He’s getting paid top step cash and he’s playing for the lions so I’m pretty sure he is!
I would suggest different not better
Can Chris Harris kick a goal in excess of 50m outside of the Transvelt?
Daly is a total crap defender compared to harris |:-)
Hence different
FR’s kick pass game was more accurate but Farrell throws himself at tackles with more force.
I wasn't paying massive amounts of attention to the game last night*, and I might be wrong but I thought they rearranged the defensive line to get Russell away from contact as much as possible? (And if they did, is this the way you'd want a test team to defend?)
I enjoyed watching Pepsi Buthelezi!
*Actually I'd lost a bit of interest by the time he came on.
and I might be wrong but I thought they rearranged the defensive line to get Russell away from contact as much as possible? (And if they did, is this the way you’d want a test team to defend?)
I very much doubt it. finn is not a weak defender
He did seems out of front line defence but was covering in behind, at least one try saving tackle and good sweeping for the kicks.
Lions XV to face Cell C Sharks for the second time:
Liam Williams; Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly, Chris Harris, Duhan van der Merwe; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Rory Sutherland, Jamie George, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Jonny Hill, Tadhg Beirne, Hamish Watson, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Wyn Jones, Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, Sam Simmonds, Tom Curry, Conor Murray, Finn Russell.
How does this team compare to the last (which was regarded as the mid-week selection)?
who regarded last team as midweek selection?
Gatland has given everyone a start in these games and is trying out combinations. I don't think we will see a "midweek" and a "test" side on this tour in the same way
I think we have a few folk nailed on test starters like Hogg and Furlong but the rest of the places are still up for grabs
Adams may well have played himself into the test side and vunipola out. Price has pushed hard for a test start as well - playing really well
who regarded last team as midweek selection?
You did. Unless I misunderstood you.
I can’t see how Hogg is nailed on.
I think Adams is almost certain to play, since there are two wings. For me he has played near flawlessly, surely he must be one of the two top wingers.
Not that I remeber. Mind you i am getting old 😉
IIRC I said I thought Farrell would make a good midweek captain
I really think there are only a couple of certainties for the first test and Gatland is going to have to make some really difficult decisions. Adams on fire but not the fastest or most skillful. If he gets one wing ( and BOD thinks he should) and Hogg at 15 then how do you get loopy liam in the side - wing? then how about Duhan or LRZ?
Back 3 is going to be really difficult to pick
Vunipola was rubbish, Wyn Jones is barely international quality so big game for Sutherland.
How does this team compare to the last (which was regarded as the mid-week selection)?
Mostly last man standing in the backs judging by the bench.
Hogg is the best FB they have by a long way and playing really well. Someone is going to have to do something fabulous to oust him
Adams is interesting because on paper I really do not think he is as good as some of the others - but his confidence must be sky high and he is on fire. I'd pick him
How you decide which is the best combo of the back 3 players available is really hard
My test side now would be something like
Furlong, cowan dickie sutherland
Itoje ? ( Hill needs a good game here to be considered)
Beirne, watson ?
Price ( Murray needs to show something and davies needs a really good game to be considered)
Biggar
Henshaw Harris
Adams loopy ( or Duhan) hogg
Adams is interesting because on paper I really do not think he is as good as some of the others
What paper?
He has been top try scorer in several previous competitions. He appears everywhere. Chases lost causes, like for his 3rd (?) try in the last game. He’s unselfish and provides good ball for others. His grubber kick in one of the games was lovely. He’s strong in defence.
Anthony Watson is a class player, I’d like to see how he goes in this game but I’d likely include him in my back three.
I’m not sure who I’d have as fullback, there’s not a lot to choose between Hogg and L. Williams. I think I’d lean towards Liam, as I fear Hogg tends to fluff his lines when put under pressure.
My back 3: L Williams at fullback, Adams and Watson. LRZ on the bench.
With Adams my thought was Duhan and LRZ have more gas, Loopy that extra bit of sparkle, watson is OK but nothing great ( he needs a really good game to be considered)
But Adams is the man with the bags of confidence and in great form. Before the tour i had him as being lucky to get a test start but after the games we have had he is now in "unlucky if he doesnt start the first test" category
Its the way of these tours. I think Adams stock has gone up and LRZs down
Utter nonsense about HOgg fluffing under pressure. Loopy is not far behind him but for sure he is. Great to have two great full backs tho. neither would let the side down
Furlong, cowan dickie sutherland
Itoje ? ( Hill needs a good game here to be considered)
Beirne, watson ?
Price ( Murray needs to show something and davies needs a really good game to be considered)
Biggar
Henshaw Harris
Adams loopy ( or Duhan) hogg
I'd definitely try and pick more than just one player in the back row, something like:
Hogg
Watson
Daly
Henshaw
Adams
10 still not sure
Murray
8 not sure
7 Watson
6 Bierne
Itoje
4?
