The Rugby Thread

[Irishnev]

2 Scots Buzzo - Hogg + Seymour

[Irishnev]

We start with the backs:

Dan Biggar, Elliot Daly, Jonathan Davies, Owen Farrell, Leigh Halfpenny, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart Hogg, Jonathan Joseph, Conor Murray, George North, Jack Nowell, Jared Payne, Jonathan Sexton, Tommy Seymour, Ben Te'o, Anthony Watson, Rhys Webb, Liam Williams, Ben Youngs.

[Irishnev]

Rory Best (Ireland), Dan Cole (England), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Jamie George (England), Iain Henderson (Ireland), Maro Itoje (England), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), George Kruis (England), Courtney Lawes (England), Joe Marler (England), Jack McGrath (Ireland), Ross Moriarty (Wales), Sean O'Brien (Ireland), Peter O'Mahony (Ireland), Ken Owens (Wales), Kyle Sinckler (England), CJ Stander (Ireland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Billy Vunipola (England), Mako Vunipola (England), Sam Warburton (Wales)

[Irishnev]

11 Irish seems about right

[RichC]

Joseph made it then ! I'm surprised that Jonny Gray didn't make it into the squad tbh

[Vermilion]

edit. Jamie Roberts did not get called up. I blame 'Fake news' for my this error..

Jamie Roberts ? hmmm, can only be there for his experience i guess. Then again, his Lions form is good.

[Buzzo]

Laughable at how many Welsh have been picked clearly on reputation rather than form. It's a decent squad but the lack of Scottish representation ranckles.

Both Grays have performed excellently and though it's a tough position I'd have thought one would make it.. I think Tipuric in particular can count himself lucky, as can Warburton. Henderson as well.

I just turned on the radio and didn't realise that I'd missed the backs being called. I thought we had nobody

[Buzzo]

Did Jamie Roberts get called up? I don't see his name? Makes a mockery of the selection process if he was.

[Buzzo]

1/2p and Biggar shouldn't be there on form.

[Vermilion]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjnzYVvD8Lg

I reckon i could make a pair of shorts out of Sam Wharburtons Polo shirt sleeves, and they'd still be baggy on me.

[RichC]

No Launchbury either, had a fantastic six nations.

[Irishnev]

So opinion time from an Irish perspective.

I'm happy to get 11 places and delighted for both Henderson & O'Mahony who are both superb aggressive players and well suited to playing NZ. I wouldn't even be surprised if O'Mahony made the test side - I am a Munster fan and he is that good. I am also glad that a few of the older brigade such as Kearney, Heaslip & Toner were overlooked because they aren't good enough.

I am genuinely surprised that Payne made the squad but he is fairly versatile and can play full back and centre quite well. Added to that he is a Kiwi by birth so many that stood him in good stead.

No Roberts - phew - wasn't deserving of a place.

I agree a few players have got in on reputation rather than form but we need to get behind them and squabble over the test side now. Going to NZ is the hardest of the lot and hopefully they fair better than last time when O'Driscoll was shafted and Carter announced himself to the world.

[Vermilion]

Did Jamie Roberts get called up? I don't see his name? Makes a mockery of the selection process if he was.

No he didn't. My mistake. Was 'Fake News'.

[Buzzo]

Not often I'll support this guy, but Dylan Hartley must be pretty aggrieved. Lead your country to a World Record equalling run and can't get in the Lions squad for Ken Owens.

[Buzzo]

Looks like the AB's may be onto Gatland after his squad selection.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11841893