Lions 2017: It begins... with a fixture list

Friends, the day we've dreaded and anticipated has arrived. The Lions 2017 build-up has officially begun. Don't cringe or dread this moment, stand up to it like an impending wave, run head-long into this moment while shouting "I will not be a-feared!"

We have a fixture list, and it's a doozie:


In between the tests, the buildup matches, the hype, the songs, the slow-motion Sky trailers with the Inception soundtrack piped in, and Finn Russell using the stuffed lion to knock over George Ford's Lego pirate ship, one fixture stands out:
27 June 2017 - WestPac Stadium, Wellington - B&I Lions v Hurricanes.

Oh yes, a combined Glasgow Warriors and Bath side against the mighty 'Canes - that is the Cordon Bleu recipe for awesome attacking rugby, right there.

This thread isn't about predictions or squads, captains or bolters, let's just revel in the moment and talk about how great this is all going to be. Roll on 2017!

I know it it difficult due to player's club commitments - but I would like to see slightly longer tours, another two games perhaps

GavinDragon wrote:I know it it difficult due to player's club commitments - but I would like to see slightly longer tours, another two games perhaps

GD,
I think those days are long gone but oh for the days or proper tours

I thought it traditionaly began with a "Name your Lions squad for 4 years time" argument between the English and Welsh posters with the occassional Scotlander wading in to say they wont follow the Lions if it doesnt represent all the nations.

Thats a lot of fixtures to get through in a short period of time even if they take a ludicrous squad, espeically given tha the "warm up" matches tend to be seen as an opportunity to injure as many players as possible. The tour could do with ebing a wweek longer, but that time given as a break rather than to shoe horn in more cash cows.

Anyone able to lend me 10 grand and or get me a job on the tour staff?

Hopefully going again for this one so I reckon I will be able to see Canes and 2nd and 3rd test

With two tests in Auckland, not sure I will bother going.

Pretty tough looking fixture list with no provincial games this time. Should be a cracker.

Gooseberry wrote:I thought it traditionaly began with a "Name your Lions squad for 4 years time" argument between the English and Welsh posters with the occassional Scotlander wading in to say they wont follow the Lions if it doesnt represent all the nations.

Thats a lot of fixtures to get through in a short period of time even if they take a ludicrous squad, espeically given tha the "warm up" matches tend to be seen as an opportunity to injure as many players as possible. The tour could do with ebing a wweek longer, but that time given as a break rather than to shoe horn in more cash cows.

Anyone able to lend me 10 grand and or get me a job on the tour staff?

Sounds about right. Once the RWC is out the way we will see much more of this. My initial thoughts are that there should be more than 2 games on the south island. I would have thought the combined ITM team game could be moved? The ITM team is being played in Northland who are pretty guff and that means 4 of the 10 games are in or around Aukland.

The Lions Brand trying to feed off the World Cup Brand?  

Keep your presentations and declarations and media noise until After the Autumn, cheeky Lions execs .  Have manners.

Think the Lions should stop off and play Fiji, Samoa and Tonga rather than some of the super 14 teams.

That would be really good but it's a similar distance from London to Istanbul. Also difficult to see where all the fans etc would stay unless they all sleep on the beach.

It's stupid I'm already looking forward to this. There's some real quality amongst all B&I teams at the moment. Would be good to beat NZ, and for once I think it may well be possible if we see some players progress as they should.

Oh go on then, I'll kick it off

Hogg, Watson, Joseph, Henshaw, North, Sexton, Murray, Marler, ??, Cole, Lawes, Gray, POM, Warburton, Vunipola

??, Healy, Lee, Launchbury, Itoje, Webb, Ford, JD2

Weegie Wizard wrote:That would be really good but it's a similar distance from London to Istanbul. Also difficult to see where all the fans etc would stay unless they all sleep on the beach.

Last time round the Lions stopped off in Hong Kong for a game against the BaBas on the way to Australia. Surely they could hit Samoa on the way this time. Yes accomodation would be tough but it would be more of an excercise in giving back to those island teams than selling tickets.

no one mentioned BOD yet?

