Lions

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Disappointing responses, if I'm being honest. Where's the fight, lads? Kruis, as much as I rate him, is a ridiculous call.

Kruis won't travel obviously. I don't think JG will either. He's tailed off since the first half of the 6N.

[whatisthejava]

Disappointing responses, if I'm being honest. Where's the fight, lads? Kruis, as much as I rate him, is a ridiculous call.

Whats better for morale , getting pumped in NZ playing a crap style of rugby that wont work or going to Australia and beating them at home, Australia seem to be full on self destruct right now, so i think a great chance for Scotland to beat them,

[Mellsblue]

Disappointing responses, if I'm being honest. Where's the fight, lads? Kruis, as much as I rate him, is a ridiculous call.

Whats better for morale , getting pumped in NZ playing a crap style of rugby that wont work or going to Australia and beating them at home, Australia seem to be full on self destruct right now, so i think a great chance for Scotland to beat them,

It's a fair point, assuming you beat Aus, but I think a couple of your younger, potentially world class players would benefit. J Gray and H Watson spring to mind. J Gray as future captain definitely would benefit. I hope he does go, mainly as I think he deserves to but also because I want him to become world class and I think the Lions in NZ will help him get there a bit quicker.

[whatisthejava]

Disappointing responses, if I'm being honest. Where's the fight, lads? Kruis, as much as I rate him, is a ridiculous call.

Whats better for morale , getting pumped in NZ playing a crap style of rugby that wont work or going to Australia and beating them at home, Australia seem to be full on self destruct right now, so i think a great chance for Scotland to beat them,

It's a fair point, assuming you beat Aus, but I think a couple of your younger, potentially world class players would benefit. J Gray and H Watson spring to mind. J Gray as future captain definitely would benefit. I hope he does go, mainly as I think he deserves to but also because I want him to become world class and I think the Lions in NZ will help him get there a bit quicker.

I think it would as well but if the Lions believe a team that are 8th in the world are better than a team that is 5th in the world then its up to them, not alot we can do , we can nash our teeth and moan about it but unlike previous years where its been a tour to RG or some tier 2 nations we have a chance at a new coach winning an away game in Australia

[Big D]

Before this season or during the 6N I'd have said the following all stood a chance (some due to form others due to coaches seeming to like them):
Dickinson
Nel
Gray
Gray
Watson
Laidlaw (not that I'd have picked him)
Russell
Dunbar
Jones
Seymour
Maitland
Hogg

Injuries have ruled out Dickinson, Nel, Laidlaw and Jones. At least two of whom would have travelled I think.

Grays are in possibly the position with highest quality opposition. I still think Jonny will go.

Watson is unlucky, being in a shite Embra team doesn't help but Warburton and Tipuric were very good in the 6N.

Russell has shown he can't be relied on to control a big game when under pressure. The two 6N away games showed that.

Dunbar was abysmal v England. Yes bad games shouldn't count badly in isolation but that game was that bad.

Seymour should tour. Maitland might at Garland loves him. Both won't your together.

Hogg will tour.

[Mikey Brown]

Pretty much the size of it. It's just a shame how much things hinge on the England/Sarries game but that's the way it is. Some of those Scotland guys bettering their direct rivals in the Ireland and Wales games means nothing now.

[whatisthejava]

Warburton out for 6 weeks which means he is out until the Lions tour

[ARM]

Not sure about that Hogg lad. Absolute turnstile.

[Mellsblue]

Warburton out for 6 weeks which means he is out until the Lions tour

Or as Gatland will see it:
Warburton out for 6 weeks which means he is fresh for the Lions tour

[Big D]

Warburton out for 6 weeks which means he is out until the Lions tour

Or as Gatland will see it:
Warburton out for 6 weeks which means he is fresh for the Lions tour

He has done that before with non Welsh players.

Gray Snr hadn't played a game for months when picked on the last tour.

[kk67]

Prepare to be not surprised. Something tells me that that list, with minor tweaks, is pretty close.

Yup.

