Lions

[switchskier]

In my mind Dave found a blonde train driver love of his life and is now living a life on the rails without WiFi access.

[Which Tyler]

In my mind Dave found a blonde train driver love of his life and is now living a life on the rails without WiFi access.

I'm just trying to work out if your vision is of a really sweet, happy life, or really creepy, terrifying one.

[whatisthejava]

In my mind Dave found a blonde train driver love of his life and is now living a life on the rails without WiFi access.

I'm just trying to work out if your vision is of a really sweet, happy life, or really creepy, terrifying one.

really depends if your the train or the train spotter

[whatisthejava]

warburton getting a scan on his knee from the game last night,

After SOB and Warburon and Tuperic I still think we are looking at Haskell going rather than Watson

[Mikey Brown]

I can believe that, ridiculous as it is.

[Mellsblue]

I'll just leave Owen Slot's Lions squad here:

There would be 17 Englishmen on my plane and none of them would be Dylan Hartley. The only Kiwi accents would be Gatland’s and that of Ben Te’o. Neither Gray brother would get the ticket; there would be only one Scot (Stuart Hogg, the full back). That wouldn’t be popular.

OWEN SLOT’S 37-MAN LIONS SQUAD

Full back Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Rob Kearney (Ireland), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales).
Wing Elliot Daly, Anthony Watson (both England), George North, Liam Williams (both Wales).
Centre Owen Farrell, Jonathan Joseph, Ben Te’o (all England), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland).
Fly half Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), George Ford (England).
Scrum half Conor Murray (Ireland), Rhys Webb (Wales), Ben Youngs (England).
Loose-head prop Joe Marler, Mako Vunipola (both England), Jack McGrath (Ireland).
Hooker Jamie George (England), Ken Owens (Wales), Rory Best (Ireland).
Tight-head prop Dan Cole, Kyle Sinckler (both England), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland).
Second row Alun Wyn Jones (Wales, captain), Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes, Joe Launchbury (all England).
Back row Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (all Wales), Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander (all Ireland), Billy Vunipola (England).

[whatisthejava]

I'll just leave Owen Slot's Lions squad here:

There would be 17 Englishmen on my plane and none of them would be Dylan Hartley. The only Kiwi accents would be Gatland’s and that of Ben Te’o. Neither Gray brother would get the ticket; there would be only one Scot (Stuart Hogg, the full back). That wouldn’t be popular.

OWEN SLOT’S 37-MAN LIONS SQUAD

Full back Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Rob Kearney (Ireland), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales).
Wing Elliot Daly, Anthony Watson (both England), George North, Liam Williams (both Wales).
Centre Owen Farrell, Jonathan Joseph, Ben Te’o (all England), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland).
Fly half Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), George Ford (England).
Scrum half Conor Murray (Ireland), Rhys Webb (Wales), Ben Youngs (England).
Loose-head prop Joe Marler, Mako Vunipola (both England), Jack McGrath (Ireland).
Hooker Jamie George (England), Ken Owens (Wales), Rory Best (Ireland).
Tight-head prop Dan Cole, Kyle Sinckler (both England), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland).
Second row Alun Wyn Jones (Wales, captain), Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes, Joe Launchbury (all England).
Back row Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (all Wales), Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander (all Ireland), Billy Vunipola (England).

Some weird calls in there but i wouldn't be surprised to see one Scot

[Stones of granite]

I'll just leave Owen Slot's Lions squad here:

There would be 17 Englishmen on my plane and none of them would be Dylan Hartley. The only Kiwi accents would be Gatland’s and that of Ben Te’o. Neither Gray brother would get the ticket; there would be only one Scot (Stuart Hogg, the full back). That wouldn’t be popular.

