1. Launchbury / Grey et al could easily be ready for the second test
They are not needed for the second test they are needed for tuesday, jesus its like shouting down a cave! If players end up being needed for the tests i suspect even Cement head wont be stupid enough to start Cory Hill.
2 years ago he coached an injury ravaged wales to a world cup win over England at twickenham.
Is that a measure of success? I doubt Gatland considers so, I would hope not anyway.
Flatman makes a good point but would Launchbury be ready to play again in 2 days after a long flight? Would Robshaw?
Fair points too. I must say that I feel for Robshaw here, it's his last chance of a Lions cap and it would be a absolute travesty that a player of his quality doesn't get a cap just because gatland doesn't like him.
Launch will get another crack, he can take this one on the chin. Having said that, they should both be getting on a plane to NZ. Realistically they might have to push out 20 minutes of rugby in two days, I would expect that they could manage that, and do it well. It's just the right thing to do.
Robshaw was very good today; worked his socks off for the full 80. Would he play over the current Lions options?
Lauchburry will be shagged after a very long season. I'm glad he's not been called up do he can crack on with some rest and recovery. He's got enough time to make another tour.
England youngsters went really well tonight. The strength in depth is great to see especially as players will cone back from NZ broken etc. Ford was brilliant tonight; kicked al but one goal, ontrolled the game and took a drop goal to take them beyond seven points. The depth is important with guys like Haskell not getting back to the form he was in last season.
One of the Argentinian players (can't spell his name) was a bugger for no arm tackles including one that nearly injured Hughes.
Would he play over the current Lions options?
That's not really the question though. He's certainly an asset be it in the broader squad and he deserves the honour (or is it? I'm not so sure now) One thing is certain, there will be more injuries.
Is this the most divisive Lions tour ever?
Or was there a worse one?
The last 3 have been pretty divisive with the coaches taking their pals over in form players
I think the lions is dying and this tour has been a handful of nails in the coffin. For most Scots fans it no longer feels like "our" team because of the way our players are overlooked time and time again
tjagain what did "Last one" mean 😉
The fact is TJ, that Scotland have been the weakest of the home nations for many a year. You can put forward cogent arguments for the inclusion of many, but equally, others have strong(er) cases. We all get upset when our favourites don't make it - personally it's a travesty Robshaw and Hartley aren't touring - but I'm not sure who of the original squad I would leave out.
We all get upset when our favourites don't make it
Some of us are pleased.
England looking good even with lions things going on.
I like yarde but that's 2 poor games now
Ford was on par with the best players on the world stage in this test, But brown passed is he OK?
Will collier looks good too. Just need a no6 for the future.
Not sure what's going on with the loins thou I hear Gavin Henson is being flown in 😯
Well, the two best performances by a NH fly-half this summer have both been by George Ford.
And no a_a - they weren't playing the Jaguares. They were playing the Pumas, at home, in a packed stadium with a partisan crowd. They might be the same players but it's not the same team.
Even Mike Brown played well. Gave two scoring passes! That's two more than in his entire England career thus far IIRC.
Hmmm. Not Russell against the Aussies then? For either of the top two NH fly half performances?
igm - MemberHmmm. Not Russell against the Aussies then? For either of the top two NH fly half performances?
Of course not - he is Scottish so only performs against poor teams and so it doesn't count.
igm - Member
Is this the most divisive Lions tour ever?Or was there a worse one?
POSTED 7 HOURS AGO #
Very;based on the coach and squad,and with apologies to the Irish fans, I will be cheering the all blacks.
I look forward to next week when the master race are blaming the coach and AA is blaming the English players. Still; ref isn't an issue and there is another test the next week,so probably just the six pages.
Leopards etc... 🙄
They might be the same players but it's not the same team.
?
Lions team to face Chiefs:
L Williams (Wales); J Nowell (England), J Payne (Ireland), R Henshaw (Ireland), E Daly (England); D Biggar (Wales), G Laidlaw (Scotland); J Marler (England), R Best (Ireland), D Cole (England), I Henderson (Ireland), C Lawes (England), J Haskell (England), J Tipuric (Wales), C Stander (Ireland).
Replacements:
K Dacey (Wales), A Dell (Scotland), T Francis (Wales), C Hill (Wales), AW Jones (Wales), G Davies (Wales), F Russell (Scotland), T Seymour (Scotland).
Guess that means Daly isnt starting next week, would prefer him to North and that Sinkler will be on bench.
So test 23 looking like
1/2p
North
Davies/Joseph/Teo
Teo/Faz
Watson
Sexton
Murray
Faletau
SOB
POM (capt)
itoje
Kruis
Furlong
George
Vunipola
Mcgrath
Owens
Sinkler
AWJ/Henderson
Warburton
Webb
?
?
Just need a no6 for the future
Wilson looked good for a debutant in the first test. We have a lad called sam jefferies at briz who I think could well make the grade too.
