RugbyRebels

Sandydragon wrote:

Big D wrote:I think the back 3 can almost be any of the guys without too much arguement.

It’s basically a very tight call and I agree that you could have a number of permutations which are all equally good. Just depends what attributes Gatland and co want.

Mikey Brown wrote:Really? I haven’t seen anything close to agreement on the centres except for “possibly Faz at 12 but not because I want to.”

Sandydragon wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:The number of pundits selecting on past glories is staggering. Both Farrell and Murray have been well below par yet they make test teams. The best half back combination is Price and Biggar. Smith is definitely one for the future.

Our back three is a huge area of contention as no one has been perfect but there have been some great performances. Adams is a fine all round player who finishes well. VDM has been a real star of the tour but does have some weaknesses. High and Liam Williams have both been good. Watson is a quality player.

If all fit I think it will be Adam’s, Williams and Watson. But I wonder if the idea of VDM being involved is just too tempting, even if off the bench.

Harris has surely done enough to get a centre spot and Henshaw would be the other I’d go for. Daly has a great boot and some nice touches but he gets bypassed in defence too often.

The front row I would go for Wyn Jones, George and Furlogh. Replacement double be Mako, Owens and Sinkler.

Second row has to include Itoje. Do we risk AWJ in there so soon back? We need a tour captain who can actually lead and we lacked some leadership against the Bokke A side. Equally the starting locks yesterday both made a strong case. I liked the way Beard took the driving maul away from the Bokke A when he came on and that’s a big plus.

I’m going for AWJ and Itoje with Beard on the bench. I was even tempted by Itoje at blindside but restrained myself from that call.

Back row is a really hard call. Faletau has started to come good and offers a lot of experience. Simmonds offers a lot of the bench.

Curry had a good game against the A side. Watson has been strong throughout. Beirne has had his moments too, or does Gatland move Curry to blindside and go for a mobile back row?

I think that we might see a 6/2 split on the bench, unless Gatland wants VDM on the bench. I suspect Davies plus Farrell the latter covering a lot of positions. Unles he decides to have a punt on Smith on the bench, and take a slight gamble if a Center gets injured.

Aside from the obvious front row replacements, I think we might have Simmonds, Watson and a lock on the bench.

Given the obvious brutality to come, I think Gatland will want to front up to that and keep a strong forward element on the bench. So, I’m going for:

Wyn Jones
George
Furlough
AWJ
Itoje
Beirne
Curry
Faletau
Price
Biggar
Adams
Henshaw
Harris
Watson
Liam Williams

Vunipola
Owens
Sinkler
Beard
Watson
Simmonds
Davies
Smith - why not I’d rather have someone on form than on reputation alone.

You are buggered if any outside back is hurt with that bench. Starting XV looks right, though Harris at 13 is a concern tbh- I’d maybe start H Watson tho

I’m not normally in favour of a 6:2 split. But the reality is that I feel our greatest impact is in our pack with Simmonds and Watson coming on the up the pace.

That leaves the issue of having Farrell to cover the back line which isn’t ideal either.

Arguably you could go for a back row of Watson, Curry and Faletau, with Simmonds off the bench. Then have Davies Smith and eithr VDM or Aki on the bench for some last quarter impact.

Big D wrote:I think the back 3 can almost be any of the guys without too much arguement.

Banquo wrote:

Big D wrote:I think the back 3 can almost be any of the guys without too much arguement.

I'd think its worth pondering who best to shut Kolbe down, though that's also about better kicking and chasing.

skysports.com wrote: Georgia coach on ventilator with Covid-19 in South Africa
South Africa’s second Test match against Georgia in Johannesburg on Friday was cancelled because of Covid-19 infections in both camps.

The Georgia Rugby Union says its national team coach has serious lung damage from Covid-19 and has been put on a ventilator in hospital in South Africa.

Levan Maisashvili was one of six members of the Georgian touring party to test positive for the virus after playing against South Africa on July 2 in Pretoria as part of a series organised to help the world champion Springboks prepare for the British and Irish Lions tour.

article continues...

Big D wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Big D wrote:I think the back 3 can almost be any of the guys without too much arguement.

I'd think its worth pondering who best to shut Kolbe down, though that's also about better kicking and chasing.

There isn't a huge amount of difference across the wingers when it comes to defence. And the best way to shut down Kolbe really is to stop him getting the ball. The criticism of DVDM isn't backed up by any stats. And LRZ is probably the worst defender of them all but I think a lot of that is positioning where his pace would have bailed him out in the past.

I've went with Watson, Williams and Hogg because I think SA will kick a lot and those three provide the best options to combat that. Williams and Watson are the best aerial guys of the wingers available and Hogg has the boot to return wasteful kicks with interest.

Big D wrote:Tandy confirms all on track bar Finn.

Banquo wrote:

Big D wrote:I think the back 3 can almost be any of the guys without too much arguement.

I'd think its worth pondering who best to shut Kolbe down, though that's also about better kicking and chasing.

