The first player on Gatlands team

First topic message reminder :

Its Stuart Hogg

no question whatsoever

I think most Scots are saying Russell shouldn't tour. No point in him going to play midweek games, he needs familiar players around him and I cannot see Gatland giving him the license that he gets for Scotland and Glasgow

Dunbar on the other hand - one of a number of inside centres who could tour why do folk keep putting Farrell at 12 when we have specialists who are better?

I'd stick Farell at 10 IMO England's best player by a massive distance when George or Robshaw aren't on the field

Sexton or Biggar surely? Ford hasn't impressed me so far this year but Farrell is a creativity drain IMO -

I don't think Biggar is the solution to that problem, if anything he's even less creative.

Farrell not being a specialist 12 makes no difference at all when he's excelling in that position and performing better than all the other options.

Watch farrell at 10 for Sarries he's a canny operator. I'd pick him at 10 anyway, with henshaw and JJ outside him feeding a back 3 of Hogg, Williams and Seymour

I would agree with Farrell being at 10, he's class, with a great temperament. Sexton goes too, with the third being a toss up between Biggar, Ford or Russell, probably dependent on who has the best 6N. If Biggar puts in more performances like Saturday, it'll be him.

The centres are interesting, I'd have said Henshaw and JJ were shoe-ins before the tournament. However, neither have impressed me. Scott Williams is looking good, Dunbar has started well, and I do like the look of Huw Jones. Don't rule out a dark horse like Teo either.

Sexton hasn't featured in this year's tournament, yet some posters insist on picking him while injured?
That says two things:
- Some consider him better than the opposition despite being injured and without having to prove it
- Some don't care that picking an injured player to tour will pressurize the coach to play him anyway and risk the player's career.

Does anyone seriously think Steve Hansen will pick anyone carrying an injury?

i think we are hoping sexton is fit in time for the tour as he is simply the best 10 for the lions. Not that we want him picked when injured

The Great Aukster wrote:Sexton hasn't featured in this year's tournament, yet some posters insist on picking him while injured?
That says two things:
- Some consider him better than the opposition despite being injured and without having to prove it
- Some don't care that picking an injured player to tour will pressurize the coach to play him anyway and risk the player's career.

Does anyone seriously think Steve Hansen will pick anyone carrying an injury?

He doesn't have to as he has numerous options. The Lions don't. Sexton is a class apart, with only Biggar, Ford, Farrell and Russell as serious back up. I think both Farrell and Biggar can do a job but Sexton is the man, has been involved in a recent win over NZ and is a winning Lion. Ford would be broken in two.

The likelihood of Gatland picking an injured player depends on who that player is and he does carry injured players. Gethin and Doc are both players he has carried in tournaments - RWC 2015 and Lions 2013. So Sexton is key and will be given every chance.

Big problem for the Lions is strength in depth and i expect Gatland to favor players who can cover more than 1 position as i expect to see a similar situation to 2013 with injuries, as the local sides soften the Lions up and whatever we think our Test side is i am sure we'll be forced into looking at other options come the 1st test.

Gwlad wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:Sexton hasn't featured in this year's tournament, yet some posters insist on picking him while injured?
That says two things:
- Some consider him better than the opposition despite being injured and without having to prove it
- Some don't care that picking an injured player to tour will pressurize the coach to play him anyway and risk the player's career.

Does anyone seriously think Steve Hansen will pick anyone carrying an injury?

He doesn't have to as he has numerous options. The Lions don't. Sexton is a class apart, with only Biggar, Ford, Farrell and Russell as serious back up. I think both Farrell and Biggar can do a job but Sexton is the man, has been involved in a recent win over NZ and is a winning Lion. Ford would be broken in two.

The likelihood of Gatland picking an injured player depends on who that player is and he does carry injured players. Gethin and Doc are both players he has carried in tournaments - RWC 2015 and Lions 2013. So Sexton is key and will be given every chance.

Big problem for the Lions is strength in depth and i expect Gatland to favor players who can cover more than 1 position as i expect to see a similar situation to 2013 with injuries, as the local sides soften the Lions up and whatever we think our Test side is i am sure we'll be forced into looking at other options come the 1st test.

