RugbyRebels

Almost mentioned Schonert and du Plessis from a scrummaging point of view (du Plessis' chance has obv sailed) but neither are particularly conspicuous in the loose. Williams really does put in a lot of work around the park and is solid as they come.

I'm sure the commentator on the Quins-Exeter game remarked that the squad is announced the day after the Lions next week.

fivepointer wrote:I'm sure the commentator on the Quins-Exeter game remarked that the squad is announced the day after the Lions next week.

Yes, I heard that. Does it mean that Eddie has already been told the Lions selection? How else could he be certain of his England names?

Oakboy wrote:

fivepointer wrote:I'm sure the commentator on the Quins-Exeter game remarked that the squad is announced the day after the Lions next week.

Yes, I heard that. Does it mean that Eddie has already been told the Lions selection? How else could he be certain of his England names?

I'd have thought Eddie would have a number of squads in mind depending on who's picked.

Digby wrote:

Oakboy wrote:

fivepointer wrote:I'm sure the commentator on the Quins-Exeter game remarked that the squad is announced the day after the Lions next week.

Yes, I heard that. Does it mean that Eddie has already been told the Lions selection? How else could he be certain of his England names?

I'd have thought Eddie would have a number of squads in mind depending on who's picked.

Probably, but can he get all his contacting etc. done in time to announce his squad within 24 hours? Whilst, there was a comment that the Lions players would not know who was picked until the press conference, that has never been Eddie's way with England has it?

Oakboy wrote:

fivepointer wrote:I'm sure the commentator on the Quins-Exeter game remarked that the squad is announced the day after the Lions next week.

Yes, I heard that. Does it mean that Eddie has already been told the Lions selection? How else could he be certain of his England names?

I heard this too on the 5Live podcast. They've postponed it this week to cover the Lions/Argentina squad selections.

I think we've all got a fairly good idea of who our Lions tourists are most likely to be. Barring the odd surprise for someone like Sinckler, I'd imagine he's already got 95% of his squad planned.

Oakboy wrote:

Digby wrote:

Oakboy wrote:
Yes, I heard that. Does it mean that Eddie has already been told the Lions selection? How else could he be certain of his England names?

I'd have thought Eddie would have a number of squads in mind depending on who's picked.

Probably, but can he get all his contacting etc. done in time to announce his squad within 24 hours? Whilst, there was a comment that the Lions players would not know who was picked until the press conference, that has never been Eddie's way with England has it?

Getting the contacting done will be easy. Even if we allow 30 minutes per phone call, which is unlikely, Jones can enlist help from an assistant or two. And if anyone isn't contactable by phone for whatever reason I doubt they're going to turn down a possible England cap.

And the vast majority of the squad will already know, he could easily contact them ahead of time with an "if you're not a lion, you're going to Argentina" or "you're my 5th choice THP, so if Cole and Sink go to NZ, you're coming to Argentina, if not then you're on standby).

Basically the only people he can't viably contact before Gatland's conference are his expected standbys.

TRP story that Williams in line for a call up. R-R and Schonert also on the radar. If Cole and Sinckler go to NZ, we are going to have to look at one or two different front rowers.

BBC reporting that JJ and Launchbury due to be omitted from the Lions squad...

Timbo wrote:BBC reporting that JJ and Launchbury due to be omitted from the Lions squad...

I kinda get it with Launchury as it will be AWJ and one other starting so good players will miss out. I would not be surprised if Kruis toured and also forced his way into the starting line up. Leaving out JJ is just baffling though if true.

The BBC has learnt lock Joe Launchbury and centre Jonathan Joseph are both in danger of being shock exclusions from Warren Gatland's squad.

England captain Dylan Hartley's chances are rated as 50-50, but about 14 Englishmen are expected to be included.

Rookie prop Kyle Sinckler and centre Ben Te'o look likely to make the cut.

Other England stalwarts such as flankers James Haskell and Chris Robshaw, as well as fly-half George Ford, also thought to be unlikely to force their way into Gatland's plans at this stage.


British and Irish Lions: Jonathan Joseph & Joe Launchbury set to miss out
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39624348

Lol at even mentioning Haskell as being in contention. Sorry James.

Launch has a hell of a lot of competition for his place, there will be some great locks touring with their country i stead this year.

JJ on the other hand has to be pretty much nailed on as the best OC in the NH, and arguably the best in the world at the moment, and one of only 3 centres who are automatic choices to tour. Leaving him out would be... utterly bizarre, and very damaging to my interest in the tour (until kick off at least)

JJ isn't perhaps physical enough most likely to play for Gats, so it'd not be much of a surprise to see the likes of Henshaw and Te'o travel and maybe Ringrose as the smaller option in the centres

It can only be physicality, which confirms a tour of Gatball, which confirms a blackwash, as everyone in world rugby knows that Gatball won't work against the kiwis - probably including Gatland himself.
Hence killing my interest in this tour.

The fact both Teo and Davies are near certainties from numerous sources tells you all you need to know.

Davies as in JD2?

No weirder than Te'o I suppose, but at least Henshaw has played well. What taking the likes of Davies would do is free one from the idea of picking on form, which isn't perhaps the worst idea save where some players may think wtf are they doing here

No JJ? I thought we had all agreed that Northern hemisphere touring sides would stop sending under-strength squads.

Nice for Te'o to get a trip home though.

Ha. Brilliant. This has put a whole different slant on the Lions for me. I kind of hope it happens.

I rate Teo a lot more now but Joseph can't be far from being the best back available to the Lions.

Mellsblue wrote:The fact both Teo and Davies are near certainties from numerous sources tells you all you need to know.

T'eo is his Roberts!!!

Would prefer to see T'eo playing alongside Lozowksi (or Ford) against Argentina

Mikey Brown wrote:Ha. Brilliant. This has put a whole different slant on the Lions for me. I kind of hope it happens.

I rate Teo a lot more now but Joseph can't be far from being the best back available to the Lions.

I would like to see him start at 12 for the Lions. Then again i would not have Itoje and Farrell in my 23 so perhaps i am a little odd.

It is a strange anomaly in world rugby but there seems to be an absence of talent at 12 for years. Apart from SBW there seems to be no 12 in the world that ticks all the boxes.

Lions wingers that would acquit themselves well against NZ:
North
Watson
Williams
Roko (Poor form recently but cancelled Savea out in his only cap)
Nowell
Daly
Zebo

13's that would acquite themselves well:
Jones
Daly
Joseph
Davies
Tuilagi if he was fit
Ringrose
(Whatver happened to Ashley Beck?)

12's that would acquit themselves well:
Henshaw
Farrell (At a push)
An unproven T'eo

Just wonder where the likes of Nonu, Fourie, Giteau, Jauzion and JVD have gone on the international scene.

No Launchers is mad. I accept that AWJ will tour, and Johnny Gray is a great player, but Launch was the standout lock in the 6 Nations and is a European player of the year nominee. None of the Irish locks come close to him

Fofana? Atkinson?