Official Lions selection, moaning and bitching thread

[Yeeb]

Daly over May ? Wtf?

Indeed, thats a mad call, May brilliant under the high ball and has more gas than Daly.

Horrendously over rated player. Has gas and has scored a coupe of good trys from nothing but poor basic skills (decent under a high ball to be fair), can’t pass, dodgy defence. Not on a wind up, he would be well down my list for a Lions place, would maybe make the wider squad

Jog on, McPlastic, how many wingers are known for their passing skills ? Scotland haven’t got anyone remotely as good as him in the 3/4
He is a shit scrummager though , if that helps

[clydecloggie]

Watson has to be in there somewhere, there are a lot of riches in that space.

Anthony? Hamish? Both?

You're fighting the good fight here, pretty much single-handedly but no-one is going to take you on. It's an illustration of how significant Scotland really is in these discussions.

Ach mate, it's good for my post count but I'm well aware the Lions are pretty much a three-nation team. We'll do a collective bout of righteous indignation when Gatland announces his Welsh all-filler no-killer Lions.

[Slick]

Indeed, thats a mad call, May brilliant under the high ball and has more gas than Daly.

Horrendously over rated player. Has gas and has scored a coupe of good trys from nothing but poor basic skills (decent under a high ball to be fair), can’t pass, dodgy defence. Not on a wind up, he would be well down my list for a Lions place, would maybe make the wider squad

Jog on, McPlastic, how many wingers are known for their passing skills ? Scotland haven’t got anyone remotely as good as him in the 3/4
He is a shit scrummager though , if that helps

He couldn’t even catch and tackle our hooker at Twickenham last year, then got tied up in knots for a couple of other tries, not very good. I honestly wouldn’t swap anyone in our back line for him.

Best moment was, I think, against NZ where he made a break, shat the bed and literally dropped the ball trying to make a pass. Nice bloke, average international player

[Yeeb]

Well if you want to focus on one error, rather than say the breaks and tries he makes against NZ, Aus, SA or France, go ahead . Would much rather have a 3/4 with that kind of X factor on attack, than worry about his defence which in all honesty isn’t as bad as you claim.

Trivia time - who was the last Scottish player to score tries against NZ, Aus, SA and France ?

[Ali Cadoo]

Well if you want to focus on one error, rather than say the breaks and tries he makes against NZ, Aus, SA or France, go ahead . Would much rather have a 3/4 with that kind of X factor on attack, than worry about his defence which in all honesty isn’t as bad as you claim.

Trivia time - who was the last Scottish player to score tries against NZ, Aus, SA and France ?

Iwan Tukalo?

[Madness]

Do think that 9 is a problem position unless some of them get back to previous high levels. Murray, Webb, Davies and not a lot else at the moment.

Backs could go full bosh

Murray
Farrell
Cokanasinga
Tuilagi
Henshaw
North
Kinghorn (not worth a place but biggest 6 Nations fullback)

or run around with 'mad skillz'

Davies
Russell
May
Ringrose
Slade
Graham
Larmour

[Madness]

In fact I'm going for the first thread 41 man squad. This is who I'd pick not who Gatland will pick and assumes decent form in a years time

Vunipola, Genge, McGrath
George, Cowan-Dickie, Brown
Furlong, Sinckler, Porter

Itoje, Ryan, Kruis, Lawes, AWJ

Vunipola, Curry, Wainwright, Faletau, Tipuric, Underhill, Stander, Watson

Webb, Davies, Murray

Farrell, Russell, Biggar

Davies, Tuilagi, Ringrose, Slade, Henshaw

Hogg, Williams, Watson, Daly, May, Adams, Stockdale, Larmour

[Caley_Red]

Gatland's performances over at the chiefs should be a concern. Presumably, the lions are also taking Shaun Edwards?

[Yeeb]

Well if you want to focus on one error, rather than say the breaks and tries he makes against NZ, Aus, SA or France, go ahead . Would much rather have a 3/4 with that kind of X factor on attack, than worry about his defence which in all honesty isn’t as bad as you claim.

Trivia time - who was the last Scottish player to score tries against NZ, Aus, SA and France ?

Iwan Tukalo?

