British and Irish Lions Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

irishbucsfan

.ak wrote: »

I think Beck is one of the best 12s going. Shines at Ospreys, and isn't really given much hope in the Welsh squad in the same vein the Sexton shines for Leinster but looks average for Ireland. Doesn't suit their game plan.

I find him very inconsistent for the Ospreys.

I would like to see what he could do with good coaching. If he went to a french side for a few years maybe.

.ak

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I find him very inconsistent for the Ospreys.

I would like to see what he could do with good coaching. If he went to a french side for a few years maybe.

A lot of that is down to injury I feel. When he gets a consistent run at games at 12 he's fantastic. He put in one of the best displays I've seen from a home-nation 12 in their semi last year.

irishbucsfan

.ak wrote: »

A lot of that is down to injury I feel. When he gets a consistent run at games at 12 he's fantastic. He put in one of the best displays I've seen from a home-nation 12 in their semi last year.

You mean against Munster? They just rolled over though.

I don't know. I think he is excellent against weak opposition but he makes mistakes under pressure. I thought he was brilliant at first but I've been pretty underwhelmed since.

Certainly don't think he deserves Lions consideration. Unless there's an injury crisis.

.ak

irishbucsfan wrote: »

You mean against Munster? They just rolled over though.

I don't know. I think he is excellent against weak opposition but he makes mistakes under pressure. I thought he was brilliant at first but I've been pretty underwhelmed since.

They did once the game was away from them, but in the first quarter or so he was cutting them up and his distribution was ace.

Certainly don't think he deserves Lions consideration. Unless there's an injury crisis.

Yeah I agree there. He needs way more international time to be considered.

bilston

errlloyd wrote: »

Paddy power squad based on positions (first four for each positions, I am not distinguishing between props and wings because tbh I always forget who plays on what side outside of Ireland)

I dunno why I bothered doing this tbh, green for Irish, Blue Scotland, Red Wales, and Yellow England cause **** em thats why.

Hookers

Rory Best 1/80
Richard Hibbard 1/20
Tom Youngs 1/2
Dyland Hartley 7/5

Props

Cian Healy 1/500
Adam Jones 1/100
Dan Cole 1/18
Gethin Jenkins 1/8
Mako Vunipola 8/11
Andrew Sheridan 13/8
Joe Marler 2/1
Mike Ross 7/2

Locks

Paulie 1/100
Alun Wyn Jones 1/80
Geoff Parling 1/5
Jim Hamilton 4/6
Richie Grey evens
Ian Evans 6/4
Joe Launchbury 2/1
Andrew Coombs 5/2
(Honourable mention for Nathan Hines 3/1)

Flankers

Sam Warburton 1/500
Justin Tipuric 1/25
Sean O Brien 1/25
Chris Robshaw 1/25
Tom Croft 1/7
Ryan Jones 4/5
Peter O Mahony 11/10
Dan Lydiate 6/4

Number 8

Toby Faletau 1/25
Jamie Heaslip 8/15
Ben Morgan 15/8
(They don't really have another out and out No8 listed with a realistic chance so I'll go with Tom Wood at 5/2)

Scrumhalf

Ben Youngs 1/50
Mike Philips 1/50
Conor Murray 4/7
Danny care 5/4

Out half

Jonny Sexton 1/500
Owen Farrell 1/14
Ian Madigan 4/11
Dan Biggar 4/7
Greig Laidlaw 9/4 (He's a 9, but here are his ods anyway)

Wings (incidentally, 2 from each country)

Alex Cuthbert 1/80
George North 1/50
Tommy Bowe 2/5
Simon Zebo 4/9
Tim Visser 4/9
Chris Aston 4/6
Sean Maitland 11/10
Mike Brown 3/1

Centres

Jamie Roberts 1/500
BOD 1/500
Manu Tuilagi 1/40
Jonathan Davies 1/12
Brad Barrit 1/3
Billy Twelvetrees 9/4
Scott Williams 10/1 (Note the massive drop beyond billy)
James Hook 10/1

Fullbacks

Leigh Halfpenny 1/500
Rob Kearney 1/40
Stuart Hogg 2/7
Alex Goode 7/4

Out of interest and it's unlikely that either will go but are there any odds out there for Andrew Trimble or Iain Henderson?

CIARAN_BOYLE

bilston wrote: »

Out of interest and it's unlikely that either will go but are there any odds out there for Andrew Trimble or Iain Henderson?

Trimble 33/1 to start the first test on the wing 15/2 to tour
Henderson 11/1 to tour no odds on him starting

wittycynic

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Trimble 33/1 to start the first test on the wing 15/2 to tour
Henderson 11/1 to start no odds on him touring

Henderson's odds are insanely short for a man who has literally no hope of touring, let alone starting a test.

CIARAN_BOYLE

wittycynic wrote: »

Henderson's odds are insanely short for a man who has literally no hope of touring, let alone starting a test.

had those the wrong way round, fixed now no odds on him starting 11/1 on him touring

Timothy Bryce

Hype710 wrote: »

Paddy Power have a market up for players to make the Lions tour. One that jumps of the page is Madigan at just 4/11. Very interesting especially with Ian set to start at 12 tomorrow. Gatland couldn't have had a word with Joe about that could he?

