Official Lions selection, moaning and bitching thread

[Lobby]

If the Lions go totally unscathed by Covid this tour, I’ll buy you all a coke. Desperate tour organisers and Rugby Boards forced this one to go ahead.

Hope everyone stays safe.

The British & Irish Lions have been hit by a positive Covid-19 test, throwing Wednesday night’s match against the Sharks into jeopardy and raising even more doubt over the remainder of the tour of South Africa.

One member of the tourists’ staff has recorded a positive result following a lateral flow test and that they and four others – including two players – have been forced into isolation.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/ ... to-isolate

It’s looking more and more likely that the whole thing is going to have to be cancelled.

[sorCrer]

I think we are looking more and more likely that the Lions and the Boks will go into 2 hard bubbles and will just play the 3 tests.

Is there time to fly them both to the UK and hold the tests here with some crowds? Not that easy of course, but it could be done.

Can't see HM Government allowing a contingent of virus ridden players into the UK?

[Paddington Bear]

I think we are looking more and more likely that the Lions and the Boks will go into 2 hard bubbles and will just play the 3 tests.

Is there time to fly them both to the UK and hold the tests here with some crowds? Not that easy of course, but it could be done.

Can't see HM Government allowing a contingent of virus ridden players into the UK?

With a quarantine I think they'd be very keen.

[SaintK]

I think we are looking more and more likely that the Lions and the Boks will go into 2 hard bubbles and will just play the 3 tests.

Is there time to fly them both to the UK and hold the tests here with some crowds? Not that easy of course, but it could be done.

Not without 10 days quarantine for all concerened surely?
Reckon they'll be back home by next week!! This was a gamble that ain't going to pay off!

[Saint]

I think we are looking more and more likely that the Lions and the Boks will go into 2 hard bubbles and will just play the 3 tests.

Is there time to fly them both to the UK and hold the tests here with some crowds? Not that easy of course, but it could be done.

Not without 10 days quarantine for all concerened surely?
Reckon they'll be back home by next week!! This was a gamble that ain't going to pay off!

10 day hotel quarantine at that. So 10 days lockedup in a hotel room, then restart training, they;d probably need 2 weeks......

[Slick]

I think we are looking more and more likely that the Lions and the Boks will go into 2 hard bubbles and will just play the 3 tests.

Is there time to fly them both to the UK and hold the tests here with some crowds? Not that easy of course, but it could be done.

Not without 10 days quarantine for all concerened surely?
Reckon they'll be back home by next week!! This was a gamble that ain't going to pay off!

Surely they could waive that with protocols in place?

[Paddington Bear]

Thinking seriously about this - the UK Government would I think be very keen to hold this tour and would exhibit flexibility (they already have to keep the Euro Final).

Not beyond the wit of man that the teams can isolate at places like Pennyhill, meaning that they can train within a bubble. Would probably need to be largely self catered etc but both sides have plenty of staff.

[Slick]

Saffer posters feel free to call out my armchair bollocks, but my understanding is the situation in SA atm is pretty serious, and I would assume the presence of such a high profile sporting event is distracting to the authorities trying to deal with it?

More like giving the authorities something to hide behind

[Slick]

Thinking seriously about this - the UK Government would I think be very keen to hold this tour and would exhibit flexibility (they already have to keep the Euro Final).

Not beyond the wit of man that the teams can isolate at places like Pennyhill, meaning that they can train within a bubble. Would probably need to be largely self catered etc but both sides have plenty of staff.

That’s my thinking

[Saint]

Is there time to fly them both to the UK and hold the tests here with some crowds? Not that easy of course, but it could be done.

Not without 10 days quarantine for all concerened surely?
Reckon they'll be back home by next week!! This was a gamble that ain't going to pay off!

Surely they could waive that with protocols in place?

I (and a lot of the public) are pissed off as it is with protocols being waived for various EUFA officials. To waive them further, in this case to allow two squads with either known or suspected cases already in place would be taking things to a whole other level.

