Lions wings?

Not Welsh bias but I would have to say North and Cuthbert.

North is a god among mere mortals, Cuthbert is a born finisher.

Ashton can't tackle for love nor money and Bowe may not make it in time.

Zebo if fit... but no wings are looking particularly good..
Ashton has just lost it..

Bit too early for this.

One thing's reasonably certain - Ashton has been playing himself out of a plane ticket for a couple of games now.

I think that Maitland is a bolter.

North
Bowe (if fit)
Otherwise, Zebo/Gilroy/Visser/Cuthbert - The Irish probably have the better defence

pbuk0 wrote:Zebo if fit... but no wings are looking particularly good..
Ashton has just lost it..

Totaly agree with you. about their are no stand out players. But i dont understand how you can include some one like ZEBO, who is injured and may not make in time for selection.

Yes I would definitely take Maitland.

Hopefully Zebo will recover quickly but one decent match vs Wales means nothing.

It wouldn't surprise me if Halfpenny makes it as Lions wing with Hogg at 15.

Based on today's games?

Shane and Ugo Monye.

I think Ashton, Visser and Cuthbert are all weak defensively, however I think both Visser and Cuthbert are good finishers, while Cuthbert is also a better defender than Visser who just looks like he doesn't want to tackle and is almost scared of tackle.
Then you have North, Bowe, Gilroy, Zebo, Maitland and possibly Halfpenny out of position are other viable candidates

Not cuthbert. He is a back rower on the wing, albeit a fast one who can't tackle. North probably but only because he's a big lump. It'll be Maitland ,zebo or halfpenny on the other wing. So they will want something different on the other side.
Ashton is what we in Glasgow would call a complete rocket. No chance.

As good as cuthbert is a runner off a planned move... In reality JD2 made that try in blocking the Italian defence and literally giving him a run in.

His tackling is poor and his positioning is even worse.... If a guy scores 1 try do you still pick him if he lets in 2?

Ashton is out of form at the moment...tackling also terrible.

AUS will kick us to pieces if those guys can't improve.... For all their size north, visser, Ashton, cuthbert aren't half a bunch of Jessie's in defence.

I'd put Zebo on the left and halfpenny on the right with either Kearney, Hogg or Goode at fullback.

Cuthberts defensive isshockingly poor for a guy his size and depending on who you would pick at XV but if its not Halfpenny then I would put him on the wing.

So far this tournament I think standout wingers have been Maitland and cuthbert.. At 11 I'd say either north, zebo or visser have been best.

England may be winning all their games but I think it's their forwards and defence that is doing it for them, brown and Ashton have been okay but nothing amazing.

11. North or visser, zebo gilroy

14. Maitland or cuthbert, halfpenny, Ashton.

Will have to see how Irish and Scotland get on tomorrow but I think wingers should be an all Celtic affair tbh.

Halfpenny on the wing, anyone?

ChequeredJersey wrote:Halfpenny on the wing, anyone?

yup with Hogg at 15

nobbled wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:Halfpenny on the wing, anyone?

yup with Hogg at 15

Yep yep and yep again, unless he's at XV lol

Don't think Halfpenny is going to get the fullback berth but after tomorrow's game that should be a bit clearer. As it stands Hogg has played the best rugby suited to taking on the Aussies. Kearney has not shown much so far but depending on the make up of the rest of the backs he might be needed to steady the ship with his experience.

If Farrell is not at ten then personally I'd find a space for him on the wing. He would not let anyone down and his kicking would be indispensable.

Heuer,

I think he's worth his place regardless of his kicking and its always nice to have two kickers on the field. With Halfpenny you have the added advantage of the long range kick options.

North? Thinks he a tad overated. Scored v france yes, but Cuthbert looks the better all round winger imo. Dunno aboutthe other spot.

Cuthbert scored a nice try, but often looks dreadful, like he's not really sure what sport he's playing.

Breadvan wrote:North? Thinks he a tad overated. Scored v france yes, but Cuthbert looks the better all round winger imo. Dunno aboutthe other spot.

Bread,

I will say again Cuthberts defence is shocking

Ashtons too today. Not good...

Personally I'd have halfpenny on one wing and Maitland on the other with Hogg at 15.
That would be a proper handful for the Aussies.
However Gatland seems to have a liking for great big lumps in the backs and a very physical style of rugby.

For me the best centre partnership has been Twelvetrees and Barrit

Sexton / Farrell at 10

For me Care at 9

Job done.

Forwards are not my speciality.

Halfpenny will start somewhere in the back 3, I think North has done enough to start - then it is Hogg/Bowe/Cuthbert/Zebo/Kearney in that order at the moment.

Heuer27 wrote:Personally I'd have halfpenny on one wing and Maitland on the other with Hogg at 15.
That would be a proper handful for the Aussies.
However Gatland seems to have a liking for great big lumps in the backs and a very physical style of rugby.

For me the best centre partnership has been Twelvetrees and Barrit

Sexton / Farrell at 10

For me Care at 9

Job done.

Forwards are not my speciality.

Heuer,

I agree with you on Gatland liking the bashers in the backs and I can't see a back line without someone in the ilk of Tuilagi, Roberts, North etc.

All these wings are big lumps, monsters with the ball but they're girls in defence. It's not inexperience, it's lack of balls to be frank. Look at gilroy, Zebo and halfpenny... All decent tacklers who get stuck in for wee guys.

Then we have north, visser, cuthbert all 6'4 16st plus and they get bested in defence time and time again although north I would say isn't a coward just not astute as he needs to be for test rugby.

Ashton is not in not the same type or size but is just poor at the moment and will be lucky to travel unless he ups his form in the last 2 games.

