" It was also true 4 years ago. Most neutrals would agree."
Really so I'll repeat for clarity you think picking the guy who was the man of the series and voted player of the tournament in the previous six nations was a mistake by Gatland because he hates the scots?
Lol, you couldnt make it up!
No - I think it was a conservative choice by a conservative selector who wanted 1/2p in for his kicking. He does not like taking chances but no risk no reward - which is why the lions are going to be roundly stuffed
Man of the series - how many tries did he score?
Hogg 53 caps 16 tries
Halfpenny 74 caps 12 tries
An yway -- lets stop bickering. Neither is going to change their mind are we and its stinking up the thread but if you think Gatland selects on merit then why are there so many welsh players and so few scots when Scotland are clearly the better team?
"He does not like taking chances but no risk no reward"
Lions series win and two grandslams. How many grandslams have scotland won recently?
You managed to call for a halt to the agruing, then proceed to carry arguing all in two sentences there TJ 😯 It's a rare gift you have 😆
I'm a [s]genius[/s] [s]smartarse[/s] idiot 😉
Gatland selects on merit then why are there so many welsh players and so few scots when Scotland are clearly the better team?
Because some of the welsh players are better and some of them are very experienced player, some of the other welsh players are shit and we have no strength in depth, also we have our few quality players spread across europe or spread over 4 shit pro12 teams rather than Scotland being Glasgow dominated. So on balance Scotland are the better team but Wales have a few quality players who have been there and done it.
Although I do prefer the he hates the scots idea!!!
I'm glad that Hogg (hope he heals well and soon) got broke you'd have burst a artery had he picked 1/2p anyway!!
Maybe because Hogg was doing things like this, 1/2p wasn't going to be a liability
Hogg 53 caps 16 triesHalfpenny 74 caps 12 tries
Considering Hogg plays for a much much better team and a team that plays wonderous attacking rugby whilst 1/2p plays for Wales who are shit and he only gets passed the ball at pen time to take the kicks he is doing pretty well!!
Ruddy irish maiming our player. We would have wrapped him in cotton wool and covered him in rose petals. Instead Murray elbows him out of the lions so his mate gets a game. Its a conspiracy I tell you 😉
I do think you misread me a bit. I ain't angry at all. Just saddened to see the lions diminished and astonished and amused at the defence of Gatland
No I havent misread you you said 1/2p shouldnt have been picked for the last lions test series!
I'm not defending Gatland I'm calling you out on talking shit.
No doubt when the far superior All Blacks tram beat the Lions you will see this as vindication of Gatland a double grand slam winning and lions series winning coach as being shit like you are some sort of Scottish Mystic Meg.
No doubt there are better coaches than Gatland but none of them wanted/could take the gig so lets just try and suppoet them and have some fun and if cant manage that maybe dont talk about the Lions.
Worst lion ever!
Last one - just how well have Wales done under Gatland the last few years? Dropping down the rankings and getting humped by scotland. How you can think 12 welsh is justified on form while only 2 scots get in is beyond me.
I agree AA - I love the fact that come Lions time enemies become friends. I feel when it's Aus or SA we get more up for it, as we see ourselves having a realistic chance, whereas the AB are just too strong.
Maybe if the tour timing was different, with longer build up and more player rest, but as of now the season is getting silly.
As for the player call-up farce, there's 2 distinct parts to it IMHO.
We need bench cover for Tuesday to rest players prior to the 1st test. Fine - bring in some Welsh/Scots from nearby at short notice for 1 game.
However, there's still 5 games left on tour. Moriaty and Hogg have gone home, so the best possible replacements should be on the tour full time, not just the closest. We need some proper FBs, so Kearney/Brown/Goode should be joining. Same for either Heaslip/Robshaw/Hughes.
" We need some proper FBs, so Kearney/Brown/Goode should be joining. Same for either Heaslip/Robshaw/Hughes."
I agree..are robshaw and heaslip fit?
