Lions squad named

[paddy no 11]

Tough one for porter but sinckler is a great player, has he been officially called up yet?

[Puja]

Tough one for porter but sinckler is a great player, has he been officially called up yet?

He has. I like Gatland's quote about him responding well on the pitch and "I hope he continues to stick two fingers up at me for leaving him out initially."

I can see him going on to make the test side - he's needed a kick up the backside for a while and I think being deprived of the Lions selection that he really wanted has reinvigorated him.

Puja

[paddy no 11]

Yup, 3 is a competitive spot with furlong and fagerson

We should trade for a 9!

[Numbers]

Yup, 3 is a competitive spot with furlong and fagerson

We should trade for a 9!

Furlong edges him out with his carrying ability imo.

[morepork]

We still tripping along pretending that this will go ahead smoothly?

[Big D]

Roman Kelleher training with the squad. Presumably because George and LCD are still involved at club level.

[Dan. Dan. Dan.]

We still tripping along pretending that this will go ahead smoothly?

"South Africa records highest daily cases in five months

South Africa’s Covid-19 infections jumped by 13,246 on Wednesday, the highest daily total in five months, its government said.

AFP reports:

The figure is almost double the weekly average for the past seven days, and compares to 8,436 cases recorded the previous day.


“These concerning figures represent the highest number of daily cases and positivity rate recorded since January 2021,” the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said in a statement. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday extended a nightime curfew and limited alcohols sales in a bid to contain a third wave of infections."

Why we doing this again?

[morepork]

To come back with a new "Lions" variant that gets coughed onto your replica shirt that you take back to your village wot the planes fly to.


Forking madness....

[Numbers]

Ronan Kelleher training with the squad. Presumably because George and LCD are still involved at club level.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him involved in the tests, he's a very bright future ahead of him and is right up there in the physicality stakes.

[Big D]

Ronan Kelleher training with the squad. Presumably because George and LCD are still involved at club level.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him involved in the tests, he's a very bright future ahead of him and is right up there in the physicality stakes.

They made it clear in the release he wasn't part of the official squad, but depending on how George rocks up he must be in with a chance for Saturday.

Few Lions knocked out of the tournaments over the weekend. Curry, Russell and Sinckler will presumably already be with the squad.

[Big D]

Williams
Adams
Henshaw
Aki
Duhan
Biggar
Murray

Sutherland
Owens
Fagerson
Henderson
Jones
Beirne
Watson
Conan

George
Jones
Furlong
Lawes
Faletau
Price
Farrell
Watson

[Puja]

Ah, so that way goes the game! No English players in the XV is it?

Seems weird not to have more Saracens in the XXIII. There's only a limited time to get them up to speed if you want to use them and it feels more important to have Itoje at full bore by the tests than picking a battle-ready side against Japan. I guess Gatland wants to make an early statement.

Puja

[Big D]

Ah, so that way goes the game! No English players in the XV is it?

Seems weird not to have more Saracens in the XXIII. There's only a limited time to get them up to speed if you want to use them and it feels more important to have Itoje at full bore by the tests than picking a battle-ready side against Japan. I guess Gatland wants to make an early statement.

Puja

I think it makes some sense. The Sarries guys are on the bench in areas where several players were missing, George is one of two hookers in the actual squad available and both Farrell and Russell arrived yesterday. Sutherland hasn't played since March either so he needs game time too.

Gatland will rightfully be viewing this as a test match. Japan hold recent wins over Scotland and Ireland and a loss would be a set back.

[Puja]

Ah, so that way goes the game! No English players in the XV is it?

Seems weird not to have more Saracens in the XXIII. There's only a limited time to get them up to speed if you want to use them and it feels more important to have Itoje at full bore by the tests than picking a battle-ready side against Japan. I guess Gatland wants to make an early statement.

Puja

I think it makes some sense. The Sarries guys are on the bench in areas where several players were missing, George is one of two hookers in the actual squad available and both Farrell and Russell arrived yesterday. Sutherland hasn't played since March either so he needs game time too.

Gatland will rightfully be viewing this as a test match. Japan hold recent wins over Scotland and Ireland and a loss would be a set back.

Fair point on Sutherland - hadn't realised that. I'm mostly surprised at the bench not containing Mako, Itoje, and Daly - you'd've thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to get minutes into the legs if they're planning on using them.

Mind, the Lions board and IRB apparently still haven't decided whether this is an official capped test match or not, so who knows how important the result is! Ridiculous behaviour.

Puja

[Gloskarlos]

Hamish Watson out with concussion, Tipuric in.

[Digby]

Lions announce they're going to try and Dominic Cummings it on the way back from SA travelling via Barnard Castle (and Jersey) to avoid any quarantine/isolation requirements. I guess if the regs allow for it... but it's a shitty thing to do, if they can't be bothered to set an example don't bother going would be better.

[Gloskarlos]

Lions announce they're going to try and Dominic Cummings it on the way back from SA travelling via Barnard Castle (and Jersey) to avoid any quarantine/isolation requirements. I guess if the regs allow for it... but it's a shitty thing to do, if they can't be bothered to set an example don't bother going would be better.

quite - good way to pee off your supporters unable to go on holiday this summer.

In other news Zander Fagerson has a back spasm, so Furlong starts

[Puja]

Everyone knows it's the wording of the regulations that are important, rather than any spirit.

Fair few late dropouts for the first game. Wonder what Gatland's been doing to them!

Puja

[Numbers]

Everyone knows it's the wording of the regulations that are important, rather than any spirit.

Fair few late dropouts for the first game. Wonder what Gatland's been doing to them!

Puja

He has a penchant for short, full contact training sessions so that's probably why there is a high attrition rate.

[Digby]

I get not risking anyone at this stage. I don't like the backline, it's a variant on an Ainsley Harriott notion, can't pass, won't pass

[morepork]

My my, what an exciting looking backline.

[Which Tyler]

My my, what an exciting looking backline.

Japan's, I presume

[morepork]

Warren Gatland says Lions will not be hugging Japan players

"Warren Gatland says hugging opponents will be off limits when the British & Irish Lions play their opening game against Japan at Murrayfield on Saturday. The touring squad is anxious to sidestep the Covid-19 self-isolation complications affecting the footballing plans of England and Scotland at the European Championship."

JFC

[Big D]

Everyone knows it's the wording of the regulations that are important, rather than any spirit.

Fair few late dropouts for the first game. Wonder what Gatland's been doing to them!

Puja

I suspect it is an abundance of caution more than anything else. When you have the players available to come in that the lions do in those spots then no need to risk anyone.

[Digby]

Everyone knows it's the wording of the regulations that are important, rather than any spirit.

Fair few late dropouts for the first game. Wonder what Gatland's been doing to them!

Puja

I suspect it is an abundance of caution more than anything else. When you have the players available to come in that the lions do in those spots then no need to risk anyone.

Abundance of caution save in relation to a virulent global pandemic. Still, no one seems to give a shit