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.

TightHEAD wrote:It is the sort of thing Gatland would do. Apparently the rumour is Launcbury whipped Gatland with a wet towel after the game at the MS this year.

One of the filthy fantasies in your head no doubt, TightHEAD.

Mrs Tighthead does her best to be fair. But what goes on Tour and all that!

I wonder if Luke Charteris or Bradley Davies would have been given the nod ahead of Cory Hill had they been fit? The funny thing is (funny as in odd, not funny ha ha) that against Tonga much of the pre-game talk was about Wales' lack of locks. With AWJ away with the Lions, Charteris injured (I think), Bradley Davies having a baby, Jake Ball have an operation (I think) we had only two locks starting and none on the bench. So Cory Hill is literally 3rd choice at best, although he did play in the AIs or 6N and did OK. Has come from nowhere a bit this season.

I know it's the wrong thread for this but who the hell is going to play lock for Wales against Samoa?! I think there's only 1 lock left in the squad!

Can't they have AWJ?

Griff wrote:I wonder if Luke Charteris or Bradley Davies would have been given the nod ahead of Cory Hill had they been fit? The funny thing is (funny as in odd, not funny ha ha) that against Tonga much of the pre-game talk was about Wales' lack of locks. With AWJ away with the Lions, Charteris injured (I think), Bradley Davies having a baby, Jake Ball have an operation (I think) we had only two locks starting and none on the bench. So Cory Hill is literally 3rd choice at best, although he did play in the AIs or 6N and did OK. Has come from nowhere a bit this season.

I know it's the wrong thread for this but who the hell is going to play lock for Wales against Samoa?! I think there's only 1 lock left in the squad!

No Griff, the 2 Ospreys youngsters Thornton and Beard are out there, (well at least they were initially selected) I haven't seen anything where they have been withdrawn.

wayne wrote:

Griff wrote:I wonder if Luke Charteris or Bradley Davies would have been given the nod ahead of Cory Hill had they been fit? The funny thing is (funny as in odd, not funny ha ha) that against Tonga much of the pre-game talk was about Wales' lack of locks. With AWJ away with the Lions, Charteris injured (I think), Bradley Davies having a baby, Jake Ball have an operation (I think) we had only two locks starting and none on the bench. So Cory Hill is literally 3rd choice at best, although he did play in the AIs or 6N and did OK. Has come from nowhere a bit this season.

I know it's the wrong thread for this but who the hell is going to play lock for Wales against Samoa?! I think there's only 1 lock left in the squad!

No Griff, the 2 Ospreys youngsters Thornton and Beard are out there, (well at least they were initially selected) I haven't seen anything where they have been withdrawn.

Ah, ok. Thanks Wayne. So they're in the squad but not chosen in the match day 23 vs Tonga?

TightHEAD wrote:Can't they have AWJ?

We don't want him! You Lions lot can have him!

It is genuinely difficult to understand Gats rationale in all of this, none of the explanations I have heard stand up to any scrutiny really.

I think its partly to bolster welsh coffers and partly his cler bias against the scots.

How many welsh players there now compared to how many scots? Scotland beat Wales well in the 6N and are higher ranked

Also taking the likes of Launchberry and Gray would show just how poor the welsh locks are in comparison.