The time for moving this series was 2 months ago

[Slick]

Not without 10 days quarantine for all concerened surely?
Reckon they'll be back home by next week!! This was a gamble that ain't going to pay off!

Surely they could waive that with protocols in place?

I (and a lot of the public) are pissed off as it is with protocols being waived for various EUFA officials. To waive them further, in this case to allow two squads with either known or suspected cases already in place would be taking things to a whole other level.

The time for moving this series was 2 months ago

I agree with your final point, but this is quite different. Much smaller group , all coming from the same place. Quite apart from the fact they are coming to play sport rather than binge on champagne and go shopping

[Happyhooker]

Remember, there's no need to quarantine if you're a 'business leader'

I'm sure most of them could f

[ia801310]

Thinking seriously about this - the UK Government would I think be very keen to hold this tour and would exhibit flexibility (they already have to keep the Euro Final).

Not beyond the wit of man that the teams can isolate at places like Pennyhill, meaning that they can train within a bubble. Would probably need to be largely self catered etc but both sides have plenty of staff.

That’s my thinking

Where there is a will there is a way. I think Boris would love the idea of having the 3 tests at Twickenham in front of 80,000 fans.

I still think the most likely outcome is that the 3 tests will be played in South Africa. Not sure that all other games will happen though

[Margin__Walker]

Game's on. 7pm BST

[Cartman]

Did they make the Sharks game an hour later or am i going mad?

[JM2K6]

Did they make the Sharks game an hour later or am i going mad?

Needed to do it in order to get the covid results in.

Davies and Biggar out with Covid. Farrell at 10, Russell backline cover.

[Slick]

Game's on. 7pm BST

Are they moving the footie to accommodate the big game?

[Cartman]

Did they make the Sharks game an hour later or am i going mad?

Needed to do it in order to get the covid results in.

Davies and Biggar out with Covid. Farrell at 10, Russell backline cover.

Ah thanks

[Slick]

Did they make the Sharks game an hour later or am i going mad?

Needed to do it in order to get the covid results in.

Davies and Biggar out with Covid. Farrell at 10, Russell backline cover.

Why do we bother with the Welsh

[Margin__Walker]

One player positive, so all sorts of changes tonight based on close contacts. 37 man squad with 9 isolating.

Will be tough to carry on and sounds like a logistical nightmare for the management team.

[And 1 guest]

It will be fun, but I reckon this will be the last game of the tour

[Big D]

It will be fun, but I reckon this will be the last game of the tour

Might be last warm up game and lock everything down until tests..

With the game off at the weekend in that will help resource issues. Assuming they can avoid covid.

[Kawazaki]

One player positive, so all sorts of changes tonight based on close contacts. 37 man squad with 9 isolating.

Will be tough to carry on and sounds like a logistical nightmare for the management team.

Finn Russell the ONLY backs sub tonight.

[ia801310]

I can see them making a movie out of it. Invictus 2. In this case it will be the Boks and the Lions linking arms to defeat the virus with an amazing show of rugby, rather than everyone's favourite plucky underdog Boks vanquishing the evil pantomime villains that are the All Blacks

[Slick]

Ali Price in danger of challenging for a test spot

[Choc]

One player positive, so all sorts of changes tonight based on close contacts. 37 man squad with 9 isolating.

Will be tough to carry on and sounds like a logistical nightmare for the management team.

Finn Russell the ONLY backs sub tonight.

Eddie Jones will be fucking livid. He wanted to be the first coach to do that.

Also, no 10 shirts in Farrell size? We’re they never planning to play him there?

[mos_eisely_]

One player positive, so all sorts of changes tonight based on close contacts. 37 man squad with 9 isolating.

Will be tough to carry on and sounds like a logistical nightmare for the management team.

Finn Russell the ONLY backs sub tonight.

