British & Irish Lions Squad 2017

First topic message reminder :

Scottrf wrote:Lawes was better than AWJ every week in the 6 Nations and isn't injured yet he's the strange call

AWJ is a leader and well respected by his peers as well as being a former winning Lions test captain.

Lions players aren't just based on how well they did in the six nations, they are picked on how well the coaches think they will gel into the squad.

You need leaders on and off the pitch.

SecretFly wrote:

munkian wrote:Nicked from Reddit forum, some backrow 6 nations stats for comparison.

Unfortunately there's no minutes played data.

Link to the actual page, munk - if it's possible?  I'd just like to mosey through the whole ship rather than a few highly priced cabins.

This is nonseense

Watson had 3 turnovsrs in the welsh second half alone and this says 0 clean breaks ?

Who made this guff up ?

alive555 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

munkian wrote:Nicked from Reddit forum, some backrow 6 nations stats for comparison.

Unfortunately there's no minutes played data.

Link to the actual page, munk - if it's possible?  I'd just like to mosey through the whole ship rather than a few highly priced cabins.

This is  nonseense

Watson had 3 turnovsrs in the welsh second half alone and this says 0 clean breaks ?

Who made this guff up ?

The zero clean breaks is legit Alive, but look at the number of defenders he's beaten!! That stat is incredible!

Technically Gatland isn't from the NH. As much as it pains me. Probably the most successful NH coach is Clive.

Let's not forget the amount of foreign coaches plying their trade in international rugby.

Noves is one of the only native coaches in the 6 nations and he's not particularly good.

Even us English replaced an Englishman with an Aussie!

The Scots will be getting a Scotsman when Cotter leaves but no guarantee he'll be as successful.

Scottrf wrote:NH most successful coach? How many WCs? Whats his winning percentage? How many times has he beaten SH opposition?

Out of all the 6N coaches Gatland is the best. Steady Eddie doesn't have much to show for his time coaching in Australia although early days he did well. In 2005 his ARU contract was terminated. And you folks say that Gatland's methods have gotten stale .

2.5 6 Nations including 2 Slams (thats when you win every game England fans) and a Lions tour

Gwlad wrote:2.5 6 Nations including 2 Slams (thats when you win every game England fans) and a Lions tour

That's a lot of minnow-bashing

mikey_dragon wrote:

Scottrf wrote:NH most successful coach? How many WCs? Whats his winning percentage? How many times has he beaten SH opposition?

Out of all the 6N coaches Gatland is the best. Steady Eddie doesn't have much to show for his time coaching in Australia although early days he did well. In 2005 his ARU contract was terminated. And you folks say that Gatland's methods have gotten stale .

Eddie has a better record than Gatland at Int level.

! x Tri nations, 1 WC final, 1 WC win (as assistant), 2 x 6 Nations (1 Slam).

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

Gwlad wrote:2.5 6 Nations including 2 Slams (thats when you win every game England fans) and a Lions tour

That's a lot of minnow-bashing

England?
France?
Ireland (you know ireland right?)
Australia?
Scotland? (ok fair enough)
SA?

Minnows?

And they say Kiwis are arrogant

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

alive555 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

munkian wrote:Nicked from Reddit forum, some backrow 6 nations stats for comparison.

Unfortunately there's no minutes played data.

Link to the actual page, munk - if it's possible?  I'd just like to mosey through the whole ship rather than a few highly priced cabins.

This is  nonseense

Watson had 3 turnovsrs in the welsh second half alone and this says 0 clean breaks ?

Who made this guff up ?

The zero clean breaks is legit Alive, but look at the number of defenders he's beaten!! That stat is incredible!

These stats make a mockery of watsons non inclusion


2017

https://twitter.com/vern_cotter/status/855155432230453248/photo/1

alive555 wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

alive555 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

munkian wrote:Nicked from Reddit forum, some backrow 6 nations stats for comparison.

Unfortunately there's no minutes played data.

Link to the actual page, munk - if it's possible?  I'd just like to mosey through the whole ship rather than a few highly priced cabins.

This is  nonseense

Watson had 3 turnovsrs in the welsh second half alone and this says 0 clean breaks ?

