British and Irish Lions Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

Chabals Beard

How many wingers will Gatland take?

leonard7

i will be devastated if ashton goes and 50 out of pocket

awec

Bowe is a class above Ashton.

yimrsg

Lynagh and Fitzpatrick's combined Lions team.

Healy
Hibbard
Jones/Cole
POC
AWJ/Gray
Robshaw/Croft
Warburton
Faletau
Philips
Sexton
North
Roberts??
Tuilagi/BOD
Cuthbert
Halfpenny

irishbucsfan

Wouldn't have a problem with Ashton going. Certainly after his post 6 nations form.

JustinDee

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Wouldn't have a problem with Ashton going. Certainly after his post 6 nations form.

If they were short of wingers, I'd take him. As it happens, they aren't so I wouldn't.
Plenty of pace but defence is also a very important area of a winger's skillset. That's why Digby Ioane took so long to break into a regular Aussie spot, for example. Temperament aside, Chris Ashton's defence, this season included, leaves a lot to be desired. Positioning, knowing when to commit to breakdown and when to stay out and decision-making (remember his two wrong calls in same move for Fofana's try v France?) put him firmly down list for me.

I don't really care who wins the series myself. Would love the Irish contingent to thrive however, especially the younger players for whom the tour will be a massive learning experience such as it was for O'Driscoll and O'Gara in 2001.

totallegend

Heaslip and Kearney doing their chances no harm whatsoever

CIARAN_BOYLE

Buer wrote: »

I've a bit of a suspicion that Mike Ross is a lot closer to selection than many think.

i wouldn't disagree with you. Jones and Cole are certs but the 3rd th could well be Ross

Mahatma Geansai

Heaslip making a very late run for Lion's contention. Surely its too late for Kearney? It only being the Amlin will probably be taken into account too.

trouttrout

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Heaslip making a very late run for Lion's contention. Surely its too late for Kearney? It only being the Amlin will probably be taken into account too.

He's already in contention and imo would have traveled anyway, same with Kearney

both booked their seats today

Mahatma Geansai

trouttrout wrote: »

He's already in contention and imo would have traveled anyway, same with Kearney

both booked their seats today

Being specialist players who only cover the one position goes against them when they aren't likely to be starting for the Lions. If they travel is will be largely based on their performances 4 years ago.

Tox56

I thought Kearney was out of it and he's still a long shot, might scrape his way on the plane though and it's all to play for after that

toomevara

awec wrote: »

Bowe is a class above Ashton.

Plus he actually has some class, a quality entirely alien to Ashton.

trouttrout

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Being specialist players who only cover the one position goes against them when they aren't likely to be starting for the Lions. If they travel is will be largely based on their performances 4 years ago.

Gatland will bring two 8's, Heaslip is going to be one of them. And it won't be based on 4 years ago

schools rugby

Heaslip was always going to make it , regardless of what happened today . For me he good well start the first test , I would rather him than Faletau

JustinDee

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Being specialist players who only cover the one position goes against them when they aren't likely to be starting for the Lions. If they travel is will be largely based on their performances 4 years ago.

???
It will have been nothing like that. As said ad nauseum, Heaslip has been part of a back row made up of players who swap roles on-field. An 8th man with that amount of turnovers gained to his name, for example, is testament to this.

danthefan

I'm still not sure Heaslip is a sure thing.

the baby bull elephant

Heaslip is the only backrow in with a shout who's actually toured before and is playing very well he's going.

irishbucsfan

JustinDee wrote: »

???
It will have been nothing like that. As said ad nauseum, Heaslip has been part of a back row made up of players who swap roles on-field. An 8th man with that amount of turnovers gained to his name, for example, is testament to this.

Ah it's not worth the effort JD. Its been explained to these people many times but what Jamie does on the field will always be outweighed by what he does off it

trouttrout

Hurley may pack his bags anyway

errlloyd

To be fair to hurley he has a good chance.

















Of going on the Irish summer tour

P.Walnuts

How many wings are going to travel?

the baby bull elephant

P.Walnuts wrote: »

How many wings are going to travel?

From the sounds of it four.

Chabals Beard

the baby bull elephant wrote: »

From the sounds of it four.

North, Cuthburt, Zebo and Bowe imo.

thomond2006

Chabals Beard wrote: »

North, Cuthburt, Zebo and Bowe imo.

I think the first three will go, the last one will be between Bowe and Maitland.

Chabals Beard

thomond2006 wrote: »

I think the first three will go, the last one will be between Bowe and Maitland.

Yeah probably, Bowe is ahead of him though

P.Walnuts

thomond2006 wrote: »

I think the first three will go, the last one will be between Bowe and Maitland.

Ye thought it was four, thinking of laying Visser on betfair for 1.80

thomond2006

P.Walnuts wrote: »

Ye thought it was four, thinking of laying Visser on betfair for 1.80

I really can't see Visser going, he's gone very quiet since the turn of the year. Maitland was also more impressive in the Six Nations.

P.Walnuts

thomond2006 wrote: »

I really can't see Visser going, he's gone very quiet since the turn of the year. Maitland was also more impressive in the Six Nations.

Ye my thoughts too, will wait till any injury reports from weekend and then hope someone bites on monday.

schools rugby

These are the players Gatland would have been looking at this weekend not sure if they have done enough to make it :

Kearney : Think he will make it but Gatland may have needed a better performance from him today to make him feel better about bringing him. Kearney was good today but just thought he could have stepped his game up a bit more.

Murray : Solid game, made a few mistakes but i think he has shown he is good enough to travel . Great in defence and excellent kicking game, he will be the third scrum half to go i would think.

Zebo : Didnt do much wrong and showed glimpses of what hes capable of . However , if it were to come down to Bowe or Zebo I think Bowe would travel. Zebo might just need more games of todays level to prove himself further .

Peter O'Mahony : An outsider most certainly , played very well . Good in the lineout but i feel that he has left it a bit to late.

Ian Madigan : Was quiet today , it was all about Sexton today . Could well travel as a utility back as Earls did 4 years ago.

James Hook : Didnt do his chances any harm last night , but didnt set the pitch on fire either. Looks like he may have regressed over the last few months. Looks like either him or Madigan will go as a utility back.