BamBam wrote:Oh go on then, I'll kick it off

Hogg, Watson, Joseph, Henshaw, North, Sexton, Murray, Marler, ??, Cole, Lawes, Gray, POM, Warburton, Vunipola

??, Healy, Lee, Launchbury, Itoje, Webb, Ford, JD2

You spelled Alex Dunbar wrong.

I would love to Launchbury and Johnny Gray together in the engine room.

No Itoje at lock???

Eejit wrote:

BamBam wrote:Oh go on then, I'll kick it off

Hogg, Watson, Joseph, Henshaw, North, Sexton, Murray, Marler, ??, Cole, Lawes, Gray, POM, Warburton, Vunipola

??, Healy, Lee, Launchbury, Itoje, Webb, Ford, JD2

You spelled Alex Dunbar wrong.

Your username fits

Its just based on recent form, hence no Itoje! Otherwise I reckon of the youngsters, the following could all be candidates ..

Itoje, Clifford, Slade, Hidalgo-Clyne, Mccloskey, George, Cowan-Dickie, Henderson, Amos, Morgan

LondonTiger wrote:With two tests in Auckland, not sure I will bother going.

Yeah, that is a shame. I assumed it was a typo when they announced it.

Christchurch's AMI stadium was destroyed in the earthquake so their makeshift one only holds 18k or thereabouts.  Dunedin has Forsyth Barr stadium but that only holds 30k. Eden Park holds 50-60k, and with the demand for tickets, at least holding two tests there will mean more people will be able to get tickets. Christchurch would have had a test but they simply don't have the facilities yet.

20 posts into a 2 year dialogue and no mention of Burgess? Surely he's a shoe in for 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15 at least! The lions captain in waiting - we can build the team around him.

tigertattie wrote:no one mentioned BOD yet?

Im guessing he will be there as a Lions ambassador just as Jason Robinson was in Oz last time.

LondonTiger wrote:With two tests in Auckland, not sure I will bother going.

Ive not been LT - whats wrong with Auckland?

What are the odds on Paul O'Connell touring again despite no international games.

GunsGerms wrote:What are the odds on Paul O'Connell touring again despite no international games.

What are the odds on someone from Ireland Munster complaining if he doesnt?

GunsGerms wrote:

Weegie Wizard wrote:That would be really good but it's a similar distance from London to Istanbul. Also difficult to see where all the fans etc would stay unless they all sleep on the beach.

Last time round the Lions stopped off in Hong Kong for a game against the BaBas on the way to Australia. Surely they could hit Samoa on the way this time. Yes accomodation would be tough but it would be more of an excercise in giving back to those island teams than selling tickets.

Not much point if the entire samoan team is either playing for England or in France helping to stabalise the euro by then.

Gooseberry wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:What are the odds on Paul O'Connell touring again despite no international games.

What are the odds on someone from Ireland Munster complaining if he doesnt?

Obviously quite high. However, I think that Simon Shaw was around the age POC will be last time he toured so if he is playing well why not. Personally I dont think anyone playing for Toulon should be eligable.

[quote="BamBam"]Oh go on then, I'll kick it off

Hogg, Watson, Joseph, Henshaw, North, Sexton, Murray, Marler, ??, Cole, Lawes, Gray, POM, Warburton, Vunipola

??, Healy, Lee, Launchbury, Itoje, Webb, Ford, JD2[/quote

North?????? On what form

GunsGerms wrote:What are the odds on Paul O'Connell touring again despite no international games.

Just thought of that when I saw Matfield included in Bok squad and captaining them this weekend. He is 38. POC will only be 37 at that stage.

GunsGerms wrote:

Gooseberry wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:What are the odds on Paul O'Connell touring again despite no international games.

What are the odds on someone from Ireland Munster complaining if he doesnt?

Obviously quite high. However, I think that Simon Shaw was around the age POC will be last time he toured so if he is playing well why not. Personally I dont think anyone playing for Toulon should be eligable.

Contracturaly its unlilkely they will be

I doubt POC will be a strong candidate in 2 years given some of the locks around now.

No 7&1/2 wrote:I doubt POC will be a strong candidate in 2 years given some of the locks around now.

True lets nbot forget that Burgess is likely to have singlahndedly wonthe world cup from lock backrow center and flyhalf by then

Burgess isn't a lock.

No he's a machine...

