Lions reinforcements (or why we should learn to love Roberts)

First topic message reminder :

Since we're all being so nice to each other and we haven't had one for a while,  i thought we needed to relieve some tension with a new Lions thread.

We know that by the 1st test there will be at least 15-20% casualties so we'll lose up to 8 players. Its likely we'll lose a couple before the squad even leaves and unlike the boyos at Rorke's Drift Gatland can call on reinforcements to swell the ranks to hold off the All Black hordes. With the club games and well documented All Black perceptions of what is and what isn't foul/dangerous play, it could get messy.

I expect the following to get the nod in this order. I've picked players who should have been in the squad, are leaders, or who are former Lions and can make an impact.

Props: Healy, Jenkins, Evans,
Props: Nel, Lee, Francis
Hookers: Hartley, Brown, Hibbard
Locks: Launchbury, Ryan, R Gray, Charteris,
Flank: Watson, Lydiate, Wobshaw
8: Heaslip, ?
9: Care, Davies
10: Ford, Russell.
Centre: Roberts, Ringrose
back 3: Kearney. Never Mike Brown

Fire at will.

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:Telegraph reporting that  Kristian Dacey, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Gareth Davies plus 2 Scots are being called up to bench vs the Chiefs.

SCW in disguise

The telegraph got it drastically wrong before, I hope this is no exception. To see him fill the Lions with his sycophants is truly disgraceful.

I'm presuming the 2 Scots are Russell and Gray who can both make strong cases, I could also make a case for Francis, the rest are desperate picks at best.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:Telegraph reporting that  Kristian Dacey, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Gareth Davies plus 2 Scots are being called up to bench vs the Chiefs.

SCW in disguise

The telegraph got it drastically wrong before, I hope this is no exception. To see him fill the Lions with his sycophants is truly disgraceful.

I'm presuming the 2 Scots are Russell and Gray who can both make strong cases, I could also make a case for Francis, the rest are desperate picks at best.

It may well be the same source but its on the beeb at the moment. I copied the quote onto another thread

As much as Eddie Jones gets on my pecks, he has a point. The Lions should be about who is the best, not who is closest.

Eddie understands the lions better than Gats. Sign him up for 2021tour.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:Telegraph reporting that  Kristian Dacey, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Gareth Davies plus 2 Scots are being called up to bench vs the Chiefs.

SCW in disguise

The telegraph got it drastically wrong before, I hope this is no exception. To see him fill the Lions with his sycophants is truly disgraceful.

I'm presuming the 2 Scots are Russell and Gray who can both make strong cases, I could also make a case for Francis, the rest are desperate picks at best.

Look the word up and don't show yourself up.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:Telegraph reporting that  Kristian Dacey, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Gareth Davies plus 2 Scots are being called up to bench vs the Chiefs.

SCW in disguise

The telegraph got it drastically wrong before, I hope this is no exception. To see him fill the Lions with his sycophants is truly disgraceful.

I'm presuming the 2 Scots are Russell and Gray who can both make strong cases, I could also make a case for Francis, the rest are desperate picks at best.

The Telegraph was also predicting a Tory landslide last week. I wouldn't worry about their opinions. Yet.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:Telegraph reporting that  Kristian Dacey, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Gareth Davies plus 2 Scots are being called up to bench vs the Chiefs.

SCW in disguise

The telegraph got it drastically wrong before, I hope this is no exception. To see him fill the Lions with his sycophants is truly disgraceful.

I'm presuming the 2 Scots are Russell and Gray who can both make strong cases, I could also make a case for Francis, the rest are desperate picks at best.

Gareth Davies, desperate pick... whos better. I'd put him before Laidlaw any day anyway.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:As much as Eddie Jones gets on my pecks, he has a point. The Lions should be about who is the best, not who is closest.

TightHEAD wrote:Eddie understands the lions better than Gats. Sign him up for 2021tour.

be sensible.... IF replacements are needed now, with only a few mid-week games left, as I'm sure that is what Gats is trying to bolster allowing rest time for players featuring in the tests, then it makes perfect sense bringing the guys in who are in the same (or near) timezone. What's the point of bringing in players from the England squad in Argentina and then waiting a week for them to get over the jet lag. The tour will be over by then.

Simply get off your nationalistic pride, and support the LIONS.

Eddie Jones needs to wind his neck into his Humpty Dumpty head, its none of his business and he will never be a Lions coach, too coarse.

Corey Hill is better than Johnny Gray? Or Joe Launchbery?

4 Welsh players called up to the Lions !!!!!

Well at least there is a Merthyr boy in there now.

Gatland is playing a blinder here. Most people have been calling for an end to the Lions Circus and this ringmaster is doing his best to make it so.

At least he has cleverly deflected from the likely manshaming today.

Lol. Gatland is certainly doing his best. Next lions tour I again hope for a coach not with any of our international teams!

No 7&1/2 wrote:Lol. Gatland is certainly doing his best. Next lions tour I again hope for a coach not with any of our international teams!

Totally agree. Decisions like this just breed further division between the home nations. Lions shirts should be earnt on ability not whether how far away you are. It surely devalues the shirt. I would be interested on the views of Mcgeechan on this decision post tour.

Ugo summed it up on a tweet. Total b*****ks.

I'm sorry, Gats has been ridiculous here. Kristian Dacey and Cory Hill Lions? Tomos Francis?! Behave. Gareth Davies, perhaps. I rate him as a very good player. But there are others such as Care who would be a better call.

Hang your head in shame, Gatland.

Absolute joke, I started to support the Lions but have again gone back to wanting to see Gatland crumble, selection all round has been embarrassing.

Superb management by Gatland of the ridiculous schedule set by the NZRFU, you notice no one is whining about the Scots called up ....Alan who?

Shame Aussie jones doesn't realize that it is the lions not an opportunity for English boys to go on a midget tossing jolly

Read other thread bozo.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Alan Dell (if true), Corey Hill and Kristian Dacey is absolutely spunking all over the Lions shirt. It's not about who is closest but who is the best. None of those are the best. Alan Dell isn't even the best loose head in Edinburgh never mind the best loose head available for the Lions!

Gwlad wrote:Shame Aussie jones doesn't realize that it is the lions not an opportunity for English boys to go on a midget tossing jolly

One them knows what he's talking about and the other is Warren Gatland, sums you up defending it.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Shame Aussie jones doesn't realize that it is the lions not an opportunity for English boys to go on a midget tossing jolly

One them knows what he's talking about and the other is Warren Gatland, sums you up defending it.

Defending the Lions and proud of it, Jones is only concerned about advancing English interest, sums you up supporting it.

Gwlad wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Shame Aussie jones doesn't realize that it is the lions not an opportunity for English boys to go on a midget tossing jolly

One them knows what he's talking about and the other is Warren Gatland, sums you up defending it.

Defending the Lions and proud of it, Jones is only concerned about advancing English interest, sums you up supporting it.

So what is Gatland doing by calling up substandard players?

Can everyone stop having a mass gusset bunching tantrum and remember that these guys are benching against the Chiefs to prevent the Test lions having to play twice in 1 week.

Gwlad wrote:Superb management by Gatland of the ridiculous schedule set by the NZRFU, you notice no one is whining about the Scots called up ....Alan who?

Ewe shewer? Try the other thread...

Gwlad wrote:Can everyone stop having a mass gusset bunching tantrum and remember that these guys are benching against the Chiefs to prevent the Test lions having to play twice in 1 week.

So he didn't pick enough players to begin with?

Jones is calling it down the middle; Hartley, Launchbury and Danny Care are all significantly better than the players called up. I suppose they are too busy beating Argentina in a team full of youngsters.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Can everyone stop having a mass gusset bunching tantrum and remember that these guys are benching against the Chiefs to prevent the Test lions having to play twice in 1 week.

So he didn't pick enough players to begin with?

Can you not do maths? How was he supposed to know Hogg would break and Moriarty would go crook....Farrell also doubtful, Lawes dodgy...no wonder he wants no more English, too fragile. Welsh boys will come in and do a job for the lions, while English just carp and whine like the spoiled entitled brats they are - and that's just the coach.

Kristian Dacey??? Corey Hill??? Tomas Francis???
I can understand Gareth Davies but those 3??? If I was in the area I would be expecting my call up anytime soon then. Just to clarify - I haven't played since 1989, am supremely unfit and was only good enough to feature for the 3rd XV at school. As a replacement.
However that doesn't matter - I am 1/16 Welsh (I think) so should qualify. FFS.

Gwlad wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Shame Aussie jones doesn't realize that it is the lions not an opportunity for English boys to go on a midget tossing jolly

One them knows what he's talking about and the other is Warren Gatland, sums you up defending it.

Defending the Lions and proud of it, Jones is only concerned about advancing English interest, sums you up supporting it.

The Lions is supposed to be the best players from Britain and Ireland. The four Welsh players called up are certainly not that, two of them wouldn't normally feature in a Wales 23. Francis isn't even the first choice tighthead at his club either that guy is out in Argentina.

If they wanted a second row at short notice and close to camp then Johnny Gray an exponentially better player is across the Tasman. It's an insult to the Lions traditions in my view.

I think its funny, should distract the usual idiots and give them plenty to moan about basically for ever.

