Lions 2017

[erskinechilders]

Just thinking of the starting Lions team at this point in time. Very very far out but imo it'll go something like this:

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Anthony Watson
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. George North
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Conor Murray
8. Billy Vunipola
7. Sam Warburton
6. Taulupe Faletau
5. Alun Wyn Jones (c)
4. Maro Itoje
3. WP Nel
2. Dylan Hartley
1. Jack McGrath

16. Jamie George
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Dan Cole
19. Iain Henderson
20. Justin Tipuric / Sean O'Brien
21. Rhys Webb
22. Owen Farrell
23. Jared Payne

[neiliog93]

Payne probably won't even make the wider squad. He'll probably use Faletau as an impact sub off the bench and put Haskell at 6. Could see Tuilagi in one of the centre spots. Also think Dan Cole will start, WP Nel has got way too much praise on the back of a decent 6 Nations in 2016, IMO.

[CiaranIrl]

Just thinking of the starting Lions team at this point in time. Very very far out but imo it'll go something like this:

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Anthony Watson
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. George North
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Conor Murray
8. Billy Vunipola
7. Sam Warburton
6. Taulupe Faletau
5. Alun Wyn Jones (c)
4. Maro Itoje
3. WP Nel
2. Dylan Hartley
1. Jack McGrath

16. Jamie George
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Dan Cole
19. Iain Henderson
20. Justin Tipuric / Sean O'Brien
21. Rhys Webb
22. Owen Farrell
23. Jared Payne

That's probably not a million miles off. I like the AWJ suggestion for Captain actually. Makes sense.

I'm not sure about 6, 12, 14 & 23, but the rest seem pretty likely to me. 3 and 9 could possibly switch with the bench versions.

I could imagine Henderson starting at 6, and having two impact back rows like O'Brien / Stander / Faletau on the bench. He might go with Roberts or Tuilagi at 12, and its hard to call a right wing.

[Degz]

A Gatland coached side without Roberts or Davies? No chance.

I'd say Farrell is ahead of J10 at this moment in time too.

[CiaranIrl]

A Gatland coached side without Roberts or Davies? No chance.

I'd say Farrell is ahead of J10 at this moment in time too.

Yes on Roberts, but not Davies. Hasn't played well in the last year really. Even Stephen fanboy Jones didn't have him in his Welsh/English 15 in the ST.

[neiliog93]

I can see Henshaw being picked at 13 (he's big, after all) with Tuilagi to come in off the bench. Unless Davies' form recovers, in which case he'll be straight back in.

[erskinechilders]

Serious performances from Henshaw,Sexton, Murray, Furlong and McGrath... Murray Henshaw and Furlong shoe-ins for the starting team!

[simonokeeffe]

Serious performances from Henshaw,Sexton, Murray, Furlong and McGrath... Murray Henshaw and Furlong shoe-ins for the starting team!

Furlong could be the relative bolter there, TH is not a deep position for the Lions: Lee is injury prone and and doesnt seem to have lived up to early hype/been the same post op, Nel and Cole are surmountable obstacles,a nd Furlong probably the best ball player of all 4

[Dave Cahill]

I've never been able to understand the hype around Samson Lee. He was sh!t when I first saw him, and he was sh!t the last time I saw him, and he didn't improve in-between

[Oldschoolsocks]

Insight: finally dawned on me why I dislike the lions so much - it turns me into a quasi turnip eating orangina drinking people's republican loudly declaring stupidity, blindness and just plain bias in any team selection that doesn't include Sexytoes at 10, Heaslip at 8, and Murray at 9.

[simonokeeffe]

I've never been able to understand the hype around Samson Lee. He was sh!t when I first saw him, and he was sh!t the last time I saw him, and he didn't improve in-between

hey its also not like they can take him AND Marler on the same tour

[artaneboy]

I've never been able to understand the hype around Samson Lee. He was sh!t when I first saw him, and he was sh!t the last time I saw him, and he didn't improve in-between

He's Welsh. Any young prop from the Principality is assumed to be a foundation of promise no matter what the evidence of his playing career would seem to indicate to the untutored (i.e. non-Welsh) eye. it was ever thus....

[Dave Cahill]

I've never been able to understand the hype around Samson Lee. He was sh!t when I first saw him, and he was sh!t the last time I saw him, and he didn't improve in-between

He's Welsh. Any young prop from the Principality is assumed to be a foundation of promise no matter what the evidence of his playing career would seem to indicate to the untutored (i.e. non-Welsh) eye. it was ever thus....

That happens alright, but I factored that in! Hes a Scarlet and they're less inclined to the hyperbole than their neighbours and this was in person, talking to folks over there - not the usual media stuff. I just have never been able to see it. I remember a respected denizen of this parish telling me to keep an eye out for him if he started against us at a game we were both at over there (and in fairness there was a some doubt about an injury he may have been carrying), but if he was carrying an injury he would have dropped it - he was dreadful

[backrower8]

I have reposted my post with squad prediction to the Lions section of the International Rugby

[backrower8]

I have reposted my Matchday 23 to the correct (Lions) page on the International Rugby board

[offshorerules]

Way too early to be predicting team.

[fourthirtythree]

Of course it is, it's too early until around the time they pick it.

If by predicting the team you mean making a close to accurate prediction of what the team will be when it plays.

If your purpose is to suggest what it might be were it picked now, for you know fun speculation stuff, it's never too soon. And doing that over time gives us a sense of how the fortunes of teams and players are going.

For example I would have thought starting off that the bulk of the team would come from England with Wales second (partially due to Gatland having familiarity with them and they with what he wants). Now I see Wales slipping and Irish players coming into contention where I might not have seen it before. As pure nerdy fun why not?

[simonokeeffe]

predicting it is fun though

as it stands the Welsh makeup may be waning

[Peg Leg]

predicting it is fun though

as it stands the Welsh makeup may be waning

But their fake tan is holding up well.

[simonokeeffe]

predicting it is fun though

as it stands the Welsh makeup may be waning

But their fake tan is holding up well.

the pink cowboy hats protect them from the worst of it