Lions

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Im still amazed that Gatland fell into this trap, i think the guy is a weasel but his handling of the situation and the entire lions debackle has been abysmal

From a welsh point of view - he took 12 welsh , then added 4 and most of the welsh guys are not good enough to play in the lions team , that wont help him come Autumn when he is back and most of his players know he didnt pick them

From a rest of britain, he has completly pissed off the englishby selecting the welsh and scots guys, they saw it as a coronation for Lunchbox and Ford

From a scotland pov - we think he is an arse

From the lions pov - he has pissed off some well respected old guard with it

From the media - after the tour is done and the sycophants and patriots have calmed down people will look back at this tour as a real chance to beat the all blacks, especially with Scotland, England and Ireland all trying to play play a more open game people will wonder what would have been if we had Jones/ Toonie/Schmitt as coaches and not Gatland/Howley/Arsehole1/Arsehole2/Arsehole3

I think its time the lions need to actually change things up for the modern times, I just dont know what the changes are

Stewart

I don't think the Irish are that happy with him either.

I could imagine that a number of irish players felt that the extra hour's time difference between Japan and Sydney was a fucking spurious reason for not selecting them.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Nowell promoted to the bench instead of Seymour - naturally.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40437419

Very honest words from Grant and I agree with much of it. It still baffles me that a Scot will support something that so blatantly disrespects our country & our players. That little article on Grant has only further reinforced that view.

[Tobylerone]

Looks like it`ll be pissing down in Wellington on Sat.
That`s part one of the Gatland game plan a success.

[sharvey44]

saw mention on twittersphere that the geographical 6 are getting £15k each for Lions call-up

[hugh_woatmeigh]

saw mention on twittersphere that the geographical 6 are getting £15k each for Lions call-up

Why do people keep claiming you get 70k regardless? It's apparently pro rata in some way.

[Big D]

Even if it's "only" 15k it's still good coin for very little work. Neither player for injured and will be ready to go when the SRU clear them to start pre season.

[Chunks Baws]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40437419

Very honest words from Grant and I agree with much of it. It still baffles me that a Scot will support something that so blatantly disrespects our country & our players. That little article on Grant has only further reinforced that view.

Rowntree sounds as big a cunt as Fat Heed.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40437419

Very honest words from Grant and I agree with much of it. It still baffles me that a Scot will support something that so blatantly disrespects our country & our players. That little article on Grant has only further reinforced that view.

Rowntree sounds as big a cunt as Fat Heed.

Not like it's their job to know every BI&I player inside & out so they can make informed selection decisions is it?

[QwentyJ]

In contrast, the Telegraph gives him a 5/10 and says his box-kicking was shite.

That might also be because Gavin Mairs doesn't know what he's talking about.

Aye, he gets a scoop once in a while but he's just another fud. He makes Mick Cleary look like a prophet. The fucking audacity of the Torygraph to call him "The Talk of Rugby".

[morepork]

Laidlaw is shunt though.

[no sleep]

Laidlaw is shunt though.

Ye, bet he ends up playing some semi-pro level next season, now his lack of talent's been seen through so perspicaciously.

[Spiffy]

Laidlaw is shunt though.

Everyone knew that before he was selected. Little Price is streets ahead. Laidlaw has a good enough rugby brain and is a consistent goal kicker, but that comes nowhere close to overcoming his chronic lack of pace and slow passing. I thnik he will be out of the picture for Scotland next year.

[af73]

I can also see him still around at the next World Cup as every/anytime we lose a close game the media (and others) will speculate that "we wouldn't have lost if Laidlaw's game management/leadership had been on the field". While this may have been true in the past and through a lack of suitable alternatives, it doesn't necessarily hold true the more experience Price gains.

It also often and conveniently overlooks the premise that we probably wouldn't have been within 15 points of losing a close game had he been so.

Scotland lose games because they stop playing as often as they do from playing too much.

[Cameo]

I actually think Laidlaw suffers from trying to manage the game too much. His best games come when it is loose and he is attacking. That's why he worked as a bit of a harum scarum ten for a while. He's slow but he's clever once it breaks up (as with the interception) and can make half breaks. Once he tries to manage the whole game though he just slows everything down

[af73]

I'd agree with that and would add that the best breaking game I think he had was one of Cotter's 1st against Argentina in 2014 (?)

It could be that he was impressing the new boss and at the time was under pressure for his place from Pyrgos - who was playing well himself. Once established and consolidated as captain he did revert somewhat to type.

Of course, he wouldn't be the first Scotland player to lift their game then settle back into a comfort zone.

[Big D]

The worrying thing about Laidlaw, and I can get past his other short comings for him to take the 21 shirt for us for now is just how slow/loopy his pass is. Even our u20s have crisper passes.

[Mikey Brown]

It doesn't seem to be a prerequisite of being an international scrumhalf anymore, just look at Youngs. I agree with the above saying he's actually pretty good when he finally feels the need to put some pace in the game. On the few occasions he gets benched he does it, or on those occasions where we wait just long enough for a game to be just out of sight before getting our act together and going the length of the pitch.

I still rate him more than Pyrgos, particularly off the bench, and would keep him in that role for the foreseeable. It would piss him off being on the bench and it would offer another goal kicking/leadership option late in the game.

[Which Tyler]

Grieg should never have moved to Glos - 4 years ago he was probably the best SH in GB&I, and it was a genuine mystery as to why Gatland didn't take him. Now... it's a genuine mystery as to why he is there this time.

[wanderingjock]

What's going on

[wanderingjock]

If gatland had picked a decent squad and actually coached well, the lions would not be panicking now given they have an extra man.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Anyone see Fitzpatrick turn around and try to shoo away the lions fans when the cameras were rolling? WTF.

[wanderingjock]

Nope

[wanderingjock]

Have any if our lot actually played near to or it of our skins?

[wanderingjock]

Have any if our lot actually played near to or it of our skins?
Connor Murray lucky