B&I Lions 2017

[mariner4life]

@taniwharugby yea i was agreeing with you! and expanding a little. you know, continuing the conversation

[taniwharugby]

@mariner4life can't always tell round this place

[MajorPom]

Jeeze, it's going to be a long year ahead on TSF isn't it!

Gatland's comments are nothing on what's going to come.

[Stargazer]

Joe Schmidt rules out joining Lions set-up

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2016/1111/830801-schimdt-rules-out-joining-lions-set-up/

[infidel]

Some team selections from the Times today.

Interestingly not much love for Hartley as hooker.

Owen Slot

Ben Kay

Stuart Barnes

Alex Lowe

John Westerby

Alistair Reid

ABs are 1/5 on with William Hill to win the series, Lions 7/2

http://sports.williamhill.com/bet/en-gb/betting/e/9056377/British%2B%2526%2BIrish%2BLions%2BTour%2B2017%2B%252d%2BSeries%2BWinner.html

Those teams don't strike much fear into me as an AB fan :slight_smile:

[KiwiMurph]

Not sure of the logic behind having Sexton and Farrell at 10/12. Farrell is an excellent goal kicker but is that really needed with Sexton there, and the attack could really suffer.

A lot of selections of George North too - in his current state I don't know about that.

[Bones]

Reid seems the most onto it...at least as far as loosies go. The rest, the forward packs look like an 8 selected to be walked over.

[antipodean]

@Bones Barnes and Lowe obviously don't know what a backrow should do.

I don't know why everyone is picking Sexton either - he's as frail as players come.

And Henshaw is much better than Farrell.

[KiwiMurph]

@antipodean Who would you select at 10 for the Lions?

[taniwharugby]

@KiwiMurph the shit appears to be hitting the fan over North getting back on the field...apparently he passed the sideline tests, but had the Doctors had access to the video of him being out cold they would not have let him back on the field...how long was his nap?

[antipodean]

@KiwiMurph I think the NH is really starting to develop players with a proper range of skills and without a player like Ford leading them around I don't think they'll play the total game necessary to win a series against the All Blacks.

[Catogrande]

Latest on the coaching front has Borthwick, Farrell and Howley as assistants.

I'm hoping that the inclusion of Howley doesn't mean reversion to Warrenball.

[Catogrande]

@KiwiMurph said in B&I Lions 2017:

@antipodean Who would you select at 10 for the Lions?

It will greatly depend on the gameplan that Gatland goes for. If he reverts to mean then Sexton or Biggar will be at 10 - possibly Farrell as an outside bet. If he wants to play a more expansive style then I'd say Sexton is still in the box seat, marginally ahead of Ford. However, as has been said, Sexton is looking quite fragile these days so don't expect him to last the tour. Sexton is the more complete 10, able to play a variety of game plans to a high standard and his control of a game is superior to the others. The flair players are Russell and Ford but given Gatland's dislike for anything much more than "do as you're told" I don't expect them to be test contenders.

[Crucial]

There were also some pundit selections in the Sunday Times (firewalled I think) which included one from Stephen Jones who demonstrated his complete lack of selection ability having players out of position and a large contingent of Welsh.

Edit: found a post on another website with a photo of the selections

[Derm McCrum]

@antipodean said in B&I Lions 2017:

@Tim said in B&I Lions 2017:

Oh yeah, anyone could do what Henry did. Sure.

That's why we've got every RWC:

So that's what the Bloodyslow Cup looks like. Always wondered if it was real.

[gollum]

@Crucial

All of those forward packs are fricking great. A little slow maybe, but not too bad & any combo with Itoje at 6 will be a staggeringly tough lineout to beat (ie 2 great locks & him jumping too).

On the plus side, given the schedule there is zero chance they wil be able to still pick their 1st choice 15 by the second test. But that 1st test could be tough.

[Crucial]

It will come down to tactics and execution. The right tactics to starve us of as much ball as possible (although a firing AB side has proven it can still win against this style) and the execution needs to be near perfect under pressure to not cough up turnovers.
That takes care of restricting/ frustrating the ABs but then you need to work out how to create tries (without undue risk taking)

[gollum]

@Crucial

Presure can do that tho' England scored 2 tries v Aussie on the weekend by forcing them to play under presure, same deal when the Irish made us pass the ball backwards to Savea in Chicago. That Lions pack will out a massive amount of presure on leaving zero safe "out".

That said I'd expect the ABNs to beat them 2nd test & fricking thrash them 3rd.

Also what are the chances those 15's are actually fit to get on the plane. Every squad I've seen has Tuilagi in it on the bench. HA!

[Stargazer]

Confirmed: Steve Borthwick (England), Andy Farrell (Ireland) and Rob Howley (Wales) announced by Head Coach Warren Gatland as the 2017 Lions Coaching Team

http://www.lionsrugby.com/news/warren-gatland-announces-coaching-team-15159#.WEgEurJ96Ul

[gollum]

@Stargazer

So they will have Englands lineout, Irelands choke defence & Wales ability to land on your face get knocked out & jump back up again.