I've heard from a very reliable source that Madigan has been asked to "keep himself free for the summer".

Word has it, that he'll travel as a utility back.

Teferi

I know Gatland said that the players will find out on Tuesday as well as everyone else but surely he has told the Captain at this stage?

.ak

Teferi wrote: »

I know Gatland said that the players will find out on Tuesday as well as everyone else but surely he has told the Captain at this stage?

How does that work btw? Do the players just find out by reading the papers?

Tox56

.ak wrote: »

How does that work btw? Do the players just find out by reading the papers?

On the Rugby Club last night they said the players find out by watching the team announcement live with everyone else

FellasFellas

.ak wrote: »

How does that work btw? Do the players just find out by reading the papers?

I'd say they'll watch the announcement themselves. I'd like to think the captain already knows yeah. My bets are its Warburton realistically, or AWJ.

Teferi

That's strange if true. I thought the players would get a courtesy call the morning of the announcement myself.

.ak

Yeah that's gas. Won't a lot of players be training? I can see the banter on the paddock already. 'Eh where are you off to Ian? You've got more drills to do and you obviously not on the list.'

Hype710

Madigan into 1/7 to make the tour.

thomond2006

Hype710 wrote: »

Madigan into 1/7 to make the tour.

A lot of people are going to get burned, that's ridiculous odds.

Hype710

He seems to be the only one whose odds are moving. 7/1 to 4/11 to 1/7 in the space of a day.

Tox56

thomond2006 wrote: »

A lot of people are going to get burned, that's ridiculous odds.

It's very strange, Biggar is 3rd favourite to start yet Madigan is better odds to make the squad?

CIARAN_BOYLE

Tox56 wrote: »

It's very strange, Biggar is 3rd favourite to start yet Madigan is better odds to make the squad?

Madigan can possibly play more positions so could be more useful to fit in for the mid week team. Word is 2 specialist 10s and someone who can play 10 and cover other positions.

While Farell can play centre he is seen as going as a pure 10

irishbucsfan

Tox56 wrote: »

It's very strange, Biggar is 3rd favourite to start yet Madigan is better odds to make the squad?

Madigan is more flexible though

Hype710

James Hook doesn't seem in contention at 10/1 to make the tour but if I'm honest I'd take him over Madigan.

bilston

Timothy Bryce wrote: »

I've heard from a very reliable source that Madigan has been asked to "keep himself free for the summer".

Word has it, that he'll travel as a utility back.

Word has it from who? The players find out on Tuesday via Sky Sports News like the rest of us.

MattD

I would say Madigan is more likely to travel than Biggar, but I would also say in the same breath that Hook and Laidlaw are more likely than both of them.

I'd prefer Madigan honestly, because he offers something different from all those players (maybe bar Laidlaw) as well as Sexton and Farrell, but I'd completely understand leaving him at home.

errlloyd

It wouldn't be all often that one club produces two lions in the same position.

Cosmo Kramer

Might be a bit of value in Scottish props maybe, going by that list? Ryan Grant has had a great season and could have a decent chance of touring and a lack of options at 3 might give Euan Murray a chance. I'd say Ian Evans at 6/4 is more likely to travel than not given who is picking the squad.

Other than that, not a lot of value to be had there. Maitland perhaps? They seem to have called the Irish players about right - other than Madigan, who I woudn't have given any chance to only for the rumours on this thread.

Timothy Bryce

bilston wrote: »

Word has it from who? The players find out on Tuesday via Sky Sports News like the rest of us.

I'm only posting what I heard from someone close to the player in question - in the context of shortening odds with PP etc. If it's horsesh1t I whole-heartedly apologise.

But do you think WG has zero interactions with any of the parties who intends to take with him (aside from the captain)? Personally, I think players have some idea in the run-up to the announcement.

sting60

Timothy Bryce wrote: »

I'm only posting what I heard from someone close to the player in question - in the context of shortening odds with PP etc. If it's horsesh1t I whole-heartedly apologise.

But do you think WG has zero interactions with any of the parties who intends to take with him (aside from the captain)? Personally, I think players have some idea in the run-up to the announcement.

He has spoken to POC and Sexton about their fitness along with other injured players some weeks back.

Hype710

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Might be a bit of value in Scottish props maybe, going by that list? Ryan Grant has had a great season and could have a decent chance of touring and a lack of options at 3 might give Euan Murray a chance. I'd say Ian Evans at 6/4 is more likely to travel than not given who is picking the squad.

Other than that, not a lot of value to be had there. Maitland perhaps? They seem to have called the Irish players about right - other than Madigan, who I woudn't have given any chance to only for the rumours on this thread.

Agree with much of that. Personally I'd take Grant but it's hard not to see Rowntree taking one of his pet projects, if you will, in Marler or Vunipola. I think Mike Ross could sneak the third tight head slot. I'd take Danny Care but I've a feeling he'll miss out.

I've taken Ross and Ian Evans.

Swiwi

Timothy Bryce wrote: »

I've heard from a very reliable source that Madigan has been asked to "keep himself free for the summer.

...because he was planning a family holiday in the South of France and it'd be a damn shame if he had to turn Warren down?