Robshaw for Lions Captain?

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The guy is immense, a true leader of men.

He has to be in pole position for the Lions captaincy, no one else can touch him on current form IMO.

Warbuton, Tipuric, Lydiate, Faletau, Heaslip, O'Brien, Ferris, Rennie, Brown, Croft and Haskell will all be competing for 6 or 7 spots.

Denton, Barclay, maybe Beattie, Strockosh

Barclay, Beattie and Strockosh are not even close to good enough to make it on tour for the Lions. Denton may well go though if he can back up his 6N's form.

I'd give it to Paul O'Connell, or Ian Evans myself.

The only certs for the back row on the lions tour for me are O'Brien, Warburton, Rennie and Denton.

Looseheaded wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:Has a national captain ever not been in the Lions squad, (barring injury)?

Ryan Jones 09 I think

Phil de Glanville in 1997.

In fact I would love to see an Edinburgh style back row for the Lions! Just replace Talei with O'Brien.

The captain will be decided months from now, based on who's fit and will definitely make the plane and hopefully on form also. I expect every country's skipper will be in contention and their respective track records will help decide the frontrunners for the role. For instance if the tour was starting next week I'd say the favourites would have to be O'Driscoll and Warburton. O'Connell is imo better in an unofficial leadership role or as vice-captain, didn't impress me with the armband in 2009 or lately as Ireland skipper.

I know, an honest and straight-forward response on a thread meant for wumming, ain't I the worst?

If Rennie keeps playing the way he is, will Warburton be starting? Rennie is actually challenging SH teams here.

If Ross Rennie stays injury free he will be in the number 7 shirt for the lions. He is by far the best talent at 7 in the northern hemisphere and is on par with Pocock and not too far behind McCaw.
Rennie would have many more caps by now if it hadn't been for his knee injury about 3 years ago which pretty much kept him out the game for 2 years, he will just get better and better with the more games he plays.

rodders wrote:

Looseheaded wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:Has a national captain ever not been in the Lions squad, (barring injury)?

Ryan Jones 09 I think

Phil de Glanville in 1997.

Borthwick and Kellock in 09?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:If Rennie keeps playing the way he is, will Warburton be starting? Rennie is actually challenging SH teams here.

Completely agree. The Lions will need strong specialist options at 7, and I think all of Warburton, Rennie and SOB (covering the entire back row) will go. with the starting slot going on form. In my opinion, at 7, I'd pick Rennie were the Lions playing tomorrow (with either SOB or Lydiate at 6, and if fit, Ferris would also tour for me).

Despite recent form, I just think that Robshaw is up against some real class at both 6 and 7. Great standbye option though.

If Ross Rennie stays injury free he will be in the number 7 shirt for the lions. He is by far the best talent at 7 in the northern hemisphere and is on par with Pocock and not too far behind McCaw.

That's debatable as I personally rate Pocock as a better 7 than McCaw at present. An advantage in youth and stamina maybe but so far has also led his country like a seasoned pro and is at the breakdowns more quickly and frequently than McCaw.

Rennie is on sizzling form obviously, imo ahead of Warbs currently but then Sam has spent most of the year injured so it's hard to fairly compare. And it's still premature to say he WILL wear 7 for the Lions if he stays injury-free. His form might drop even if he does stay fit and with Warburton, Robshaw, Tipuric and O'Brien to contend with nothing is certain regarding the openside berth at this point.

O'Brien will go as a utility option. As I said, I hope Denton starts at 6 with Rennie at 7. O'Brien at 8.

Dylan Hartley wouldn't be a bad bet.

I bet if he was offered it he'd bite your hand off!

You'd play Denton (an 8) at 6, and O'Brien (a 6 really) at 8?

Back to the OP - I don't think Robshaw will be Lions captain.

I'm still undecided about number 8 if I'm being honest.

6. Lydiate and Ferris (Croft standbye)

7. Rennie and Warburton (Robshaw standbye)

Utility - SOB.

The above I'm pretty certain on.

8 - Two from Falatau, Denton, Haskell, Beattie, Morgan or Heaslip.

Tough call. With SOB as utility Haskell probably doesn't make it, but form could easily convince me otherwise. Number 8 will be a tough call.

He's got a chance. Depends how the remaining tests/AIs/6N go.

