Lions

[hp18]

To accuse O'Halloran - a Kiwi with no absolutely no obligation to the Lions - of a dereliction of duty is nonsense on stilts.

Townsend very properly said no as he had a more pressing assignment. Gatland wasnt seriously suggesting that he work as an assistant to Howley surely?

Is James Robson not going as the tour doc? That guy has certainly given plenty to the Lions cause over the last few tours.

Trolling.

That is what Gatland wanted yes.

Doc Rob was available but simply not asked.

[Stones of granite]

To accuse O'Halloran - a Kiwi with no absolutely no obligation to the Lions - of a dereliction of duty is nonsense on stilts.

Townsend very properly said no as he had a more pressing assignment. Gatland wasnt seriously suggesting that he work as an assistant to Howley surely?

Is James Robson not going as the tour doc? That guy has certainly given plenty to the Lions cause over the last few tours.

Trolling.

That is what Gatland wanted yes.

Doc Rob was available but simply not asked.

Which raises the suggestion that Gatland didn't really want Toony or O'Halloran at all, but simply asked them for forms sake while setting conditions that he knew would be unacceptable. This then leaves the field free for him to pick whatever Welsh players suit his gameplan and facing down criticism of the lack of Scots by pointing to a putative lack of interest.

What a scumbag.

[ARM]

Times you say?

Let me guess...Owen Slot?

Btw - nicely played MellsBlue.

Correct

Correct

And thank you

Owen Slot

The guy is still sour that he shifted over to Chief Rugby Correspondent prior to RWC15 so that he was all set for the glory of an English WC win on home soil.

His judgement there, or lack of, demonstrates his knowledge of rugby. He's a blow in cheerleader of the English team with zero objectivity

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Times you say?

Let me guess...Owen Slot?

Btw - nicely played MellsBlue.

Correct

Correct

And thank you

Haha, that was well played all round. Good trolling, followed by good ranting.

Internet... you win this round.

[Big D]

I noticed that VC has said he reckons 10 Scots could be in consideration.
Nel
Gray squared
Laidlaw
Russell
Dunbar
Taylor
Jones
Seymour
Hogg

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Think Eskimo will suffer from not being in veiw during the 6 nations. It's a fucking shame, as, for me at least he was a nailed on tourist.

[Mellsblue]

I noticed that VC has said he reckons 10 Scots could be in consideration.
Nel
Gray squared
Laidlaw
Russell
Dunbar
Taylor
Jones
Seymour
Hogg

Nel - Yes, if he can get fit
Richie - no
Jonny - yes but it's such a competitive position
Laidlaw - yes, will make a good dirtracker
Russell - possibly, between him and Ford for the third birth, assuming Sexton can stay fit and they plan to play anything beyond Gatball
Dunbar - yes, fighting with S Williams for the second spot behind Henshaw. This assumes Farrell is seen solely as a FH.
Taylor - quality player with an incredible academy education but needs a good 6N. The ability to play 12 & 13 might sway it in his favour.
Jones - doesn't strike me as a Gatland type player. Joseph has the elusive OC spot nailed and Daly will be ahead based on covering wing and FB.
Seymour - yes
Hogg - yes

[AL.]

It's hugely ironic that for years Scots have been slated for moaning about there being too few Scots players selected, now folk are moaning that Scots aren't sufficiently interested.

I kind of think that the author wrote a deliberately provocative piece to get himself talked about. Typical fuckwit journalist.

Nail on the head there mate, in fact everyone seems to have spotted the obvious. Gatland is a fud, Howley is a fud, the boys club that is the Lions is losing its appeal through gash selections etc etc. Dont get me wrong you will always have an unhappy group in there somewhere as people have their own ideas on selection and we cant all get what we want, but Gatland is a fud (did I say that already?) and he wouldn't pick his itchy arse if he wasn't palls with the cleg nut.

As for O'Haloran, why should he be obliged to coach against his own country (they were never on the immediate radar for Scotland, now they are he's off to the weeg he still wont, coincidence though, not the actual reason I dare say).

[AL.]

Nugget.

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/analysi ... b-comments

[Big D]

Nice to see someone focus on positives.

I think we may see 6 second rows go with Henderson and Itoje covering 6 too.

[Big D]

Think Eskimo will suffer from not being in veiw during the 6 nations. It's a fucking shame, as, for me at least he was a nailed on tourist.

I think so long as he can get back and playing by March time he would be in consideration for the tour. There are not many high quality tightheads about the B+I isles and his body of work has been good.

The big caveat is that he can get back on the pitch. Dickinson is another who would have been in the conversation but for injury.

[Matt Ha]

I heard Maitland mentioned as a possible tourist over the weekend. Been in excellent form for Sarries this season, and can cover fb.

