Official Lions selection, moaning and bitching thread

Where goats go to escape
dpedin
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dkm57 wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 2:51 pm
ASMO wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 2:44 pm Next cabs off the replacement rank
Pretty much sums it up.

Navidi I can sort of understand but Beard FFS!?
Watched the Exeter v Quins yesterday - Exeter conceded12 penalties and Hill must have accounted for at least 4 of them if not more! He was hopeless, conceded a couple of tries and yellow carded leading to first Quins try. He missed 3 tackles of 11 attempted and had very few passes and didnt attempt any off loads. He is going to be a real liability for the Lions. Gray outshone him on the day - didn't miss any of his 12 tackles, passed more, off loaded more and made more metres. I can't understand why Hill was selected first and why Gray wasn't selected as replacement for AWJ.
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JM2K6
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dpedin wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 3:12 pm
dkm57 wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 2:51 pm
ASMO wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 2:44 pm Next cabs off the replacement rank
Pretty much sums it up.

Navidi I can sort of understand but Beard FFS!?
Watched the Exeter v Quins yesterday - Exeter conceded12 penalties and Hill must have accounted for at least 4 of them if not more! He was hopeless, conceded a couple of tries and yellow carded leading to first Quins try. He missed 3 tackles of 11 attempted and had very few passes and didnt attempt any off loads. He is going to be a real liability for the Lions. Gray outshone him on the day - didn't miss any of his 12 tackles, passed more, off loaded more and made more metres. I can't understand why Hill was selected first and why Gray wasn't selected as replacement for AWJ.
Hill's discipline for England has been woeful so it's not like it's a one-off.
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Kawazaki
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dpedin wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 3:12 pm Watched the Exeter v Quins yesterday - Exeter conceded12 penalties and Hill must have accounted for at least 4 of them if not more! He was hopeless, conceded a couple of tries and yellow carded leading to first Quins try. He missed 3 tackles of 11 attempted and had very few passes and didnt attempt any off loads. He is going to be a real liability for the Lions. Gray outshone him on the day - didn't miss any of his 12 tackles, passed more, off loaded more and made more metres. I can't understand why Hill was selected first and why Gray wasn't selected as replacement for AWJ.


Hill also gave away the offside penalty...
... that led to Smith kicking the ball to the Exeter 5m...
... that led to the catch and drive...
... that led to Hill going in from the side of the maul...
... that led to the penalty try...
... that led to Hill's yellow card.
Big D
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Hills selection had to be game plan specific. He and Gray are different types of second row. It can be the only half sensible explanation really.

Thankfully can't see him getting near the test team.
Biffer
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Safferland back into lockdown tonight?

Rumours the Lions plane didn't leave Edinburgh.
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
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sorCrer
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Biffer wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 6:38 pm Safferland back into lockdown tonight?

Rumours the Lions plane didn't leave Edinburgh.
It's surprisingly not that bad a lockdown.
Big D
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Biffer wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 6:38 pm Safferland back into lockdown tonight?

Rumours the Lions plane didn't leave Edinburgh.

Photo on Instagram of them on the steps of the plane.

Unless the got them off then plane of course.
Biffer
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Big D wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 7:02 pm
Biffer wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 6:38 pm Safferland back into lockdown tonight?

Rumours the Lions plane didn't leave Edinburgh.

Photo on Instagram of them on the steps of the plane.

Unless the got them off then plane of course.
Edinburgh Airport says gate closed, but no sign of it being airborne.
And the flight plan appears to be cancelled.
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
Biffer
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It is still on the ground, but looks like it's about the UT to leave
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
Biffer
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Unless of course Finn has had a few and nicked the plane.
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
Big D
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Biffer wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 7:16 pm
Big D wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 7:02 pm
Biffer wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 6:38 pm Safferland back into lockdown tonight?

Rumours the Lions plane didn't leave Edinburgh.

Photo on Instagram of them on the steps of the plane.

Unless the got them off then plane of course.
Edinburgh Airport says gate closed, but no sign of it being airborne.
And the flight plan appears to be cancelled.
According to flightradar they are airborne now. But I'm useless with this sort of stuff.
Biffer
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Just taken off
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
Slick
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3 Springboks have it now.

We are where we are but I really don’t think this should have gone ahead this year.
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assfly
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Slick wrote: Mon Jun 28, 2021 7:44 am 3 Springboks have it now.

We are where we are but I really don’t think this should have gone ahead this year.
They were tested and came back positive before entering the Bok camp. Some of the panic I see in the UK media is a bit silly.
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Kawazaki
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There's an itinerary contingency to only play the test matches apparently. That's looking more and more likely, in fact it's looking to me to make more sense to keep the Lions and South African squads in the same bubble and move them all around together.

