RugbyRebels

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:Coach is a real problem. If it's Gatland it will be a disaster. There should be a much more even spread of players so his tactic of picking Wales plus a couple of upgrades won't work. We'll also need to use the ball.

I'd like a completely fresh set of eyes who also believes in running rugby and doesn't respect the ABs too much. Galthie is the only coach I can think of who's not otherwise engaged who fits the bill.

No, the Lions coach should pick the best players available for the team at the time. Last time out, a team dominated with Welsh players won the series. With the emergence of England again as a serious rugby playing nation, I fully expect them to have more test players. If Cotter can generate some momentum with the Scottish team, then perhaps they will be better represented.

Part of me almost hopes that there are ass few Welsh players as possible in the squad. Our guys can have a break while the rest f you try to beat the Blacks. Personally, I will be supporting the Lions regardless of how many Welsh players are involved. I remember cheering on the Lions in 1993, when there was one solitary Welshman on the field. Arguments over quotas are just plain nonsense.

Sandydragon wrote:

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:Coach is a real problem. If it's Gatland it will be a disaster. There should be a much more even spread of players so his tactic of picking Wales plus a couple of upgrades won't work. We'll also need to use the ball.

I'd like a completely fresh set of eyes who also believes in running rugby and doesn't respect the ABs too much. Galthie is the only coach I can think of who's not otherwise engaged who fits the bill.

No, the Lions coach should pick the best players available for the team at the time. Last time out, a team dominated with Welsh players won the series. With the emergence of England again as a serious rugby playing nation, I fully expect them to have more test players. If Cotter can generate some momentum with the Scottish team, then perhaps they will be better represented.

Part of me almost hopes that there are ass few Welsh players as possible in the squad. Our guys can have a break while the rest f you try to beat the Blacks. Personally, I will be supporting the Lions regardless of how many Welsh players are involved. I remember cheering on the Lions in 1993, when there was one solitary Welshman on the field. Arguments over quotas are just plain nonsense.

Well yes. as i said, there should be a much more even spread this time. I don't say that out of principle but because there's a more even spread of ability. I couldn't give a monkey's whether there were 23 Welshmen in the match squad if they're there on merit.

Graham Henry might be available to coach. He's doing some sort of leadership/mentoring for the Warriors league club so is probably desperate to get back into the non criminal code.

Lizard wrote:Graham Henry might be available to coach. He's doing some sort of leadership/mentoring for the Warriors league club so is probably desperate to get back into the non criminal code.

I assumed he didn't have a coaching job because he didn't want one. Not like he would have been short of offers.

Is Matt Williams available?










Why, yes, I do believe that is my taxi....

Two stories caught my eye today in bbc

Jones backs Hartley for captain
Lions would be good for Gatland

Both dont really fill me with confidence

Would be good for Gatland? Or good for the Lions?

whatisthejava wrote:Two stories caught my eye today in bbc

Jones backs Hartley for captain
Lions would be good for Gatland

Both dont really fill me with confidence

I suspect if you asked Gatland would back Warburton, Schmidt would back Best and BVC would back Laidlaw. What is weird about all of that is that EJ seems to be doing end of tour interviews with a match on Saturdarday.

Hartley's playing ok. But captain?

If I were the WRU I'd want shot of Gatland (for a year) as well.

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:I suspect if you asked Gatland would back Warburton, Schmidt would back Best and BVC would back Laidlaw. What is weird about all of that is that EJ seems to be doing end of tour interviews with a match on Saturdarday.

Hartley's playing ok. But captain?

If I were the WRU I'd want shot of Gatland (for a year) as well.

Yup. Mind you, Hansen seems to be doing pre QN interviews already as well; also with a match left to play; at least Jones' answer seems to be concise and relevant to both the question, and what he's doing.

He's a contender, and possibly the closest to being a Lions starter of the 4 incumbent captains at the moment; in another 12 months however... he's unlikley to be captain, or starting for England.

Yup; though you'd have to bear in mind that Howley and McBride have just had their contracts extended; so the break from Gatland would still leave them with the monkeys running things.

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:

whatisthejava wrote:Two stories caught my eye today in bbc

Jones backs Hartley for captain
Lions would be good for Gatland

Both dont really fill me with confidence

I suspect if you asked Gatland would back Warburton, Schmidt would back Best and BVC would back Laidlaw. What is weird about all of that is that EJ seems to be doing end of tour interviews with a match on Saturdarday.

Hartley's playing ok. But captain?

If I were the WRU I'd want shot of Gatland (for a year) as well.

Hartley has been a good captain for England so far but it is tough naming a touring captain when the squad is going to be very competitive for matchday places. And he has history for being a pillock.

Look at the national captains/ former Lions captain options as captain:
Hartley and Best- Maybe only each other as a challenger out of all eligible starting international hookers. I like the cut of Georges jib though.
Warburton - A fit SO'B, or Hardie if he sorts his tackling out may be in the mix.
Laidlaw - Fuck no.
AWJ - I wouldn't even pick him for the squad as it stands. Second row is going to be super competitive.

Big D wrote:

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:

whatisthejava wrote:Two stories caught my eye today in bbc

Jones backs Hartley for captain
Lions would be good for Gatland

Both dont really fill me with confidence

I suspect if you asked Gatland would back Warburton, Schmidt would back Best and BVC would back Laidlaw. What is weird about all of that is that EJ seems to be doing end of tour interviews with a match on Saturdarday.

