadly I think that Fazlet is also pretty much nailed on tooScotland started and finished well, but were their normal below average team in the other games.
England played well v France but we’re terrible otherwise as were Ireland except v England.
For England , I’d say only Itoje, Watson, Curry and Sinckler are certs.
Quality spell checking from the Guardian BBC 
"Balance of physicality and flare key to selection"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57022444
"Balance of physicality and flare key to selection"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57022444
Evanivitch said:
irocfan said:
The saffas will goad fazlet at every opportunity. His tackling technique is suspect (and will be magnified on tour especially in the press) and his temperament likewise. Will he be better now that he's no longer get captain? IMO yes!!!
Isn't that a requirement at 10? Bigger not much better!te as well - his kicking (and all-round) game is, in my opinion, better thoughGassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff