Lions

[no sleep]

Awesome.

Have to say, watching the last game, team's called the Highlanders, they get piped on to the pitch, coach is called Scott MacLeod, their version of the haka involves passing over a claymore - I was wondering who to support.

[Spiffy]

Fantastic. They are completely unraveling. Look at them bicker so.

The tour unravelled the moment Gatland announced his squad. Too many passengers who don't have the skill or speed to beat the ABs and who have done nothing to warrant selection. Some pundits in the NH raved that this was about the strongest Lions squad ever. I'd call it one of the weakest and among the most poorly-coached. Several (but by no means all) of the forwards are competitive, but most of the backs would not get a game for a Super Rugby team since they can't run, step, pass or tackle and just look like journeymen plodders with no gas or flair. Sadly - the squad selected by the ultra dull Gatland does not represent the best of British/Irish rugby.

[Mikey Brown]

Fantastic. They are completely unraveling. Look at them bicker so.

The tour unravelled the moment Gatland announced his squad. Too many passengers who don't have the skill or speed to beat the ABs and who have done nothing to warrant selection. Some pundits in the NH raved that this was about the strongest Lions squad ever. I'd call it one of the weakest and among the most poorly-coached. Several (but by no means all) of the forwards are competitive, but most of the backs would not get a game for a Super Rugby team since they can't run, step, pass or tackle and just look like journeymen plodders with no gas or flair. Sadly - the squad selected by the ultra dull Gatland does not represent the best of British/Irish rugby.

It's a beautiful pairing with the coaching style you mentioned, where most of the really talented flair players in there have looked pretty crap / out of place, too.

[whatisthejava]

Fantastic. They are completely unraveling. Look at them bicker so.

The tour unravelled the moment Gatland announced his squad. Too many passengers who don't have the skill or speed to beat the ABs and who have done nothing to warrant selection. Some pundits in the NH raved that this was about the strongest Lions squad ever. I'd call it one of the weakest and among the most poorly-coached. Several (but by no means all) of the forwards are competitive, but most of the backs would not get a game for a Super Rugby team since they can't run, step, pass or tackle and just look like journeymen plodders with no gas or flair. Sadly - the squad selected by the ultra dull Gatland does not represent the best of British/Irish rugby.

I think you have nailed the point, the lions have always had a bit of north plod v south flair but this squad is mostly plod.

Imagine this as a lions 9 - 15

Price
Russel
Watson
Slade
Ringrose
Seymore
Hogg

Everyone of those guys is a game changer

Compare to what we have

Murray
Farrell
North
Teo
JD
LW
1/2P

Dont get me wrong im not slagging off Farrell as he is a very good 90% player, just like Sexton

I know which one would scare the all blacks more and it isnt the one of the pitch

But what do you expect from an attack coach that read a book about Chaos rugby but is determined to control his players

[Mikey Brown]

Actually a Baabaa's approach to the Lions would be really interesting. Though that wouldn't stop me selecting Murray etc.

It should be that aiming to maybe, possibly, hopefully grind your way to a narrow win should not be the mindset of novelty tour that is essentially meaningless.

[whatisthejava]

Actually a Baabaa's approach to the Lions would be really interesting. Though that wouldn't stop me selecting Murray etc.

It should be that aiming to maybe, possibly, hopefully grind your way to a narrow win should not be the mindset of novelty tour that is essentially meaningless.

I had Murray in both teams but i do think Price is a bit more dynamic and snipy, Murray is by far the more complete player

[Matt Ha]

“Leigh’s counter-attacking and scoring of tries has improved significantly and that's kind of what we need from a 15,” said Gatland who has opted for....

When was the last time H'penny scored a try in an international?

[Mikey Brown]

What the fuck?

[Lizard]

“Leigh’s counter-attacking and scoring of tries has improved significantly and that's kind of what we need from a 15,” said Gatland who has opted for....

When was the last time H'penny scored a try in an international?

2 February 2013, v Ireland

Halfpenny has 74 caps and 12 tries. As a fullback, it's even worse - 51 caps (50 starts), 4 tries.

The only man ever with 50+ caps at fullback with fewer tries is Tom Kiernan (Ire/Lions, 1960-73) with 59 caps and 2 tries, albeit in an era when fullbacks weren't really expected to score tries (during that time period, no fullback scored more than 4 test tries, and that was a Fijian who scored only against PNG and Solomon Islands).

In the pro-era, no fullback with 26 starts or more has fewer than his 4 tries.

[whatisthejava]

“Leigh’s counter-attacking and scoring of tries has improved significantly and that's kind of what we need from a 15,” said Gatland who has opted for....

When was the last time H'penny scored a try in an international?

Gatland is a snakeoil salesman who will say anything because he knows full well the sycophantic media will never hold him to account because the Lions have managed to create an aaura where any critism of the Lions is seen as some sort of unpatriotic nonsence,

fair play to them well, well ahead of Trump and May

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Actually a Baabaa's approach to the Lions would be really interesting. Though that wouldn't stop me selecting Murray etc.

It should be that aiming to maybe, possibly, hopefully grind your way to a narrow win should not be the mindset of novelty tour that is essentially meaningless.

I had Murray in both teams but i do think Price is a bit more dynamic and snipy, Murray is by far the more complete player

Murray and Webb are the correct choices for scrum half. I really like Price, but he's still pretty green, of all the selections you can give out about, Webb is not one of them.

[Spiffy]

Actually a Baabaa's approach to the Lions would be really interesting. Though that wouldn't stop me selecting Murray etc.

It should be that aiming to maybe, possibly, hopefully grind your way to a narrow win should not be the mindset of novelty tour that is essentially meaningless.

I had Murray in both teams but i do think Price is a bit more dynamic and snipy, Murray is by far the more complete player

Murray and Webb are the correct choices for scrum half. I really like Price, but he's still pretty green, of all the selections you can give out about, Webb is not one of them.

Green or not, Price would have been a better selection than Laidlaw.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

I had Murray in both teams but i do think Price is a bit more dynamic and snipy, Murray is by far the more complete player

Murray and Webb are the correct choices for scrum half. I really like Price, but he's still pretty green, of all the selections you can give out about, Webb is not one of them.

Green or not, Price would have been a better selection than Laidlaw.

Wasn't the point I was as making.

[switchskier]

Toni's is there for his passing ability. He's basically the same player as Hogg, just 80% as good at everything. But he does see the game pretty well and can spot space from full-back. I'm just not sure that he has the players around him to exploit it or the physical attributes to do it himself.

Pleased for Jones though, I'd have him ahead and Hughes and have no problem with him competing with Hoyland. In 18 months time they're going to be behind graham in the pecking order regardless.

[Mikey Brown]

Toni's is there for his passing ability. He's basically the same player as Hogg, just 80% as good at everything. But he does see the game pretty well and can spot space from full-back.

Is he any of those things?

[kk67]

Actually a Baabaa's approach to the Lions would be really interesting. Though that wouldn't stop me selecting Murray etc.

I'd be interested in a Lions team that was picked by the players.

[Mikey Brown]

Err. Which players? Every player from B&I?

[kk67]

They manage to pick their player of the season.

[Mikey Brown]

Who does?

[kk67]

Who does?

Players. You suggested it.

[Chunks Baws]

Owen Slot of The Times reckons Gatland will call up 5-6 players before Tuesday. He's tipping Russell to get a call. He reckons Gatland is 'protecting the test squad from any midweek involvement'.

[Cameo]

That would make some sense. Not sure how I feel about it though. Good experience but kinda feels like you get the downsides (extended season, no rest) but not the chance to force yourself into the tests.

[whatisthejava]

Owen Slot of The Times reckons Gatland will call up 5-6 players before Tuesday. He's tipping Russell to get a call. He reckons Gatland is 'protecting the test squad from any midweek involvement'.

And here is the final SCW esque crap fest, to be clear 12 years later, same blazeratti, same crap coaching selections , same crap gameplan with players not up to much

[whatisthejava]

That would make some sense. Not sure how I feel about it though. Good experience but kinda feels like you get the downsides (extended season, no rest) but not the chance to force yourself into the tests.

They should let him hang and tell him to go Feck himself

[Chunks Baws]

Yep. I'd rather Finn stayed with Scotland. It's convenient Wales are in NZ too. What's the point in it all if you can get a call up just because you're near by? Some Taff journalist was proposing Anscombe for a call up yesterday FFS. And the first taff to comment on Slots tweet wants Sam Davies