Who made this guff up ?

The zero clean breaks is legit Alive, but look at the number of defenders he's beaten!! That stat is incredible!

These stats make a mockery of watsons non inclusion


2017

https://twitter.com/vern_cotter/status/855155432230453248/photo/1

Yes but he's Scotch.

Gwlad wrote:

alive555 wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

alive555 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

munkian wrote:Nicked from Reddit forum, some backrow 6 nations stats for comparison.

Unfortunately there's no minutes played data.

Link to the actual page, munk - if it's possible?  I'd just like to mosey through the whole ship rather than a few highly priced cabins.

This is  nonseense

Watson had 3 turnovsrs in the welsh second half alone and this says 0 clean breaks ?

Who made this guff up ?

The zero clean breaks is legit Alive, but look at the number of defenders he's beaten!! That stat is incredible!

These stats make a mockery of watsons non inclusion


2017

https://twitter.com/vern_cotter/status/855155432230453248/photo/1

Yes but he's Scotch.

Whats wrong with a nice scotch ?

The stats are always limited without a more rounded view. For I stance only moriarty was playing 8 out of the selected players I believe so you'd look more to carrying I'd say. Oh dear would be my next sentence.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Scottrf wrote:NH most successful coach? How many WCs? Whats his winning percentage? How many times has he beaten SH opposition?

Out of all the 6N coaches Gatland is the best. Steady Eddie doesn't have much to show for his time coaching in Australia although early days he did well. In 2005 his ARU contract was terminated. And you folks say that Gatland's methods have gotten stale .

Eddie has a better record than Gatland at Int level.

! x Tri nations, 1 WC final, 1 WC win (as assistant), 2 x 6 Nations (1 Slam).

Perhaps now yeah, I'll admit that it is a little better but Eddie has had a longer coaching career? Not sure why you're including the 1 WC win as an assistant. You seem to be overlooking the lions series win with Gatland, along with the upcoming one in NZ.....

mikey_dragon wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Scottrf wrote:NH most successful coach? How many WCs? Whats his winning percentage? How many times has he beaten SH opposition?

Out of all the 6N coaches Gatland is the best. Steady Eddie doesn't have much to show for his time coaching in Australia although early days he did well. In 2005 his ARU contract was terminated. And you folks say that Gatland's methods have gotten stale .

Eddie has a better record than Gatland at Int level.

! x Tri nations, 1 WC final, 1 WC win (as assistant), 2 x 6 Nations (1 Slam).

Perhaps now yeah, I'll admit that it is a little better but Eddie has had a longer coaching career? Not sure why you're including the 1 WC win as an assistant. You seem to be overlooking the lions series win with Gatland, along with the upcoming one in NZ.....

em, Gatland got the bullet from the IRFU (or rather his contract wasn't renewed). It still bothers him

Sin é wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Scottrf wrote:NH most successful coach? How many WCs? Whats his winning percentage? How many times has he beaten SH opposition?

Out of all the 6N coaches Gatland is the best. Steady Eddie doesn't have much to show for his time coaching in Australia although early days he did well. In 2005 his ARU contract was terminated. And you folks say that Gatland's methods have gotten stale .

Eddie has a better record than Gatland at Int level.

! x Tri nations, 1 WC final, 1 WC win (as assistant), 2 x 6 Nations (1 Slam).

Perhaps now yeah, I'll admit that it is a little better but Eddie has had a longer coaching career? Not sure why you're including the 1 WC win as an assistant. You seem to be overlooking the lions series win with Gatland, along with the upcoming one in NZ.....

em, Gatland got the bullet from the IRFU (or rather his contract wasn't renewed). It still bothers him

I don't recall him being with Ireland for over 6 years though. If, and it's a very big if that still bothers Gatland then he's certainly been getting his own back on Ireland ever since; knocking Ireland out of the World Cup, BODgate, and a front row seat to a recent 22-9 humbling . I think it's fair to say Gatland is winning?

Anyone seeing what the Crusaders are currently doing to the stormers?

NZ sides so far ahead.

Could be a long tour.

