It is a bit of a conundrum as he perhaps is the best candidate for captaincy but is he really one of the two best locks in the home nations? Personally I think he is a lot lower in the pecking order than that.
Yeah I'd agree with that tj....Grey, Itoje and Launchbury all ahead IMO.....but AWJ really does bring a lot of experience and is playing very well too!
Like that backrow suggestion duckman.
Stander, Billy V, Warburton
I think that backrow would leave a bit too much of the defensive donkey work on Sam which is why I would prefer Faletau at 8 with Billy on after 50. However no doubt Gatland will just puck the biggest unit possible so Stander, Billy and O'Brian or even Itoje, Billy and O'Brian!!!
Gatts conclusion on last week
"It was a pretty critical line-out that was turned over and then, resulting from that, a scrum penalty that changed the whole momentum of the last 15 minutes," he said.
Does your captain rise out of the middle of that? What did Wales do the (weakened) English set piece?
England line out 9:0
England scrum 7:0
Stats only tell part of the story but your captain has to be a clear first name on the team sheet. As much as I am a fan of A-WJ, he is not that name.
The beauty of this year's 6N and the Lions tour is that the competition is so high for nearly every place. The only one that probably is settled is the first choice kicker.
Who's the first choice kicker? Farrell? 1/2p doesn't seem to be fancied by many to be the starting 15......
Farrell is much more than just a boot these days, I suspect he is the one of the very few certain pics....Can't resist...along with Hogg (sorry pigface or wrecker)
I would much prefer 1/2p to the over-hyped one at #15, on character alone, but seems that the latter is playing better at the moment, even if the superlatives for "doing your job from 10 yards out" are overdone
I hope Gatts has the balls to go for a radical captain: none of the so-called fav's - Hartley, Best, A-WJ and Laidlaw - would be in my starting XV.
1/2p if he starts would have to be on the wing. He just kills all attacking play these days. Hogg is the best 15 with clear daylight next.
Does your captain rise out of the middle of that? What did Wales do the (weakened) English set piece?England line out 9:0
England scrum 7:0
You dont half talk some drevil! AWJ was partnered at lock by Jake Ball who wouldnt get a look in to the squads of any other British Isles team and none of the two front rows Wales used in that game would get in the England squad. Now I dont think AWJ should be Lions captain but he was immense last weekend and it takes a special kind of stupid to blame him for Baldwin ****ing up a throw and a scrum going down. Was it also his fault Davies failed to take responsibility for clearing the ball or Jiffy Junior for shanking his kick?
Halfpenny is not the player he was - a quarterpenny?
If Warburton continues to remain fit and his form keeps improving he'll be captain anyway.
Immense in the context you describe perhaps, but that is very different. But dont forget Capn come to their fore when the pressure is on - making the right decisions at the right time (TCUP). Remember the flak dished out to Robshaw after the WC and then rewind a few days. Correct decisions at the correct time - who made them, who didnt?
The defence rests its case, your honour
The defence rests its case, your honour
As usual you have said nothing worth responding to and then congratulated yourself for being so clever 🙂
No, not worth responding to... 😀
Odd that A-WJ responded directly to them though. Then again he is a world class player who doesnt need to hide behind scarlet tinted spectacles.
He is also brutally honest - which is why he is so admired.
What did Wales do the (weakened) English set piece?
Can you explain how losing Kruis and Robshaw for Lawes and Itoje weakened the English lineout or how Marler replacing Vunipola weakened the scrum?
I would leave that to Eddie as he knows better.
So without injuries and with a fully fit squad, would EJ have picked the 8 who started against Wales
Answer no - it was a weakened set of forwards
Answer yes - it was not...
Simple stuff. You decide.
Answer no - it was a weakened set of forwards
It was, but I'll ask again how was the set piece weakened?
Itoje for Robshaw in the lineout? Easy plus.
Lawes for Kruis in lineout a plus.
