Winters coming;all inclusive rugby thread.

Morgan? Is Beattie injured?

anagallis_arvensis – Member
So can we start picking Lions squads yet?

1/2p, Hogg, Goode (covers 10 also as Gatland has hinted he will only take two tens)
Cuthbert, North, Maitland, Gilroy
BOD, Tuilagi, Davies, Roberts
Sexton, Farrel
Phillips, Youngs
Faletau, Morgan
Warburton, Tipuric
Robshaw, Lydiate
POC, Grey, Parling, AW Jones
Adam, Cole, ?
Best, Hibbard, Youngs
Healey, Gethin, Vunipola (Corbisero is back playing I see, any form?)

POSTED 40 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

Can only be a troll “attempt to provoke discussion?”

Grey doesn’t warrant a spot either.

What starting 15 for the tests from that squad?

Is Beattie injured?

No but he was fumble tastic at times in the six nations, blows hot and cold too much. He was excellent v england and poor v wales and france.
On reflection the scottish god botherer might go as an extra tighthead.
What would you pick Ioum? I thought about SOB but I dont think he is better than any of the backrow options in any of the positions, would be an excellent bench option though. Gatland does favour the tackling machine at 6 so I reckon he’ll gamble on Lydiate and if not Robshaw is the next best option.

What starting 15 for the tests from that squad?

not a clue tbh, if pressed

Hogg
1/2p
Tuilagi
Bod
North
Sexton
Phillips
Faletau
Warburton
Robshaw
POC
AW Jones
Adam
Best
Healey

I reckon Ricardt Strauss may go as a hooker too.

Whilst you may be right about Beattie, at least he can play 90 minutes. I hoped glaws were going to thrash Morgan into shape…….
Grey has been poor for club and country recently. I’d take Hamilton.
I’m just as interested in the England tour, there are some exciting players coming through. I reckon we’ll see Eastman and Biggs (both b*** players), jonny may, Burrell, slater, tomkins, billy v. These guys need to be progressed sooner rather than later.

Can’t see Lydiate touring, Kelly Brown could be a surprise pick?

Murray, big yes.
Strauss, maybe – needs a very good end to the season in some finals. Would have been more sure if he hadn’t been injured.
Shame the other hookers wouldn’t make the pub darts team.

Think so far with Wales back row, Gatland’s been “pissing with the cock he’s got”.
He knows, and results prove, its not enough to beat the ozzies. That’s were he’ll need to bring in more threat in attack.

He knows, and results prove, its not enough to beat the ozzies. That’s were he’ll need to bring in more threat in attack.

back row is only as good as the pack. Who should we add? I’d go robshaw warbs faletau. Not sure the lions have better options

@anagallis is back trolling again I see

JW made decision to go to France as he knew he wouldn’t make the 2015 World Cup and the English clubs were made subject to a salary cap. He was very very good against Leicester in all facets of the game and it will be interesting to watch him at Twickenham next weekend.

As for taking two number 10’s that’s daft as its so easy to have players injured on this tour, the Aussies have history of targeting important players in the tour warm up games.

Galand is on record as saying he is considering just two tens as otherwise they will all need to be given chances and would then be under cooked come test time so take it up with him.
As for the idea its trolling to suggest someone who hasnt played international rugby in years and wasnt very good when he last did shouldnt go on a lions tour well my gaster is flabbered.
A lot of people happy to criticise but few happy to suggest alternatives.

The lack of alternatives is rather the point!
Bigger and laidlaw (or whoever the current fancied scots offering) are borderline internationals. Goode isn’t that good at 15, Nevermind 10.

Laidlaw looked long term broken on friday.
I would have picked Hook over Goode but didnt want to look pro Wales 😆

Wilkinson would offer nothing more than Biggar imo and would be a bigger gamble. Wilkinson always looked good given an armchair ride I have seen nothing to change that opinion.

I’d prefer Flood to Wilkinson

I’d prefer Flood to Wilkinson

😯

The words “and Toby Flood is coming on” are enough to strike fear into most English rugby supporters’ hearts!

But…. Pretty stoked to find out that we’ll be getting the Lions tour live on free-to-air here in Oz. Was expecting it to be buried on Foxtel somewhere. I’m still baffled by the almost total lack of coverage of the Wallabies here though – it’s almost as if they’re another country’s team!

I would pick Beattie over Morgan and think Gray will miss the plane. If it was NZ I would be with wrecker on Hamilton, but he suits a tight game where the ball is coming back close to the forwards (ie the one the play cos we have nae backs.) It isn’t going to be that kind of series,which is a pity cos Hamilton is a monster!