Hartley's playing ok. But captain?

If I were the WRU I'd want shot of Gatland (for a year) as well.

Hartley has been a good captain for England so far but it is tough naming a touring captain when the squad is going to be very competitive for matchday places. And he has history for being a pillock.

Look at the national captains/ former Lions captain options as captain:
Hartley and Best- Maybe only each other as a challenger out of all eligible starting international hookers. I like the cut of Georges jib though.
Warburton - A fit SO'B, or Hardie if he sorts his tackling out may be in the mix.
Laidlaw - Fuck no.
AWJ - I wouldn't even pick him for the squad as it stands. Second row is going to be super competitive.

I get that the Grays are good. Henderson is excellent, Itoje a freak and Launch superb, but AWJ is still a step up, imo. His first match after injury against England, and he was the only Welsh player to stand up. They folded when he came off. Th guy's a talisman.

Stom wrote:

Big D wrote:

Eugene Wrayburn wrote: I suspect if you asked Gatland would back Warburton, Schmidt would back Best and BVC would back Laidlaw. What is weird about all of that is that EJ seems to be doing end of tour interviews with a match on Saturdarday.

Hartley's playing ok. But captain?

If I were the WRU I'd want shot of Gatland (for a year) as well.

Hartley has been a good captain for England so far but it is tough naming a touring captain when the squad is going to be very competitive for matchday places. And he has history for being a pillock.

Look at the national captains/ former Lions captain options as captain:
Hartley and Best- Maybe only each other as a challenger out of all eligible starting international hookers. I like the cut of Georges jib though.
Warburton - A fit SO'B, or Hardie if he sorts his tackling out may be in the mix.
Laidlaw - Fuck no.
AWJ - I wouldn't even pick him for the squad as it stands. Second row is going to be super competitive.

I get that the Grays are good. Henderson is excellent, Itoje a freak and Launch superb, but AWJ is still a step up, imo. His first match after injury against England, and he was the only Welsh player to stand up. They folded when he came off. Th guy's a talisman.

For Welsh players maybe, but on such a short intense tour there is a need to get the team to gel quickly and effectively. As things stand, the best position unit in all eligible teams is probably the English second row. And I'd want impact off the bench and IMO AWJ doesn't offer that. He'd need to start or nothing for me.

I have no doubt that in 6 or 12 months AWJ will be in better form than he is now but if there was a Lions test tomorrow he wouldn't be in my 23.

Telegraph has 2 scots in the touring party.

Nell + Hogg

Can't disagree on the summer tests.

Think if England keep going the way they are they will dominate the lions with a few from the other nations

whatisthejava wrote:Telegraph has 2 scots in the touring party.

Nell + Hogg

Think if England keep going the way they are they will dominate the lions with a few from the other nations

Why not ask the lifers in Broadmoor to put a team together. Be about as well thought through as a twatgraph article.

Hogg's gone off the boil again though. Brilliant in the 6N & for a wee bit at Glasgow afterwards. God-awful at the tail end of the season & poor on tour. Would not be taking him on that form.

The reality is as things stand on most recent evidence there shouldn't be too many Scots on tour. The same way that post 6N on form then I thought we'd have a few.

The players will need big AI/6N and European performances.

Interestingly Graham Henry has taken up a short term role at Leinster. Henry for the Lions??

Apparently WG, VC and JS all in line for interviews for the top job.

Big D wrote:Apparently WG, VC and JS all in line for interviews for the top job.

Cotter and Schmidt worry me, Gatland doesn't.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:Hogg's gone off the boil again though. Brilliant in the 6N & for a wee bit at Glasgow afterwards. God-awful at the tail end of the season & poor on tour. Would not be taking him on that form.

It's not unheard of for player to be absolute piss for their domestic team, and then to switch on in national colours. If he kicks half as much ass in the 2017 6Ns as he did this year, then he should be in the squad.

Gatland again by the looks of things. Even if we have a good 6N I expect Hogg and maybe one more token Scot will be in the squad.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/ ... ew-zealand

Chunks Baws wrote:Gatland again by the looks of things. Even if we have a good 6N I expect Hogg and maybe one more token Scot will be in the squad.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/ ... ew-zealand

Won`t break my heart.. Lions tours are notoriously attritional..
Quite happy to let the Welsh/Irish/English arrange orthopaedic surgery for their top players (we don`t have so many.) when they get back from NZ..

Like Tobe says, I wouldn't be too upset at a lack of Scots. Realistically, we're still a long way behind the others, plus the Lions are going to get man-shamed the length and breadth of NZ. Supporting them from Scotland with no Scots in the test team will actually be kinda fun.

Chunks Baws wrote:Gatland again by the looks of things. Even if we have a good 6N I expect Hogg and maybe one more token Scot will be in the squad.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/ ... ew-zealand

If there was ever an appointment to make me support the opposition... Hopefully there are no Scots and the lions get pumped.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:

Chunks Baws wrote:Gatland again by the looks of things. Even if we have a good 6N I expect Hogg and maybe one more token Scot will be in the squad.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/ ... ew-zealand

If there was ever an appointment to make me support the opposition... Hopefully there are no Scots and the lions get pumped.

I personally wouldn't go that far, but I don't think you'll be alone.