Very weak Chiefs team missing those in All Blacks and Maori All Blacks. They were my brothers team so I will be a bit torn on tuesday am
Head Coach: Dave Rennie
Captain: Stephen Donald
1. Siegfried Fisi’ihoi (24)
2. Liam Polwart (2)
3. Nepo Laulala (11)
4. Dominic Bird (25)
5. Michael Allardice (20)
6. Mitchell Brown (14)
7. Lachlan Boshier (15)
8. Tom Sanders (19)
9. Finlay Christie (6)
10. Stephen Donald (100)
11. Solomon Alaimalo (6)
12. Johnny Faauli (5)
13. Tim Nanai-Williams (82)
14. Toni Pulu (21)
15. Shaun Stevenson (21)
16. Hika Elliot (116)
17. Aidan Ross (2)
18. Atu Moli (24)
19. Liam Messam (159)
20. Mitchell Karpik (5)
21. Jonathan Taumateine (6)
22. Luteru Laulala*
23. Chase Tiatia*
"Just need a no6 for the future"
How did Underhill go? I only watched bits. He could be a 6 in a similar way to Robshaw if he makes the step up shame he was injured most of this season, the nect one will be huge for him.
A_A Underhill went Ok. Tackled hard, few carries and was a pain in the bum at the breakdown. He seemed to work well with Robshaw.
Thats good, hopefully he can stay fit and progress. Doesnt answer Englands 7 issue though as he is the classic 6.5 but it doesnt seem to be holding England back at the moment!!
I can't say that I was overly impressed with Underhill yesterday. Slade neither, which is a shame-he hasn't really gotten his form back post leg break.
Still on a high from yesterday moring. I think that might be the finest Scotland win since 1990
Really nice piece on the BBC analysing scotlands win - a pundit who can actually see beyond the cliches and understand how Scotland made it happen
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40316455
I can't say that I was overly impressed with Underhill yesterday.
He's feeling homesick. Would rather be playing [s]for[/s] in Wales.
🙂
Na - he should be playing for the hobbits. Sam Underhill is a hobbits name
😆
~And we also beat the Aus in the u20s! finished 5th in that. the futures bright, the futures dark blue 🙂
The less said about the U20's the better! That kiwi U20 hooker would be a shoein for the Lions!!
One for the conspiracy theorists as seen on another forum
The home unions get many tens of thousands of compensation from the lions for each player called up. Calling up those 4 welsh nobodies as well as packing the original squad with welsh means the WRU will profit hugely from the lions thus boosting the WRU for next season
One source ( highly dubious?) has those 4 nobodies worth 1/4 million to the WRU
tin foil hat time? Or part of the reason for the inexplicable picks?
Re Underhill more impressed with Wilson and Curry, especially Curry.
Re England and player development how much was down to the Lancaster and structure development under his reign?
I'm sure all the new caps will be much the better for exposure against a strong pumas team - winning a real bonus too.
Agreed 🙂
The less said about the U20's the better!
Well, to be fair, England had already lost 5 of their most influential players to the full side touring Argentina. They then suffered several injuries in the tournament depriving them of more starters.
I think two gritty, last gasp wins over Aus and SA and making the final with a much depleted side can still be seen as a success. Despite the mother of all thrashings from a very impressive Baby Blacks side in the end.
England had already lost 5 of their most influential players to the full side touring Argentina.
Whilst most of the welsh u20 are with the Lions so that Wales can profit from the tour obviously!!!
Agreed that Wilson and Tom Curry were both very very impressive. Bodes well!
Whilst most of the welsh u20 are with the Lions so that Wales can profit from the tour obviously!!!
😆
That was a dicking handed out by the baby blacks! Yikes.
I think that conspiracy theory is a step too far. Some people need to stay away from the game internet.
I am hearing ( from the same rugby forum that the previous tin foil hat theory came from) that Jonny grey turned down the opportunity to sit on the bench for the lions dirt trackers to captain Scotland!
Apparently a tweet from a rugby pundit who should know.
The rugby forum I go on makes this place look sensible and mine and AAs spat would be an outbreak of peace but amongst allthe noise there is often good info
mine and AAs spat
How conceited, its not all your achievement thanks very much. 🙄
Jonny grey turned down the opportunity to sit on the bench for the lions dirt trackers to captain Scotland!
So has he deprived his Union of significant funds? 😉
With all the inevitable injuries, just being a "dirt tracker bench warmer" could very easily change...
How conceited, its not all your achievement thanks very much
It's like the Lions. Everyone coming together.
😉
The power of four me, TJ, Kryton and DD
With all the inevitable injuries, just being a "dirt tracker bench warmer" could very easily change...
I think that if a test 23 player gets injured and Cory Hill becomes the next in line they'd call up a proper player!!
Sorry Kryton
*tugs forelock*
😯It's like the Lions. Everyone coming together.
