The Rugby Thread

[pharvey]

Forwards named

Forwards: Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan Dickie, Tom Curry, Zander Fagerson, Taulupe Faletau, Tadhg Furlong, Jamie George, Iain Henderson, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones, Wyn Jones, Courtney Lawes, Ken Owens, Andrew Porter, Sam Simmonds, Rory Sutherland, Justin Tipuric, Mako Vunipola, Hamish Watson.

No Billy Vunipola

Backs named

Backs: Josh Adams, Bundee Aki, Dan Biggar, Elliot Daly, Gareth Davies, Owen Farrell, Chris Harris, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart Hogg, Conor Murray, Ali Price, Louis Rees-Zammit, Finn Russell, Duhan van der Merwe, Anthony Watson, Liam Williams.

No Sexton.

[EDIT] I need to digest......

[pharvey]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57004215

British and Irish Lions: Wales great Alun Wyn Jones to captain squad

And while he is set to face stiff competition for a Test match place in the second row, Gatland has shown he is prepared to leave the tour captain out of the starting XV if required.

In 2017, skipper Sam Warburton was on the bench for the first Test against New Zealand with Peter O'Mahony the captain, before Warburton returned to lead the side in the second and third Tests.

AWJ it is then, playing or not. No complaints from me, certainly. It will be interesting to see who leads the team if/when he's not playing.

Has to be said, AWJ has quite a CV..... World record for international caps, Three Grand Slams, Captain of the Ospreys, Wales and now British Lions on his FOURTH tour!!

Quite frankly if he was fit to play or not, he should be on the tour purely for what he would offer the squad through experience.

[dtaai-maai]

Forwards named

Forwards: Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan Dickie, Tom Curry, Zander Fagerson, Taulupe Faletau, Tadhg Furlong, Jamie George, Iain Henderson, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones, Wyn Jones, Courtney Lawes, Ken Owens, Andrew Porter, Sam Simmonds, Rory Sutherland, Justin Tipuric, Mako Vunipola, Hamish Watson.

No Billy Vunipola

Backs named

Backs: Josh Adams, Bundee Aki, Dan Biggar, Elliot Daly, Gareth Davies, Owen Farrell, Chris Harris, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart Hogg, Conor Murray, Ali Price, Louis Rees-Zammit, Finn Russell, Duhan van der Merwe, Anthony Watson, Liam Williams.

No Sexton.

[EDIT] I need to digest.....

Not that surprised about Vunipola, or that Lawes is included. There are a number of utility players - Lawes and Itoje can both be used as locks or flankers, Daly can fit in pretty much anywhere in the back 3 (and I suspect he'll mostly be used for cover), Farrell as centre or fly half - and that's just the England players.

Perhaps a bit surprising that there are 11 Englishmen in the squad, though it's difficult to argue with any of them. 2 English hookers...? Looking at the options, I can see that Youngs would probably have been selected as well, making 12. Danny Care might have been hopeful after Youngs withdrew.

No Sexton is a surprise, and makes Russell favourite at no. 10. IMO of course! No Gray either.

Van der Merwe is a surprise, I'd have liked to see May there.

I dare say that between now and the final test there will be one or two (at least) replacements called up.

[dtaai-maai]

Some explanations from Gatland.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57015016

"For us it was getting that balance right with our second row and back row options, and covering those in certain positions as well, players being able to play either second row or back row," explained the former Wales boss.

[PeteC]

Here is a profile of each of the 37 players.

British and Irish Lions: Your guide to the 2021 squad to face South Africa

https://www.world.rugby/news/635115/bri ... quad-guide

[dtaai-maai]

[EDIT] I need to digest......

Come on, Mr Harvey, I've been looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

[pharvey]

[EDIT] I need to digest......

Come on, Mr Harvey, I've been looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Oh, OK.... - I'll do my best not to be biased.....

Christ, my starting XV and mid-week teams are changing!!

AWJ as Captain - Never in doubt. There may be some jealousy from other nations, but it's the right choice.... AND BAR INJURY WILL PLAY ALL TESTS!!

No Jonny Gray is upsetting - I'd hoped to see him in at least the test squad, but Jonny Hill (Exeter) has played some great rugby and his "style of rugby " may well be needed in SA.

Starting Second Rows will be AWJ (Capt) + Itoje.

Front Row - I don't think Jamie George should be any where near the plane, let alone the squad. Ken Owens first choice as Hooker.