Farrell it is then

Farrell test match win %: 72
Sexton: 54

Which one is a class apart again.

sexton. Clearly the best in the NH by a long way

Scottrf wrote:Farrell test match win %: 72
Sexton: 54

Which one is a class apart again.

Most of Farrell's tests weren't at out half though. What is his win ratio as an out half? Much lower I think.

Farrells top class at 10 and ok at 12. He'll travel and that means no need to start halfpenny.

The remaining 6N fixtures will no doubt change opinion on possible lions selections.
England have the perceptively weaker Italy up next at home, while Scotland play Wales and Ireland play France.

Any Stirling performances by Scots, Welsh and Irish will enhance their Lions prospects.
For England players and previously Irish - the match against Italy is a bit of a banana skin. A bad performance against a perceived weak Italy could really knock close contenders out of the Lions running.

7.5 - is there a need to take Halfpenny at all?

I think that the Lions should be well stocked @ 15 with Hogg, L.Williams and Brown as a back-up.

Sexton has such a track record, it's not as though you'd worry about his not finding form so long as he's fit.

Farrell will obviously be in the mix somehow.

In many ways, taking into account defence and attack, Scott Williams might sneak into the picture, maybe at 13.

He's better than Brown prop though Daly may come into consideration as cover if his proposed switch comes off in time. Yes I'd have your 1st 2 choices ahead of him.

propdavid_london wrote:7.5 - is there a need to take Halfpenny at all?

I think that the Lions should be well stocked @ 15 with Hogg, L.Williams and Brown as a back-up.

We might as well shut this topic down now, as the first 2 yes TWO on the list will be AWJ and Halfpenny, with the kick from inside the Welsh Half on Saturday taken off Farrell and handed to Daly, when both Halfpenny and Biggar have had penalties from beyond the half way line many times in the past, they cannot afford to be without 1/2 PENNY.

Then with todays news on the Beeb website that AWJ should be the captain, endorsed not by 1, not by 2 but by 3 YES THREE former Lions tour Captains and NONE of them Welsh, in the form of Martin Johnson, Gavin Hastings and Brian O'Driscoll, also with the endorsement of probably the greatest player to play our game Sir Gareth Edwards in the past few days, it is a foregone conclusion he will be Tour Captain.

Let me just add I have to agree the best 10 available for this tour is Sexton and probably the best 12 is Farrell.

Bookies suggest Farrell is the first name on the team sheet, with AWJ second.

If sexton is the ten then there is no place for Farrell at 12 as there are many better 12s out there.

Farrell will be starting at 10 or 12 in the tests. There are few guarantees on this tour but that is one of them.

TJ wrote:If sexton is the ten then there is no place for Farrell at 12 as there are many better 12s out there.  

Really? Like who? I wouldn't say the level of 12s has been that high in the 6 nations so far.

The quality of 12s is certainly not comparable to the competition at lock for example.

Scottrf wrote:Bookies suggest Farrell is the first name on the team sheet, with AWJ second.

When writing a team sheet I usually start at 15, though I know plenty who start at 1. I know no-one who starts at 5, 10, or 12

That bookies pick also has Billy V, Sexton and Anthony Watson. Who have played the square route of feck all in terms of rugby over the last few weeks. A lot of the names are riding reputations.

wayne wrote:
We might as well shut this topic down now, as the first 2 yes TWO on the list will be AWJ and Halfpenny, with the kick from inside the Welsh Half on Saturday taken off Farrell and handed to Daly, when both Halfpenny and Biggar have had penalties from beyond the half way line many times in the past, they cannot afford to be without 1/2 PENNY.

Then with todays news on the Beeb website that AWJ should be the captain, endorsed not by 1, not by 2 but by 3 YES THREE former Lions tour Captains and NONE of them Welsh, in the form of Martin Johnson, Gavin Hastings and Brian O'Driscoll, also with the endorsement of probably the greatest player to play our game Sir Gareth Edwards in the past few days, it is a foregone conclusion he will be Tour Captain.

Let me just add I have to agree the best 10 available for this tour is Sexton and probably the best 12 is Farrell.  