Fairly grim tour.
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Hal Jordan
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Kawazaki wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 4:31 pm
dpedin wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 3:12 pm Watched the Exeter v Quins yesterday - Exeter conceded12 penalties and Hill must have accounted for at least 4 of them if not more! He was hopeless, conceded a couple of tries and yellow carded leading to first Quins try. He missed 3 tackles of 11 attempted and had very few passes and didnt attempt any off loads. He is going to be a real liability for the Lions. Gray outshone him on the day - didn't miss any of his 12 tackles, passed more, off loaded more and made more metres. I can't understand why Hill was selected first and why Gray wasn't selected as replacement for AWJ.


Hill also gave away the offside penalty...
... that led to Smith kicking the ball to the Exeter 5m...
... that led to the catch and drive...
... that led to Hill going in from the side of the maul...
... that led to the penalty try...
... that led to Hill's yellow card.
He joined the maul nigh on from our side, right in front of the ref. He's an absolute idiot.
dpedin
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Big D wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 5:07 pm Hills selection had to be game plan specific. He and Gray are different types of second row. It can be the only half sensible explanation really.

Thankfully can't see him getting near the test team.
I agree but in that case don't take the feckin idiot on Tour!
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JM2K6
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Hill was selected explicitly for his physicality and raw caveman bullshit to counter the Saffas. The fact that it's not really worked for England so far and his international career has been one of dumb fucking penalties and not a lot else seems to have been missed.

It's weird because I don't think he was a liability for Exeter before his callup - maybe Eddie just got into his head about being as aggressive as possible? Either way he's taken that form back to Exeter, whereas previously he was outstanding and deserving of the international recognition.
dpedin
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JM2K6 wrote: Mon Jun 28, 2021 10:06 am Hill was selected explicitly for his physicality and raw caveman bullshit to counter the Saffas. The fact that it's not really worked for England so far and his international career has been one of dumb fucking penalties and not a lot else seems to have been missed.

It's weird because I don't think he was a liability for Exeter before his callup - maybe Eddie just got into his head about being as aggressive as possible? Either way he's taken that form back to Exeter, whereas previously he was outstanding and deserving of the international recognition.
Sums it up for me!
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SaintK
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dpedin wrote: Mon Jun 28, 2021 10:04 am
Big D wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 5:07 pm Hills selection had to be game plan specific. He and Gray are different types of second row. It can be the only half sensible explanation really.

Thankfully can't see him getting near the test team.
I agree but in that case don't take the feckin idiot on Tour!
Just heard that Gray was unavailable for call up as he needs a corrective operation this summer.
Can't substantiate mind!!
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Sandstorm
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sorCrer wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 7:01 pm
Biffer wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 6:38 pm Safferland back into lockdown tonight?

Rumours the Lions plane didn't leave Edinburgh.
It's surprisingly not that bad a lockdown.
Pubs are closed. Seems pretty fucking dire to me!
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Sandstorm
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sorCrer wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 7:01 pm
Biffer wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 6:38 pm Safferland back into lockdown tonight?

Rumours the Lions plane didn't leave Edinburgh.
It's surprisingly not that bad a lockdown.
Pubs are closed. Seems pretty fucking dire to me!
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Sandstorm
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westport
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Lions team to face Emirates Lions:

Hogg; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Farrell, Adams; Russell, Price; W Jones, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Lawes, H Watson, Faletau.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Vunipola, Fagerson, Henderson, Simmonds, Davies, Aki, Daly
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Openside
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JM2K6 wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 3:24 pm
dpedin wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 3:12 pm
dkm57 wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 2:51 pm

Pretty much sums it up.

Navidi I can sort of understand but Beard FFS!?
Watched the Exeter v Quins yesterday - Exeter conceded12 penalties and Hill must have accounted for at least 4 of them if not more! He was hopeless, conceded a couple of tries and yellow carded leading to first Quins try. He missed 3 tackles of 11 attempted and had very few passes and didnt attempt any off loads. He is going to be a real liability for the Lions. Gray outshone him on the day - didn't miss any of his 12 tackles, passed more, off loaded more and made more metres. I can't understand why Hill was selected first and why Gray wasn't selected as replacement for AWJ.
Hill's discipline for England has been woeful so it's not like it's a one-off.
The fact he looks like a neanderthal doesn't help...
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SaintK
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Openside wrote: Thu Jul 01, 2021 9:09 am
JM2K6 wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 3:24 pm
dpedin wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 3:12 pm

Watched the Exeter v Quins yesterday - Exeter conceded12 penalties and Hill must have accounted for at least 4 of them if not more! He was hopeless, conceded a couple of tries and yellow carded leading to first Quins try. He missed 3 tackles of 11 attempted and had very few passes and didnt attempt any off loads. He is going to be a real liability for the Lions. Gray outshone him on the day - didn't miss any of his 12 tackles, passed more, off loaded more and made more metres. I can't understand why Hill was selected first and why Gray wasn't selected as replacement for AWJ.
Hill's discipline for England has been woeful so it's not like it's a one-off.
The fact he looks like a neanderthal doesn't help...
Yes and when paired with Lurch lookalike Jonny Gray in the Exeter second row they make a fine couple :lol:
Jock42
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westport wrote: Thu Jul 01, 2021 9:07 am Lions team to face Emirates Lions:

Hogg; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Farrell, Adams; Russell, Price; W Jones, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Lawes, H Watson, Faletau.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Vunipola, Fagerson, Henderson, Simmonds, Davies, Aki, Daly
Hogg is Capt :thumbup:
Big D
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Jock42 wrote: Thu Jul 01, 2021 9:25 am
westport wrote: Thu Jul 01, 2021 9:07 am Lions team to face Emirates Lions:

Hogg; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Farrell, Adams; Russell, Price; W Jones, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Lawes, H Watson, Faletau.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Vunipola, Fagerson, Henderson, Simmonds, Davies, Aki, Daly
Hogg is Capt :thumbup:
Good to see the Lions give their most creative centre pairing a run out early :grin:

Will be interesting to see if Russell and Farrell swap throughout the game.
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salanya
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What an uninspiring team, and that's using my most positive language.

A typical Gatland team.

Edit to try and be more positive: I guess it's just a warm up match and all players need and deserve gametime.
Over the hills and far away........
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JM2K6
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I'm of the opinion that Russell would work best with a big runner at 12 - what do you think, Scots? He seems like someone who doesn't need the additional playmaker. Can see Farrell being more useful with Biggar.
tc27
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Game moved to 5pm to avoid clash with the football.
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Yr Alban
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JM2K6 wrote: Thu Jul 01, 2021 10:18 am I'm of the opinion that Russell would work best with a big runner at 12 - what do you think, Scots? He seems like someone who doesn't need the additional playmaker. Can see Farrell being more useful with Biggar.
Slightly difficult question as we haven’t really seen him with a real crash-ball 12 for Scotland. But it’s worth observing that giving him a 2nd playmaker in Cam Redpath delivered our first win at Twickenham since I was 10.
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JM2K6
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Yr Alban wrote: Thu Jul 01, 2021 10:48 am
JM2K6 wrote: Thu Jul 01, 2021 10:18 am I'm of the opinion that Russell would work best with a big runner at 12 - what do you think, Scots? He seems like someone who doesn't need the additional playmaker. Can see Farrell being more useful with Biggar.
Slightly difficult question as we haven’t really seen him with a real crash-ball 12 for Scotland. But it’s worth observing that giving him a 2nd playmaker in Cam Redpath delivered our first win at Twickenham since I was 10.
Redpath's a good runner! He ran more than he passed against England and did it really well. 50m+ from your 12 is good going.

It's never a bad thing to have another kicking option, that's just a rugby fact, so I was thinking more about whether Russell would benefit from being able to pop up in wider channels or if his game would be better served by having a bigger runner to offload to at 10.
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Begbie
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So I squares up, casual like.
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JM2K6
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I see no less an authority than Stephen Ferris has said VDM is a defensive liability. Strong words coming from a Lions legend...
Big D
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JM2K6 wrote: Fri Jul 02, 2021 7:54 am I see no less an authority than Stephen Ferris has said VDM is a defensive liability. Strong words coming from a Lions legend...
I liked Stephen Ferris as a player but a Lions legend he is not. He spent all of two weeks on tour.

It is an easy trope to follow. He isn't a natural defender by any means but he is hardly the liability he is made out to be.
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Tichtheid
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Ferris was a monster of a player, one of my favourites and he would have done more but for the injuries (I could say exactly the same about another Irish player, David Wallace)

As a pundit Ferris never hides his bias, on the last tour he shoehorned Rory Best into every comment he possibly could, I don't really have much respect for him in that job, but I'll always admire him tremendously as a player.
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Tichtheid
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As for Russell, imo his best performances for Scotland have been with Sam Johnson at 12, though Redpath really did look the business.
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sorCrer
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Yr Alban
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Big D wrote: Fri Jul 02, 2021 8:51 am
JM2K6 wrote: Fri Jul 02, 2021 7:54 am I see no less an authority than Stephen Ferris has said VDM is a defensive liability. Strong words coming from a Lions legend...
I liked Stephen Ferris as a player but a Lions legend he is not. He spent all of two weeks on tour.

It is an easy trope to follow. He isn't a natural defender by any means but he is hardly the liability he is made out to be.
Van der Merwe made 13 tackles in the 6N and missed 3 (81%)
Rees-Zammit made 28 tackles and missed 9 (76%)
Liam Williams made 11 tackles and missed 4 (73%)
Watson made 15 tackles and missed 7 (68%)
Adams made 10 tackles and missed 6 (63%)
Daly made 5 tackles and missed 4 (56%)

Not only isn’t Van der Merwe a defensive liability, he is statistically the most reliable defensive winger on the tour, with not only the highest tackle completion rate, but also the fewest net tackles missed.
It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.
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