I find it impossible not to get excited by the Lions, and the prospect of forging new and exciting combinations from the constituent nations. There are already some great debates to be had:

2. Hooker - answers on a postcard?? Best? George? Webber? McInally if you're really feeling bold with your predictions. Still legs in Hibbard?

3. Tighthead - Cole strikes me as a front runner but a more experienced Marty Moore could come into it, and same with Samson Lee. How about Willem Nel, Scotland's "new" tighthead, who relishes running ball in hand.

6. Tackle monkey - Lydiate or POM, or maybe even Robshaw if he switches by then.

7. Openside - surely a direct contest between Warburton (will he captain again?) or SOB.

8. No. 8 - Vunipola, Morgan, Falatau, Strauss (another "new" Scot), Murphy, Heaslip - ton of options.

12. Inside centre - only Wales have a settled 12 (Roberts), with raging debates among England fans over their man at 12, and some mild disagreements between us Scots and the Irish.

15. Full back - Wales, Ireland and England all have settled players here, but what odds on an Anthony Watson or a Stuart Hogg coming into the mix to shake things up. The Lions will not win with a conservative game plan, and some thrust from the back will be very much required.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

BamBam wrote:Oh go on then, I'll kick it off

Hogg, Watson, Joseph, Henshaw, North, Sexton, Murray, Marler, ??, Cole, Lawes, Gray, POM, Warburton, Vunipola

??, Healy, Lee, Launchbury, Itoje, Webb, Ford, JD2[/quote

North?????? On what form

My first thought was Nowell or Seymour.. Then I thought the Welsh might get upset if I only included one of their players

Its much more interesting as to who will coach the team. Please god we don't have to tolerate fatland again.

No 7&1/2 wrote:I doubt POC will be a strong candidate in 2 years given some of the locks around now.

I think Richie Gray was the flavour of the month pre last tour.

The old dog for the hard road (i.e., AW Jones)

Sin é wrote:Its much more interesting as to who will coach the team. Please god we don't have to tolerate fatland again.

He would just pick as many Kiwis as possible again and it would be ridiculous.

It's not beyong the realms of possibility Sin but put it this way I'd be very disappointed if there was a clamour for POC in 2 years. I agree with your coach comments, personally I just hope it's outside of a current (at the time) B&I international team.

No 7&1/2 wrote:It's not beyong the realms of possibility Sin but put it this way I'd be very disappointed if there was a clamour for POC in 2 years. I agree with your coach comments, personally I just hope it's outside of a current (at the time) B&I international team.

If POC is playing well, whats your problem? NZ is a tough old gig, no harm having a few who have been there and done that.

For the record, as a Munster fan it doesn't bother me one way or another whether he goes on another tour or not (though I'm happy he would make a few quid out of it).

If POC is playing as well as the youngers guys it would mean for me the younger guys haven't reached their potential or are off form. POC is still a good player but 18 months on from now I wouldn't expect him to live with some of the youngsters.

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:Its much more interesting as to who will coach the team. Please god we don't have to tolerate fatland again.

He would just pick as many Kiwis as possible again and it would be ridiculous.

I think Lancaster would be good (and its time the Saxons were given the gig again). I don't think he would try and bring the whole of England just to keep the natives happy as Fatland did with Wales.

HC: Lancaster. Backs: Schmidt. Forwards: Vern Cotter. Defence: Shaun Edwards.

Just three months out from a World Cup is not a good time to announce it. I couldn't care less about the Lions at the moment.

Boo Notch. Boo.

No 7&1/2 wrote:If POC is playing as well as the youngers guys it would mean for me the younger guys haven't reached their potential or are off form. POC is still a good player but 18 months on from now I wouldn't expect him to live with some of the youngsters.

POC is still a good player LOL! He just won Player of the Six Nations, captaining Ireland who won the championship! POC played the 80mins of every game.
AW Jones was a nominee for Player of the Six Nations. What puts those guys apart from the rest is their leadership qualities and you will need plenty of that down on the next NZ tour.

Would leave England with a dream team of Farrell and Catt holding the reigns, as I'm pretty sure Lancs would take Rowntree with him! Yaayyy

No, best to stick to a coach outside of the international coaches of the four nations

Fair enough if you think he'll go, just can't see it. Too many good players competing in that position.