I can't remember Halfpenny nailing many kicks from distance to be honest and it's hardly a reason to pick an inferior player. The only reason AWJ would be made captain is because of familiarity with Gatland, it's questionable whether he should tour let alone even start and his captaincy at the weekend left a lot to be desired.

international198 wrote:So many good players will miss out on Lions selection, IMO. I can see Dan Biggar, Sam Davies, Scott Williams, George North and Leigh Halfpenny all not going.

Sam Davies?

That's as stupid as the Finn Russel selection.

It's the Lions. They're going to play what is quite possibly the best test team to have ever played the game.

Seasoned internationals are required, those that have demonstrated they can perform consistently at the highest level. It's no time for whimsical picks.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

wayne wrote:
We might as well shut this topic down now, as the first 2 yes TWO on the list will be AWJ and Halfpenny, with the kick from inside the Welsh Half on Saturday taken off Farrell and handed to Daly, when both Halfpenny and Biggar have had penalties from beyond the half way line many times in the past, they cannot afford to be without 1/2 PENNY.

Then with todays news on the Beeb website that AWJ should be the captain, endorsed not by 1, not by 2 but by 3 YES THREE former Lions tour Captains and NONE of them Welsh, in the form of Martin Johnson, Gavin Hastings and Brian O'Driscoll, also with the endorsement of probably the greatest player to play our game Sir Gareth Edwards in the past few days, it is a foregone conclusion he will be Tour Captain.

Let me just add I have to agree the best 10 available for this tour is Sexton and probably the best 12 is Farrell.  

I can't remember Halfpenny nailing many kicks from distance to be honest and it's hardly a reason to pick an inferior player. The only reason AWJ would be made captain is because of familiarity with Gatland, it's questionable whether he should tour let alone even start and his captaincy at the weekend left a lot to be desired.

It's also incorrect to suggest that that kick wasn't in Farrell's range.

Farrell has knocked them over from that range plenty of times for both Saracens and England. Although it's on the edge of his range, it's comfortably within Daly's, so it's pretty sensible to give it to the longer kicker. It's a nice luxury to have. It doesn't mean Farrell has a shorter range than Halfpenny.

I'd go further than that anyway and suggest Halfpenny's range has suffered since he first came onto the scene. He seems to strike the ball at a different trajectory now but I've no doubt he's more accurate than he was when he first started.

propdavid_london wrote:The remaining 6N fixtures will no doubt change opinion on possible lions selections.  
England have the perceptively weaker Italy up next at home, while Scotland play Wales and Ireland play France.

Any Stirling performances by Scots, Welsh and Irish will enhance their Lions prospects.
For England players and previously Irish - the match against Italy is a bit of a banana skin.  A bad performance against a perceived weak Italy could really knock close contenders out of the Lions running.

Italy aren't perceptively weak. Look at their results, they are demonstrably weak. It's a big difference.

I don't say that out of mere pedantry, I think it's pertinent to a Lions discussion.

Lots of people get excited about Scottish players even though they have lost so so many games over the last few years. Scotland, currently, as with Italy are a demonstrably poor team. The list of Scotland players that people are getting excited about is seemingly growing. Now to a degree I understand why this is happening, especially after their excellent result against Ireland. But given the championship is not over yet, that could still be a false dawn for Scotland and a mere bump in the road for Ireland.

I personally want to win against NZ. So I've very little time for romantic or nationalistic picks. I said before the tournament that given the autumns the teams had I would be entirely in favour of a lions XV made out of entirely Ireland players, or one made out of entirely England players. Both of those teams demonstrated that they have what it takes to win.

Obviously Ireland have had a little bump in the road and depending on which way the rest of the tournament goes I may have to reevaluate just how good I think those teams are. What I see a lot of on here though is people trying to champion who should play for the Lions, and very little of it is based on actual results or performance. Finn Russell is an example I've used before. People pick him because they like the notion of a running fly half, or he's eye catching and has a lovely pass. Forget the fact that in a test match he is flakey, has questionable temperament and game management and contributes to a teams failings. Odd

Is this thread still going..

Ok, this is really easy.

The first player on Gatlands team

We all agree (I'm sure) that the first player on any sheet is the Captain.

