Lions

[Croft_No.5]

The aforementioned Mish was MOTM.

[Cameo]

Fagerson and VDM start. Sutherland and Hogg on the bench. Big day for the props.

[stevedog1980]

Big day for Hamish, Finn and Hogg as well despite them not being in the squad. It's nip and tuck between Williams v Hogg and Finn v Biggar at the moment and every game is an audition for one or the other.

Expecting a big game from the back row as well, with both Navidi and Curry haven't their first opportunity to put their hands up I expect both to go at it with an even higher level of intensity following on from Hamish and his MOTM performance.

The competition for places here is fierce, next to nobody seems to be nailed on.

Oh, forgot about Duhan! He's got to follow on from Josh Adams scoring 4 tries so expect to see some real physical carrying while he shows what he does differently

[whatisthejava]

Yeah, I don’t think anyone is nailed on except Connor Murray for the first test.

Warburton and the welsh media are banging the drum for Biggar but I reckon it’s still wide open. As much as Gatland will want to know his 10, Russell just offers more in attack and can unlock any defence in a way which will make Rassie worry about it.

[Big D]

Yeah, I don’t think anyone is nailed on except Connor Murray for the first test.

Warburton and the welsh media are banging the drum for Biggar but I reckon it’s still wide open. As much as Gatland will want to know his 10, Russell just offers more in attack and can unlock any defence in a way which will make Rassie worry about it.

Biggar has put down the best performance of any 10 thus far.

With one less warm up game Biggar is in pole position.

[septic 9]

Yeah, I don’t think anyone is nailed on except Connor Murray for the first test.

Warburton and the welsh media are banging the drum for Biggar but I reckon it’s still wide open. As much as Gatland will want to know his 10, Russell just offers more in attack and can unlock any defence in a way which will make Rassie worry about it.

Biggar has put down the best performance of any 10 thus far.

With one less warm up game Biggar is in pole position.

agree. And seems clear Gatland would only pick Russell if Farrell is at 12. Farrell at 12, even an in form Farrell is not the way to go out there. And he is nowhere near in form

[septic 9]

but is looking more and more likely that none of our speculations, or Gatlands are going to matter much.
Game v Sharks goes ahead today, but v Bulls on Sat already off, significant Covid in their camp. Boks have a bigger outbreak than last week, several more players and a few coaching staff, so their game v Georgia this week off. And having played the Boks last weekend, Georgia have 4 cases as well

All the Boks squad had been fully vaccinated BTW

[septic 9]

cases in Lions camp as well now. Today's KO put back an hour, waiting for results if more covid tests I guess, so may not happen

[no sleep]

Looks like Price is the last scrum-half left. Hamish Watson is the replacement 9.

[septic 9]

Looks like Price is the last scrum-half left. Hamish Watson is the replacement 9.

nope
Russell is the replacement 9. And 10,11,16,16,14 and 15

[no sleep]

Yeah but just imagine Aki and Faletau as a centre pairing.

[whatisthejava]

have to say, all the scots showing up really well.

Price has had a couple of brilliant games,
DVDM is doing well


Its going to be a hell of a job to pick a Lions 15

Watson has to be almost certainly nailed on
Fagerson is showing up well
Sutherland is prob either starting or on bench
Price - I reckon makes bench
Russell - Who knows, I really think it depends who is picking, the backs
Harris - See above, I reckon it depends if Henshaw or Farrell gets 12, If Farrell gets 12, im not sure I see Russell since they dont seem to gel well on the pitch
DVDM - I reckon it depends on 15 and how much Gatland wants LW on the pitch
Hogg - See above


I actually reckon Fagerson, Harris, DVDM,are prob the most likly to start,

Hogg is prob neck and neck with Liam Williams

[Big D]

have to say, all the scots showing up really well.

Price has had a couple of brilliant games,
DVDM is doing well


Its going to be a hell of a job to pick a Lions 15

Watson has to be almost certainly nailed on
Fagerson is showing up well
Sutherland is prob either starting or on bench
Price - I reckon makes bench
Russell - Who knows, I really think it depends who is picking, the backs
Harris - See above, I reckon it depends if Henshaw or Farrell gets 12, If Farrell gets 12, im not sure I see Russell since they dont seem to gel well on the pitch
DVDM - I reckon it depends on 15 and how much Gatland wants LW on the pitch
Hogg - See above


I actually reckon Fagerson, Harris, DVDM,are prob the most likly to start,

Hogg is prob neck and neck with Liam Williams

All Scots bar Fagerson showed up well today.

Can't see Finn or Fagerson starting. The rest have a chance with Sutherland, Watson, and Hogg most likely and Duhan tactics dependant. Sutherland was a massive step up on Mako and Jones did heehaw on Saturday.

[Buggaluggs]

For the back three, there's going to be a couple of very good players not even making the bench. It's as strong as I've ever seen on a Lions tour.

[whatisthejava]

What you think Fagerson did wrong. One penalty in the scrum, good tackling, showed up well in the lose. Outperformed Mako and I thought furlong was quiet

[whatisthejava]

For the back three, there's going to be a couple of very good players not even making the bench. It's as strong as I've ever seen on a Lions tour.

I can’t decide if this is down to a more wide selection policy , different coaches or just a weird timing that we have quality players in depth

[Big D]

For the back three, there's going to be a couple of very good players not even making the bench. It's as strong as I've ever seen on a Lions tour.