Eddie Jones will be fucking livid. He wanted to be the first coach to do that.

Also, no 10 shirts in Farrell size? We’re they never planning to play him there?

Not for tonight's game. New shirts for every match - and as he wasn't in the squad they must have just found a spare one. looks like LRZ is wearing Biggars shirt as he has 10 on his back

[dpedin]

Once again a few guys failed to put their hand up for a test spot and have taken a step back. I thought Vunipola was just plain awful and I can't see him anywhere near a starting slot if he can't hold the scrum up on his side. A season of playing second string rugby has taken its toll. Rees Zammit again was a mix of good going forward but defence looked a bit dodgy - he missed a tackle in 1st half which the commentator tried to blame Price for. He needs to do more in a game. Curry was a disappointment, I thought this was an ideal game for him to put his hand up but he was outshone by Navidi in the back row. The rest did well in what was essentially a glorified training match and showed a few good touches in attack. It will be interesting to see who plays in the next match, whenever that is and whoever it is against.

[JM2K6]

Curry was hammering people in the tackle and won that ridiculously good turnover on the tryline, so...

Agreed about Mako and that missed tackle by LRZ was Jacob Umaga-esque

[dpedin]

Curry was hammering people in the tackle and won that ridiculously good turnover on the tryline, so...

Agreed about Mako and that missed tackle by LRZ was Jacob Umaga-esque

Not saying Curry didn't go about doing the bread and butter of his job ok but it was a game I thought he would excel in and he didn't. I just expected more from him, Navidi outshone him in the back row and looked a better 7.

[SaintK]

Lions to play Sharks again on Saturday
....and all clear in the Lions camp!

Saturday’s new Lions fixture seemingly hinges on whether the unnamed player who tested positive on Wednesday and has since tested negative on Thursday tests negative again on Friday so that all his six close contacts can be released from isolation and become available for selection for a match hastily arranged against the Sharks due to the unavailability of the Covid-hit Bulls.

[SaintK]

Team for Saturday's rerun against the Sharks
George to captain and Anthony Watson to finally get a start. That could possibly be close to the starting test pack........without Hill
British and Irish Lions: L Williams, A Watson, Daly, Harris, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Davies; Sutherland, George, Furlong, Itoje, Hill, Beirne, H Watson, Conan.
Replacements: Owens, Jones, Sinckler, Lawes, Simmonds, Curry, Murray, Russell.

[Big D]

Team for Saturday's rerun against the Sharks
George to captain and Anthony Watson to finally get a start. That could possibly be close to the starting test pack........without Hill
British and Irish Lions: L Williams, A Watson, Daly, Harris, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Davies; Sutherland, George, Furlong, Itoje, Hill, Beirne, H Watson, Conan.
Replacements: Owens, Jones, Sinckler, Lawes, Simmonds, Curry, Murray, Russell.

Very close to the test pack I'd pick. That is of course irrelevant :-)

[Kawazaki]

6/2 bench split.

Suggests maybe still some covid related issues?

[Big D]

6/2 bench split.

Suggests maybe still some covid related issues?

Possibly, think a couple are carrying knocks too. Also some issues with gametime. Adams, Price and Farrell have played at this week. Henshaw carrying an injury and Hogg was touch and go before being ruled out due to Covid with a tight hammy IIRC.

[Kawazaki]

What about the poor Sharks players?! Will any of them be getting a rest or will it essentially be the same team?

[Sandstorm]

What about the poor Sharks players?! Will any of them be getting a rest or will it essentially be the same team?

Lots of changes. Much stronger pack than last week.

[SaintK]

6/2 bench split.

Suggests maybe still some covid related issues?

Hogg is the only player currently self isolating
Townsend and 3 other backroom staff also!

[Margin__Walker]

Sounds like Marcus Smith is on his way to SA as cover for Finn Russell.

[ASMO]

Sounds like Marcus Smith is on his way to SA as cover for Finn Russell.

Confirmed