Gatland has already said, he want the Lions captain to also be captaining his national side. A few weeks after Gats made this statement, Warburton stood down followed by the appointment of AWJ. Now making the statement that Gats did, he would have found it difficult to appoint AWJ capt, when he wasn't Wales capt, especially as Gats is still the Wales national coach.

Hence, AWJ (providing he doesn't get injured before the end of the season) will be the Lions Capt.

HENCE, AWJ is the first man on the team sheet every time...

One Lions thread to bed.... only 999 more to go

cascough wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:The remaining 6N fixtures will no doubt change opinion on possible lions selections.  
England have the perceptively weaker Italy up next at home, while Scotland play Wales and Ireland play France.

Any Stirling performances by Scots, Welsh and Irish will enhance their Lions prospects.
For England players and previously Irish - the match against Italy is a bit of a banana skin.  A bad performance against a perceived weak Italy could really knock close contenders out of the Lions running.

Italy aren't perceptively weak. Look at their results, they are demonstrably weak. It's a big difference.

I don't say that out of mere pedantry, I think it's pertinent to a Lions discussion.

Lots of people get excited about Scottish players even though they have lost so so many games over the last few years. Scotland, currently, as with Italy are a demonstrably poor team. The list of Scotland players that people are getting excited about is seemingly growing. Now to a degree I understand why this is happening, especially after their excellent result against Ireland. But given the championship is not over yet, that could still be a false dawn for Scotland and a mere bump in the road for Ireland.

I personally want to win against NZ. So I've very little time for romantic or nationalistic picks. I said before the tournament that given the autumns the teams had I would be entirely in favour of a lions XV made out of entirely Ireland players, or one made out of entirely England players. Both of those teams demonstrated that they have what it takes to win.

Obviously Ireland have had a little bump in the road and depending on which way the rest of the tournament goes I may have to reevaluate just how good I think those teams are. What I see a lot of on here though is people trying to champion who should play for the Lions, and very little of it is based on actual results or performance. Finn Russell is an example I've used before. People pick him because they like the notion of a running fly half, or he's eye catching and has a lovely pass. Forget the fact that in a test match he is flakey, has questionable temperament and game management and contributes to a teams failings. Odd

ARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHH

why do people keep bringing up Russel to tell us Scots that we are deluded that the player of last 6 nations, one of the form 15's in the world, the one playing in the Champion Cup knock out stages, who has already scored 3 tries and the one most impartial pundits are saying it is his to lose


WE HAVE ALREADY SAID RUSSEL IS UNLIKELY TO GO

Please stop going back to that one time and time again

Russell Should go IMO. Biggar, Russell and Farrell as cover. Sexton too injury prone.

Id start Russell in the test side albeit Biggar is making a case. Id have Farrell at 12.

Do you really need 3 other flyhalves if Farrell is going?

Scottrf wrote:Do you really need 3 other flyhalves if Farrell is going?

Personally Id only pick Biggar, Russell and Farrell. Was that to me?

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

Scottrf wrote:Do you really need 3 other flyhalves if Farrell is going?

Personally Id only pick Biggar, Russell and Farrell. Was that to me?

Well, it was prompted by your comment but anyone can answer.

I am a big Russell fan but no way is he ready for the lions.
1) would Gatland give him the freedom to take risks as he gets for Glasgow and Scotland? I very much doubt it
2) he needs familiar players around him as they will be able to react to him better - he will not get this with the lions
3) he remains very inexperienced as an international and his game management needs more development.

Maybe in 4 years time

Reading this, I'd say the first person on Gatland's team is Conor Murray.

Gatland wrote:“When you get someone who is playing as well as Conor — his speed to the breakdown, his lines of running, his experience, a great kicking game — you can’t hide the fact that there are certain players in teams that make a difference,” said Gatland.

“He was absolutely outstanding in Chicago (against New Zealand), one of the best players on the pitch. I think that quality players revel in those sort of challenges.

“If they are playing well, an opposition coach will target certain players to limit their impact on the game. Conor is going to come under some scrutiny from opposition teams, because they are aware how he controls the game and leads the Irish team around the park. I think it is a positive if he responds to that sort of pressure and from a coaching point of view that is what I am looking forward to.

