Lions Tour of NZ 2017

[Rooster]

So, our 'best' 3 players start 24 games between them ( no fault of theirs) no wonder we are doomed

Added to that, going on a Lions tour means they wont start pre season until about September, and only play for Ulster a couple of games to warm up for the Autumn series, after which some or all will be crocked. Maybe 2018/19 will be our year

Aye we should be rid of Kiss by then and Jono will be our leader.

[BaggyTrousers]

Ron'n, do you refer to the 1983 Lions team to NZ as immortals too? Beaten 4-0 and lucky to get 0.

At least this lot will only lose 3-0.

As my new neighbour in Spain, Linden from Pontypool said today, the only chance the Lions have is to try to beat up NZ and he thinks they will start the English props to fight and the Irish props to win the game. Told him it might be Gatlands plan but good luck trying to fight NZ in an effort to bring them down to Brit levels.

[againstthehead]

In the Lions favour
- mid-winter in NZ means heavier pitches which should suit the Lions a bit more than NZ
- the Lions pack is pretty fekkin handy with some serious depth
- one of the best goal-kickers on the planet
- Impact from the bench. Gatland seems to have selected a few almost specialist impact players. NZ come into their own in the last 30 mins but the depth of this Lions squad may be able to deal with that.
- battle-ready. By fek it's a tough schedule but they are going to have played sides which play a fairly similar style to the ABs. Great preparation.
- ABs are still a bit light IMHO since the likes of McCaw, Carter et al moved on. They rely a huge amount on the likes of Coles, Barrett and Ben Smith. Centres are not established and don't have a lot of cover at lock. They're a couple of injuries away from being somewhat weakened.

On the other hand...
- whilst the tough schedule is potentially a good thing it's also potentially insane for obvious reasons.
- lions lack a bit of x-factor in the backs. I don't see much creativity there but Gatland isn't planning on using too much.
- away from home - few sides win in NZ and the ABs will be fully pumped for this series. It's a big ask.
- 4 nations are trying to become 1. Will they click? How will they cope when under pressure or after a defeat? With such a big squad how do you keep folk happy and engaged? These are all very good players with big egos so I imagine it is no mean task to try and manage the rascals.

Overall, I think the Lions have a physical pack that can go toe to toe with NZ - a bit like SA did in the RWC. I think they'll be competitive but probably not cohesive enough to win an away series.

[rumncoke]

in days gone by late 60s the mid week matches were against provincial sides who had minimal preparation .

The mid week games maybe tougher than the ABs as these are no longer against sides with little preparation but scalp hunters who have played together for 8-9 weeks and if anything better prepared than either the Lions or ABs

There are no potential exhibition games tough games each and everyone and the replacement calls could be frequent .




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[bazzaj]

I think their selection has given them every chance in terms of the type of personnel and numbers.

I really hope that he doesn't play Farrell as a 12 and keeps him as a 10.
Never really like seeing 10s playing centre.
Appreciate Carter and Wilkinson were played there to find their feet but generally I like to see the best players playing their position.
I would like to see Teo or Henshaw at 12 with Joseph or Daly at 13 which would mean a better balance of threat in terms of power pace and skill set.
The best centre combos all have this balance of power and subtlety.
Playing another distributor at 12 effectively neutralises the threat from 12. and can't think of too many examples of where it's worked.
Ford and Farrell weren't too bad but they have played together since they were knee height to a grasshopper and developed an understanding over time.

Besides which the fact there's only 3 players that can cover 10 means a big ask for Farrell to cover 10 midweek and play 12 on Saturday.
Hopefully that's their thinking too.

[bazzaj]

in days gone by late 60s the mid week matches were against provincial sides who had minimal preparation .

The mid week games maybe tougher than the ABs as these are no longer against sides with little preparation but scalp hunters who have played together for 8-9 weeks and if anything better prepared than either the Lions or ABs

There are no potential exhibition games tough games each and everyone and the replacement calls could be frequent .