I can’t decide if this is down to a more wide selection policy , different coaches or just a weird timing that we have quality players in depth

Wing is quite strong in B+I at the moment; May, Earls, Graham, Maitland and Stockdale or all decent to good. And of course North isn't on tour either.

[Big D]

What you think Fagerson did wrong. One penalty in the scrum, good tackling, showed up well in the lose. Outperformed Mako and I thought furlong was quiet

Gave away two penalties, made no impact against a second string pack in the scrum, ineffective in the loose and missed one of his two or three tackles. He was OK, no more and no less IMO.

Furlong was far more visible in defence and made an impact in the scrum IMO.

Mako was horseshit, outperforming Mako is damning with faint praise.

[Cameo]

Funny tours these now. Apart from the New Zealand tours, the Lions face no real challenges until the tests. I think that makes it much harder to play yourself into the team unless the person ahead of you plays themselves out of it.

Daly has looked good (and I rate him), but I'm absolutely sure Huw Jones (or Marchant or Ringrose) would carve up in these games. The same could be said for Turner.

The games are still useful for building team cohesion and getting tuned up but each match is not really a big event in itself (the lack of crowds obviously plays into that). I think this is highlighted more now that they aren't community outreach events either.

[Which Tyler]

Funny tours these now. Apart from the New Zealand tours, the Lions face no real challenges until the tests. I think that makes it much harder to play yourself into the team unless the person ahead of you plays themselves out of it.

To be fair, this is not a normal tour - the SA national team has had to bubble, meaning that none of the top 50-60 SA players are available for their franchises. Normally the Sharks would be packed with Springboks looking to stake a claim in the test side (and hurt a few Lions) - now they barely reach the level of "opposed training run" opposition.

[Cameo]

Funny tours these now. Apart from the New Zealand tours, the Lions face no real challenges until the tests. I think that makes it much harder to play yourself into the team unless the person ahead of you plays themselves out of it.

To be fair, this is not a normal tour - the SA national team has had to bubble, meaning that none of the top 50-60 SA players are available for their franchises. Normally the Sharks would be packed with Springboks looking to stake a claim in the test side (and hurt a few Lions) - now they barely reach the level of "opposed training run" opposition.

I'm sure most of the Springboks were in a training camp last time too. Not quite so many but the main contenders.

When was the last time the Lions lost a tour game outside of New Zealand? Genuine question. Don't remember any but could have been one between the tests.

[Big D]

Funny tours these now. Apart from the New Zealand tours, the Lions face no real challenges until the tests. I think that makes it much harder to play yourself into the team unless the person ahead of you plays themselves out of it.

To be fair, this is not a normal tour - the SA national team has had to bubble, meaning that none of the top 50-60 SA players are available for their franchises. Normally the Sharks would be packed with Springboks looking to stake a claim in the test side (and hurt a few Lions) - now they barely reach the level of "opposed training run" opposition.

I'm sure most of the Springboks were in a training camp last time too. Not quite so many but the main contenders.

When was the last time the Lions lost a tour game outside of New Zealand? Genuine question. Don't remember any but could have been one between the tests.

Brumbies in Oz week before test 1.

[Numbers]

Funny tours these now. Apart from the New Zealand tours, the Lions face no real challenges until the tests. I think that makes it much harder to play yourself into the team unless the person ahead of you plays themselves out of it.

To be fair, this is not a normal tour - the SA national team has had to bubble, meaning that none of the top 50-60 SA players are available for their franchises. Normally the Sharks would be packed with Springboks looking to stake a claim in the test side (and hurt a few Lions) - now they barely reach the level of "opposed training run" opposition.

I'm sure most of the Springboks were in a training camp last time too. Not quite so many but the main contenders.

When was the last time the Lions lost a tour game outside of New Zealand? Genuine question. Don't remember any but could have been one between the tests.

They lost a game against the Brumbies on the Aus tour.

[Puja]

To be fair, this is not a normal tour - the SA national team has had to bubble, meaning that none of the top 50-60 SA players are available for their franchises. Normally the Sharks would be packed with Springboks looking to stake a claim in the test side (and hurt a few Lions) - now they barely reach the level of "opposed training run" opposition.

I'm sure most of the Springboks were in a training camp last time too. Not quite so many but the main contenders.

When was the last time the Lions lost a tour game outside of New Zealand? Genuine question. Don't remember any but could have been one between the tests.

They lost a game against the Brumbies on the Aus tour.

Although in fairness, that was also the game where Gatland called up three of England's 2nd XV from the Argentina tour and chucked them in with all the players he'd decided would not be involved with the tests with zero preparation. Or, to put it another way - Billy Twelvetrees, British and Irish Lions starter.

Puja

[Big D]

I'm sure most of the Springboks were in a training camp last time too. Not quite so many but the main contenders.

When was the last time the Lions lost a tour game outside of New Zealand? Genuine question. Don't remember any but could have been one between the tests.

They lost a game against the Brumbies on the Aus tour.

Although in fairness, that was also the game where Gatland called up three of England's 2nd XV from the Argentina tour and chucked them in with all the players he'd decided would not be involved with the tests with zero preparation. Or, to put it another way - Billy Twelvetrees, British and Irish Lions starter.

Puja

That's true. They drew with the emerging Boks on their last SA tour and had a couple of very narrow wins IIRC.