In decline since 09

[paddyor]

Won try of the year for the one against Italy

Heres to 2 hopefully 3 more years of glorious decline!

[blockhead]

His "decline" is something spouted in certain sections of the popular media and repeated by those who have a nutured dislike of anything associated with the pale. The coaches he has worked under however, Cheika, Schmidt, MOC, Cullen, Kidney, all have him as their No8 when he ia available, which is always. The wider rugby world seem to appreciate him too. 3 Nominations for World player of the year (1 Junior) is all you really need to know. A great Tiberian.

[simonokeeffe]

I look forward to Keith Wood reacting to the news by pointing out Dennis Leamy scored a great try against Perpignan seven years ago and Stander's against NZ

Heaslip is probably the only player where not making the Lions will be used as a stick to beat him with

barring more knees to the ribs hes on course for 100th international appearance in 6n, 100th Ireland cap next Autumn

[Dave Cahill]

I look forward to Keith Wood reacting to the news by pointing out Dennis Leamy scored a great try against Perpignan seven years ago and Stander's against NZ

Heaslip is probably the only player where not making the Lions will be used as a stick to beat him with

barring more knees to the ribs hes on course for 100th international appearance in 6n, 100th Ireland cap next Autumn

I don't see that happening. The question is whether he starts in the tests or not - but, ceteris paribus, he's a cert to make the squad.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Don't know about that. Billy V and Faletau would be certainties for me.

[CiaranIrl]

I look forward to Keith Wood reacting to the news by pointing out Dennis Leamy scored a great try against Perpignan seven years ago and Stander's against NZ

Heaslip is probably the only player where not making the Lions will be used as a stick to beat him with

barring more knees to the ribs hes on course for 100th international appearance in 6n, 100th Ireland cap next Autumn

I don't see that happening. The question is whether he starts in the tests or not - but, ceteris paribus, he's a cert to make the squad.

He would be a cert for any normal, reasonable coach. Mr. Played 30, won 4 vs southern hemisphere Gatland is a different beast altogether.

[Oldschool]

Don't know about that. Billy V and Faletau would be certainties for me.

You got it in one. Jamie will be cannon fodder at best. He'd be better off adding to his caps haul in Japan and the USA.

[Dave Cahill]

Don't know about that. Billy V and Faletau would be certainties for me.

Now, we're only one game into the Autumn Series I know, but I see Ireland and England playing for the championship, Scotland finishing third and Wales and France trying to not lose to Italy. That being the case, I don't see Falatau as a certainty at all. Its not even a certainty that he makes the Welsh team between his ongoing injuries and Ross Moriarity.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I just can't see Gatland not picking Faletau and suspect he'd be more a fan of his explosiveness than Jamie's brains. That's no criticism of Jamie btw, he's been brilliant all year. I wouldn't have expected him to be in the mix for the Lions but he absolutely is.

[simonokeeffe]

For me of the eligible specialist 8s Vunipola is the best (carrier) and Faletau will be picked and I only see them picking 2 specialists, and all 3 are specialists

[Dave Cahill]

Vunipola and Heaslip with Stander. Faletau may go, but he is far from the starting line let alone in the race at the moment - he has to get back into a Bath team thats been going pretty well without him since he got injured first of all. Gatland won't take a power game to New Zealand. It doesn't work, and he knows it doesn't work, which is why he started transitioning Wales away from it before he went on sabbatical.

Theres a school of thought that says that Gatland will take him because he's welsh, I think people forget that Wazza's only loyalty is to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Gatland

[jezzer]

Vunipola and Heaslip with Stander. Faletau may go, but he is far from the starting line let alone in the race at the moment - he has to get back into a Bath team thats been going pretty well without him since he got injured first of all. Gatland won't take a power game to New Zealand. It doesn't work, and he knows it doesn't work, which is why he started transitioning Wales away from it before he went on sabbatical.

Theres a school of thought that says that Gatland will take him because he's welsh, I think people forget that Wazza's only loyalty is to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Gatland

There's nothing Democratic about that Republic.

[Dave Cahill]

Vunipola and Heaslip with Stander. Faletau may go, but he is far from the starting line let alone in the race at the moment - he has to get back into a Bath team thats been going pretty well without him since he got injured first of all. Gatland won't take a power game to New Zealand. It doesn't work, and he knows it doesn't work, which is why he started transitioning Wales away from it before he went on sabbatical.

Theres a school of thought that says that Gatland will take him because he's welsh, I think people forget that Wazza's only loyalty is to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Gatland

There's nothing Democratic about that Republic.

Sir Humphrey Appleby: East Yemen, isn't that a democracy?
Sir Richard Wharton: Its full name is the Peoples' Democratic Republic of East Yemen.
Sir Humphrey Appleby: Ah I see, so it's a communist dictatorship.

[ronk]

Vunipola and Heaslip with Stander. Faletau may go, but he is far from the starting line let alone in the race at the moment - he has to get back into a Bath team thats been going pretty well without him since he got injured first of all. Gatland won't take a power game to New Zealand. It doesn't work, and he knows it doesn't work, which is why he started transitioning Wales away from it before he went on sabbatical.

Theres a school of thought that says that Gatland will take him because he's welsh, I think people forget that Wazza's only loyalty is to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Gatland

There's nothing Democratic about that Republic.

Sir Humphrey Appleby: East Yemen, isn't that a democracy?
Sir Richard Wharton: Its full name is the Peoples' Democratic Republic of East Yemen.
Sir Humphrey Appleby: Ah I see, so it's a communist dictatorship.

Haha

Or the Federal Republic of Germany and the Democratic Republic of Germany


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[Hippo]

Not forgetting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

[paddyor]

I think Faletau is a cert to travel assuming he can prove his fitness. I also think the Welsh in the 6N will be a very different prospect than the Welsh in the Pro12/Europe/AIs.

[offshorerules]

It's curious how on Shelbyville the Munster fans have first found a way to suggest it shouldn't have been awarded to Heaslip as it was a team try and secondly slag McFadden off for nearly butchering it. Sad.

[simonokeeffe]

I think Faletau is a cert to travel assuming he can prove his fitness. I also think the Welsh in the 6N will be a very different prospect than the Welsh in the Pro12/Europe/AIs.

Last Lions year Wales were muck in AIs but won 6n IIRC

Now theyre slowly realising its 1917 and what theyve been doing wont win them the war

I dont see Stander going, too many guys that can cover 6 like Itoje, Henderson, SOB

[offshorerules]

I still reckon it's way way too early to be predicting who travels or not but I'd think that if the team was being picked today Stander travels at least and possibly is a test starter. But the team isn't picked today ......

[paddyor]

I think Faletau is a cert to travel assuming he can prove his fitness. I also think the Welsh in the 6N will be a very different prospect than the Welsh in the Pro12/Europe/AIs.

Last Lions year Wales were muck in AIs but won 6n IIRC

Now theyre slowly realising its 1917 and what theyve been doing wont win them the war

I dont see Stander going, too many guys that can cover 6 like Itoje, Henderson, SOB

And the pro12 form of the regions is very 2012 at the moment. And yeah I know Faletau is no longer at a region. But they must know that if they have a good 6n and they're in a tight decision Gatland will likely give them the nod.