Hamilton blotted his copy book with that pen v wales just before half time. Maybe Launchbury should go but he was piss poor v wales. D Ryan seems a complete non impact player for ireland.. good angry face and nowt else. Ian Evans is a bit slow as his knees are ****, Hows Courtney Lawes doing?

Lawes is shit.

MOTM yesterday Tom,but can’t call t lineout,we will need somebody who can.

If we can’t agree on Hamilton; its wildcard time!
I’m volunteering shaw. Yes he’s old, but he’s wise, playing brilliantly for Toulon and is rugby to the core.

Shaw is a freak. Quite how a second row is still playing regular rugby at his age is beyond me.

He toured in 97 ffs!

I’m volunteering shaw. Yes he’s old, but he’s wise, playing brilliantly for Toulon and is rugby to the core.

lets have hill, dilly dally and back too!

Why not!
M Williams was about the same amount past his best when he last toured!

Fair one wrecker, but is he better than Hines? 12 months ago it would have been Grey and A.N. Other in second row, but Grey has been poor this year. Hamilton is a monster,but if the game is played at pace he struggles. When we were able to drag the other team into a close quarter brawl (henceforth referred to as proper rugby) a la Ireland game,then he is brilliant.
Thing that is going to mark this team is that there are no players going who are the best in the world in their position. It means Gatland has to find the correct “mix” of players who complement the things each are good at. I can’t wait,and the Aussies are not the mugs people think they are, even up front.

If we’re taking ageing second row wildcards, then Hines is a great pick.
But I’d be happy with Hamilton going too. To be fair, I’ll support whoever’s in the team once it’s picked. Ryan’s not popular on here, but he’s a good lineout organiser and jumper, and plays a fair bit at 6 too so not slow for a lock. Probably “suited” to the Oz conditions, but not had as good a year as last season so unlikely to go.

I’ve heard he’s gonna take 35 or 36 so you’ve still got a few spots free in that squad from earlier.
Fair play for posting something up for others to critique, aa, it’s a lot braver than just picking holes in someone else’s choice. Doesn’t really matter how serious you were, and whether that was “who you’d take” or “who you think He’ll take”?

You’ve chosen to leave them out, but personally I can’t see Kearney, Zebo, O’Brien, and Heaslip not going.
And I can only guess that you must have forgotten about Gordon D’Arcy. 😉

Zebo would be a good option and I see Bowe is back fit both can cover more than one position too. I dont rate Heaslip and SOB is a bit like Phillips fantastic rugby player but whats his position

And for the record I’d take Gav (fnarr, fnarr).

Don’t rate Heaslip myself either, but there’s still talk of him as a possible Capt. Very bad move IMO, but I’d say that probably put’s him on the plane. Maybe midweek captain?

SOB is the best 7 in Europe.
He is also the best 6 available.
So I reckon he’ll be at 6, with Faletau and Tipuric.

Not much mention of Ryan Jones-he’d probably be my captain, if not then definitely the midweek captain. Probably a better option in the second row than some of the names being touted too.

Loum,I think Gatland will have enough options to include Warburton with SOB and Falatau, Not a bad back row.However I think Beattie would add a bit to that,I have always seen Falatau as a carrier for hard yards, Beattie is quicker and fitter. Let SOB be the seven and Warburton and Beattie would love the space.

Surfer are seeing this year as some sort of a blip

Well I havent said that but some of the play this season has been outstanding and some outstandingly bad!

SOB is the best 7 in Europe.
He is also the best 6 available.

One of those comments is wrong, the other is very wrong and his form hasnt been good since his hip op.

One of those comments is wrong, the other is very wrong and his form hasnt been good since his hip op.

Agreed. SOB should never be ahead of warbs, robshaw or tipuric for 7, nor lydiate or wood for 6.

Kick an injury time winner in a world cup final and be a national hero forever or…….top up ya tan, its your call Gav 😆

,I have always seen Falatau as a carrier for hard yards, Beattie is quicker and fitter.

Faletau has his faults but he is a **** hard working machine, look at his tackle stats they shame most other 8’s no way Beattie is fitter although he is a better carrier. I doubt Beattie is faster either check out the second one against exeter, the lad has serious wheels

Ryan Jones was outstanding v France but Gatland has only picked him to cover injuries in recent times he is also currently broken I dont know for how long.

Lydiate will go, I’d bet my reputation on it 😉

wood for 6.

good point I’d forgotten about him after his time at 8 (which was very forgetable). Ferris is the only 6 near or better than an on form Lydiate and he’s broken too.

Ferris is a girl. The most over rated back rower in the game.
I’d start Beattie over faletau, sorry a_a.

No need to be sorry, thats what its all about. I just dont think Duckmans view on him was right in terms of the type of player he is.

Surely Waldrom is the stand out 8? He’s the sort of athlete that could really excel down under 🙂