Lions Squad 2017

[backrower8]

Lions Squad...(not sure of total numbers allowed but I am going with 37)

1 - McGrath, Mako (plays both sides), Healy
2 - Hartley, Best, George
3 - Furlong, Cole, Nel
2nd Row - AWJ, Itoje (&6), Kruis, Henderson (&6), Toner (the X-factor...7ft tall went well vs ABs & also S.Africa's best EE/LdeJ/PdT)
6 - Stander
7 - Warburton, SOB (&6&8), Tipuric
8 - Vunipola, Faleteau
9 - Murray, Webb, Care
10 - Sexton, Farrell (&12), Biggar
11 - North, Zebo (&15)
12 - Henshaw (&13&15), Roberts, S Williams (&13)
13 - Davies, Joseph (&14)
14 - Watson (&15), Seymour
15 - Hogg (&10), Payne (&13)

13 Irish; 11 English; 10 Welsh; 3 Scots

Captaincy candidates: Hartley, Best, AWJ, Sam, Murray...probably Hartley but might Murray be a 'captaincy bolter' as the most likely test starter and one of 26 Celts?

[backrower8]

Matchday 23

McGrath Hartley Furlong
AWJ Toner (that height is irresistable...isn't it?)
Itoje Vunipola Warburton

Murray Sexton

North Henshaw Davies Watson

Hogg

Subs: Best, Healy, Mako (TH...long shot), Henderson (4,5,6), SOB/Stander (6,7,8), Webb, Farrell (10&12), Zebo (11, 14, 15)

Healy and Mako are both very dynamic players as are Henderson and O'Brien

I obviously have my green and blue goggles on!

[wixfjord]

Does Mako Vunipola play both positions?? Since when??

[erskinechilders]

I agree with a lot of that squad. Few changes I would make would be : Faletau at 6, Itoje in the second row ahead of Toner. Joseph at 13 and Payne on the bench ahead of Zebo. I would also prefer a regular tight head on the bench ahead of Mako. Therefore starting Cole and Furlong to finish!

[Laighin Break]

I'll watch the Lions tour but my only interest really is how many Irish players make the squad and matchday 23. Wouldn't be disappointed with a series loss, even a 3-0 loss.

There's talk now that Schmidt may be asked to join their coaching team. I really hope he doesn't. He mentioned he'd be delighted for Andy Farrell to join so he can keep an eye on how the Irish lads do and report back, while Schmidt focuses on the lads in US and Japan tour. I think this is definitely the right option.
I don't want Schmidt sharing a single thing with Gatland on how to beat NZ.

[Ruckedtobits]

I'll watch the Lions tour but my only interest really is how many Irish players make the squad and matchday 23. Wouldn't be disappointed with a series loss, even a 3-0 loss.

There's talk now that Schmidt may be asked to join their coaching team. I really hope he doesn't. He mentioned he'd be delighted for Andy Farrell to join so he can keep an eye on how the Irish lads do and report back, while Schmidt focuses on the lada in US and Japan tour. I think this is definitely the right option.
I don't want Schmidt sharing a single thing with Gatland on how to beat NZ.

+1
Absolutely. International rugby is a sport run like a business. The intellectual property that is the cumulative thoughts, planning and preparation by the Nartional Management Team should not be pi@*ed away on the ego trip and financial re-distribution, which a Lions Tour represents. Good luck to the Irish guys who get selected but I hope they consider it a reconnisance mission to learn as much as possible about local (and other) opponents.

[erskinechilders]

On the basis of the November Internationals it'll be a straight shoot between Murray and Youngs for the SH position atm. Murray ahead so far!

[paddyor]

On the basis of the November Internationals it'll be a straight shoot between Murray and Youngs for the SH position atm. Murray ahead so far!

On the basis of the nov intls none of the Welsh players would have made the 2013 Lions squad.

[Ruckedtobits]

On the basis of the November Internationals it'll be a straight shoot between Murray and Youngs for the SH position atm. Murray ahead so far!

On the basis of the nov intls none of the Welsh players would have made the 2013 Lions squad.

