The Rugby Thread

[Cormack74]

Garces, Peype, Poite.

Garces can be a bit left field sometimes but on balance I'm glad (at this stage) that we've got 2 NH refs rather than 2 or even 3 from from the SH.

[Cormack74]

Edit: I got the order wrong. Rather annoyingly Peype is doing the first test, then Garces then Poite.

Would have preferred one of the French guys for the first match so by the time we got to the second the AB's might still be on NH style reffing.

[Irishnev]

[ame="https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/876551254549377025"]https://twitter.com/mshelicat/status/876551254549377025[/ame]

[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.

Lots to suggest he'll be captain for the first test, great shout Nev

[Buzzo]

Sad news.

Former Scotland and Lions international Doddie Weir has announced he has Motor Neurons Disease.

https://www.ruck.co.uk/scots-rugby-legend-doddie-weir-announced-mnd/

[Cormack74]

Lots to suggest he'll be captain for the first test, great shout Nev

You were shouting for Stander too weren't you Nev?

I doubt he'll even make the bench

[Irishnev]

You were shouting for Stander too weren't you Nev?

I doubt he'll even make the bench

Ha ha - he played well today

[Cormack74]

Ha ha - he played well today

Nah he did to be fair, just yanking your chain mate

Best was good too but sadly for him his line out stats are a fraction below par which is presumably why he was running out with the trundlers. I don't think it's impossible he'll make the bench on saturday but I should imagine it's odds against.

[Irishnev]

Nah he did to be fair, just yanking your chain mate

Best was good too but sadly for him his line out stats are a fraction below par which is presumably why he was running out with the trundlers. I don't think it's impossible he'll make the bench on saturday but I should imagine it's odds against.

I think Wharburton and Lawes will be the loose forward replacements - maybe AWJ. CJ hasn't been brilliant but POM & SON have played well so at least Gatland is going on form

[Cormack74]

I think AWJ may start with Itoje on the bench - experience over youth. I like Itoje but he gives away too many pens - at least it always seems that way.

Whether it's CL or MI at least there's the benefit of either of them being able to cover a couple of positions.

[Buzzo]

Teams looking set for the English, Welsh and Irish Lions

[Cormack74]

Maybe Farrell's muscle pull will be worse than anticipated and Finn Russell can move up the pecking order?

[Buzzo]

Gatlands a ****** - what's the point in calling Russell up (alongside a load of no marks) and then not giving him any game time on Tuesday? He'd have been better off leaving him to play Fiji with Scotland.

I even understand the late call ups, but do it on merit and then at least let them play. He didn't make a single alt other than an enforced one on Tuesday.

[Irishnev]

Gatlands a ****** - what's the point in calling Russell up (alongside a load of no marks) and then not giving him any game time on Tuesday? He'd have been better off leaving him to play Fiji with Scotland.

I even understand the late call ups, but do it on merit and then at least let them play. He didn't make a single alt other than an enforced one on Tuesday.

He has definitely devalued the Lions jersey on the last two tours, he should have brought more players and at least the guys might impress in training and earn a spot!

[RichC]

No scots in the starting XI then. Farrell made it and AWJ in for Itoje. The centre looks very workman like to me