Marler is also a better scrumager than Vunipola.
Kruis is better in the loose than Lawes and Robshaw a better 6 than Itoje but the set piece didnt seemed weakened to me. Vunipola is a great carrying loosehead and strong over the ball but Marler is stronger in the scrum.
along with Hogg (sorry pigface or wrecker)
ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!
If Warburton continues to remain fit and his form keeps improving he'll be captain anyway.
I truly hope not, it would be a travesty. He's played 1 - 1.5 good games in the last year, spends most of his time injured and doesn't warrant a starting spot IMHO. I'd be very disappointed if Gatland couldn't see further than his default.
The back row needs to be balanced. You need a toiler/smasher, a carrier, and a menace (unless all of your forwards and centres are very handy at the BD, then a menace isn't so important)
I don't understand how Best or Sexton could be selected for the Lions not playing/much 6N, but not Robshaw.
Sounds like you should take Edidie's job....you seem better informed. The pay's probably better too.
Still "weakened" or not, the set piece was untroubled against Wales - and so getting back to Lions choices.......given that, does AWJ. Become a first name on the sheet?
Again quite simple...and we haven't started on TCUP.
So you do understand that "set piece" and "forwards" are not the same thing! Great a step forward for you!
Still "weakened" or not, the set piece was untroubled against Wales - and so getting back to Lions choices.......given that, does AWJ. Become a first name on the sheet?
Like I said a special kind of stupid!! Playing in a weaker team doesnt mean you cant be a Lion, ask Robert Jones.
I am Indebted to you for leading me out of my ignroance. now you just have Eddie to go.
True and a midweek Lion too, probably captain of that team. He deserves it.
don't understand how Best or Sexton could be selected for the Lions not playing/much 6N, but not Robshaw
Best is a choker and should be nowhere near the lions. Hooker is a weak position though.
Sexton is pure class so would be waited on.
Robshaw is good but not sure he is that much better than Stander, O'Mahony or Warburton.
does AWJ. Become a first name on the sheet?
Yes. He is head and shoulders above anyone in the NH as a leader and captain of a touring party that is the Lions.
Parisse would be nailed on at 8 if only he was British. 😉
Robshaw is good but not sure he is that much better than Stander, O'Mahony or Warburton.
All very good players on their day. Hasn't O'Mahony fallen off a bit recently though? We should probably include SoB in there though. During the AI's the general consensus was that Robs was ahead by some way. I think that the (valid) argument regarding Sextons' class should expend to Robshaw personally. but I ain't the coach!
Interesting how Itoge doesn't get a look in for anyones number 6 spot 😉
AWJ is not even a starter in my opinion. No doubt Gatland will pick his boy though.
Parisse would be nailed on at 8 if only he was British.
Leading a euro team? Oh yeah! French, Italian and a smattering of Georgian lumps!
We should probably include SoB in there though
Yep and Tipuric if we are looking at 7's
Stander
O'Mahony
Warburton
SOB
Tipuric
Robshaw
Only 4 can go.
AWJ is not even a starter in my opinion.
I agree just dont like THM's dull thinking behind it.
Best is a choker and should be nowhere near the lions.
Aye the same choker that led Ireland to wins over SA, NZ and Aus this year.
POM may not even feature in the 6 N do can't see him touring. Stander and SOB have been in great form
"Dull" - phew, I thought the condition was much worse.
Yep and Tipuric if we are looking at 7's
Doesn't SoB play across the back row? I wouldn't consider him a Lions quality 7, but certainly a 6. We aren't well stocked for open sides are we? The scots usually produce decent 7's, perhaps we could fill the "token" quota there? JOKE IT WAS A JOKE PLEASE DON'T KILL ME SCOTTISTS!!!!
Thats it - you are dead sunshine!
Hamish Watson is our latest 7. Not in the usual mould for the NH but plays like an old school 7. Bloody fast.