Sandydragon wrote: Don’t kick him the fricking ball in acres of space would be a start.

Sandydragon wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Big D wrote:I think the back 3 can almost be any of the guys without too much arguement.

I'd think its worth pondering who best to shut Kolbe down, though that's also about better kicking and chasing.

Don’t kick him the fricking ball in acres of space would be a start.

whatisthejava wrote:

Sandydragon wrote: Don’t kick him the fricking ball in acres of space would be a start.

Interesting that both Zammit who was positioned incorrectly and Daly who did the stupid kick both escaped critism but Harris who had to actually try and tackle Kolbe one on one in space got it in the neck

whatisthejava wrote:

Sandydragon wrote: Don’t kick him the fricking ball in acres of space would be a start.

Interesting that both Zammit who was positioned incorrectly and Daly who did the stupid kick both escaped critism but Harris who had to actually try and tackle Kolbe one on one in space got it in the neck

whatisthejava wrote:

Sandydragon wrote: Don’t kick him the fricking ball in acres of space would be a start.

Interesting that both Zammit who was positioned incorrectly and Daly who did the stupid kick both escaped critism but Harris who had to actually try and tackle Kolbe one on one in space got it in the neck

Puja wrote:

whatisthejava wrote:

Sandydragon wrote: Don’t kick him the fricking ball in acres of space would be a start.

Interesting that both Zammit who was positioned incorrectly and Daly who did the stupid kick both escaped critism but Harris who had to actually try and tackle Kolbe one on one in space got it in the neck

TBH, I think the winger best suited to defend Kolbe isn't even on the tour - May's got the pace, experience, agility, and workrate to do as good a job as anyone possibly could shutting down the Jonah Lomu Rugby cheat code that is Kolbe, but instead Gatland went for the shiny new thing in Rees-Zammit (and Daly for some unknown reason).

Puja

whatisthejava wrote:

Sandydragon wrote: Don’t kick him the fricking ball in acres of space would be a start.

Interesting that both Zammit who was positioned incorrectly and Daly who did the stupid kick both escaped critism but Harris who had to actually try and tackle Kolbe one on one in space got it in the neck

Sandydragon wrote:

Puja wrote:

whatisthejava wrote:
Interesting that both Zammit who was positioned incorrectly and Daly who did the stupid kick both escaped critism but Harris who had to actually try and tackle Kolbe one on one in space got it in the neck

TBH, I think the winger best suited to defend Kolbe isn't even on the tour - May's got the pace, experience, agility, and workrate to do as good a job as anyone possibly could shutting down the Jonah Lomu Rugby cheat code that is Kolbe, but instead Gatland went for the shiny new thing in Rees-Zammit (and Daly for some unknown reason).

Puja

Not sure why Daly was included (other than as an all rounder) but LRZ was one of the finds of the six nations and played well enough to put his hand up for selection. May was one of the better England players over the campaign so is perhaps a bit unfortunate and would have beeen a better choice than Daly.

Sandydragon wrote:

Puja wrote:

whatisthejava wrote:
Interesting that both Zammit who was positioned incorrectly and Daly who did the stupid kick both escaped critism but Harris who had to actually try and tackle Kolbe one on one in space got it in the neck

TBH, I think the winger best suited to defend Kolbe isn't even on the tour - May's got the pace, experience, agility, and workrate to do as good a job as anyone possibly could shutting down the Jonah Lomu Rugby cheat code that is Kolbe, but instead Gatland went for the shiny new thing in Rees-Zammit (and Daly for some unknown reason).

Puja

Not sure why Daly was included (other than as an all rounder) but LRZ was one of the finds of the six nations and played well enough to put his hand up for selection. May was one of the better England players over the campaign so is perhaps a bit unfortunate and would have beeen a better choice than Daly.

Puja wrote:

whatisthejava wrote:

Sandydragon wrote: Don’t kick him the fricking ball in acres of space would be a start.

Interesting that both Zammit who was positioned incorrectly and Daly who did the stupid kick both escaped critism but Harris who had to actually try and tackle Kolbe one on one in space got it in the neck

TBH, I think the winger best suited to defend Kolbe isn't even on the tour - May's got the pace, experience, agility, and workrate to do as good a job as anyone possibly could shutting down the Jonah Lomu Rugby cheat code that is Kolbe, but instead Gatland went for the shiny new thing in Rees-Zammit (and Daly for some unknown reason).

Puja

Puja wrote:

whatisthejava wrote:

Sandydragon wrote: Don’t kick him the fricking ball in acres of space would be a start.

Interesting that both Zammit who was positioned incorrectly and Daly who did the stupid kick both escaped critism but Harris who had to actually try and tackle Kolbe one on one in space got it in the neck

TBH, I think the winger best suited to defend Kolbe isn't even on the tour - May's got the pace, experience, agility, and workrate to do as good a job as anyone possibly could shutting down the Jonah Lomu Rugby cheat code that is Kolbe, but instead Gatland went for the shiny new thing in Rees-Zammit (and Daly for some unknown reason).

Puja