Thankfully, Gatland has more nous than the Australian Muppet managing the Lillywhites and as such Sam Simmonds is named (although I feel he will be the mid-week Number 8 and back-up to Faletau). Also very happy to see Tipuric there - superb player and very underated IMHO. Seriously pi$$ed off that Navidi is not there - SA grounds would have suited him.... Changing my test backrow to - 8 - Faletau, 6 - Tipuric, 7 - ?

Gatland, as expected has also gone for a lighter squad and "versitile" players - guys who will play backrow and second row, and all physical.

Guys in the backs who can swap and change, though I don't think May should be there on current form - very happy to see LRZ there, and that's not a biased Welsh view!

No Sexton - bit of a shock, but that means Biggar is there as No.1, sorry, but he is far and away the better choice - unfortunatly the Lillywhite will play 12....... although, Davies could come in to play!

Several English players I would not have picked based on form, surprised at a few Scots left out - pi$$ed off with a few Welsh and Irish missing the tour, but more due to injury......

[PeteC]

If of interest the Super Rugby Aotearoa championship game between the Crusaders and the Chiefs is on now. True channel 669, and on Rugby Pass if you have a subscription.

[dtaai-maai]

I'll do my best not to be biased.....

Headmaster's comments: "Could try harder..."

Twelve years on and at the age of 35, Jones has been named as captain on his fourth Lions tour.

"He is an absolute legend of the game and I can't wait to play with him again," said Rees-Zammit.

"He has always told me if I need any advice then he is there for me. He is like my dad in camp!"

Not sure R-Z has done himself too many favours there!

I probably wouldn't have selected Jamie George for the squad, but I thought you were a tad harsh on the bloke, Pietro. And a bit defensive on the AWJ captaincy - I haven't seen any complaints from anyone, and I certainly don't have a problem with it.

I'd still like to see Russell in action at fly half and Simmons at no.8, but we'll have to wait and see. I suspect a lot will depend on performances in the warm-ups.

Really looking forward to the series, can't wait!

[pharvey]

I'll do my best not to be biased.....

Headmaster's comments: "Could try harder..."

Not sure R-Z has done himself too many favours there!

I probably wouldn't have selected Jamie George for the squad, but I thought you were a tad harsh on the bloke, Pietro. And a bit defensive on the AWJ captaincy - I haven't seen any complaints from anyone, and I certainly don't have a problem with it.

I'd still like to see Russell in action at fly half and Simmons at no.8, but we'll have to wait and see. I suspect a lot will depend on performances in the warm-ups.

Really looking forward to the series, can't wait!

Nothing too harsh for Jamie George from a Welshman..... Not a popular man this side of the bridge - classed somewhere between a pr*ck and a disrespectful pr*ck, but hey ho.

As for AWJ - some sacarsam from my side (which I get wrong at times.... ). There were a few comments in the press with Itoge, Farell or Hogg being better choices.... I'm a proud Welshman, so a Welsh Captain is wonderful (hey, we don't have a bad record - AWJ, Sam Warburton, Gareth Thomas, Michael Owen..... and that list only from 2005!!).

Russell can be superb and is a class act - he does however have his flaws and makes a few "brain dead decisions" at times. Yes, I'm very biased but Biggar is more dependable IM(Biased)O! Biggar/Russell to start/on the bench?

[EDIT] LRZ can't wait to play with AWJ again... only you would read things into that one

Personally, I can't wait to see what he (LRZ) can do on the hard grounds

Like you, can't wait for the series!! I was supposed to be there FFS!

[dtaai-maai]

I was supposed to be there FFS!

But not selected, sadly. Another tough decision.

[pharvey]

I was supposed to be there FFS!

But not selected, sadly. Another tough decision.

A tight call in the backrow...... Though I must admit to have slowed down a little - I blame the lockdown personally.

[dtaai-maai]

Phew.

Just watched the Quins-Wasps game, and I'm knackered! I'll say no more, in case you don't know the outcome and want to watch it. It's available on the (excellent) Gallagher Premiership website.

https://www.premiershiprugby.com/gallag ... hip-rugby/

[pharvey]

Phew.

Just watched the Quins-Wasps game, and I'm knackered! I'll say no more, in case you don't know the outcome and want to watch it. It's available on the (excellent) Gallagher Premiership website.

https://www.premiershiprugby.com/gallag ... hip-rugby/

Have not watched the game yet, but will take a look this evening (despite WB). Did see that Muppet Mike Brown in a clip posted - I shan't post the clip as it shows the score and time - but what a complete and utter Twunt! Never liked the guy and never will - this just shows his true character. On video evidence, this will lead (or should lead) to a very lengthy ban.

[dtaai-maai]

^^Agreed. And it was interesting to see his reaction at the end of the game...