My prediction...

I was thinking about the Lions last night, how the nations involved fans see the tour, and how it must look to an outsider. Then I started to think about what it means to Gatland and what it is he is trying to get out of it.

One thing crossed my mind and I don't think anyone can argue, he's taking the Lions to Oz to do one thing and one thing only... WIN.

So if winning is the only thought on Gatlands mind, how does he go about doing so?

• Does he ensure all nations are represented well?
  
  

Does he pick the best players in every position?

• Does he select the best units available?
  
  

Or does he perform the old 13 Osprey trick??? His first game with Wales proved tough, he had no time to work with the squad, couldn't change the system, couldn't bring in new players to be cohesive, so what did he do? Selected 13 Ospreys and played to a very familiar Osprey gameplan, and it worked pretty well.

Will Gatland see this tour as too short to bring 4 different nationalities of top quality players together? If he does (and lets be honest that is one of the biggest challenges the lions face) then does anyone else think that Wales winning the 6N and that thrashing given to England is Gatlands excuse to take a huge amount of Welsh players mixed with the best of the rest type scenario? or maybe the test team will be such?

I'm not saying it's right or wrong but IMHO there are a few positions where Wales may actually have an argument for 2 players such as LH, 7, 12 and hooker.

Thoughts...

It is an interesting thought, what is the schedule though?

Are there any midweek matches in preperation before the first test, in other words does he have time to get the players to gel?

Also is the bolter tradition an absolute must for Gatland?

12 Bluesman? Scott Williams?

Remind me of the bolter thing. Is it an uncapped player or a low cap player???

Schedule Biltong:
6 matches before the third test. Its possible no Wallabies nor sxv players will play any of the non tests though. Scary thought when Oz have little depth anyway. Wont help the Lions if that happens:

Sat 1 Jun
BARBARIANS V BRITISH & IRISH LIONS Hong Kong Stadium
Wed 5 Jun
WESTERN FORCE V BRITISH & IRISH LIONS Patersons Stadium
Sat 8 Jun
QUEENSLAND REDS V BRITISH & IRISH LIONS Suncorp Stadium
Tue 11 Jun
COMB NSW-QUEENSLAND V BRITISH & IRISH LIONS Hunter Stadium
Sat 15 Jun
NSW WARATAHS V BRITISH & IRISH LIONS Sydney Football Stadium
Tue 18 Jun
ACT BRUMBIES V BRITISH & IRISH LIONS Canberra Stadium
Sat 22 Jun
AUSTRALIA V BRITISH & IRISH LIONS Suncorp Stadium
Tue 25 Jun
MELBOURNE V BRITISH & IRISH LIONS AAMI Park
Sat 29 Jun
AUSTRALIA V BRITISH & IRISH LIONS Etihad Stadium
Sat 6 Jul
AUSTRALIA V BRITISH & IRISH LIONS ANZ Stadium

Cheers taylorman, I guess that answers the question, there should be more than enough time to test combinations.

Ye there is time to test combo's and see who gels, and I'm sure he will do that, but taking a tried and tested core of players would reduce the risk of still being uncertain come test 1.

Griff - 12 was a bit of an awkward area, with no real outstanding players, but I think the runners are Scott, Baritt, Roberts with the likes of BOD as an option or Williams/Hook.

Also ye the bolter tradition, not sure if it's an actual tradition, or just something undertaken by many, but it's normally an uncapped player isn't it? ie Earls.

Cheers a Bluesman.

Yeah, I guess 12 is a bit of a problem position for the Lions. No real stand outs now I think of it. Almost as if Roberts is a default, but isn't exactly setting the world on fire in attack. Hopefully the Lions bring something different out in him like last time.

Got a feeling Earls was capped, but only just capped. In that case, maybe someone like Wade, or is he capped? The players play so many internationals these days that, compared to relative new comers of the past who may only have played 1 or 2 games in their 1st year in international rugby, nowadays might have played 12 in a year and be classed as a bit of an international veteran! Thinking Visser might be classed as 'new' but has a fair few caps now for a newcomer.

I know Wade played against the Baa baa's but not 100% that that is a full cap. Probably is.

From what I know only Wales see baabaa games as full caps

thebluesmancometh wrote:I know Wade played against the Baa baa's but not 100% that that is a full cap. Probably is.

No , England Doesn't view games against Invitational teams as full tests. Like the majority of the rugby world.