Lions

[whatisthejava]

So given that Shag has dissed "Warrenball" in the press, will Gats double down on it, or try a different game plan?

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.

[Big D]

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.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

So given that Shag has dissed "Warrenball" in the press, will Gats double down on it, or try a different game plan?

Hahahahahahahahaha. Good one.

Eugene Wrayburn likes this post.

[zer0]

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.

To add to this, the Maori are now set to receive All Black reinforcements.

The 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.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...c ... rish-lions

The match should certainly now live up to its hype as the unofficial fourth test.

[Big D]

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.

[Adder]

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.

Erk! Horrid news.

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[Stones of granite]

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.

Terrible news, and absolutely right of him to withdraw. There are some things more important than Rugby.

[Big D]

Lions statement has a line saying Laidlaw has been called up. I'm sure any pleasure will be tempered by the sadness of the circumstances.

[skidger]

Right choice by Youngs and then the right choice to call up Laidlaw. Always been impressed by how Laidlaw conducts himself and would not be surprised if he has already been in touch with the Youngs. Seems like that kind of guy.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Ah Jesus, that's a rough one for Youngs.

[switchskier]

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.

[Mikey Brown]

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.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

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.

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.

[ARM]

Awfully sad news that.

[Lizard]

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?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

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?

Laidlaw's just back.

[Lizard]

Plenty of time for him to get up to, er, "full speed" then.

[Spiffy]

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.

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.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

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.

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.

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.

No dirt tracks and no small teams this tour. The midweek side had a challenge almost as great as the test side.

[whatisthejava]

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.

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.

No dirt tracks and no small teams this tour. The midweek side had a challenge almost as great as the test side.

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 trouble

[kk67]

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.

No dirt tracks and no small teams this tour. The midweek side had a challenge almost as great as the test side.

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 trouble

Agreed.
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.

[Big D]

Billy V is a massive loss for the Lions.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

James Haskell's apparently been added to the squad.

I thought you were trolling. I checked. It's real.

I'd be quite happy if no more of our players are drawn into this absolute circus. James Haskell FFS.

[Jps]

I wouldn't call that a like for like replacement by any means, that's an odd one

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I wouldn't call that a like for like replacement by any means, that's an odd one

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.