“That is what you want, your best quality players to be able to respond to those pressures. In any type of sport, your best players get targeted. It’s not just going to be him.”

Gatland wrote:“Some players in a Lions set-up really take their opportunities to grow and he took it with both hands. Conor grew and matured and developed on that tour. He was outstanding. Conor was definitely a real success story for us from 2013 and people are aware how important it is that he is fit. He brings a physicality to the game, that experience, those lines of running, that he gets to the breakdown and gets the ball away is definitely a key.”

From what he says here, I doubt if he will bring Sexton as he is too injury prone.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/warren-gatland-drops-in-on-ireland-to-check-on-potential-lions-443024.html

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

wayne wrote:
We might as well shut this topic down now, as the first 2 yes TWO on the list will be AWJ and Halfpenny, with the kick from inside the Welsh Half on Saturday taken off Farrell and handed to Daly, when both Halfpenny and Biggar have had penalties from beyond the half way line many times in the past, they cannot afford to be without 1/2 PENNY.

Then with todays news on the Beeb website that AWJ should be the captain, endorsed not by 1, not by 2 but by 3 YES THREE former Lions tour Captains and NONE of them Welsh, in the form of Martin Johnson, Gavin Hastings and Brian O'Driscoll, also with the endorsement of probably the greatest player to play our game Sir Gareth Edwards in the past few days, it is a foregone conclusion he will be Tour Captain.

Let me just add I have to agree the best 10 available for this tour is Sexton and probably the best 12 is Farrell.  

I can't remember Halfpenny nailing many kicks from distance to be honest and it's hardly a reason to pick an inferior player.

Well that says more about you than me, you're obviously NOT a rugby supporter as there are many examples of 1/2p kicking goals of 55 metres or more,

The only reason AWJ would be made captain is because of familiarity with Gatland, it's questionable whether he should tour let alone even start and his captaincy at the weekend left a lot to be desired.

Yeh that's why 4 Lion greats are selecting him. Why I'm conversing with you I don't know, you really are not worth the bother.

Sin é wrote:Reading this, I'd say the first person on Gatland's team is Conor Murray.

Gatland wrote:“When you get someone who is playing as well as Conor — his speed to the breakdown, his lines of running, his experience, a great kicking game — you can’t hide the fact that there are certain players in teams that make a difference,” said Gatland.

“He was absolutely outstanding in Chicago (against New Zealand), one of the best players on the pitch. I think that quality players revel in those sort of challenges.

“If they are playing well, an opposition coach will target certain players to limit their impact on the game. Conor is going to come under some scrutiny from opposition teams, because they are aware how he controls the game and leads the Irish team around the park. I think it is a positive if he responds to that sort of pressure and from a coaching point of view that is what I am looking forward to.

“That is what you want, your best quality players to be able to respond to those pressures. In any type of sport, your best players get targeted. It’s not just going to be him.”

Gatland wrote:“Some players in a Lions set-up really take their opportunities to grow and he took it with both hands. Conor grew and matured and developed on that tour. He was outstanding. Conor was definitely a real success story for us from 2013 and people are aware how important it is that he is fit. He brings a physicality to the game, that experience, those lines of running, that he gets to the breakdown and gets the ball away is definitely a key.”

From what he says here, I doubt if he will bring Sexton as he is too injury prone.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/warren-gatland-drops-in-on-ireland-to-check-on-potential-lions-443024.html

Agree ref Murray but not Sexton. The cupboard is bare. He is the class act amongst NH 10s and will go, a winning Lion who started all 3 Tests in 2013 and with Murray almost certain to start at 9 makes even more sense

The cupboard isn't bare. The second best team in the world have moved one to centre to accomodate both.

cascough wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

wayne wrote:
We might as well shut this topic down now, as the first 2 yes TWO on the list will be AWJ and Halfpenny, with the kick from inside the Welsh Half on Saturday taken off Farrell and handed to Daly, when both Halfpenny and Biggar have had penalties from beyond the half way line many times in the past, they cannot afford to be without 1/2 PENNY.