[Lizard]

Well it's been confirmed that Gatland Jnr will be lining up against the Lions

http://rugbyrebels.co/board/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=1768

[Jps]

Well it's been confirmed that Gatland Jnr will be lining up against the Lions

http://rugbyrebels.co/board/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=1768

On a Gatland related note- is Warren a big smoker, does anyone know? Christ you hear him interviewed and for not that old a guy he breathes mighty heavy.

I would've said the only Scottish player who form would demand should be include is Watson, but with Tipuric and Warburton and O'Brien, I don't think they bring him.

England are the form team, the Irish lads beat NZ last year, it's the Wales coach, and I think all our coaches who were offered places turned it down. Light representation again, I reckon.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Whats better for morale , getting pumped in NZ playing a crap style of rugby that wont work or going to Australia and beating them at home, Australia seem to be full on self destruct right now, so i think a great chance for Scotland to beat them,

It's a fair point, assuming you beat Aus, but I think a couple of your younger, potentially world class players would benefit. J Gray and H Watson spring to mind. J Gray as future captain definitely would benefit. I hope he does go, mainly as I think he deserves to but also because I want him to become world class and I think the Lions in NZ will help him get there a bit quicker.

I think it would as well but if the Lions believe a team that are 8th in the world are better than a team that is 5th in the world then its up to them, not alot we can do , we can nash our teeth and moan about it but unlike previous years where its been a tour to RG or some tier 2 nations we have a chance at a new coach winning an away game in Australia

It's absolutely justifiable if the bloke who built the team that is in 8th is a complete fuckwit who has basically failed to get the best out of the team over a number of years.

[whatisthejava]

It's a fair point, assuming you beat Aus, but I think a couple of your younger, potentially world class players would benefit. J Gray and H Watson spring to mind. J Gray as future captain definitely would benefit. I hope he does go, mainly as I think he deserves to but also because I want him to become world class and I think the Lions in NZ will help him get there a bit quicker.

I think it would as well but if the Lions believe a team that are 8th in the world are better than a team that is 5th in the world then its up to them, not alot we can do , we can nash our teeth and moan about it but unlike previous years where its been a tour to RG or some tier 2 nations we have a chance at a new coach winning an away game in Australia

It's absolutely justifiable if the bloke who built the team that is in 8th is a complete fuckwit who has basically failed to get the best out of the team over a number of years.

Its justifyable if your the feckwit,

its also justifyable as most pundits are prefering other players to scots, scots have underperformed for years , a couple of good seasons doesnt change the fact that Scotland has been shite since 2000

[Big D]

Well which ever player has been chosen as captain will now know I'd imagine. Must be a brilliant feeling.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Well which ever player has been chosen as captain will now know I'd imagine. Must be a brilliant feeling.

Jesus no. I'd be shitting myself.

[Big D]

Well which ever player has been chosen as captain will now know I'd imagine. Must be a brilliant feeling.

Jesus no. I'd be shitting myself.

You would be shitting it too. But still would be a great feeling.

[Big D]

Fucking hell rumours are launchbury and JJ won't be in and donnacha Ryan will be.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39624348

Launchbury not making it would be a massive shock.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Fucking hell rumours are launchbury and JJ won't be in and donnacha Ryan will be.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39624348

Launchbury not making it would be a massive shock.

I've already pencilled Wednesday in for being furious. If JD2 goes ahead of JJ, I may have to upscale that to the next 3 months.

As for not taking Launchbury, I guess if you're going to take AWJ then you're pretty much going to be leaving someone better behind.

[Big D]

Rumours are Dr Roberts is in. Assume as tour doctor and it shouldn't be for playing.

He seems like a great bloke but that would be taking the piss.

[baldilocks]

JD2 and Roberts?
Gatland appears to be adopting the Woodwood Lions selection philosophy of "well, he was good several years ago"

[Buggaluggs]

Of course JD2 is going. Dr Bob and Scott Williams will need backup in the center. And he can play wing in a pinch if Cuthbert or North get hurt. And even FB if ½P goes down. Makes perfect sense to me.

[ARM]

The Telegraph 'leak' which names Roberts has 1 Scot in a 40 man squad.

And Keith Earls.

Tomorrow will be entertaining.

[Big D]

To be honest at this point if the leaks are true some of the English boys are more hard done to than the Scots.