I have no idea ! Just wondered if the jocks even have someone who has scored multiple times against tier 1 countries

[JM2K6]

Horrendously over rated player. Has gas and has scored a coupe of good trys from nothing but poor basic skills (decent under a high ball to be fair), can’t pass, dodgy defence. Not on a wind up, he would be well down my list for a Lions place, would maybe make the wider squad

Jog on, McPlastic, how many wingers are known for their passing skills ? Scotland haven’t got anyone remotely as good as him in the 3/4
He is a shit scrummager though , if that helps

He couldn’t even catch and tackle our hooker at Twickenham last year, then got tied up in knots for a couple of other tries, not very good. I honestly wouldn’t swap anyone in our back line for him.

Best moment was, I think, against NZ where he made a break, shat the bed and literally dropped the ball trying to make a pass. Nice bloke, average international player

This is quite silly. May is very good, sometimes freakishly good - there have been times when he was the only reason we were still in games. Average international players don't have his record (29 tries in 56 matches including 4 tries in 7 matches vs SA, 3 in 7 vs Wales, 7 in 7 vs France, 4 in 6 vs Australia, top scorer in the 2019 6N) or his gifts





Anthony Watson is probably the better rugby player but it's a shame he can't stay fit. Defensively there's not much between them, and May has the far superior record. Watson definitely has better hands and a better step though.

Josh Adams is the only other Lions-qualified winger of the required standard who's actually been good recently.

[frodder]

Have a look at Greenwood's Lions team if you want to add some spite to the thread. Found on Sky website

(On my mobile so cba to copy and paste)

[Caley_Red]

Have a look at Greenwood's Lions team if you want to add some spite to the thread. Found on Sky website

(On my mobile so cba to copy and paste)

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... h-lions-xv

Probably less egregious than Gatland's first XV will be

[Ali Cadoo]

I saw Greenwood had left out Alun Wyn... this will be a more contentious, more disastrous and more decried move than dropping BOD [on his head] was.

Has Greenwood ever watched rugby before?

[clydecloggie]

I saw Greenwood had left out Alun Wyn... this will be a more contentious, more disastrous and more decried move than dropping BOD [on his head] was.

Has Greenwood ever watched rugby before?

AWJ is a total legend but getting on a bit. Itoje/Ryan makes perfect sense to me as a starting second row.

[New guy]

Thought AWJ was looking tired in the 6 nations. I'd still take him on the tour. The Lions are severely lacking leaders but it'd definitely be up to him to play his way into the test side.

Here's a tough question. Who is tour captain?

[Yeeb]

Thought AWJ was looking tired in the 6 nations. I'd still take him on the tour. The Lions are severely lacking leaders but it'd definitely be up to him to play his way into the test side.

Here's a tough question. Who is tour captain?

May !

[Margin__Walker]

Thought AWJ was looking tired in the 6 nations. I'd still take him on the tour. The Lions are severely lacking leaders but it'd definitely be up to him to play his way into the test side.

Here's a tough question. Who is tour captain?

[Yeeb]

I saw Greenwood had left out Alun Wyn... this will be a more contentious, more disastrous and more decried move than dropping BOD [on his head] was.

Has Greenwood ever watched rugby before?

AWJ is a total legend but getting on a bit. Itoje/Ryan makes perfect sense to me as a starting second row.

I didn’t mind Greenwood’s XV at all but prob wouldn’t have billy V in or perhaps Clapitoje.
Could we have a backrow or curry tipuric underhill ?! 3 outstanding players.

[Caley_Red]

Thought AWJ was looking tired in the 6 nations. I'd still take him on the tour. The Lions are severely lacking leaders but it'd definitely be up to him to play his way into the test side.

Here's a tough question. Who is tour captain?

Shouldn't even be in the starting XV, in my view

[Margin__Walker]

It's an interesting question tbf that you always get with these tours.

Who are your completely nailed on starters at this point? There aren't many

[Begbie]

That link above is Greenwood's team from March. This is the one he posted yesterday:

[New guy]

It's an interesting question tbf that you always get with these tours.

Who are your completely nailed on starters at this point? There aren't many

Underhill.

Probably Sinckler knowing Gatland.

That's basically it.

[Slick]

That link above is Greenwood's team from March. This is the one he posted yesterday:

I don't see much wrong with that team, although I'm not sure what Henshaw has done for a place in the last year or so. Probably wouldn't have Tuilagi either.

Could go with Itoje as captain - is he well liked by his team mates? Comes over very well on the TV

[Margin__Walker]

It's an interesting question tbf that you always get with these tours.