Furlong
2 not sure
1 Sutherland (by default)
my back row was Bierne, watson and a n other
We share a good few names there but what has Watson done to be included on the wing?
Simmonds at 8? I was i9mpressed with his gas and workrate.
We share a good few names there but what has Watson done to be included on the wing?
Englands best international winger? Although unfortunately isolating with Covid hence we have seen him in a Lions shirt yet.
I have never seen enough good stuff from watson to pick him above the others. Is he the safe option? LRZ / duhan / williams all have flaws but all very exciting attackers
Edit - maybe I just have never seen Watson at his best - but playing outside Farrell for England he is never going to get good ball in space 😉
Watson is class, which he has demonstrated over years. We’ve not seen enough of him yet at this tournament, but he had a good 6 nations.
I see VDM and LRZ being the least likely to make the first test, for different reasons. But, any of the many permutations would likely be strong.
For me Watson isn't as big as VDM but is more skilled, and not as fast as RZM but also a natural full back / very good in support play and has a habit of coming inside at the right time.
We share a good few names there but what has Watson done to be included on the wing?
Simmonds at 8? I was i9mpressed with his gas and workrate.
Watson is a classy player, fast with excellent defence. Adams is also an outstanding winger. LRZ missed a regulation tackle on Wednesday night, Williams is a 15 and DVdM doesn't convince me.
Simmonds at 8 could work, but with SA having such a big lineout with multiple jumpers I'm a bit concerned about having s midget at 8, although picking a Beirne at 6 offsets this.
although picking a Beirne at 6 offsets this.
That was my thinking
DVdM doesn’t convince me.
best winger in the 6N. top of all attacking stats - but I agree a raw talent and maybe a bit one dimensional
Watson then the safe option then with LRZ and DVM as wildcards
I do think back 3 is a really difficult are for selection tho
best winger in the 6N.
Don't be daft.
He was without a doubt. go check the stats. Most metres made, most defenders beaten, most clean breaks etc etc. MOM the last lions game was he not?
MOM the last lions game was he not?
Was he? All he did was score his straightforward tries. Whilst he had to be in the right place and that’s largely what he’s asked to do, I didn’t see him do owt else of note.
He was without a doubt. go check the stats
You and your stats 😆😆😆😆
Where's the stat for looking like a mug in defence?
MOM the last lions game was he not?
Yep the Saffa's sure do see something in him!!
One bad miss yes - I said he was raw and one dimensinal - now do yourself a favour and look at the stats. far fewer missed tackles than your crush LRZ more metres made, more player beaten etc etc top winger in the 6 n by miles
I'm still not sure I would start him. I would like to see loopy and hogg on the pitch so that only leaves one wingers spot open and that has to go to Adams
top winger in the 6 n by miles
I’m still not sure I would start him.
Eh?
Because Adams is on fire right now and I want Hogg and Williams on the pitch. top in the 6N does not mean best for the lions now.
Adams is not on fire he has just maintained his level, which helps explain why relying on stats to prove one player is better than another is pointless.
DVdM gained a load of his stats v Italy as I recall who didn't seem to think defending out wide was needed.
Anyway this is excellent (you can skip the first 4 1/2mins:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sNszmf92qgA
DVdM gained a load of his stats v Italy as I recall who didn’t seem to think defending out wide was needed.
Also, Adams scored as many tries per minute. Since he missed two games due to his COVID breach.
LRZ scored on less try, but had two try assists. At least one of which he could have scored himself iirc.
The stats don’t give the full picture.
A Watson is a far better winger than DvdW and a much more mobile and fluent runner. I know what the stats say and he can obviously motor but he's found out defensively too often. I'd play him in front of any other English wing at the moment.
funny the pundits do not agree.
Duhan not only score more tries but also beat more defenders, made more yards and made more tackles.
Stats do not give the full picture no - but when one player is ahead on every one its pretty obvious.
he’s found out defensively too often.
Nonsense. One bad miss. One. LRZ is a complete revolving door in defense.
BTW chaps - NZ / fiji is on now - entertaining first half.
when one player is ahead on every one its pretty obvious.
That they played in different teams, in different systems with different win ratios.
DVdM looks lost under pressure and hasn't got the proven all-round attack AND defence game that the likes of Adams and Watson have. When Faff starts raining high kicks down on the wingers I don't want DVdM, or LRZ for that matter, underneath them. Adams,Watson or indeed Loopy would seem best placed to deal with that. I worry Loopy doesn't have the pace v the extremely fast SA wingers
I’m worryingly in full agreement with AA their ^^. It’s easy to look good against poor teams.
VDMs first season as an international and he was the best wing in the 6N. You canot take that away from him
I have been watching him for years remeber - he really is that good.
I have a suspicion Gatland might play DVM as he like big strong wingers
It’s easy to look good against poor teams.
the 6 nations we all play the same teams!
What’s were VDM stats again England, Scotland and Ireland? Or in other words, another team other then Italy, and one of the SA local clubs?