Sometimes I yearn for the days of the 5'9 lion wings of underwood and Evans... Both with bags of pace and skill but also an inner steel which made them very good tacklers and no pushovers.

Those 2 would eat this class for breakfast that's for sure.... Sometimes you look back and think... That was a great time for European rugby and for me the 93 lions was the strongest I've ever seen despite the loss.

I hate to say it - because there are issues and its not his best position but Brown is beginning to win me over. He is incredibly hard to put down for his size and utterly safe under the high ball. By the end of the tournament I wouldnt be surprised if he has carried further than anyone

Heuer27 wrote:Don't think Halfpenny is going to get the fullback berth but after tomorrow's game that should be a bit clearer. As it stands Hogg has played the best rugby suited to taking on the Aussies. Kearney has not shown much so far but depending on the make up of the rest of the backs he might be needed to steady the ship with his experience.

If Farrell is not at ten then personally I'd find a space for him on the wing. He would not let anyone down and his kicking would be indispensable.

Farrell is the least instinctive back in the 6N, which is fine for a 10 who needs to follow a plan, but totally alien for a wing who has to react to what's around him.

Hogg and WeeLee are currently in pole. Tuiliagi should be considered for a wing berth as his passing isn't great for a centre, and he could cut some good lines coming in from the touchline.

Bedford

I agree that Gatland will find space for his bashers which is why I included North initially.
Maitland , Halfpenny and Hogg have gas ,guile and a decent defence which I think is a better mix to take on the Aussies who are not monsters and know how to defend the crash ball merchants that Wales seem to have in abundance at the moment.
I'm discounting the injured guys at the moment until they prove their fitness.

Depends on who else goes. I quite like having two fullbacks in the back three so Hogg at fullback with Halfpenny or Kearney on the left wing with an out-and-out finisher, e.g. Cuthbert, North or Ashton if he regains form, could work. Obviously Robbie Deans's selections are less predictable than the lottery but it wasn't long ago that the Wallabies had four stand-offs in the back-line.

Does Kearney ever play wing? Wouldn't Kearney 15 and Hogg wing, where he has played, make more sense?

Aukster I was talking about Halfpenny on the wing if Farrell doesn't get the 10 shirt.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Does Kearney ever play wing? Wouldn't Kearney 15 and Hogg wing, where he has played, make more sense?

As far as I'm aware, Hogg has never played wing. I've certainly never seen him play there for Glasgow. He's had about 30% of his game time at 13 but most people agree that he is better at fullback. Kearney gained his first five or ten caps on the wing.

I stand corrected

Hogg Maitland Zebo. surely the form back 3 so far?

TJ wrote:Hogg Maitland Zebo. surely the form back 3 so far?

Halfpenny has 2 MOTM awards from the last 2 games. Not sure what your definition of form is, but...

wales606 wrote:

TJ wrote:Hogg Maitland Zebo. surely the form back 3 so far?

Halfpenny has 2 MOTM awards from the last 2 games. Not sure what your definition of form is, but...

Was Halfpenny MOTM today?

11. Halfpenny
14. Bowe (touch wood)
15. Kearney (ok not on form, but that'll come sooner rather than later IMO)

1/2 must play but I do not want him on the wing.

TJ wrote:Hogg Maitland Zebo. surely the form back 3 so far?

Zebos only played once.

ChequeredJersey wrote:

wales606 wrote:

TJ wrote:Hogg Maitland Zebo. surely the form back 3 so far?

Halfpenny has 2 MOTM awards from the last 2 games. Not sure what your definition of form is, but...

Was Halfpenny MOTM today?

Yes.

Griff wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:

wales606 wrote:

TJ wrote:Hogg Maitland Zebo. surely the form back 3 so far?

Halfpenny has 2 MOTM awards from the last 2 games. Not sure what your definition of form is, but...

Was Halfpenny MOTM today?

Yes.

Ooh, good more fantasy points for me

Me too!

Me 3

Quatre

me 5

Pretty much everyone must have 1/2p in their team

wales606 wrote:Halfpenny will start somewhere in the back 3, I think North has done enough to start - then it is Hogg/Bowe/Cuthbert/Zebo/Kearney in that order at the moment.

How can you say Bowe? As he even played a game this season? Same with Zebo he is out injured at yet keeps getting picked for the Lions with out having any game time.

At the minute on form, the back three would be 15. Hogg 14. Maitland 11. Halfpenny.

Lethal in attack, solid under the high ball and won't shirk a tackle. Gilroy, Brown and Zebo to tour as well as the best of the rest.

North, Cuthbert, Visser and Ashton have all been poor compared to the others, especially the Welsh wings, who've been shown up in defence on a number of occasions now. Cuthbert especially seems to have regressed from last year.

Cuthbert can finish but as others have said his positioning and defence are terrible. Kearney , North and Halpenny for me. I still think HalfP is a better winger than fullback despite his MotM awards.

Cuthbert's positional defence is poor, but he tackles well. I don't know where the idea that North's defence is poor came from.

UlstermaninGlasgow wrote:At the minute on form, the back three would be 15. Hogg 14. Maitland 11. Halfpenny.

Lethal in attack, solid under the high ball and won't shirk a tackle. Gilroy, Brown and Zebo to tour as well as the best of the rest.

North, Cuthbert, Visser and Ashton have all been poor compared to the others, especially the Welsh wings, who've been shown up in defence on a number of occasions now. Cuthbert especially seems to have regressed from last year.

In 3 games North and Cuthbert have missed 1 tackle each, Gilroy has missed 3 tackles in 2 games and Maitland has missed 2.