Lions

[Mikey Brown]

Awful, and as everyone has said absolutely the right thing. Tom Youngs in particular seems like such a good bloke from the little I know.

Strange for Laidlaw but that's how it goes I guess.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Good for Youngs, nice to see someone make that sort of call.

Pleased for Laidlaw and his style of play should suit Gatball. Going to be tough to get up to speed though.

Glos are up here for the final of the diddy cup aren't they? Assume he'll be playing in that, but I take your point.

[ARM]

Awfully sad news that.

[Lizard]

That's awful news for the Youngs and obviously in that position any player has to make the right decision for his family.

I thought Laidlaw was not considered due to injury? Or was it just a minor one likely to clear by tour time?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

That's awful news for the Youngs and obviously in that position any player has to make the right decision for his family.

I thought Laidlaw was not considered due to injury? Or was it just a minor one likely to clear by tour time?

Laidlaw's just back.

[Lizard]

Plenty of time for him to get up to, er, "full speed" then.

[Spiffy]

Good for Youngs, nice to see someone make that sort of call.

Pleased for Laidlaw and his style of play should suit Gatball. Going to be tough to get up to speed though.

Yes. But Lions captain Warburton has been out for several weeks too, and, in his case nobody seems to care if he will be up to speed or not. A little surprised that Laidlaw has been called up. I don't think he's even the best Scottish SH, though he's a feisty/combatitive wee bogger. Good goal kicker . I hope he does well.

[cashead]

Good for Youngs, nice to see someone make that sort of call.

Pleased for Laidlaw and his style of play should suit Gatball. Going to be tough to get up to speed though.

Yes. But Lions captain Warburton has been out for several weeks too, and, in his case nobody seems to care if he will be up to speed or not. A little surprised that Laidlaw has been called up. I don't think he's even the best Scottish SH, though he's a feisty/combatitive wee bogger. Good goal kicker . I hope he does well.

He probably got the nod to be one of the leaders of the Dirt Trackers, and likely to be a points machine for them. The last Lions squad down here had a non-test side with plenty to celebrate after all.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Good for Youngs, nice to see someone make that sort of call.

Pleased for Laidlaw and his style of play should suit Gatball. Going to be tough to get up to speed though.

Yes. But Lions captain Warburton has been out for several weeks too, and, in his case nobody seems to care if he will be up to speed or not. A little surprised that Laidlaw has been called up. I don't think he's even the best Scottish SH, though he's a feisty/combatitive wee bogger. Good goal kicker . I hope he does well.

He probably got the nod to be one of the leaders of the Dirt Trackers, and likely to be a points machine for them. The last Lions squad down here had a non-test side with plenty to celebrate after all.

No dirt tracks and no small teams this tour. The midweek side had a challenge almost as great as the test side.

[whatisthejava]

Yes. But Lions captain Warburton has been out for several weeks too, and, in his case nobody seems to care if he will be up to speed or not. A little surprised that Laidlaw has been called up. I don't think he's even the best Scottish SH, though he's a feisty/combatitive wee bogger. Good goal kicker . I hope he does well.

He probably got the nod to be one of the leaders of the Dirt Trackers, and likely to be a points machine for them. The last Lions squad down here had a non-test side with plenty to celebrate after all.

No dirt tracks and no small teams this tour. The midweek side had a challenge almost as great as the test side.

Id agree, no way the lions can do anything if they split the squad, will have a few clear dirt trackers but if Gatland thinks h can hide a few of his favorites until the tests he is gonig to come into some trouble

[kk67]

He probably got the nod to be one of the leaders of the Dirt Trackers, and likely to be a points machine for them. The last Lions squad down here had a non-test side with plenty to celebrate after all.

No dirt tracks and no small teams this tour. The midweek side had a challenge almost as great as the test side.

Id agree, no way the lions can do anything if they split the squad, will have a few clear dirt trackers but if Gatland thinks h can hide a few of his favorites until the tests he is gonig to come into some trouble

Agreed.
I'm delighted for Greig. He was next on my list of 9's. As much as his goal kicking might have swung the choice,.....I reckon his sheer bloody mindedness and his reading of the game counts for almost as much.

It's good to see a family sticking together in the hard days. Ben Youngs is a classy Fella.

[cashead]

Yes. But Lions captain Warburton has been out for several weeks too, and, in his case nobody seems to care if he will be up to speed or not. A little surprised that Laidlaw has been called up. I don't think he's even the best Scottish SH, though he's a feisty/combatitive wee bogger. Good goal kicker . I hope he does well.

He probably got the nod to be one of the leaders of the Dirt Trackers, and likely to be a points machine for them. The last Lions squad down here had a non-test side with plenty to celebrate after all.

No dirt tracks and no small teams this tour. The midweek side had a challenge almost as great as the test side.

But then, with 41 players, it's clear that there's going to be a split between the test side and non-test side sooner or later, and, assuming the order of preference indicated by the selections holds true in form, then Laidlaw would be a useful player to have around to keep Murray and Webb honest.

[Big D]

Billy V is a massive loss for the Lions.

[cashead]

James Haskell's apparently been added to the squad.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

James Haskell's apparently been added to the squad.

I thought you were trolling. I checked. It's real.

I'd be quite happy if no more of our players are drawn into this absolute circus. James Haskell FFS.

[Jps]

I wouldn't call that a like for like replacement by any means, that's an odd one

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I wouldn't call that a like for like replacement by any means, that's an odd one

It's not. Which means Gatland is going to have to shift the back row around a little bit which makes the Haskell shout a poor one. Perfect for Gatball... but I'd have thought Barclay or Robshaw would be the next cabs off the rank.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I wouldn't call that a like for like replacement by any means, that's an odd one

It's not. Which means Gatland is going to have to shift the back row around a little bit which makes the Haskell shout a poor one. Perfect for Gatball... but I'd have thought Barclay or Robshaw would be the next cabs off the rank.

He won't have to do any shuffling because he already had an excess of back rowers and particularly people who can play 8. Quite what Haskell is doing there ahead of Barclay orWatson or Van der flier god only knows.

[cashead]

There won't be an openside called up unless Warburton's head flies off his shoulders, and I'm guessing Haskell's experience and playing style tipped it in his favour, not to mention his time in New Zealand.

[Mikey Brown]

Yup. Haskell would have been at best 5th or 6th on my list to call up, and that's mainly as he may actually suit Gatland's style.

Faletau playing very well since his return and obviously Stander is there anyway but absolutely gutted for Billy. Nobody else can do what he does.

[cashead]

I'd have thought Heaslip would be the guy, but then I thought back to how he played in a Gatland-coached team, where he seemed rather underwhelming, so I guess he doesn't really fit the Gatball style.

[Adder]

If Haskell can bring his energy from last summer tour in OZ he won't be out of place.

[whatisthejava]

Haskell fits the style,
can carry,
can ruck
can run straight into contact

Job done

The only chance the scots of next call ups are hooker and fly half

[Big D]

If Haskell can bring his energy from last summer tour in OZ he won't be out of place.

I must admit that was my reaction too.

I don't think there were many Scots in contention to replace him to be fair. Watson would only be considered if one of the 7s go down. Despite how I see Barclay (a 6 or 8 not a 7) I am not sure the international coaches see him as that but rather a second 7 in the Scotland side.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Haskell fits the style,
can carry,
can ruck
can run straight into contact

Job done

The only chance the scots of next call ups are hooker and fly half

You're way off the mark Java. Russell has been shocking second half of the season - George Ford next cab off the rank. Brown failed at sarries & failed at Twickenham - he is nowhere near the squad. Hartley next.