What the Crusaders are currently doing is terrifying. Reid is just outstanding, best player in the world.

We (the Lions) will be putting out some strong teams. I imagine it will be the strongest available for the likes of Crusaders and I fancy our chances.

Tbh all of the NZ sides are a similar high standard (Blues a bit below). And one is midweek between tests.

Yeah I think the one that is sandwiched is either Chiefs or 'canes and I think you might be right about Blues. The strength of NZ rugby has been phenomenal for the past few years, possibly their best ever.

I don't think the NZ super teams are any better than the Welsh regions on a good day.

TightHEAD wrote:I don't think the NZ super teams are any better than the Welsh regions on a good day.

Wahahahahahaha

TightHEAD wrote:I don't think the NZ super teams are any better than the Welsh regions on a good day.

Id confidently say otherwise

14 June:2016 Chiefs 40-7 Wales (Hamilton)

Oh dearie me

Dragons would have won that game.

Crusaders are decent but Dragons might just pip them.

alive555 wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:I don't think the NZ super teams are any better than the Welsh regions on a good day.

Id confidently say otherwise  

14 June:2016  Chiefs 40-7 Wales (Hamilton)

Oh dearie me

How many of the 12 chosen Lions tourists played in that game???

Could Glasgow beat 'em without their internationals though...

Griff wrote:

alive555 wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:I don't think the NZ super teams are any better than the Welsh regions on a good day.

Id confidently say otherwise  

14 June:2016  Chiefs 40-7 Wales (Hamilton)

Oh dearie me

How many of the 12 chosen Lions tourists played in that game???

Good point . They were reserved for the weekend thrashing in which 9 of your new lions appeared and were thrashed by the all blacks 46 - 6

Well, Maitland and Earls were pretty poor today.

Hey alive, time to put a lid on your moaning laddie.

Just foe him. It's what the mods want, especially seeing as he's one of their own.

Gwlad wrote:Hey alive, time to put a lid on your moaning laddie.

Its always gratifying to put a football supporter in his box

Wasnt hard

Just watched the first half of the Munster Saracens game and 2 points immediately strike me;

Firstly, if the Lions are to have any chance (which i very, very much doubt) then it maybe that the mid-season injuries incurred by the Sarries contingent will enable them rested and so revitalised so sufficiently that they will provide some counter to the excellence of the AB's?

Secondly, (and I am without doubt that he will be the next England captain) it is transparently obvious what an intelligent and equally athletic player Itoje is. However I do marvel how good players like him play beyond the laws. He comes in at the side, swims through mauls, lifts legs, plays people beyond the ruck or without the ball.
Don't get me wrong this is not some negative criticism, but more a comment that he will need to be careful not to get found out, not to build a reputation with referees, even if they will generally be biased towards the better players.
So here's hoping, as I expect, that he has a good tour and comes out enriched by the experience and not so battered beyond contortion that his following 12 months pale a drawn and redundant shadow of his potential.

kingelderfield wrote:Just watched the first half of the Munster Saracens game and 2 points immediately strike me;

Firstly, if the Lions are to have any chance (which i very, very much doubt) then it maybe that the mid-season injuries incurred by the Sarries contingent will enable them rested and so revitalised so sufficiently that they will provide some counter to the excellence of the AB's?

Secondly, (and I am without doubt that he will be the next England captain) it is transparently obvious what an intelligent and equally athletic player Itoje is. However I do marvel how good players like him play beyond the laws. He comes in at the side, swims through mauls, lifts legs, plays people beyond the ruck or without the ball.
Don't get me wrong this is not some negative criticism, but more a comment that he will need to be careful not to get found out, not to build a reputation with referees, even if they will generally be biased towards the better players.
So here's hoping, as I expect, that he has a good tour and comes out enriched by the experience and not so battered beyond contortion that his following 12 months pale a drawn and redundant shadow of his potential.

I noticed that, his illegal work around the Maul was particularly obvious, he was lifting a players legs right in front of the ref with no consequences, and he constantly drove in from the side. He is a very good player, but will have to watch that down south.

And of course if we can see it then obviously Hansen et al will be telling everyone in the press and officialdom the story.....