Liam Williams & Rhys Webb

[Ruckedtobits]

On the basis of the November Internationals it'll be a straight shoot between Murray and Youngs for the SH position atm. Murray ahead so far!

On the basis of the nov intls none of the Welsh players would have made the 2013 Lions squad.

Liam Williams & Rhys Webb

Misread that quote @paddyor. Apologies.

[blockhead]

The Telegraph picks its Lions squad early;

The Daily Telegraph's Lions squad:

FRONT ROW: Jack McGrath (Ireland), Mako Vunipola (England), Cian Healy (Ireland), Dan Cole (England), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), WP Nel (Scotland), Dylan Hartley (England), Rory Best (Ireland), Jamie George (England).

SECOND ROW: Alun Wyn-Jones (Wales), Maro Itoje (England), Devin Toner (Ireland), George Kruis (England), Joe Launchbury (England).

BACK ROW: Chris Robshaw (England), CJ Stander (Ireland), James Haskell (England), Sam Warburton (Wales), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Billy Vunipola (England), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland).

HALF BACK: Rhys Webb (Wales), Conor Murray (Ireland), Ben Youngs (England), Dan Biggar (Wales), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), Owen Farrell (England).

CENTRE: Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Jonathan Joseph (England), Jonathan Davies (Wales).

BACK THREE: George North (Wales), Liam Williams (Wales), Anthony Watson (England), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Rob Kearney (Ireland).

7 Leinster guys.
I'd be quite happy if the Lions were dominated by English and Welsh tbh. Leave our guys a chance for a good preseason and hopefully a good season in blue & green, as well as red & white too of course.

[erskinechilders]

Few changes I would have made to the Telegraphs' squad:

Furlong for Jenkins
Jonny Gray for Launchbury
O'Brien for Robshaw
George Ford / Finn Russell for Biggar
Payne & Elliot Daly for Roberts & Kearney

[Lar]

Paper never refused ink....

[Ruckedtobits]

Paper never refused ink....

In the circumstances, maybe it could read:

Papers never refused (dr)ink

[erskinechilders]

Revised Lions squad after the weekend, changes in bold.

FRONT ROW: Jack McGrath (Ireland), Mako Vunipola (England), Cian Healy (Ireland), Dan Cole (England), Tadhg Furlong ( Ireland ), WP Nel (Scotland), Dylan Hartley (England), Rory Best (Ireland), Jamie George (England).

SECOND ROW: Alun Wyn-Jones (Wales), Maro Itoje (England), Devin Toner (Ireland), George Kruis (England), Jonny Gray ( Scotland )

BACK ROW: CJ Stander (Ireland), Sean O'Brien ( Ireland ) , James Haskell ( England ), Sam Warburton (Wales), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Billy Vunipola (England), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland).

HALF BACK: Rhys Webb (Wales), Conor Murray (Ireland), Ben Youngs (England), George Ford ( England ), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), Owen Farrell (England).

CENTRE: Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Jonathan Joseph (England), Huw Jones ( Scotland ).

BACK THREE: George North (Wales), Liam Williams (Wales), Anthony Watson (England), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Jared Payne ( Ireland )

[TerenureJim]

I think Trimble is possibly in with a shout if he keeps up current vein of form

[blockhead]

POC speaking on Sky after the game picked the forwards he thinks should be on the Lions squad.
McGrath, Furlong, Best, Heaslip and SOB.

[Peg Leg]

POC speaking on Sky after the game picked the forwards he thinks should be on the Lions squad.
McGrath, Furlong, Best, Heaslip and SOB.

I'd say toners delighted with that endorsement

[blockhead]

POC speaking on Sky after the game picked the forwards he thinks should be on the Lions squad.
McGrath, Furlong, Best, Heaslip and SOB.

I'd say toners delighted with that endorsement

He actually gave a ringing endorsement of TTT when discuussing his picks. I think he was limited to 5 choices.

[Peg Leg]

POC speaking on Sky after the game picked the forwards he thinks should be on the Lions squad.
McGrath, Furlong, Best, Heaslip and SOB.

I'd say toners delighted with that endorsement

He actually gave a ringing endorsement of TTT when discuussing his picks. I think he was limited to 5 choices.

In that case, I'd be dropping sob for toner