But Gatland doesnt want players to fly all that way missing out on test caps and disrupting their teams whilst also having played today, did England play today? Hence the famous 5 being called up as they are just down the road, have played a day earlier, wont be pissing off their national coach and most importantly will all be ****ing overjoyed to ride pine even if the dont get on.
England are about to kick off.
Robshaw playing tonight
England players can join tomorrow, miss no national tests, piss off nobody.
Might not be raring to go come tuesday though and remember its pretty much sunday morning in NZ!
No, as I said - short term local boys to cover Tuesday, best available for rest of tour.
Argentina giving England a bit of a scare here. Anyone know if this is a full Argentinian squad? I guess so the european season being over
Or maybe not - great take from Brown leads to a try
Yes it is - full team. Most Argentinian players now home based with Jaguares in SR, a bit like Glasgow supplying Sco.
Scoring pass from brown!!
Has hell frozen - Mike Brown passed !
Is that the Brown who's s@@t in the air?????
Just rewound that as in disbelief, a brown pass !!!!
😯
Could have had 15-1 for Brown passing in the game. Two passes was referred to the special circumstances team at the bookies.
Halfpenny looked poor in the 6N i thought. Struggled under high balls too and although he's been immense previously, it looked like he was living on historic performances and didn't deserve a lions place. But the last couple of games he's found himself again. Much as i like Hogg he's not proven himself on the Tour.
Gel, of a take from Brown at pace and didn't look for contact. He then passed the ball. He passed last week too! Jeez.
1/2p was straight back from injury for the 6N wasn't he?
No, as I said - short term local boys to cover Tuesday, best available for rest of tour.
I think they think they have enough!
Halfpenny looked poor in the 6N i thought. Struggled under high balls too and although he's been immense previously, it looked like he was living on historic performances and didn't deserve a lions place.
Fair point. Interestingly in attack this morning they used him close in as a second distributer, his passing not bad.
And again!@
Jesus. Yarde is a liability. I can't see what even Wade gives away to him in defence. Shocking from a supposed international standard player.
Watching as a neutral, this is utterly ace! A great game of rugby.
Another scoring pass !!!!
Only watching on bbc website feed but another cracking international. Argentina deserve to win one of these.
@aa Gatland's achievments are mostly in the distant past. Australia are the weakest team the Lions face. As I posted before my interest in the tour waned significantly when he was reappointed it it wasn't helped either by Andy Farrell being involved.
Blindly. Briwn setting up two tries. What alternative universe have I found myself in?
Yarde has done sweet FA this week.
Slade has been a bit poo too this week. Not done much other than knock the ball on.
@aa Gatland's achievments are mostly in the distant past
4 years is distant past? Quite an achievement getting out of the pool at last world cup that was 2 years ago. Is this one of your Jambafacts I hear about?
Jamba has some valid points here, Gatland hasn't achieved anything in years.
These call ups are a stain on the Lions shirt. I saw Flatman tweet that the competition for a Lions shirt is supposed to be fair and he's right. It stinks. None of these guys has anywhere near earned the right to get a Lions cap.
Jamba has some valid points here, Gatland hasn't achieved anything in years.
Well he has successfully guided Wales down the rankings 😉
Jamba has some valid points here, Gatland hasn't achieved anything in years.
These call ups are a stain on the Lions shirt. I saw Flatman tweet that the competition for a Lions shirt is supposed to be fair and he's right. It stinks. None of these guys has anywhere near earned the right to get a Lions cap.
+1. Launchbury / Grey et al could easily be ready for the second test. Now we have some half baked Lions making up the numbers. It's wrong.
"Jamba has some valid points here, Gatland hasn't achieved anything in years."
2 years ago he coached an injury ravaged wales to a world cup win over England at twickenham. I think Wales should have given him the push then. He also hasnt coached anyone for a year dont forget.
Flatman makes a good point but would Launchbury be ready to play again in 2 days after a long flight? Would Robshaw? They need players for tuesday. Its already sunday in NZ. Cory Hill is ****ing shit and an embarassment to the jersey but at least he'll have been training today!