Another thing that has to be said is however much we lord the performances of the Vunipola brothers, realistically they are no more than a reminder that the AB's possess probably 3 dozen such players and as many of these are in the backs as in the forwards, and though we may better them in the forwards(?) our back play is still and age behind the kiwi's both in ability and execution.

Quite frankly if you're a Lions supporter I suggest you prey for rain and snow.....rain and snow....and yes more rain and snow.

Really nice selection of Lions tries here:

Ah Gerald and JJ them were the days.

6 out of 10 tries scored by Welsh boys.

Gwlad wrote:Ah Gerald and JJ them were the days.

6 out of 10 tries scored by Welsh boys.

No need.

I hope when its closer people stop talking about nationality and just support.

Yeah but there soooo is.

I am sick of the constant anti Welsh sentiment on this board and it ought to be remembered that it is Welsh boys - as shown here - who have scored the points in the last two winning tours as they have done in history. What have Scotland ever contributed? Gavin Hastings! Geech must be so embarrassed by Scots behavior right now. England nearly destroyed the concept in 05 and Ireland couldn't even get behind the boys after 2013 because Gats retired the Green Prince.

Scottrf wrote:I hope when its closer people stop talking about nationality and just support.

while you do your utmost to polarize the supporters

Gwlad wrote:

Scottrf wrote:I hope when its closer people stop talking about nationality and just support.

while you do your utmost to polarize the supporters

You reckon.

Gwlad wrote:Yeah but there soooo is.

I am sick of the constant anti Welsh sentiment on this board and it ought to be remembered that it is Welsh boys - as shown here - who have scored the points in the last two winning tours as they have done in history. What have Scotland ever contributed? Gavin Hastings! Geech must be so embarrassed by Scots behavior right now. England nearly destroyed the concept in 05 and Ireland couldn't even get behind the boys after 2013 because Gats retired the Green Prince.

Last time I check it was a 15/23 man game, you bang on about point scorers way too much.

Gwlad wrote:Yeah but there soooo is.

I am sick of the constant anti Welsh sentiment on this board and it ought to be remembered that it is Welsh boys - as shown here - who have scored the points in the last two winning tours as they have done in history. What have Scotland ever contributed? Gavin Hastings! Geech must be so embarrassed by Scots behavior right now. England nearly destroyed the concept in 05 and Ireland couldn't even get behind the boys after 2013 because Gats retired the Green Prince.

If it's any consolation I couldn't care less if there were 40 Welshmen going or what the mixture of nationalities was. I think there are too many Irish on the tour ( completely overrated players). Also it didn't matte to me that BOD was dropped. In fact I wouldn't mind if BT sports dropped him as well.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Yeah but there soooo is.

I am sick of the constant anti Welsh sentiment on this board and it ought to be remembered that it is Welsh boys - as shown here - who have scored the points in the last two winning tours as they have done in history. What have Scotland ever contributed? Gavin Hastings! Geech must be so embarrassed by Scots behavior right now. England nearly destroyed the concept in 05 and Ireland couldn't even get behind the boys after 2013 because Gats retired the Green Prince.

Last time I check it was a 15/23 man game, you bang on about point scorers way too much.

Only Welsh point scorers mind, not much else to choose from.

It's really an irrelevance, we'd have won in Australia without Halfpenny, doubtful we'd have won without Sexton or Corbisiero.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:It's really an irrelevance, we'd have won in Australia without Halfpenny, doubtful we'd have won without Sexton or Corbisiero.

If i have to trade facts with your utter boo larks then lets see….

No Halfpenny

Test 1: Oz 21 - 10 Lions (luckily Cuthbert and North scored a try a piece phew)
Test 2: Oz 16 - 0 Lions (Yep Sex and Corbs contributed loads that game)
Test 3: Oz 16 - 20 Lions (North and Roberts scorers and massive contribution by Sexton (thanks to Halfpenny) and Corbisiero)

Series loss

Luckily, with 52 of the 82 points scored in the tests, Halfpenny was on tour.

Wales contributed 72 of those 82 winning points

Thanks for playing.

You're not very good at wumming are you Gwlad?