[Big D]

I heard Maitland mentioned as a possible tourist over the weekend. Been in excellent form for Sarries this season, and can cover fb.

And Gatland likes him.

My issue with Maitland is he is solid but completely unspectacular. He does most things nice and tidily, and to be fair there is lots to be said for that but IMO he lacks something at the top level. He doesn't really have that ability to create something out of nothing. His style makes it look like he lacks top end speed sometimes but I do think that is down to running style.

But if only one Scottish winger goes and his name isn't Seymour then that would be BS.

[Mellsblue]

I heard Maitland mentioned as a possible tourist over the weekend. Been in excellent form for Sarries this season, and can cover fb.

And Gatland likes him.

My issue with Maitland is he is solid but completely unspectacular. He does most things nice and tidily, and to be fair there is lots to be said for that but IMO he lacks something at the top level. He doesn't really have that ability to create something out of nothing. His style makes it look like he lacks top end speed sometimes but I do think that is down to running style.

But if only one Scottish winger goes and his name isn't Seymour then that would be BS.

Agreed. Also, with Watson, Halfpenny and Williams all able to play wing and FB and all being better players than Maitland I can't see his versatility being much of plus. You can also add Zebo to that and, if you want a bolter, Abendanon who has been on fire since moving to France.

[Big D]

Thing on the BBC website about Laidlaw "laughing off" Lions captaincy talks. I know there are not many clear test XV options but there is no way Laidlaw should be considered captain.

Looking at the odds on PP is quite funny.
Brown 40/1
Laidlaw 150/1
Gray Snr - 200/1
Lawes 300/1

No price on J Gray, but AWJ is favourite at 6/5. Not a lot of value in the market - Farrell at 12/1 could be the outside bet.

NZ -7 is 6/5 for the 1st test.

Seymour 2/1 to make the squad. Russell 5/2 (Biggar Evens). Barclay at 12/1 is interesting in so much as he would be a useful tourist due to his flexibility. AWJ 1/100 to make the squad. North is 1/33 which seems daft to me, as he wouldn't be the first winger I would name.

In other news Weeg 14 point underdogs to Sarries.

[Numbers]

Thing on the BBC website about Laidlaw "laughing off" Lions captaincy talks. I know there are not many clear test XV options but there is no way Laidlaw should be considered captain.

Looking at the odds on PP is quite funny.
Brown 40/1
Laidlaw 150/1
Gray Snr - 200/1
Lawes 300/1

No price on J Gray, but AWJ is favourite at 6/5. Not a lot of value in the market - Farrell at 12/1 could be the outside bet.

NZ -7 is 6/5 for the 1st test.

Seymour 2/1 to make the squad. Russell 5/2 (Biggar Evens). Barclay at 12/1 is interesting in so much as he would be a useful tourist due to his flexibility. AWJ 1/100 to make the squad. North is 1/33 which seems daft to me, as he wouldn't be the first winger I would name.

In other news Weeg 14 point underdogs to Sarries.

I don't think he'll make the plane.

[Numbers]

He might be there as a mid-week team leader.

Aye, good point.

[Big D]

I wouldn't take him as things stand.

[Mellsblue]

In other news Weeg 14 point underdogs to Sarries.

That's got to be worth a tenner of anyone's money.

[Matt Ha]

I wouldn't take him as things stand.

I thought that as well given that he's way down the scrum-half pecking order and some would argue that Price should even be starting ahead of him for Scotland. But he appears to be a good captain: experienced, gritty, good motivator etc. That, along with his unflappable place kicking, could make him something of an asset on tour.

[Mikey Brown]

Scrum-half is a bit of a weird one. Laidlaw has his value but isn't good enough at a couple of the core jobs. Murray is a miles ahead. Webb and Davies seem like good alternatives. Youngs is incapable of passing but that doesn't seem to stop anybody picking him so he might go.

[Big D]

Nels had neck surgery. Definitely rules him out of contention.

[Mikey Brown]

As we've exited the hope stage and are now resigned to fighting for the wooden spoon anyway I guess I can say it. Anyone else got a really bad feeling about Nel and his injuries?

Is it just that it seems too ridiculous for us, Scotland, to have two or more decent tight heads at a time?

The centre situation still keeps me up at night.

[Big D]

As we've exited the hope stage and are now resigned to fighting for the wooden spoon anyway I guess I can say it. Anyone else got a really bad feeling about Nel and his injuries?

Is it just that it seems too ridiculous for us, Scotland, to have two or more decent tight heads at a time?

The centre situation still keeps me up at night.

Only a bad feeling in s much that a prop with neck injuries is bad.

Main feeling is a I hope he has no long lasting effects. Man has kids etc.

[Adder]

Mistake