Then with todays news on the Beeb website that AWJ should be the captain, endorsed not by 1, not by 2 but by 3 YES THREE former Lions tour Captains and NONE of them Welsh, in the form of Martin Johnson, Gavin Hastings and Brian O'Driscoll, also with the endorsement of probably the greatest player to play our game Sir Gareth Edwards in the past few days, it is a foregone conclusion he will be Tour Captain.

Let me just add I have to agree the best 10 available for this tour is Sexton and probably the best 12 is Farrell.  

I can't remember Halfpenny nailing many kicks from distance to be honest and it's hardly a reason to pick an inferior player. The only reason AWJ would be made captain is because of familiarity with Gatland, it's questionable whether he should tour let alone even start and his captaincy at the weekend left a lot to be desired.

It's also incorrect to suggest that that kick wasn't in Farrell's range.

Farrell has knocked them over from that range plenty of times for both Saracens and England. Although it's on the edge of his range, it's comfortably within Daly's, so it's pretty sensible to give it to the longer kicker. It's a nice luxury to have. It doesn't mean Farrell has a shorter range than Halfpenny.

You answered that yourself, it's on the edge of his range, Halfpenny is 10 metres longer and even Dan Biggar is over 5 metres longer.

I'd go further than that anyway and suggest Halfpenny's range has suffered since he first came onto the scene. He seems to strike the ball at a different trajectory now but I've no doubt he's more accurate than he was when he first started.  

That first part is totally wrong, he was kicking them in the pre match warm up from Englands warm up half and not just clearing the bar sailing over.

NZ must be really worried when Lions fans are arguing about whether players can kick penalties from their own half!

Gwlad wrote:

Sin é wrote:Reading this, I'd say the first person on Gatland's team is Conor Murray.

Gatland wrote:“When you get someone who is playing as well as Conor — his speed to the breakdown, his lines of running, his experience, a great kicking game — you can’t hide the fact that there are certain players in teams that make a difference,” said Gatland.

“He was absolutely outstanding in Chicago (against New Zealand), one of the best players on the pitch. I think that quality players revel in those sort of challenges.

“If they are playing well, an opposition coach will target certain players to limit their impact on the game. Conor is going to come under some scrutiny from opposition teams, because they are aware how he controls the game and leads the Irish team around the park. I think it is a positive if he responds to that sort of pressure and from a coaching point of view that is what I am looking forward to.

“That is what you want, your best quality players to be able to respond to those pressures. In any type of sport, your best players get targeted. It’s not just going to be him.”

Gatland wrote:“Some players in a Lions set-up really take their opportunities to grow and he took it with both hands. Conor grew and matured and developed on that tour. He was outstanding. Conor was definitely a real success story for us from 2013 and people are aware how important it is that he is fit. He brings a physicality to the game, that experience, those lines of running, that he gets to the breakdown and gets the ball away is definitely a key.”

From what he says here, I doubt if he will bring Sexton as he is too injury prone.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/warren-gatland-drops-in-on-ireland-to-check-on-potential-lions-443024.html

Agree ref Murray but not Sexton. The cupboard is bare. He is the class act amongst NH 10s and will go

Yes agree Gwlad, far superior to anyone else.

wayne wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

wayne wrote:
We might as well shut this topic down now, as the first 2 yes TWO on the list will be AWJ and Halfpenny, with the kick from inside the Welsh Half on Saturday taken off Farrell and handed to Daly, when both Halfpenny and Biggar have had penalties from beyond the half way line many times in the past, they cannot afford to be without 1/2 PENNY.

Then with todays news on the Beeb website that AWJ should be the captain, endorsed not by 1, not by 2 but by 3 YES THREE former Lions tour Captains and NONE of them Welsh, in the form of Martin Johnson, Gavin Hastings and Brian O'Driscoll, also with the endorsement of probably the greatest player to play our game Sir Gareth Edwards in the past few days, it is a foregone conclusion he will be Tour Captain.

Let me just add I have to agree the best 10 available for this tour is Sexton and probably the best 12 is Farrell.  

I can't remember Halfpenny nailing many kicks from distance to be honest and it's hardly a reason to pick an inferior player.