RDW_Scotland wrote:You'd play Denton (an 8) at 6, and O'Brien (a 6 really) at 8?

Back to the OP - I don't think Robshaw will be Lions captain.

O'Brien plays everywhere, I have no idea where he is best. Denton plays at 6 with Rennie at 7 for Edinburgh, in fact he has played more at 6. Talei plays at 8. Having O'Brien play at 8 would be a very similar style of back row to the one Edinburgh play with.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'm still undecided about number 8 if I'm being honest.

6. Lydiate and Ferris (Croft standbye)

7. Rennie and Warburton (Robshaw standbye)

Utility - SOB.

The above I'm pretty certain on.

8 - Two from Falatau, Denton, Haskell, Beattie, Morgan or Heaslip.

Tough call. With SOB as utility Haskell probably doesn't make it, but form could easily convince me otherwise. Number 8 will be a tough call.

I think Denton has to go. Seriously, that kid has real talent. One of my favourite players to emerge this year.

Knowsit17 wrote:

If Ross Rennie stays injury free he will be in the number 7 shirt for the lions. He is by far the best talent at 7 in the northern hemisphere and is on par with Pocock and not too far behind McCaw.

That's debatable as I personally rate Pocock as a better 7 than McCaw at present. An advantage in youth and stamina maybe but so far has also led his country like a seasoned pro and is at the breakdowns more quickly and frequently than McCaw.

Rennie is on sizzling form obviously, imo ahead of Warbs currently but then Sam has spent most of the year injured so it's hard to fairly compare. And it's still premature to say he WILL wear 7 for the Lions if he stays injury-free. His form might drop even if he does stay fit and with Warburton, Robshaw, Tipuric and O'Brien to contend with nothing is certain regarding the openside berth at this point.

Rennie is one of these types of players who's form never seems to drop, watched him for a good few years now and never once seen him have a bad game. Despite his sizzling form just now I reckon he is probably only at about 80% of his potential and the next couple of years he will get better. At the moment he still isn't able to train as much as the other players but is gradually allowed to train more and more so with the added training that will only enhance his performances.

When I was talking about McCaw I was meaning at his peak which i should have made clearer but i genuinely think Rennie isn't far behind off that sort of form.

Rennie outplayed Pocock this week.

I'd have Robshaw at 6 - Warbs at 7. Play left and right rather than Blind and Open. Could be fun!

Lydiate was the reason Aus didn't have a 30 point lead on the weekend, IMO the best welsh player out there, and near MOTM!!! He is like a bullet out of the blocks and drops every man stone dead. I Rennie had a Lydiate alongside him he'd look even better!

Warbs is struggling a bit and looks rusty right now, but then so did plenty of Welsh players so lets hope they come on a bit next sat.

I thought Robshaw was good on sat but is still a mile behind Rennie and Warbs at 7, Lydiate Ferris Croft at 6. Too many players can offer what he does and then some.

On the form of the first matches played this last week Robshawe was definitely one of the best NH forwards.
Still to early to contemplate first team players and therefor captain.

He was good, but Rennie and Barclay did a fantastic job against the best 7 in the world!

The best forwards of the week have to come from the scots who, after seeing Wales dominated at the breakdown really performed exceedingly well!!

thebluesmancometh wrote:He was good, but Rennie and Barclay did a fantastic job against the best 7 in the world!

The best forwards of the week have to come from the scots who, after seeing Wales dominated at the breakdown really performed exceedingly well!!

Indeed in a game of foarwards against forwards the scots won. Rennie / Strockosh and Barclay were immense. Pocock was played out of the game

TJ, the back-row debate has been taking place here: https://www.606v2.com/t30796-will-gatland-restore-karma-equilibrium-and-right-the-wrong-of-clive-woodward#1302222. Lydiate and Strockosh unluckily just missed out on my list.

Nah, Ryan jones captain

You'll see...

The Lions back row competition is ridiculous, as is the competition for back rows across the globe. Guessing which back rowers will tour at this point is totally futile. As for captain, I think it won't be a national captain or a backrower. Maybe POC if he hits form again?

At the moment it certainly wouldn't be Robshaw as he is not fully proven at international level (as player, never mind captain.) However by next year I suspect it will be between him and Warburton, and probably dependent on 6N results.