That will never happen, he has picked a very large squad which lacks the ability to run around a man, he has to play gatball, but he doesnt care because he gets to tell the majority of his wales team they are world class, gets an inside look at the bests english and irish players that he might get in the WC and have another look at NZ who he might get in the world cup.Lizard wrote:So given that Shag has dissed "Warrenball" in the press, will Gats double down on it, or try a different game plan?
Lions
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Re: Lions
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Re: Lions
Interesting listening to Big Jim on the rugby pod. He reckons AWJ is 50/50 to tour and that Ryan or Charteris will be next up. He also thought FBrown was close.
Goode was pretty scathing of Russell. Said he choked v England and Sarries.
Don't necessarily agree with both.
Goode was pretty scathing of Russell. Said he choked v England and Sarries.
Don't necessarily agree with both.
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Re: Lions
Eugene Wrayburn likes this post.Mellsblue wrote:Hahahahahahahahaha. Good one.Lizard wrote:So given that Shag has dissed "Warrenball" in the press, will Gats double down on it, or try a different game plan?
I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.
NS. Gone but not forgotten.
NS. Gone but not forgotten.
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Re: Lions
To add to this, the Maori are now set to receive All Black reinforcements.zer0 wrote:Full squads will be available for the first two/three franchise tour matches. The Blues (first franchise match) have plenty of attacking talent but are prone to doing inexplicably dumb stuff. Basically they're more French than the French. The Crusaders (second franchise match) field the All Black pack and are currently undefeated after seven matches. Though a couple of injuries will render their backline pretty toothless on attack.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...c ... rish-lionsThe torrid British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand just got tougher, with New Zealand Maori set to be bolstered by All Blacks for their match against the tourists in Rotorua.
Just as they did in Chicago last year before the test against Ireland, it is understood the All Blacks will again release players within the 33-man squad not needed for their warm-up match, expected to be against Samoa in Auckland on June 16.
In Chicago the Maori team which thrashed the USA 54-7 included All Blacks Elliot Dixon, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie and Kane Hames.
All five could again be released for the Maori team hell bent on repeating their memorable and historic 19-13 triumph over the Lions in Hamilton in 2005 under Matt Te Pou. This time around the Lions and Maori match is one day after the All Blacks are due to take on Samoa.
There is also a chance Nehe Milner-Skudder, who is still struggling to bear weight on his broken foot, could feature if he does not recover in time to make the initial All Blacks squad.
In what is sure to be an emotionally-charged occasion, Colin Cooper's stacked Maori team is likely to feature former All Blacks blindside and Chiefs centurion Liam Messam, along with James Lowe, Akira Ioane, Matt Proctor and possibly Charlie Ngatai who made his long-awaited return from concussion after a year out of the game in Waikato club rugby on Saturday. Even if it is not Kerr-Barlow released, Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara both qualify for the Maori.
The match should certainly now live up to its hype as the unofficial fourth test.
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Erk! Horrid news.Big D wrote:Ben Youngs has withdrawn from the Lions due to the news Tom's wife's cancer has become terminal.
Awful new for the family. Absolutely the right decision by BY but such a shitty situation.
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Re: Lions
Terrible news, and absolutely right of him to withdraw. There are some things more important than Rugby.Big D wrote:Ben Youngs has withdrawn from the Lions due to the news Tom's wife's cancer has become terminal.
Awful new for the family. Absolutely the right decision by BY but such a shitty situation.
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Re: Lions
Ah Jesus, that's a rough one for Youngs.
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Re: Lions
Good for Youngs, nice to see someone make that sort of call.
Pleased for Laidlaw and his style of play should suit Gatball. Going to be tough to get up to speed though.
Pleased for Laidlaw and his style of play should suit Gatball. Going to be tough to get up to speed though.
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Re: Lions
Awful, and as everyone has said absolutely the right thing. Tom Youngs in particular seems like such a good bloke from the little I know.
Strange for Laidlaw but that's how it goes I guess.
Strange for Laidlaw but that's how it goes I guess.
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Re: Lions
Glos are up here for the final of the diddy cup aren't they? Assume he'll be playing in that, but I take your point.switchskier wrote:Good for Youngs, nice to see someone make that sort of call.