Who are your completely nailed on starters at this point? There aren't many

Underhill.

Probably Sinckler knowing Gatland.

That's basically it.

I'm not sure either of them are.

If I had to pick one English flanker it would be Curry.

[Yeeb]

That link above is Greenwood's team from March. This is the one he posted yesterday:

Itoje Captain ?!

Out of that XV I’d choose Tipuric, he doesn’t go hiding in big games. There is more to being a Captain than clapping and whooping others mistakes like a prick.

[Yeeb]

It's an interesting question tbf that you always get with these tours.

Who are your completely nailed on starters at this point? There aren't many

Underhill.

Probably Sinckler knowing Gatland.

That's basically it.

I'm not sure either of them are.

If I had to pick one English flanker it would be Curry.

And May of course.

[Margin__Walker]

6 - Curry
7 - May

Would be a pretty strong pairing tbf

[And 1 guest]

That link above is Greenwood's team from March. This is the one he posted yesterday:

AWJ and Jiffy jnr must be in the conversation if they can prove form and fitness. My blue tinted glasses would have Russell at 10 but Farrell would need to play 12 to take the kicks.

[Begbie]

Making Itoje captain might make him grow up and stop the screaming and clapping.

[Slick]

That link above is Greenwood's team from March. This is the one he posted yesterday:

AWJ and Jiffy jnr must be in the conversation if they can prove form and fitness. My blue tinted glasses would have Russell at 10 but Farrell would need to play 12 to take the kicks.

I'd have Farrell in somewhere, would prefer 12

[ASMO]

That link above is Greenwood's team from March. This is the one he posted yesterday:

AWJ and Jiffy jnr must be in the conversation if they can prove form and fitness. My blue tinted glasses would have Russell at 10 but Farrell would need to play 12 to take the kicks.

AWJ would be a nostalgic selection and not one on merit i am afraid. He is a dirt tracker at best for this tour, if there was a position as Tour Captain (as oppossed to test Captain) i could see him doing that.

Against the saffers i would take Underworsley over Curry as he is a far more destructive tackler and i think we are gonna need that defensive ability against the Boks.

[Yeeb]

6 - Curry
7 - May

Would be a pretty strong pairing tbf

Ha !
I meant sure starters, not flankers

[New guy]

The cupboards are pretty bare for this tour aren't they.

[JM2K6]

That link above is Greenwood's team from March. This is the one he posted yesterday:

Itoje Captain ?!

Out of that XV I’d choose Tipuric, he doesn’t go hiding in big games. There is more to being a Captain than clapping and whooping others mistakes like a prick.

Itoje goes hiding? wtf?

[Yeeb]

You know, in big games , like RWC finals

[JM2K6]

Itoje worked his socks off in the final. 16 tackles is 6 more than the next best Englishman.

Even if he did have a crap game, which I dispute, then you're looking at a sample size of one. He's stood up in plenty of huge matches. Like, for example, Lions Tests.

[Zig]

A lot depends on what games go ahead over the next 10 months. James Lowe might need to show something for Ireland to be considered. Hopefully he gets the chance.

[Yeeb]

Itoje worked his socks off in the final. 16 tackles is 6 more than the next best Englishman.

Even if he did have a crap game, which I dispute, then you're looking at a sample size of one. He's stood up in plenty of huge matches. Like, for example, Lions Tests.

There are other games when he’s not been at his best - to me he’s just not a leader , and yes it’s probably just because his clapping annoys me. He was also not exactly magnamanous in defeat iirc, and I’d prefer a silent assassin tipuric type who leads by example.

[JM2K6]

I can't see Tipuric's leadership credentials, really, and he's not even guaranteed his place in the starting side given the competition from Curry, Underhill, Watson, Ritchie...

Itoje is very much a leader. The clapping some of you hate so much is a benefit to his team, not a negative.

[Yeeb]

I can't see Tipuric's leadership credentials, really, and he's not even guaranteed his place in the starting side given the competition from Curry, Underhill, Watson, Ritchie...

Itoje is very much a leader. The clapping some of you hate so much is a benefit to his team, not a negative.

Well warren gatland did make tipuric wales Captain so those are credentials of a sort. Has Itoje captained saracens ? A quick google finds plenty of his own claims that he wants to be captain of the lions, he does have a decent self publicity game that I will agree.

Re the clapping - am sure there are some of his teammates who would rather he stfu and see it as a distraction rather than a benefit.