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Hopefully the days of the midweek powderpuff selections are gone on this tour.
Haven't seen much decent midweek oppositon since 1997 and if New Zealand do go all out midweek a more than 50% win rate on this tour will be considered good going for the Lions.

[Crusoe]

Are any forum members heading out here for the Lions? If you need any advice in terms of getting around or still haven't sorted your Auckland accomodation sling me a PM and I will do what I can.

[Dave]

Hey guys!!

Bookie bookie!

I have free room and cheeeep!

We have best food, ticket, errorplain, prostitute and drug.

Come see lion and cheetah, we have best in the place!

We world classy!

Mormon Gartland stay here, he like drug and prostitute.

Please come and I hook up!

Bookie bookie!

[BaggyTrousers]

If the Lions win three or more games I will be astonished assuming reports that the ABs will play for their franchises is not bullshite.

Like Schmidt , Warren Gatland has often found his best combos through the necessity if injury and unavailability rather than genius. Only a fool would look past a 9,10,12, 13 exclusively Irish so I assume Farrell will be 10 with a mix and match outside him.

Either way let's hope they get it horsed up them.

[BaggyTrousers]

If the Lions win three or more games I will be astonished assuming reports that the ABs will play for their franchises is not bullshite.

Like Schmidt , Warren Gatland has often found his best combos through the necessity if injury and unavailability rather than genius. Only a fool would look past a 9,10,12, 13 exclusively Irish so I assume Farrell will be 10 with a mix and match outside him.

Either way let's hope they get it horsed up them.

[Russ]

Ben Teo ....

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[againstthehead]

in days gone by late 60s the mid week matches were against provincial sides who had minimal preparation .

The mid week games maybe tougher than the ABs as these are no longer against sides with little preparation but scalp hunters who have played together for 8-9 weeks and if anything better prepared than either the Lions or ABs

There are no potential exhibition games tough games each and everyone and the replacement calls could be frequent .




Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

Hopefully the days of the midweek powderpuff selections are gone on this tour.
Haven't seen much decent midweek opposition since 1997 and if New Zealand do go all out midweek a more than 50% win rate on this tour will be considered good going for the Lions.

This Lions squad looks pretty decent to me - even a 'midweek' side would be good. However, the problem with a 'midweek' side is that players in it often get fekked off as they realise they have little change of making the test side - especially if the squad is huge. I think Gatland should be thinking about units for the first 2-3 games. For example, play his Test half-backs perhaps mid-week together and the test back-row at the weekend so whilst mixing and matching it's not a pure 1st and 2nd XV. Having read Henry's chapter, one of his regrets was hiding the players away from the fans and taking the enjoyment out of the tour. One of Gatland's biggest challenges is to bring that huge squad together and get them to buy into his gameplan and strategy whilst keeping the camp happy and motivated.

[bazzaj]

For me the big challenge is the majority of the test side should be involved in finals the week before the first game.
This leaves virtually zero preparation for the opening games.
6 games to the first test so that in reality is 3 games maximum for players to pick up the game plan and get used to combinations.

Does Gatland rest them and risk a lack of continuity or play them and risk flogging them before the first test?

Best result all round would be Leinster and Sarries not making the finals.
Can't see that happening though.

Gatland should go for combinations due to limited time and has alluded to this in interviews.
Could do no worse by initally selecting an English front 5 with a Welsh back row and Irish halfbacks -centres with Welsh wingers, Hogg at 15. Similar units can be on the bench and mirroring that formula midweek where possible.
Them filter in individuals/combinations based on form from that point.

[Neill_M]

Lads like Sexton and Farrell need to be played carefully before the tests. Need to have a team as close to 1st choice heading into 1st test.


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[bazzaj]

Gatland will have to have his test side in his head right now.
At least he should do.
Not sure if he has time to look at mixing and matching.
Just got to trust his instincts but has to be decisive enough to make changes if there are big enough discrepancies in form.
His initial selections seem bang on so hopefully he can continue in that vien.