Crusaders vs B&I Lions
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Good Lions side. This will be awesome, i hope I'm in front of it
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
Lions:
Stuart Hogg; George North, Jonathan Davies, Ben Te’o, Liam Williams; Owen Farrell, Conor Murray; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Tadhg Furlong; Alun Wyn Jones (C), George Kruis; Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien, Taulupe Faletau.Reps: Ken Owens, Jack McGrath, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, CJ Stander, Rhys Webb, Jonathan Sexton, Anthony Watson.
Strong Lions side. If we can't turn over the Crusaders with this lot on show, then we can forget the tests.
Based on end of season performances and the first two matches i.e. FORM this is the 23 I would select for the 1st Test today.
1st Test Squad
Halfpenny, North, Davies, Te'o, Daly, Farrell, Webb
Vunipola, Owens, Furlong, Itoje, AWJ, O'Brien, Warburton (Capt.), FaletauMarler, George, McGrath, Cole, Kruis, Tipuric
Murray, Sexton, WatsonA lot of rugby between now and the 1st Test and expect players like Hogg, L Williams, Murray, and O'Mahony to show us why they should be in the 23
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@MiketheSnow A cunning plan to have an extra forward reserve?
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@MiketheSnow A cunning plan to have an extra forward reserve?
Ha ha. Ooooops
Perm 2 props from 3 -
@Frye said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@Chris-B. said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@Stargazer True - but I saw Jason Ryan during the week saying this...
"Sammy is like the rest of them, he has got a few niggles," Ryan said. "We have to be smart there, there is a bigger picture for the All Blacks. We don't want to flog them.
"Steve (Hansen) and the All Blacks coaches will want them fresh for the series, so we want to give everyone an opportunity in the 23 to play against the Lions."
That's interesting. I wonder if they decided that the best decision from a national perspective is to actually just keep the foot on the throat.
I think if that is the thinking it is definitely sound. If the Lions lose again the whole tour might implode with infighting and despair. Losing can create a vicious spiral, especially in a team that is not closely knit to begin with.
Besides, the All Black Crusaders can play 80 mins against the Lions and then take a rest (or play limited minutes) against Samoa.
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@MiketheSnow Hogg aside, is that the first choice backline? How about the wings?
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@Tim said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@MiketheSnow Hogg aside, is that the first choice backline? How about the wings?
Trying to guess what's going on in Gatland's mind, I think he believes that the backline selected for the Crusaders match is the shadow Test backline (including the subs).
I would rather see a full firing Hogg over Halfpenny but the reality is Halfpenny rarely has a howler, is one of the best kickers in the game, and despite his diminutive size is made of tougher stuff than Hogg. Hogg will be given every chance to stake his claim.
North is an out and out winger and proven Lions series winner. Had a good end to the domestic season. Can also slip into the centre if necessary.
It looks like it's a gunfight between L Williams and Watson for the other wing spot. Both players can cover full back. Yesterday's brain farts by Williams are not isolated incidents and for that reason I would have Daly in the mix to make it a three way fight. Daly can also play centre and fullback.
Gatland likes hard, straight running from his midfield and Te'o and Davies fit the bill.
That means Farrell shuffling in one to 10. But to be fair Sexton just isn't on form.
If the direct apporach isn't working, then on comes Sexton, Farrell to 12 and either Te'o or Davies off.
Murray is the incumbent at 9, but he'll have to improve on his end of season performances where he was largely annonymous.
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@MiketheSnow Good summation Mike. I am hoping against all hope that both Hogg and Murray come good - I'm more worried about Murray TBH as Halfpenny is, as you say a bloody good backup.
Williams is a funny one (and not just the way he walks). He runs some great lines and has a good eye for a break but to me he just does not instil the confidence that you get from a North or a Daly. I would like to see one creative or pacey centre at least but I'm resigned to the fact this is unlikely to occur. Biggest is best in Gatlandworld.
Back row will be interesting with the easier questions being who is not in contention rather than who is. I see Haskell and O'Mahoney as being the also rans here.
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@Chris-B. @No-Quarter @SammyC You Sader fans are getting ahead of yourselves. You have to make the final first.
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@Catogrande said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@MiketheSnow Good summation Mike. I am hoping against all hope that both Hogg and Murray come good - I'm more worried about Murray TBH as Halfpenny is, as you say a bloody good backup.
Williams is a funny one (and not just the way he walks). He runs some great lines and has a good eye for a break but to me he just does not instil the confidence that you get from a North or a Daly. I would like to see one creative or pacey centre at least but I'm resigned to the fact this is unlikely to occur. Biggest is best in Gatlandworld.
Back row will be interesting with the easier questions being who is not in contention rather than who is. I see Haskell and O'Mahoney as being the also rans here.
Cheers.
I really like Joseph and we may see Davies to 12 and Joseph at 13 at some stage.Yes you can see why Liam Williams is heading to Saracens. His skill, pace & heart are not in question. But he's a maverick / loose canon depending on which side of the fence you sit
Either Warburton is being wrapped in cotton wool or he's taken a setback to his recovery. I think it's the former.
So it's Moriarty, Stander and O'Brien vying for the 6 shirt.
Tipuric will be on the bench to inject pace and tempo. And Itoje can go to 6 if necessary.
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@taniwharugby said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
So is Seta only seen as a wing now?
No. But he is probably seen as the 2nd best centre in the team.....
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Noticeable point re: Lions selection - so far Gatland has been selecting and replacing his front rows as whole units.
Vunipola-George-Furlong
McGrath-Owens-Cole
Marler-Best-Sinkler -
@SimonAdd_2 said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
Noticeable point re: Lions selection - so far Gatland has been selecting and replacing his front rows as whole units.
Vunipola-George-Furlong
McGrath-Owens-Cole
Marler-Best-SinklerYes. Which smacks of Lancaster style subbing by numbers.
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@ACT-Crusader was more wondering about whether he or Goodhue could move to 12 instead of Havilli
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@MiketheSnow Saw somewhere Warburton is nursing an ankle injury.
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Seta has played 12, at some time I think. Seta/Goodhue could be proper worrying.
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@Wreck-Diver said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@Chris-B. @No-Quarter @SammyC You Sader fans are getting ahead of yourselves. You have to make the final first.
That was the point of the italicised "hopefully".
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Whoa whoa whoa, back the bus up, don't lump me in with those inbreds from down south. Back-to-back titles for the HURRICANES is what I'm talking about!
