Tuilagi

First topic message reminder :

Have to say, I am a little worried about taking Tuilagi on the Lions now.

This weekend Leicester had almost all the ball, and he was totally anonymous.

If he can not impose himself on a game with 60-70% possession, and it totally outplayed by his own team mate in center - who made countless line breaks and looked dangerous - I do start to worry

I'd gamble on Twelvetrees Tuilagi as my Lions centre combination.

They'll bring out the best in each other.

Roberts / Tuilagi should be given a go in training etc.

Then thank God you aren't the Lions selector

munkian wrote:Then thank God you aren't the Lions selector

Care to elaborate?

With Tuilagi at 13 (some would say whoever you have at 13) you need a footballer at 12 in my opinion and Twelvetrees fits that bill better than Roberts.

Twelvetrees is quicker, has better pass and a better boot than Roberts.

Roberts is a terrific player but would be better suited to partnering a more elusive 13 perhaps.

A case could be made for Roberts BOD circa 2009 obviously, Roberts JD2 works ok, Roberts

But less so Roberts Tuilagi.

We do have issues in the centres.

JD2 ? Scot Williams ? Both have more International experience than 12 trees ? I think Billy needs to go on the Pumas tour to get more caps.

munkian wrote:JD2 ? Scot Williams ? Both have more International experience than 12 trees ? I think Billy needs to go on the Pumas tour to get more caps.

Think Twelvetress will go to Argentina rather than Aus but inside centre could well be a position that Gatland springs a surprise as I don't think there's a dead cert other than Roberts and some would prefer a different type of centre to compliment the liekly 13s along with him.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

munkian wrote:JD2 ? Scot Williams ? Both have more International experience than 12 trees ? I think Billy needs to go on the Pumas tour to get more caps.

Think Twelvetress will go to Argentina rather than Aus but inside centre could well be a position that Gatland springs a surprise as I don't think there's a dead cert other than Roberts and some would prefer a different type of centre to compliment the liekly 13s along with him.

Think Billy 36 has more experience at 12 than JD2.

Incidentally if he has had any game time there at all recently and shown form i'd like to see James Hook at 12 also.

36 has very little international experience, would rather England experiment with him and break him in than do a 'what if' on a Lions tour.

If Lancaster doesn't put his trust in him why should Gatland ?

munkian wrote:36 has very little international experience, would rather England experiment with him and break him in than do a 'what if' on a Lions tour.

If Lancaster doesn't put his trust in him why should Gatland ?

Yeah i got that. The answer is that Lancaster has been too conservative there.

Gats now should take the risk.

Selection all round has been far too conservative.

The aussies will blood one or two against us and they only get a shot every 12 years munkian. theyre sitting at no.2 in the rankings and it does not seem to do them any harm.

I'll tell you munkian what the bigger risk is.....

The bigger risk is to take the insane option.

The insane option is to do what you have always done and expect a different result.

If Galtand tries to make us Wales + we will lose just like wales have done repeatedly.

THe 12 spot and the centre combination will define this tour. It is crucial and we are looking a little mother hubbard especially at 12.

Triangulation wrote:The insane option is to do what you have always done and expect a different result.

If Galtand tries to make us Wales + we will lose just like wales have done repeatedly.

Considering how narrowly Wales have lost to the Wallabies in the last few matches, surely making the Lions 'Wales +' is precisely what Gatland should do?

Nope, we are mentaly fragile now, unlike the grand slam winning English players...

munkian wrote:Nope, we are metaly fragile now, unlike the grand slam winning English players...

God I'm slow today! Thought by your location you were English but you're Welsh? Your posts make more sense to me now.

N.B. My suggestion about 'Wales +' was tongue in cheek.

Yes, I'm, clearly wumming, my Newport Gwent Dragons Icon is just a cunning ruse.

There was alot of talk from the England camp before they Grand Slam decider that the Welsh boys lacked the mental fortitude to win the game.

Yet, shock and horror - it was completely the other way round. Instead of using the very near win over Italy as a wake up call they just thought turning up would be enough, and it wasn't.

The English squad always gets called 'young' in the press- the Welsh squad are on average a year older, its just we showed some faith in them when they were even younger and are therefore more experienced.

Sorry for not recognising Newport Gwent Dragons!

Missed the talk from the England camp so I'll take your word for it. Would agree that England are slow in debuting players though. It is changing under Lancaster though. I also think that it was more down to Wales outplaying us and us failing to adapt than us handing it to Wales but if you insist!

I didn't say you handed it us, putting words in my mouth there me old china.

Lancaster is still slow in trusting new faces though, he stuck with Ashton and played people out of position instead of giving players like Wade a run.

lol, fair enough.

Think he's ok trusting new faces but the problem he faced for me is that he needs to injects lots of new blood and build strength practically from scratch. My feeling is he didn't want to debut too many people at once but gradually introduce them. Think we would have seen debuts (proper ones) for Burns and Vunipola if not for injuries. Wingers will come this summer tour and autumn.