The 606v2 Lions Selection Blindside Flanker

Alright guys!

I figured we could get this going to give us a bit of a heads up on the general consensus of opinions for Lions Test shirts. We'll have a starting XV in no time BUT I am going to leave vote cancelling on so people can change their minds over the next 8 days or so.

Keep the debate honest and punch above the belt.  

ps: remember this is not a prediction, it is a "who would YOU select" poll.

Lydiate
Offers massive defense and while he hasn't been great on this tour so far when it comes to harder games (oh they are a-coming) his chop tackle ability may be very valuable. That being said, he has offered very little else, he hasn't been great at lineout, has carried poorly (against weak opposition) and hasn't affected many turnovers. 

Croft
Is a completely different option. He plays in the wide channels where he brings excellent dynamism, a fantastic range of skills and impressive decision making. He is also an excellent lineout option. However he may not be tough enough in the forward exchanges, how often do we see Croft rolling up his sleeves and sorting through the poop? -not very often. If you are looking for athleticism though, he has it in spades.

O'Brien
Can play right across the backrow but the majority would say he is a 6. His ball carrying is exceptionally destructive, he is underrated on the floor at winning ball but does give away a few too many penalties. He also has demonstrated excellent handling be it short, quick passes against Combined Country or longer skip passes against Western Force. Noticed in the 6N game vs Wales he made 19 tackles.

Waurburton
The captain has not started well and needs a big game on Saturday. He is a good all rounder, he tackles hard and for the most part efficiently, eh is good at the breakdown and quite often is first there due to his pace and awareness. He is a fair carrier and has been cited as a very effective leader too. His injury has not helped his case and losing his spot in the 6N has contributed to the security of his name in the first 15.


Ok guys get the debate started and get the votes coming in. 
Much love.
Buachaill

This is all about combo's & Dean Ryan made a great case for SOB and Tipuric (my picks sorry to spoil the next thread for anyone).

SOB stayed close to the breakdown ready to be 1st reciever and thunder down the field breaking the gainline all the while Tip's was in the backline ready to be the link man and provide an extra guy for the overlap.

These 2 play off each other's strengths and weaknesses so well, it's a no brainer for me.

Tipuric is a good turnover guy and is more athletic and quicker around the park than Warbs and SOB is a better carrier than Lydiate and I don't think with the tight 5 we have picked we'll need Lydiate's supposed amazing tackling since Gray and POC don't shy away from tackling duties.

I'm with you on that Rugger. I think SOB and Tipuric will work so well together then if you put in an 8 who is good in the lineout (  ) then it's pretty well balanced.

Tipuric is what Ireland is missing to make their backrow tick IMO. 

SOB is good because he can carry 5 metres from the ruck or 20 metres from the ruck he is so effective at both, add in that 19 tackle work rate and good skills at the breakdown and he simply has to be selected

Croft for me. I know he gets accused of not doing the nitty gritty that a 6 should do, but I think that's nonsense to be honest. His skillset is different to SOB for sure, but he is still a very effective international 6. He would be in my starting pack, as I would want to put real pressure on the Aussie lineout. Whilst we would all love to see Barbarian style champagne rugby the reality is that this could be a tight affair with whoever can dominate in the set pice getting a real platform.



4. Gray 5. O'Connell 6. Croft means that we can put the Aussies in the own 22 and really attack their lineout, which can go awry under pressure. Croft is also a good carrier on hard ground and is good at the breakdown. He also has the pace and athleticism to to be a real nuisance defensively. He's my starting blindside for next Saturday.



Here endeth the case for Tom Croft.

We have to take the game to Australia so Croft it is.

Croft for lineout.
SOB for carrying.
Lydiate for tackling.

Heaslip is already a good lineout player and SOB is far more rounded than Lydiate or Croft. He's the best 6 we have IMO but I would also consider Warburton at 6.

I agree with Losty on this one. SOB is much more well rounded than the pair of Lydiate and Croft.

I understand that Croft is a valuable lineout option however, but if you have Heaslip in the team he can fulfill this role very nicely. 

It looks like we have chosen a pretty big pack to be honest so I think that more a less rules out Lydiate who would need to be able to contribute elsewhere

O'Brien has put in the best performances so far, so deserves it. He can also tackle as much as and as well as Lydiate, but is also good at the breakdown and freakishly good at ball carrying.

Bit of an all rounder Feckless

Croft

None of the options can attack the oppositions lineout like Croft. Heaslip is a very capable lineout operator on own ball, but we need to disrupt the Aus lineout. Croft is head and shoulders above anyone else at this.

He is also the same as having a third wing in the side not just in attack , his speed allows him to cover defensively and make tackles no other forward could get to.

Richie Gray is pretty adept at disrupting opposition lineouts. I would say guys like SOB and Tipuric would offer more around the park than Croft.

When you say you gain a winger one could argue that you lose a blindside flanker.

Someone raised a great point in another thread - that when someone is really good in one or more areas they tend to get too much criticism for other aspects of their game.

Croft is very good in most aspects of his play and truly exceptional in a couple (i.e. line outs and his pace/engine). Much the same debate occurred in SA 4 years ago - there was an assumption that he wasnt physical enough (Something that went right up to coaching level) but he more than proved himself and was one of the successes of the tour.

He isnt SOB - who at the end of the day is another one-off with some exceptional skills. But then he does things that SOB can only dream of. It all comes down to balance in the pack. Both are exceptional talents.