Pleased for Laidlaw and his style of play should suit Gatball. Going to be tough to get up to speed though.
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Re: Lions
That's awful news for the Youngs and obviously in that position any player has to make the right decision for his family.
I thought Laidlaw was not considered due to injury? Or was it just a minor one likely to clear by tour time?
I thought Laidlaw was not considered due to injury? Or was it just a minor one likely to clear by tour time?
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- Eugene Wrayburn
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Re: Lions
Laidlaw's just back.Lizard wrote:That's awful news for the Youngs and obviously in that position any player has to make the right decision for his family.
I thought Laidlaw was not considered due to injury? Or was it just a minor one likely to clear by tour time?
I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.
NS. Gone but not forgotten.
NS. Gone but not forgotten.
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Re: Lions
Yes. But Lions captain Warburton has been out for several weeks too, and, in his case nobody seems to care if he will be up to speed or not. A little surprised that Laidlaw has been called up. I don't think he's even the best Scottish SH, though he's a feisty/combatitive wee bogger. Good goal kicker . I hope he does well.switchskier wrote:Good for Youngs, nice to see someone make that sort of call.
Pleased for Laidlaw and his style of play should suit Gatball. Going to be tough to get up to speed though.
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Re: Lions
No dirt tracks and no small teams this tour. The midweek side had a challenge almost as great as the test side.cashead wrote:He probably got the nod to be one of the leaders of the Dirt Trackers, and likely to be a points machine for them. The last Lions squad down here had a non-test side with plenty to celebrate after all.Spiffy wrote:Yes. But Lions captain Warburton has been out for several weeks too, and, in his case nobody seems to care if he will be up to speed or not. A little surprised that Laidlaw has been called up. I don't think he's even the best Scottish SH, though he's a feisty/combatitive wee bogger. Good goal kicker . I hope he does well.switchskier wrote:Good for Youngs, nice to see someone make that sort of call.
Pleased for Laidlaw and his style of play should suit Gatball. Going to be tough to get up to speed though.
I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.
NS. Gone but not forgotten.
NS. Gone but not forgotten.
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Re: Lions
Id agree, no way the lions can do anything if they split the squad, will have a few clear dirt trackers but if Gatland thinks h can hide a few of his favorites until the tests he is gonig to come into some troubleEugene Wrayburn wrote:No dirt tracks and no small teams this tour. The midweek side had a challenge almost as great as the test side.cashead wrote:He probably got the nod to be one of the leaders of the Dirt Trackers, and likely to be a points machine for them. The last Lions squad down here had a non-test side with plenty to celebrate after all.Spiffy wrote:
Yes. But Lions captain Warburton has been out for several weeks too, and, in his case nobody seems to care if he will be up to speed or not. A little surprised that Laidlaw has been called up. I don't think he's even the best Scottish SH, though he's a feisty/combatitive wee bogger. Good goal kicker . I hope he does well.
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Re: Lions
Agreed.whatisthejava wrote:Id agree, no way the lions can do anything if they split the squad, will have a few clear dirt trackers but if Gatland thinks h can hide a few of his favorites until the tests he is gonig to come into some troubleEugene Wrayburn wrote:No dirt tracks and no small teams this tour. The midweek side had a challenge almost as great as the test side.cashead wrote: He probably got the nod to be one of the leaders of the Dirt Trackers, and likely to be a points machine for them. The last Lions squad down here had a non-test side with plenty to celebrate after all.
I'm delighted for Greig. He was next on my list of 9's. As much as his goal kicking might have swung the choice,.....I reckon his sheer bloody mindedness and his reading of the game counts for almost as much.
It's good to see a family sticking together in the hard days. Ben Youngs is a classy Fella.
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Re: Lions
I thought you were trolling. I checked. It's real.cashead wrote:James Haskell's apparently been added to the squad.
I'd be quite happy if no more of our players are drawn into this absolute circus. James Haskell FFS.
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Re: Lions
It's not. Which means Gatland is going to have to shift the back row around a little bit which makes the Haskell shout a poor one. Perfect for Gatball... but I'd have thought Barclay or Robshaw would be the next cabs off the rank.Jps wrote:I wouldn't call that a like for like replacement by any means, that's an odd one