Not really. Its a tough ask getting the backrow balance right. Need a good lineout option, a hard yards carrier, a tackler and a fetcher.
If Billy V does the carrying does SOB provide the other options? Ireland have an 8 in Heaslip who is a good lineout option and does the a bit of the tackling and fetching. Bit like Faletau. I dont think Tipuric has what the Lions need at 7. I would see who is going best at 8 and see what their strengths are and then look at the rest.
Thats it - you are dead sunshine!
Forgive me, oh resurrected one.
Only if you let us win 😉
We might not have to!
Robshaw, Hovis, Billy.
Tackling a plenty, carrying a plenty and turnovering a plenty. Job done 🙂
So, as I see it....Lions XV:
1: Dunno
2: George
3: Furlong
4: Itoje
5: Launchbury
6: Stander
7: Hovis
8: Billy V
9: Murray
10: Sexton
11: North
12: Farrell
13: That irish 13
14: Earls
15: Hogg
Bench
Mako
Hartley
Lee
Grey
SOB
Care
Russell
1/2p
No point in Russell on the bench - better off with Biggar. Why Farrell at 12? Why not a specialist?
1: M.Vunipola
2: George
3: Furlong
4: Itoje
5: J Grey
6: Robshaw (of he puts in some blinders for quins if not, stander)
7: Tipuric
8: Billy V or not toby (flip a coin)
9: Murray
10: Farrell
11: L Williams or Nowell
12: Henshaw
13: JD2
14: Earls
15: Hogg
Marler
Hartley or best
Fagerson or Cole
AWJ
SOB or the hask
Care or Webb
Biggar
Daly
For a bit of fun; any wildcards? Roko?
Farrell because he's in great form.....and Sexton will not be kicking goals!
My wildcard.....and a proper left field one, would be Farrell as captain. Won't happen, but I'm just putting it out there!
Ben Te'o or Henry Slade as outsiders to tour? Can't really comment on other nations outsiders as I don't see as much Pro12 stuff of late.
Wildcard - Hamish Watson a couple more good performances in the 6N?
Dunbar? Both somewhat unlikely
I think Farrell as captain is quite a sensible suggestion personally. He's matured well, knows how to win and lead and is seemingly impervious to pressure and if one thing is a definite; when touring NZ, there will be a LOT of pressure.
Might not happen though. Too Northern! OH GOD I JUST PISSED OFF ANOTHER LOT!!!! I WAS REALLY REALLY JOKING!!!!
I'd be surprised if Teo didn't tour as a midweek. Gatland loves his boshers.
Its the obvious call wrecker and was a good bet a few weeks ago. Less so now at sixes.
Why less so? Because Gatts will bottle it as the NZ press would be unable to understand him...far too Northern.
Farrell's probably the standout choice for Captain at the moment and more nailed on starter than most other candidates.
Only problem is the amount of pressure of he's doing that, and 10, and kicker all on one man. That's a spear tackle coming off ever there was.
Personally, I'm convinced sexton's not going. He'll be on "managed recovery" for the summer and won't tour at all, lions or Ireland. There's already been a fair bit of talk from Leo Cullen hinting that. Joe's mentioned it too and I think garland already knows from the way he's been talking about him. Wouldn't be at all surprised if he's not the only one "opting out' of lions duty this time round (after half the first choice coaches
SOB , Healy, Kearney and maybe even Henshaw as other wildcards to give Warren the bird this summer .
Henshaw seems to have played well so far in the 6N, so not a crazy call at all.
SOB , Healy, Kearney
Are wildcards but Earls is a test starter? The World has gone ****ing mad!!!
Anyway
Hogg
North
Joseph
Faz
Nowel
Russel
Murry
Faletau
Warburton
Stander
Itoje
J Grey/ Kruis
1/8 of a mile
God knows
M Vunipola
McGrath
No idea 2
Cole
AWJ
Moriarty (my wild card pick) or more seriously Billy V
Webb
Ford
Loopy Liam