OWEN SLOT’S 37-MAN LIONS SQUAD

Full back Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Rob Kearney (Ireland), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales).
Wing Elliot Daly, Anthony Watson (both England), George North, Liam Williams (both Wales).
Centre Owen Farrell, Jonathan Joseph, Ben Te’o (all England), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland).
Fly half Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), George Ford (England).
Scrum half Conor Murray (Ireland), Rhys Webb (Wales), Ben Youngs (England).
Loose-head prop Joe Marler, Mako Vunipola (both England), Jack McGrath (Ireland).
Hooker Jamie George (England), Ken Owens (Wales), Rory Best (Ireland).
Tight-head prop Dan Cole, Kyle Sinckler (both England), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland).
Second row Alun Wyn Jones (Wales, captain), Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes, Joe Launchbury (all England).
Back row Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (all Wales), Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander (all Ireland), Billy Vunipola (England).

Some weird calls in there but i wouldn't be surprised to see one Scot

Prepare to be not surprised. Something tells me that that list, with minor tweaks, is pretty close.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I'll just leave Owen Slot's Lions squad here:

There would be 17 Englishmen on my plane and none of them would be Dylan Hartley. The only Kiwi accents would be Gatland’s and that of Ben Te’o. Neither Gray brother would get the ticket; there would be only one Scot (Stuart Hogg, the full back). That wouldn’t be popular.

OWEN SLOT’S 37-MAN LIONS SQUAD

Full back Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Rob Kearney (Ireland), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales).
Wing Elliot Daly, Anthony Watson (both England), George North, Liam Williams (both Wales).
Centre Owen Farrell, Jonathan Joseph, Ben Te’o (all England), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland).
Fly half Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), George Ford (England).
Scrum half Conor Murray (Ireland), Rhys Webb (Wales), Ben Youngs (England).
Loose-head prop Joe Marler, Mako Vunipola (both England), Jack McGrath (Ireland).
Hooker Jamie George (England), Ken Owens (Wales), Rory Best (Ireland).
Tight-head prop Dan Cole, Kyle Sinckler (both England), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland).
Second row Alun Wyn Jones (Wales, captain), Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes, Joe Launchbury (all England).
Back row Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (all Wales), Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander (all Ireland), Billy Vunipola (England).

Some weird calls in there but i wouldn't be surprised to see one Scot

We have a lot of work to do over the next few years if we want to consistently win against Wales, Ireland, etc & start turning over England, Aus, SA as well. That work needs to start this summer. A backup to Hogg is desperately needed so him travelling isn't the worst thing in the world for Scotland.

[Mikey Brown]

Interesting how easily Itoje's poorer season and Kruis's non-existent season get them in ahead of Jonny Gray.

[Mellsblue]

Disappointing responses, if I'm being honest. Where's the fight, lads? Kruis, as much as I rate him, is a ridiculous call.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Disappointing responses, if I'm being honest. Where's the fight, lads? Kruis, as much as I rate him, is a ridiculous call.

Kruis won't travel obviously. I don't think JG will either. He's tailed off since the first half of the 6N.

[whatisthejava]

Disappointing responses, if I'm being honest. Where's the fight, lads? Kruis, as much as I rate him, is a ridiculous call.

Whats better for morale , getting pumped in NZ playing a crap style of rugby that wont work or going to Australia and beating them at home, Australia seem to be full on self destruct right now, so i think a great chance for Scotland to beat them,

[Mellsblue]

Disappointing responses, if I'm being honest. Where's the fight, lads? Kruis, as much as I rate him, is a ridiculous call.

Whats better for morale , getting pumped in NZ playing a crap style of rugby that wont work or going to Australia and beating them at home, Australia seem to be full on self destruct right now, so i think a great chance for Scotland to beat them,

It's a fair point, assuming you beat Aus, but I think a couple of your younger, potentially world class players would benefit. J Gray and H Watson spring to mind. J Gray as future captain definitely would benefit. I hope he does go, mainly as I think he deserves to but also because I want him to become world class and I think the Lions in NZ will help him get there a bit quicker.

[whatisthejava]

Disappointing responses, if I'm being honest. Where's the fight, lads? Kruis, as much as I rate him, is a ridiculous call.