Well that says more about you than me, you're obviously NOT a rugby supporter as there are many examples of 1/2p kicking goals of 55 metres or more,

The only reason AWJ would be made captain is because of familiarity with Gatland, it's questionable whether he should tour let alone even start and his captaincy at the weekend left a lot to be desired.

Yeh that's why 4 Lion greats are selecting him. Why I'm conversing with you I don't know, you really are not worth the bother.

Who are the Lions greats, out of interest?

Well that's always the way though, Cyril. Sure didn't Wilko kick them from his hotel room bed.

A Webb/Sexton/Farrell 9/10/12 combination could be interesting.

BamBam wrote:

wayne wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

wayne wrote:
We might as well shut this topic down now, as the first 2 yes TWO on the list will be AWJ and Halfpenny, with the kick from inside the Welsh Half on Saturday taken off Farrell and handed to Daly, when both Halfpenny and Biggar have had penalties from beyond the half way line many times in the past, they cannot afford to be without 1/2 PENNY.

Then with todays news on the Beeb website that AWJ should be the captain, endorsed not by 1, not by 2 but by 3 YES THREE former Lions tour Captains and NONE of them Welsh, in the form of Martin Johnson, Gavin Hastings and Brian O'Driscoll, also with the endorsement of probably the greatest player to play our game Sir Gareth Edwards in the past few days, it is a foregone conclusion he will be Tour Captain.

Let me just add I have to agree the best 10 available for this tour is Sexton and probably the best 12 is Farrell.  

I can't remember Halfpenny nailing many kicks from distance to be honest and it's hardly a reason to pick an inferior player.

Well that says more about you than me, you're obviously NOT a rugby supporter as there are many examples of 1/2p kicking goals of 55 metres or more,

The only reason AWJ would be made captain is because of familiarity with Gatland, it's questionable whether he should tour let alone even start and his captaincy at the weekend left a lot to be desired.

Yeh that's why 4 Lion greats are selecting him. Why I'm conversing with you I don't know, you really are not worth the bother.

Who are the Lions greats, out of interest?

If you read the article you would know.

I'm not sure being a rugby 'great' necessarily qualifies you as being right on rugby matters. You only have to read articles by Guscott or Shane Williams in the rugby paper or hear O'Driscoll as a pundit to know that!

Those guys in the article aren't really relevant any longer.

That's not to say that Jones won't get the nod as Gats is a fan and knows him well.

BamBam wrote:

wayne wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

wayne wrote:
We might as well shut this topic down now, as the first 2 yes TWO on the list will be AWJ and Halfpenny, with the kick from inside the Welsh Half on Saturday taken off Farrell and handed to Daly, when both Halfpenny and Biggar have had penalties from beyond the half way line many times in the past, they cannot afford to be without 1/2 PENNY.

Then with todays news on the Beeb website that AWJ should be the captain, endorsed not by 1, not by 2 but by 3 YES THREE former Lions tour Captains and NONE of them Welsh, in the form of Martin Johnson, Gavin Hastings and Brian O'Driscoll, also with the endorsement of probably the greatest player to play our game Sir Gareth Edwards in the past few days, it is a foregone conclusion he will be Tour Captain.

Let me just add I have to agree the best 10 available for this tour is Sexton and probably the best 12 is Farrell.  

I can't remember Halfpenny nailing many kicks from distance to be honest and it's hardly a reason to pick an inferior player.

Well that says more about you than me, you're obviously NOT a rugby supporter as there are many examples of 1/2p kicking goals of 55 metres or more,

The only reason AWJ would be made captain is because of familiarity with Gatland, it's questionable whether he should tour let alone even start and his captaincy at the weekend left a lot to be desired.

Yeh that's why 4 Lion greats are selecting him. Why I'm conversing with you I don't know, you really are not worth the bother.

Who are the Lions greats, out of interest?

I dont think we have a single great. Some players have the potential; Billy V , Faletau, Murray, Webb…but i guess the closest we have is Sexton.

He was talking about Martin Johnson, Gavin Hastings, Brian O'Driscoll and Gareth Edwards ...
It's there in the nested quote.