RugbyRebels

I think its quite interesting that the early good performers were all welsh, then the guys that were on the last tour and then the rest

I dont think we have had a single lion under Gatland that has performed above average for him, lots of talented players but all seem to find it difficult to adapt to what Gatland wants, That's considering he was there in 2009, 2013 and 2017 altough its only about 9 guys if that.

Well I thought Laidlaw had a good game actually. He's definitely upped the tempo but his attacking intent is becoming quite Peter Stringer like where he is happy to control a game but not want to break it. Pundit Arena giving him a 5/10 like they know what they are talking about!

If only Tommy had hit Henshaw on the switch....we'd have been talking about one of the great Lions tried had it come off.

I'm getting very peed off with pundits referring to the "controversial six" who are there not on merit. Insulting to Russel who has been the best European flyhalf in the Southern hemisphere of late.

i find it pathetic that when a scot makes a mistake on tour its seen as typical of poor skills but when others make mistakes its washed over. North has been by far the worst winger on tour and yet looks set to play a major role in the tests,

The media really do need to remember they should be impartial and not extra cheerleaders

And punditarena, ruck etc, rugbylad seem to be run by a bunch of english kids that started watching rugby in 2003 , stopped again and started after the world cup in 2015

whatisthejava wrote:And punditarena, ruck etc, rugbylad seem to be run by a bunch of english kids that started watching rugby in 2003 , stopped again and started after the world cup in 2015

The whole dismissive and condescending attitude to any Scottish player and Scotland is really beginning to grate.

As recent evidence here are some gems from Austin Healey. "Yes, he may have already coached the Lions to a series victory against Australia. But they were at best a fading force, as evidenced by their recent defeats to Scotland..." "If the Lions win, Warren will be perfectly justified in sticking two fingers up to anyone who questioned his tactics, his selection policy and picking six players based on geography rather than ability."

So let me get this straight. Gatland calls up a fella in one of the most important positions on the pitch in which we have little to no depth and have a very important game against Fiji coming up (potential 4th place) to sit on the bench mid-week and get no minutes? Could his disdain for Scotland be anymore obvious?

I cannot wait to see that look on his face again. You all know the one... when that camera panned over to him in the stands back on 25th Feb when our lads made half of those Lions their bitches. It's happening.

Unsurprisingly no Scots in the matchday squad. Finn must be laughing. £70k or whatever to stand outside the dressing room and clap them onto the pitch.

Great selection from Gatland, we'll have nothing to do with it when the ABs cuck the Lions.

General Zod wrote:Unsurprisingly no Scots in the matchday squad. Finn must be laughing. £70k or whatever to stand outside the dressing room and clap them onto the pitch.

He might even get to have "six" with some local weemin.

I confess to being a bit surprised. I thought H'penny and North would be in the starting team despite doing very little to deserve it. L Williams along with the two wings have the ability to do some damage the but with the exception of the last 20 minutes of the last game the Lions' backs have been hopeless this tour.

That's a surprisingly decent selection from Gatland. I personally would have gone for Itoje over AWJ, but that's about it. His hand is a bit forced at fullback cover too I guess.

If the lions don't get forward and possession dominance it could be a brutal long night against that AIG side.

Russell may not have played v Fiji anyway and we need to give Horne game time there. I have no problem with him earning some coin with the Lions.

As good a side as we could expect from Gatland. Itoje would have been my preference over AWJ. Not sure they needed 1/2p on bench though.

Not a fan of the selection myself but pleasantly surprised by the back-row and back three. However don't think that Vunipola and George have done enough to warrant starting (though I'm a fan of the later) and have been picked for their size. Personally don't think that AWJ should be touring, never mind starting, he's a coaches pick. Farrell/Teo/Davies means that it doesn't actually matter what back three get picked, they're never going to touch the ball. The tactic is going to be to create pressure and rely on the AB's to kick loosely but they're far too good for that to work.

Halfpenny on the bench for his impact is laughable and I'm still not sold on Ijote. I think that he gives away too many penalties and could be pinged for an awful lot more for resting his forearms in the ground at ruck time.

Surprised at how good that team is although like everyone not called gatland I would have itoje over awj.

Although the blacks will take the ball of them and out score them. All blacks by 15.

Do we think Itoje is a yellow/red card risk? He gets so worked up and it's a fine line between over-enthusiastic bell-endery and foul thuggishness.

Lizard wrote:Do we think Itoje is a yellow/red card risk? He gets so worked up and it's a fine line between over-enthusiastic bell-endery and foul thuggishness.

I don't. Never has been thus far in his career. Don't see why it would start now.

No shock at what the lions game plan will be. Farrell, Teo and 3 players in the back 3 that can play full back.

Lizard wrote:Do we think Itoje is a yellow/red card risk? He gets so worked up and it's a fine line between over-enthusiastic bell-endery and foul thuggishness.

His invisibility cloak has well and truly deserted him but he is far off the blatentness of Big Jim or Wilson

Maro is a highly educated, Gentleman.
He may occasionally appear to be a bit immodest but fair play, he's got a lot to be immodest about.
I think Barnes said something about Maro having been told to celebrate more when he wins penalties.

Lizard wrote:Do we think Itoje is a yellow/red card risk? He gets so worked up and it's a fine line between over-enthusiastic bell-endery and foul thuggishness.

He is a tad over enthusiastic, but he's far from foul thuggishness, a term you would apply to dirty players/cheapshoters.
He's still a kid and will learn to make his presence felt in more subtle ways.

Spiffy wrote:

Lizard wrote:Do we think Itoje is a yellow/red card risk? He gets so worked up and it's a fine line between over-enthusiastic bell-endery and foul thuggishness.

He is a tad over enthusiastic, but he's far from foul thuggishness, a term you would apply to dirty players/cheapshoters.
He's still a kid and will learn to make his presence felt in more subtle ways.

Well, he's not kiwi so falls just on the right side of that particular line...

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He's not dirty at all. He is quite cynical and draws attention to that by being a shouty chav.

morepork wrote:He's not dirty at all. He is quite cynical and draws attention to that by being a shouty chav.

He's an old Harrovian. Hooray Henry, maybe, but not a chav.

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:

morepork wrote:He's not dirty at all. He is quite cynical and draws attention to that by being a shouty chav.

He's an old Harrovian. Hooray Henry, maybe, but not a chav.

I am not initiate to this institution. My assumption was based on the shout metric. Doff of the cap to Maro for shortening the class gap.

He's a good lad that plays rugby.