Whats better for morale , getting pumped in NZ playing a crap style of rugby that wont work or going to Australia and beating them at home, Australia seem to be full on self destruct right now, so i think a great chance for Scotland to beat them,

It's a fair point, assuming you beat Aus, but I think a couple of your younger, potentially world class players would benefit. J Gray and H Watson spring to mind. J Gray as future captain definitely would benefit. I hope he does go, mainly as I think he deserves to but also because I want him to become world class and I think the Lions in NZ will help him get there a bit quicker.

I think it would as well but if the Lions believe a team that are 8th in the world are better than a team that is 5th in the world then its up to them, not alot we can do , we can nash our teeth and moan about it but unlike previous years where its been a tour to RG or some tier 2 nations we have a chance at a new coach winning an away game in Australia

[Big D]

Before this season or during the 6N I'd have said the following all stood a chance (some due to form others due to coaches seeming to like them):
Dickinson
Nel
Gray
Gray
Watson
Laidlaw (not that I'd have picked him)
Russell
Dunbar
Jones
Seymour
Maitland
Hogg

Injuries have ruled out Dickinson, Nel, Laidlaw and Jones. At least two of whom would have travelled I think.

Grays are in possibly the position with highest quality opposition. I still think Jonny will go.

Watson is unlucky, being in a shite Embra team doesn't help but Warburton and Tipuric were very good in the 6N.

Russell has shown he can't be relied on to control a big game when under pressure. The two 6N away games showed that.

Dunbar was abysmal v England. Yes bad games shouldn't count badly in isolation but that game was that bad.

Seymour should tour. Maitland might at Garland loves him. Both won't your together.

Hogg will tour.

[Mikey Brown]

Pretty much the size of it. It's just a shame how much things hinge on the England/Sarries game but that's the way it is. Some of those Scotland guys bettering their direct rivals in the Ireland and Wales games means nothing now.

[whatisthejava]

Warburton out for 6 weeks which means he is out until the Lions tour

[ARM]

Not sure about that Hogg lad. Absolute turnstile.

[Mellsblue]

Warburton out for 6 weeks which means he is out until the Lions tour

Or as Gatland will see it:
Warburton out for 6 weeks which means he is fresh for the Lions tour

[Big D]

Warburton out for 6 weeks which means he is out until the Lions tour

Or as Gatland will see it:
Warburton out for 6 weeks which means he is fresh for the Lions tour

He has done that before with non Welsh players.

Gray Snr hadn't played a game for months when picked on the last tour.

[kk67]

Prepare to be not surprised. Something tells me that that list, with minor tweaks, is pretty close.

Yup.

[Lizard]

Well it's been confirmed that Gatland Jnr will be lining up against the Lions

http://rugbyrebels.co/board/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=1768

[Jps]

Well it's been confirmed that Gatland Jnr will be lining up against the Lions

http://rugbyrebels.co/board/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=1768

On a Gatland related note- is Warren a big smoker, does anyone know? Christ you hear him interviewed and for not that old a guy he breathes mighty heavy.

I would've said the only Scottish player who form would demand should be include is Watson, but with Tipuric and Warburton and O'Brien, I don't think they bring him.

England are the form team, the Irish lads beat NZ last year, it's the Wales coach, and I think all our coaches who were offered places turned it down. Light representation again, I reckon.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Whats better for morale , getting pumped in NZ playing a crap style of rugby that wont work or going to Australia and beating them at home, Australia seem to be full on self destruct right now, so i think a great chance for Scotland to beat them,

It's a fair point, assuming you beat Aus, but I think a couple of your younger, potentially world class players would benefit. J Gray and H Watson spring to mind. J Gray as future captain definitely would benefit. I hope he does go, mainly as I think he deserves to but also because I want him to become world class and I think the Lions in NZ will help him get there a bit quicker.

I think it would as well but if the Lions believe a team that are 8th in the world are better than a team that is 5th in the world then its up to them, not alot we can do , we can nash our teeth and moan about it but unlike previous years where its been a tour to RG or some tier 2 nations we have a chance at a new coach winning an away game in Australia

It's absolutely justifiable if the bloke who built the team that is in 8th is a complete fuckwit who has basically failed to get the best out of the team over a number of years.