What a joke

It's distracting you so I take your point about the usual idiots.

Haha Barclay doesnt know what to do with a trophy you cannae stir your porridge with

Hammersmith harrier wrote:It's distracting you so I take your point about the usual idiots.

Careful Hammersmith, thinking so laterally will confuse your brain cell.

Gatlands biased views has damaged the Lions brand for me.

TightHEAD wrote:Gatlands biased views has damaged the Lions brand for me.

Good.

Plonker

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Shame Aussie jones doesn't realize that it is the lions not an opportunity for English boys to go on a midget tossing jolly

One them knows what he's talking about and the other is Warren Gatland, sums you up defending it.

Defending the Lions and proud of it, Jones is only concerned about advancing English interest, sums you up supporting it.

The Lions is supposed to be the best players from Britain and Ireland. The four Welsh players called up are certainly not that, two of them wouldn't normally feature in a Wales 23. Francis isn't even the first choice tighthead at his club either that guy is out in Argentina.

If they wanted a second row at short notice and close to camp then Johnny Gray an exponentially better player is across the Tasman. It's an insult to the Lions traditions in my view.

Just great to see so many bolters at once

TightHEAD wrote:Plonker

You're such a baby tight, hope you're enjoying your Gullivers tour...how much did it set you back

McGeechan thinks it's the wrong move by Gatland. Says he should have talked to Jones earlier because he always knew he would add players.

Surely better to stay in Argentina than fly 13 hours to lose to a club side?

Mate the biased selections is obvious for all to see out here, some of the Welsh lads here are embarrassed by it, this is not what the Lions is about, you pick the best players available. End of. THIS IS THE LIONS not a jolly boys outing.

The only "job" the welsh boys will do gwlad is hold tackle bags and make the bench for the remaining mid week games. The gusset bunching is just your England agenda for a fecking change. Gatland is going to cop a lot of flak over the replacements from all sides, not just the eng/scot media and fans.

Breadvan wrote:The only "job" the welsh boys will do gwlad is hold tackle bags and make the bench for the remaining mid week games. The gusset bunching is just your England agenda for a fecking change. Gatland is going to cop a lot of flak over the replacements from all sides, not just the eng/scot media and fans.

Yes, just on TV now, Ferris and McGeechan have both said it doesn't sit well with them.

No9 wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:As much as Eddie Jones gets on my pecks, he has a point. The Lions should be about who is the best, not who is closest.

TightHEAD wrote:Eddie understands the lions better than Gats. Sign him up for 2021tour.

be sensible.... IF replacements are needed now, with only a few mid-week games left, as I'm sure that is what Gats is trying to bolster allowing rest time for players featuring in the tests, then it makes perfect sense bringing the guys in who are in the same (or near) timezone. What's the point of bringing in players from the England squad in Argentina and then waiting a week for them to get over the jet lag. The tour will be over by then.

Simply get off your nationalistic pride, and support the LIONS.

There are better players already in the same time zone. Scotland just beat Aus in Sydney - Wales haven't had what it takes to do that since 18th June 1987.

Gatland has devalued the shirt. Not for the first time.

I'm just glad Gatland hasn't touched the Irish players on tour. Thanks!

I'm also glad people are starting to realise (even if they don't vocalise it yet) that the Lions is an outdated joke. It isn't just Gatland's fault. I actually see his logic in these selections, from a pragmatic point of view. It's also a middle finger to the authorities who organised the ridiculous amount of games on this suicidal tour.

I know proximity will play a part in the selecting of replacements on the Lions tour but a couple these selections are odd to say the least, even if they are only there to cover one or two midweek games to protect test starters. It will leave some bad tastes in mouths of players worthy of selection and shows very little respect for the Lions and the players called up. Basically Gatland is saying, you boys are only good enough for cannon fodder and we do not care about midweek games, its all about the tests.

I think it is a wrong and bad decision by Gatland.

Gats blooding Welsh players in Lions jerseys is pathetic abuse of his position.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I'm just glad Gatland hasn't touched the Irish players on tour. Thanks!

I'm also glad people are starting to realise (even if they don't vocalise it yet) that the Lions is an outdated joke. It isn't just Gatland's fault. I actually see his logic in these selections, from a pragmatic point of view. It's also a middle finger to the authorities who organised the ridiculous amount of games on this suicidal tour.

Agree. It make sense on a geographic basis but its WHO he's called up that's going to get him the most grief. I'm fully behind the lions but as the tour and inevitable results go on, the less England players subjected to the punishing games and out dated coaching the better.

TightHEAD wrote:Gats blooding Welsh players in Lions jerseys is pathetic abuse of his position.

oh shut up